new blog
7 years ago
Andy Stott-Passed Me By
Hey. It's been a while.
What have i been listening to? Andy stott. Dark and menacing. Beats. Techno from a soul fueled beast from planet zorb who lands in the deep south american jungles to hunt wildlife. Yeah it's real shit.
Andy Stott - Passed Me By by modernlove
L'orchestre Kanga De Mopti
Absolutely amazing
So great.
new reissue first i've heard
kindred spirits
try it out,
Blood Orange Dinner
I've never listened to this guy before he's the dude from lightspeed champion. not my thing but this is
tight as fuck
City Center- Redeemer
So stunned about this release.
City Center's debut was a record that came out on Type Records about two years ago. It interested me and I knew that there was more potential in the songwriting aspect of City Center especially in songs like Bleed Blood and Young Diamond. Having randomly seen the new record in stores I bought it on a whim. I had heard nothing about the album, no press, just bought it immediately on the promise that was displayed on the debut. Boy was I right.
The songwriting is actually concise and fully formed. While there are hints and rumbles of clanging and reflecting noise, this is a pop record, and one of the most original I've heard in a while.
While one could write this off as 'indie pop' it's really more than that. Cookies is an anthemic stomper with a guitar solo that shines brightly and simply rocks. On the other hand the song Obvious clatters echoed drums and percussion over heartbreaking strings that flesh out into earnest gutsy magic.
Other tracks play more like beachy tunes meeting a more grating sample based method. I'm not huge on the 'beach scene' that took the internet by storm two years ago, but this is especially pleasing.
Their songs are dramatic when they need to be, exciting and pack a punch.
Redeemer was a shock of a record and I've been constantly listening to it. Spread the word, I've seen little to nothing about it on the web.
Thrill Jockey
Seriously, three great to amazing records in one week.
First off is the new Mountains record.
My first experience with Mountains was their album Choral. I thought it was good, but didn't really feel it.
However maybe I was missing something the first time because their new record is so god damn good. Their new album Air Museum is immersive from the start, taking it's more ambient folk roots into a synth world, spiraling and exploding with burning colors. Not only beautiful, but a complete head trip that's easy to get lost in, especially the closing Live at the Triple Door. In a way this albums does what newer Emeralds and OPN want to do, but in a more humane way, therefore more artistically majestic imo. I love both of those projects a lot, but this easily sidesteps both of their most recent releases, creatin one of the best things I've heard all year.
Next is Liturgy's Aesthethica. A metal album on Thrill Jockey? Whatever i could listen to the song Generation for the rest of my life. A head trip unlike Air Museums; where Air Museum went into space, Liturgy's Aesthethica goes to hell and back. I wouldn't worry about it being too metal, or not metal enough or lame. The album is just really fantastic.
Finally, the Sea and Cake released a new album this week by the name of Moonlight Butterfly . The sea and Cake follow the: if it ain't broke why change it? road again and honestly good for them. The only sidechange I'd say would be the ten minute centerpiece inn keeping. All really great songs, but don't know what to think about the especially New Order ish beatless electronics on Moonlight Butterfly. Just a tad out of place along with the rest of the record but great, and know they do delve into that sound often.
You should go out and grab these all, they're all stunning, especially the mountains record. Serious doings on Thrill Jockey
Intrigue & stuff
Massive. Leyland Kirby's new 12 inch is fucking gigantic.
Don't really want to describe it... if you've heard him before, expect that and the unexpected.
No download link.
You need the vinyl. You'll thank later.
btw he has like something like 6 records coming out this year. If it's six more records of quality like this then let it rain I'll buy each one of em.
digital subscription on his website which is sick. Support him
Bee Mask
Canzoni dal Laboratorio del Silenzio Cosmico is apart of the first batch of records on the new label Spectral Spool curated by none other than John Elliot from Emeralds.
Top notch of course, it is a sub label of Editions Mego who has been treading this water now, with the OPN and Emeralds releases last year.
I expected something really traditional for some reason with this release more in vain of those albums put out on ED. Can't deny though, that those were great albums, but still more pop oriented explorations than on previous occasions. Yet i was silly. the record is of course as bizarre and equally as good as those albums put out last year.
