27.5.13

Bitbasic - Meek


Band / Artist: Bitbasic
Year: 2012
Genre: Nu Breaks, IDM, Glitch, Electronica, Jungle, Breakbeat, Future Garage

My Review:
Name; Simon Haycock. Location; London. Skill; Electronica?

This is a gem in the IDM, , whatever-you-say kind of electronica world. I've referenced the album "Family Glue" by Global Goon before, and this is an album that feels like it is on par with that same bubbly, playful, groovy feel. Some moments have that kind of skill that Beck was notorious for, taking bunches of noise, and making it into something completely different.

Its one part of Jazz and Funk, shaken over frozen Jungle, and then poured in a Glitch glass with some fresh IDM squeezed over the top... I need better analogies.

Here is his fabecook. He posts regularly from it.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bitbasic/18143872795

Here is his twitter filled with tweets. https://twitter.com/Bitbasic

Here is the guy that was kind enough to do the cover art.
http://www.daviddrake.co.uk/

Welp. I could gab your ear off all day about how much I've been annoying friends with this cd on repeat, but I'll just let you go listen for yourself.


Bitbasic - Meek

22.5.13

I Am The Cosmos - Monochrome

 

Band / Artist: I Am The Cosmos
Year: 2013
Genre: New Wave, Synthpop, Post-Punk Revival

My Review:


They come out of Dublin. They make some really pleasant Dreampop-like New Wave music. The references in their songs to various modern and postmodern artworks was nice for me, but a half decade of art school will do that to you.

There is a lot of information in the liner art for this release, discussing the artworks they reference, and coming off kind of like a little manifesto. Its pretty subdued music with a lot of ideas there if you're willing to look into it, but sounding great and flowy if you aren't looking for more than some calming tunes.

It definitely has a great sound to it, something I could imagine enjoying at my favorite gothish bars on a quiet patio or lounge space.

I Am The Cosmos - Monochrome

17.5.13

K.Flay - I Stopped Caring in '96 (Pt. 1, 2, & 3)


Band / Artist: K.Flay
Year: 2012
Genre: Alternative Hip-hop, Alternative Pop


My Review:
I Love K.Flay. She may not always have a coherent story in her songs, but she always cranks out a great beat, and the lyrics go to some of the most unexpected and unorthodox places. This is a series of mxtape EP's that are the newest collection of work she has cranked out. These take a step away from the “MASHed Potatoes” Mixtape, and is much more from scratch, or at least nothing on it registers as something I've heard before.

The set is made of 3 parts. Made and released one at a time. Each of the volumes has a music video.

The first is subtitled as "I Feel Nothing", started out the set on April 1, 2011.


The second, subtitled as "I Feel Everything", came out on April 15, 2011


The second, subtitled as "Everything is Nothing", polished it off on April 29, 2011.


It was a fast paced release schedule, and all of it comes together to make one great album. Normally I split my time between this and the Eyes Shut EP.

 Alright peoples. Go get the album, and have a good one.


K.Flay - I Stopped Caring in '96 (Pt. 1, 2, & 3)

12.5.13

Sasha Yeller - The Land With No Defects EP


Band / Artist: Sasha Yeller
Year: 2012
Genre: Tech-House, Ambient Techno

My Review:
During the early 90s, the techno, trance, and house movements were starting to come into their own, but had nearly a decade before they would mature into a solid entity, only to seemingly fizzle out of existence in the public realm, and be eaten and reused by many other genres and given little credit for the creativity they lend themselves toward.

But these early 90's explorations into electronica bore a ton of bands and engaging albums into the world, which still hold their own, especially in my collection. This harkens back to these seamlessly, while sounding very unique and fresh in its own right. It reminds me of mid 90's Orbital, Traci Lords, Utah Saints, and others, but more stripped down and with soft vocals layered throughout. Tracks are long, and help to evoke the trance element, giving you the urge to drink a little too much and dance with strangers in strangely lit rooms to it. I think this is a good quality.

