Big Spider's Back - Ssoft EP

Band / Artist: Big Spider's Back

Year: 2014
Genre: Indie Electronic, House

My Review:
I have an earlier album of theirs, and I loove it. Great rolling rhythms and melodies layered with some obscure stories in the lyrics. Here is the press release.

 HH019 :: Big Spider's Back - Ssoft EP // name-your-price download here.
Also available on digital stores, ie: iTunes, Amazon, Boomkat, Juno, Bleep, Beatport.

~ "Ssoft" premiere on Pitchfork ~ "Charm School" download via XLR8R ~

Combining classic house and techno rhythms with playful, synth-based melodies and the dense, psychedelic atmospherics reminiscent of previous Big Spider’s Back releases, Ssoft is the Durham, NC-based artist’s strongest statement yet. The EP’s production was initially inspired by Roland’s quintessential line of 707, 808 and 909 drum machines, yielding a classic electronic sound combined with contemporary influences, ranging from Kompakt’s soft-focus ambience, to the skittering electronics of artists such as Luke Abbott and Four Tet.

So go check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Big Spider's Back - Ssoft EP

Singles Posts - Kitty Cash, K.Flay, Son Lux, Aesop Rock & Blockhead, SKOGSRÅ

Kitty Cash - Love The Free


A good mixtape that falls between glitchy Alt Pop and R&B. There are a lot of electronic influences in this, and it takes a song or two before it really gets rolling in my opinion. Once it gets going, I enjoyed it, except for the between-song sample that would remind you that Kitty Cash made the mixetape. Advice for all the mixers out there, if you need to remind people who made the set, then you are definitely doing something wrong.

K.Flay - Seen it all (Jake Bugg cover)

This one is a bit different from the usual K.Flay hippityhop. Its a softer, sadder, slower song, which is obviously going much more for the alt-pop sound of The Knife, which is fitting, since its about someone seeing a guy get knifed by a gang at a house party. I like this, but it sucks for the dude getting knifed.

Son Lux - Easy (Arandel Remix)


Speaking of The Knife, this song sounds a whole lot like stuff you might hear from them if they stayed on the path that "Silent Shout" and "Deep Cuts" were headed. This would be a soft track you would hear somewhere in the middle, and it is the kind that you grow to appreciate even more than the bigger tracks around it.

Aesop Rock & Blockhead - Try not to die

Ah, good ol' Aesop Rock. This one is an older b-side that he and Blockhead made in the early 2000s. If you like "Float" and "Appleseed" then you are getting a track you'll like.

SKOGSRÅ - Now You See Me

What a great track to round out the post with. This one is sort of poppy, and really vibrant, funky, and just overall good for grooving. In fact, I'd say this track sounds a LOT like newer stuff you hear from Daft Punk, and who the hell doesn't love that? Whats best, is that it stays interesting and pleasing for nearly 7 minutes. I really enjoy it.


Alright. Dance like nobody is watching. Have fun.

K.Flay - MASHed Potatoes

Band / Artist: K.Flay
Year: 2009
Genre: Hip-Hop, Indie Electronic, Rap, Mixtape

My Review:

Everything I hear from this girl is interesting. This one starts with a chopped up version of “Under the bridge” from Red Hot Chili Peppers, turned into a great beat for a rap track. A handful of the tracks crib rhymes from the songs she samples, and plays with them to make a more fun narrative. The whole thing is a full length album, sampling some really interesting songs and making out some really solid quirky rhythms to build it up.

Man I would love to hang out with this girl for a day and just talk a ton, she seems like a really interesting person, and her musical edge is so engaging to me. 

K.Flay - MASHed Potatoes

Free Singles - How To Destroy Angels - Keep It together

So I just wanted to share this listening chance, as well as a link to a free download of the first track off the new EP from How To Destroy Angels. The album sounds really good, and if you haven't got a clue what that is all about, it's the band that Trent Reznor paused Nine Inch Nails for. The other members are, his wife Mariqueen Maandig, his common partner in crime, Atticus Ross, and ever faithful art director, Rob Sheridan.


An omen EP_ (2012) by howtodestroyangels
 
Well hopefully that played properly for you. I'm really enjoying the direction that they are going, although I am a fairly die-hard fan of NIN, and most of the creative ventures connected to them.

Heres a link to the opening track, which you can get for free.

How To Destroy Angels - Keep It Together

As well as 2 remix versions.

How To Destroy Angels - Keep It Together (Dave Sitek Remix)
How To Destroy Angels - Keep It Together (Factory Floor Remix)

If you never got a chance to hear their debut EP, then go ahead and download it for free at the bottom of their store page here. It's worth hearing.

http://store.destroyangels.com/

The Womb - The Fourth Wall

Band / Artist: The Womb
Year: 2010
Genre: Alternative Pop, Indie Electronic, Indie Rock

My Review:
So it was labeled as pop, but the category would better be described as mid 90's alternative pop. WOO PIGEONHOLING GENRES! Alan Driscoll is the name of the head of the band, and apparently their style changes a lot from album to album.

I found this about him/them on a failed IndieGoGo Project.

Since 1998, I have been releasing records as The Womb, all of which have been free for anybody to download. I work with lots of different musicians in lots of different musical styles, and while I began in England, I'm now based in Melbourne, Australia.

I want to find out if it is possible for me to make a living from music while continuing to give my records away for free. With that in mind, I would like to create an album of personalised songs, in which contributors can ask me to write a song about any topic, or serving any purpose they choose.

Honorable ideals, and hopefully he/they get there soon enough. Anyhow, back to the music.

Here is an album working to recast early to mid 90's alt pop through the contemporary indie rock of the early 2010s. The first time I listened to this was on the end of a long road trip without air conditioning or conversation and my car just would not play in the right order. I was not in the mood..

..but coming back to it when i had fresh ears was nice. It has some snarky qualities, and social commentary that seems straight out of a good 90s alternative. The sounds vary a bit from track to track, playing off of all kinds of different influences, but the whole thing still shows its unity. The tracklisting is also very nicely laid out, with the most electronic song at the end, and a bright beginner and ballad-like ender. I didn't really feel like every song on the album needed to be kept, but the one thing is for sure, they have good sound quality and they do a good job presenting themselves.

The Womb - The Fourth Wall

K. Flay - Eyes Shut EP

Band / Artist: K. Flay
Year: 2012
Genre: Rap, Hip-Hop, Indie Electronic

My Review:
This is a girl I saw at Bonnaroo. Really fresh hip-hop with some harsh and gritty sounds. She DJs too, and I danced through at least an hour of her live set, which nearly killed me after 3 days of 2 hours sleep a night and bad cafeteria food. Here's her site.
http://www.kflay.com/site/

This EP is co-produced by Liam Howlett, one of the members of Prodigy. It rings through clearly with the dirty bristly sound coursing through the whole thing. She doesnt rap in the normal vein, and jumps into and out of choruses in her tracks, or even takes breaks to let instument solos play out. This girl has some promise, and she seriously rocks it live.

For longer reviews go here.

http://www.kflay.com/site/press

K. Flay - Eyes Shut EP