I guess you could call it ballsier on part of Editions Mego's part? And frankly i'm happy that ED is letting Elliot take control of his own larger label. It gives the opportunity for small run releases to grab more attention and more publicity for things that are truly under-appreciated.
To tell the truth the first side is haunting. Blade like synths cut deep into into clean skin as the sick cough from excruciating pain. Yet you can't tear yourself away from the cough. It drives one mad but it entices to stay and visit awhile albeit uncomfortable. Blissful synth stabs appear with arpeggiated head spins before loosing control and falling into mass hysteria. Hell breaks loose in and out of consciousness for the rest of the two sides. Drums hit like a power button and just as soon as something nearly deathly enters, something almost beautiful takes it away and the cycle is repeated. Solitary Confinement. Being eaten from the inside only to discover that the light that accesses all the beauty in the universe is given to you to progress. Ignorant doom laden hope. Love when in the eyes of the possessed and zombies. What dreams are made of. Nightmares
Ponytail
Well that certainly worked out.
Basically I'll make this promise to you: obscure sometimes; bland indie more. Tapes occasional?
That's pretty fair. Cause that's my taste. As I've sadly learned. I think I always put myself into a cooler accord.
Anyway.
Ponytail are the fucking shit. This album is no exception. Awayway gives me chills and makes me jump. like something was inside me. I can't imagine anyone else not having that same knee jerk response. Well they're all talented, too bad they broke up. They'll keep it up right? RIGHT?
I imagine with the Ken Seeno release on NNA and Dustin Wong release on Thrill Jockey I've been meaning to grab (future post?) everyone's gonna be fine.
Incredible work.
Bedroom databank 2
Must sound super lame posting atlas sound
but Bradford Cox is an incredible songwriter in general. While i generally don't like his atlas sound work and like the new Deerhunter stuff just a slight bit more...(cryptograms was awesome) the best thing he's ever done was definitely the Bedroom Databank 1-4.
While i never really get a chance to listen to them all, (it's kinda daunting all at once...)
Bedroom Databank 2 is really a fantastic listen.
Just all over the map stylistically-yet it works together. It's loose, not pretentious, and covers all the styles Bradford can play (folk, rock, electronic, ambient, and krautrock on the great Here Comes the Trains)
He's ambitious on a humane level. The whole thing comes off as literally sounding like a genius boy wundekin playing in a toy store. the falling drums and collapsing melodies and lines sound like a little boy about throw down the drumsticks to his toy snare and pick his hot wheels track instead.
Circle of Ouroborus
of posts will come with time.
But for now this.
Circle of...
well wait back track. Today's Record Store Day right.
So I went to two places cause i was tired and lazy.
Other Music and Hospital Prod.
Let's just say one was busier than the other...(I'll let you put together the pieces)
While I found a lot of great Record store exclusives that i'll post about later at Other music
My real find for the day was at Hospital.
Whenever i walk in, the guys there are usually playing some ridiculously heavy black metal music which is totally not my thing (save for a couple of greats...liturgy ahem) But this time.
This time, well I wouldn't know how to classify. I walk into cascading sounds echoing and distant. Faded not by time or by age but by heavens or likely hell. A voice that screams like a confused soul. Not as much angry, but stern and full of pain and depression. But not howls. And there i was asking Hospital, what is this? Circle of Ouroborous' Unituli, out on the Hospital imprint.
Honestly this is less of black metal album and more reminiscent of Leyland Kirby than anything I associate with the genre. Not to say it's not thundering. But it's beautiful and unlike anything I've ever heard.
It really is something I cannot classify and it has to be listened to. Fans of ambient that feel like they need more of a kick, this is it.
act quick on the pressings.
bibio (ah god.)
Bibio is the shit.
Or at least was.
Anyway, ambivalence Avenue blew my mind (get the fuck on it.)
I'm not sure why cause when i go back individually on tracks it's not that solid.
but something about it, maybe the way he recorded it (BoC +dilla+folk)
whatever it sounds lame on paper but it's sweet.
Then he did the Apple and the Tooth and the original songs were tight as fuk...the remixes not so much.
of course i've never been a fan of remixes.
Well here he is with mind bokeh. and i wish i liked it more.
But really This album is pretty good or else i wouldn't have posted it would I?
It's all over the place though.