There isn't much else to say about this one, because all I found for the musician was a Google+ page here. https://plus.google.com/113896913755414679771/posts

As always, hope you enjoy.

Sasha Yeller - The Land With No Defects EP

7.5.13

Sunny Jain's Red Baraat Festival - Live on WFMU's Transpacific Sound Paradise broadcast from Barbes, Sep. 13 2008


Band / Artist: Sunny Jain's Red Baraat Festival
Year: 2008
Genre: Brass band, Indian, Dance, Jazz

My Review:
A wonderfully bright and lively album. Sunny Jain's Red Baraat Festival is a Brooklyn Indian brass band. Coming off of the carnival season in New Orleans, Brass bands are a great thing to hear from outside Louisiana. From what I get, Sunny Jain is the percussionist, who does his own solo work, and decided to bring the band together.

Here's his solo site.
http://www.sunnyjain.com/

And here's the band site.
http://www.redbaraat.com/flash.html

A mix of New Orleans brass band sound (like you'd hear in the Treme), with Indian and Balkan street band sounds. Its good for a little street party, or it might be awesome for a little bit of an international flavor at a bar. Enjoy.

Sunny Jain's Red Baraat Festival - Live on WFMU's Transpacific Sound Paradise broadcast from Barbes, Sep. 13 2008

6.5.13

Free Singles - MORBIDTWATT, Myron & E, Andy Iona, Magnifico, K.Flay Feat. Felix Cartal

MORBIDTWATT

There was a funny-ish backstory to me finding this musician, but it wouldn't be in best service to him to tell it to you. Suffice it to say, art and life are rarely on the same level. He makes dark industrial music with a lot of techno influence, much of it utilizing string soundscapes. This is a link to all of his soundcloud tracks, as he offers them all up for free.

Myron & E - If I Gave You My Love

This is a soft, Motown-ish sort of track, that has a good amount of horns. It'd be good for dancing or.. ahem.. more private activities..

They do music with a group called  Soul Investigators, and the two just joined up to make a debut album on their new record label, Stones Throw. The new album is called Broadway, and it'll be out in July.

Andy Iona - Pretty Red Hibiscus & Naughty Hula Eyes

You know, that photo is just a tad creepy to me. Nevertheless, these songs are soft, melodic ukelele songs from long ago, which both are pleasing to listen to or to play for a significant other when you're being cute. Both of these fall into the public domain, as does most of his music I believe.

Andy Iona lived from 1902 to 1966, and mostle released music as "Andy Iona and his Islanders". He was noted as being one of Hawaii's most influential musicians, and somewhere out there is a boxed set of his work that has 112 tracks on it.


Magnifico - Ubic‡u Te

A guy from Yugoslavia. He's been getting big there, and has starred in a few Slovenian movies, as well as releasing a number of albums since 92. This track is from 2011.Its kind of like a cross of Latin dance (like salsa and such) with a bit of dub effects, and a few flares of that eastern European horn playing that I've started to notice is common. Its pretty great, even though I have no idea what he's saying.


K.Flay Feat. Felix Cartal - Rest Your Mind

You know where this is going. Its dancey technoish hiphop. This time there was a long backstory. Here it goes...







..and thats it. I like this one more than some of the softer stuff. It makes me wiggle my ass.

2.5.13

Ralp - Fuldatax



Band / Artist: Ralp
Year: 2011
Genre: Chiptune, Glitch, Hardcore Techno

My Review:

This is a man from Barcelona. He makes interesting things involving chiptune and breakcore. For this album he mixes chiptune with very aggressive, abrasive versions of techno and other. Its a very minimal instrument set. It probably isn't everyones cup of tea, but my goal is to share as much stuff as I can of different types, and this one was different.

If you like some old streets of rage type games for their music, then this might grow on you. If you are a fan of gabber, you may also enjoy it. 

Ralp - Fuldatax