Done are those folk guitars (*weep*), more studio, "more electronic" less dilla
More rock. Take off your shirt is something that just shouldn't have happened. Ever. And having recieved the vinyl copy in the mail and reading the lyrics today, it's nearly worse than the song.
But that's fine right when songs like anything new just rule. No kidding.
Maybe the next album will be huge. We'll see. Unless he continues the rock songs. Help us.
tUne-yArDs
complete 180.
This girl for real. No bullshit. I swear to god Hatari rips me out...I'm not going to explain. and seriously the power and scope of it is something that is really majestic and is of a real artistic integrity.
Girl is on 4AD now, and supposedly she has a new album coming out called w h o k i l l (serious title right there)
I can't stop watching her live videos. She has a wonderful sense of presence and looks like she loves what she does: entertain.
It's honestly some of the most refreshing straight pop i've heard in while. So original.
Weird side note. She's on the blackberry commercial. Don't know how i feel about that. But whatever pays it for her right especially if that new album is as promising as the single.
Bird Brainssss
Dais Records
Dais is a label. Two bands i want to mention particularly on it.
I guess you could label this label (ha!) some industrial/punk/cold wave shit.
Really great stuff. Well anyway, Twin Stumps and Ice Age.
Twins Stumps are a massive Power Drill destroying every inch of your body in a slow motion shot in fading colors to black and white until only shadows remain of your desolate core.
Guys broke up i think.Round this time last year they put out a LP call SeedBed
and before that...they released this album or ep or Lp whateverr on Dais S/T.
And it's fucking brilliant. I was never able to get a copy, but I found one randomly out in LA.
Ah the beauty of travel.
The self titled record Is huge depressing and full of hatred. It honestly sounds like a murderer burning off your face then dumping you in a ditch out in the middle of a post apocalyptic nightmare.
IceAge is another band on Dais.
I know that they've been getting a fair amount of press (or growing press)...
and these kids are fucking 17 which is crazy
Their from Denmark (wtf?)
and their album is called New Brigade
I was not aware it was released on Dais, but i had recently listened to the lp and really enjoyed it. Further listens will take place.
New Brigade
burning star pop?
last time i checked this guy made noise.
It's good, but what the fuck. Really random.
Excavacations-Afternoon Future
The lost paradise of eternity. You've been sweating for days on end. No water, but water surrounds your body. The sun never sets and you've reflected on your death. It won't matter though because this beauty that surrounds lets you look back upon the life you've led. The good and the bad, and the highlights. And you'll find yourself sitting on your knees on the beach with a sense of worry, but knowledge that everything will be fine. Maybe there is no heaven maybe there is. But in the end you're already there. The Afternoon Future, the signaling to forever.
Matthew Albert Dunn
I know he's definitely released two tapes on Beniffer Editions.
Other than that this is heady album of acoustic layers and dazed out folk.
Really great set of two tracks zoned out in a mist of haze in beautiful tape foldout up there.
Lovely
and they still got presses.
Women
I'll get to some more tapeish and different stuff. Promise. But this post needs to get out of me.
Women are, were, a Canadian rock band. I'm not going to lump them into something indie. Cause it's better than something pitchfork would cry about. I think they covered them, but beside the point. Women released probably, in my opinion, one of the greatest albums of the last decade, their S/T debut, in the fall of 2008. I was really just starting to get a grasp on 'different' types of music and i heard this on WNYU (whose new afternoon show is classic, displaying a large array of different types of new and somewhat popular underground music as a whole.) This was their number one album for the week on their charts page on the website and i began hearing songs by them overlooking (i imagine it was black rice.) I think i tried to shy away cause i heard a shins reference by one of the hosts. That all changed when I heard 'Shaking Hand'. It was single-handedly one of the greatest music memories ever. I had seriously never heard anything like that. And I began to think 'is this what everything underground is like?' And i can answer that question now: no.
The chiming and skittering guitar lines build and pulsate with a rabbis and epilectic shock. And then the climax explodes and releases a air of excitement and drama. It was so serious and haunting, but so refreshing.
And I was lucky. I had stumbled upon something that the so called 'indie' world doesn't find every once and a while. An honest to god talented band that has a singular vision and creative force that other don't have. When buying the record I started to realize with multiple listens that this wasn't some pushover hype band. They were actually something. They had created a masterpiece. Something indebted to it's past but easily in touch with today. It was horrifying and frightening in songs like Lawncare, poppy in black rice and a complete force of nature through the last part of the album.
Their guitar lines were so singular. The drumming distorted and hypnotic. The noise otherworld. The melancholy and anger were staggering. Utterly raw. This was a gem.
In 2010, they released Public Strain. I was hesitant. I was worried. Especially how much I enjoyed the first album. And i was disappointed. It wasn't necessarily as instant or 'catchy' or jagged in the way their first album was. However recently I sprawled over and remembered the record. How i was going to buy it on vinyl to give it a better listen...'blah blah'. And you know what? IT's pretty good. Their sound is focussed in a different direction but still sounds like them. And it's sharp and distraught. But in other ways. Darker in other ways. To say it's shadowy would probably be an apt description. It almost resembles some Sonic Youth at it's most grim (go back like bad moon rising/evol) The music looks like the cover. It's a mentally insane person who's that sweet friend or brother that you've loved your entire life, but now is slowly turning psycho in the dead nights of freezing January.
I still am not as wild about this thing as much as their last record; maybe because their last was just so short and so perfect the way it was. Yet Public Strain is growing and and much stronger musical statement, showcasing their creative apex and getting ready for some inspired statement that I am hoping will come...
I say hope because the band is rumored to have broken up after a fight onstage. This would be a shame considering how idealistic and original this band is. Compared to other artists in the indie pitchfork machine, this is something that stands out. Women are incredible songsmiths and have been overlooked to an extreme. I'm hoping that they will receive their much deserved attention, whether it be with their next record, or tens years down the line when it's reissued and realized for it's brilliance. I'm hyping this up, but both Women and Public Strain are majestic albums that shroud and haunt it's listener with a nerve.
Abe Vigoda
There are a lot of cringe worthy moments in the album. Just like i wish I could stop the band and just say, 'no'.
But let me state openly right now that while not necessarily as good as their previous work on Skeleton, they grew up. And let's be fair they needed to.
This album is dark. No more sun or tropical heat, even if traces are still there. Instead now they have this whole broodin joy division/synthy cold wave thing going on. And the vocals are all deep, making it that much more grim. While I don't really feel the cold wave scene going around, their take on it is pretty good. They've translated their chiming guitar lines into reverbed and delaying synths (WHATT??!!) effectively. And when it works. It works.
And while it doesn't keep the energy all the way through, there are just some parts of this album i can't let go of. Even those cringeworthy parts are worth the glory that comes afterwards. And sure it slows down near the end. But when you've got killa tracks like sequins (holy shit seriously), November and Repeating Angel. whatever it doesn't matter dl it.
Excavacations Stunned Cassette
Instead, it's like
'what the fuck did they just go from drone plethora to indie rock?'
And not in the mashup kind of way either that artists like pocahaunted and now new robedoor do. I guess i could throw in the rest of NNF label.
In general this is different from that. While i could without a doubt see Nnf putting out a more grown up release by these guys, they are too strange for most regular indie listeners, and too mainstream for the regular eclectic tape fanatic (at parts).
I'm really bewildered why it didn't get much attention though. Even if i just explained why, maybe it did and i don't know. Anyway. At times they go from deep and massive washes of sound with percussions. Then occasionally they fall into a something that resembles a song. Then they make indie pop songs. And the songs. Well they are actually great. These guys could seriously make indie songs instead and end up getting mass blog appeal slash woodsist signing.
On the second side, there are less pop songs, but the song that comes out sounds like what would happen when Animal Collective and Noel Gallager started jamming in a basement, and you were only left outside wondering how the hell it would sound, just making out bits.
I haven't listened to it a lot, it's a substantial length, but I am expecting it to be on regular.
They just got a tape out on Avant Archive which should be great considering the band has changed all that much within the span of two years.
Also, I find this to be a great release coinciding with my last post on Oli Oli Oxen Free. The albums are a lot different, with Oli Oli Oxen Free more on the pop side, but they both seem to be pushing the boundaries of when and where drone can be used and in amount. I know that there are ambient tracks along lots of albums, but their noiser and denser tracks are better then those on most 'albums'. And the songs are great too. Idk enough of this.
Oli Oli Oxen Free
Oli Oli Oxen Free is a drone pop recording project.
To say they (he?) wear their influences on their sleeves is an understatement. However, it is done with care. To be frank it's fuckin sweet.
While scatterbrained, the first release, or so i believe, is an admirable work that combs through sampling a frenzy in 'duck dodgers', to the gripping murk of daniel johnston's recordings through 'haunted kitty Lips' and 'Goth Superstar', to the cascading drone scabs that close out the finale 'Hot Air Balloons'. There is a compelling grime to this release that always makes you feel an emotive distance, whether close or far away.
Songs like 'Chill Pill' are really liberating and melt with you into a frenzy of mass puddled colors that used to be bright, but now only show shards and traces of it's former perfections.
Sure, there are signs of wavves, whom I really loathe. Yet for some reason Oli uses his influence in such a way that it doesn't piss me off. Thanks Wavves?
Again, "Hot Air Balloons' is ridiculously pretty. I'll leave it at that.
Can't wait to see what else this guy(s) has cominn.
One Nation
Instead of comparing them to Salem, I'd rather compare them to the likes of Sun City Girls. Yes, that Sun City Girls. The two bands both sound worlds apart, yet they are so vastly similar. The greatest similarity in my opinion is that both really just don't give a fuck. They aren't making these albums to please you. Nor are they making this to go along with the hype of other bands and hopping on the bandwagon. Instead they truly have made their own sound from their wasted woozy synths, random and utterly perfect sound bytes, and almost off tempo drums. Sun City Girls had a vast discography, endless ideas sprouting from the same singular voice, and never created music to please...well sometimes. Instead they made what they truly wanted without any pretensions.
Hype Williams are a duo without pretensions. They don't give a fuck. With a scroll of their youtube page, one will come across several videos of them staring into a camera doing nothing, scaring you, and other random and bizarre clips. They aren't afraid to show their face either, but still they are enigmatic and shadowy. Who the hell is Hype Williams? Will the blogosphere remember them after witch house dies? Well I certainly hope they won't die. They are truly the experimenters in an age of constant revivalism and copying. To say that this is truly a leap to the future would be wrong. I mean they are indebted to 80's nostalgia that every other band copies. Yet there is truly something deeper about Hype Williams. They aren't just pushing for an eye of the past. Instead they are moving to the future in the horrifying internet void we all are amassed in. When the Chillwave era ends and some hyper-sonic or boring craze takes over the internet, Hype Williams will still stand time and continue to excel own their own weirdo plane. All bow down.
Stereolab's Cobras.
Stereolab are probably one the most inventive (Rip?) groops around.
Anyway this is their definite album. Many will disagree, yet truly Stereolab perfected everything they had been working for for the last ten years with Cobra and Phases Groop Play voltage in the milky night.
I don't know whether you like Stereolab. It all sounds the same to some. And lets face it the new albums are terrible. But if you are too pussy cause it got canned when it first came out. Man up. This is an essential masterpiece.
Inflatable mattress
Inflatable mattress real talk
is really old.
I mean not that old, like a year or so. Having revamp this blog (or start it?), i've been trying to decide what to post and what to claim myself and the style.
Well fuck style.
Cause obviously i can't decide what i want this to be.
But Inflatable Mattress. Well that sums up my tastes. Doesn't necasarily means I believe this album is
But this represents as a whole. The blog. I guess. Dissonant. Beats. A slight pop twist (?)
I don't know. But listen to it. I'm not saying you'll like it. Seriously, half da shit on here you don't have to like, or all. Just know that this is my best representation of the different varieties. Around here.
A bad excuse for a post. Just download Inflatable mattress and hope this guy releases something else as him. Cause it's damn good. And i'm not really familiar with happy family nor do i have an urge to follow through.
hud mo
This album is criminally underrated. Sure it's got it's terrible songs ( twistcap loop+ all hot avoid at all costs)
It makes up in the neon sheen of Joy Fantastic
the syruppy tones of 3.30
The anthemic stomp of Rising 5
My nickolodeon days are capped into a bottle and carefully shaken with soul, slime and Uk dance music.
I wish I had this when stick stickly was back on
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My main focal point in the blog was going to be obscure tape releases. Well that certainly worked out . Basically I'll make this promi...
