A SILENT STAND-IN

ΔF508 / Sept 2011 Mix

2011-09-05T13:01:00.000-07:00

Hudson Mohawke - Pleasure

Scuba - Adrenalin

Jacques Greene - What U R

Untold - Bones (Joe Remix)

Ghostpoet - Liiines (xxxy Remix)

Breach - Man Up

George Fitzgerald - Fernweh

Visionist - Survive

CDBL - I Need You (Kidnap Kid Remix)

Dark Sky - The Lick

George Fitzgerald - Hearts

Jacques Greene - Motivation

Trevino - Chip

Hudson Mohawke - Somebody

Call Super - Timora (Objekt Rework)

Rustie - Ultra Thizz

Teeth - 19eme

Bwana - Baby, Let Me Finish

Visionist/Lorca - Hold Back

Rustie - All Nite

Stream/Download

Summer Stays Forever / July 2011 Mix

2011-07-31T20:46:00.000-07:00

The Weeknd - The Birds (Part 1)
Baobinga & Randomer - Crom2
Brenmar - Want Me
Chaos In The CBD - Birthday Song
Breach - Fatherless (T Williams Remix)
Disclosure - Blue You
Canblaster - Stoned Totem
Xxxy - You Gotta Do You
Joy O - Knock Knock
Arkist - Fill My Coffee
Damu - Sequinny
Clicks & Whistles - Raw Passion
Bambounou - Alpha (Teeth Remix)
Ifan Dafydd - Miranda
Machinedrum - She Died There

Stream / Download

Mixtape #8 / June 2011

2011-06-07T03:13:00.000-07:00

Jamie xx - Beat For
Distal - Apple Bottom
Dark Sky - Armour
Lando Kal - Time Out
Dauwd - Could It Be
SBTRKT - Twice Bitten
Jason Burns - Back 2 You
Koreless - Up Down Up Down
Bok Bok - Look Dub
Ollie Macfarlane - Someone Warm (original mix)
Randomer - Brunk
Cedaa - Hello Kitty
Kavsrave - The Break Up (Sorrow)
TRC - Oo Aa Ee (Royal-T I <3 Garage Remix)
Wax - No. 20202 (Pinch Mix)
Joe - Level Crossing
Bok Bok - Silo Pass
L-Vis 1990 - Reprise
James Fox - New Jack Swing
Lory D - Acidronix
Deadboy - Wish U Were Here
Robag Wruhme - Pnom Global

See Downloads Section

Jacques Greene - Another Girl

2011-02-25T22:42:00.000-08:00

Just a bit closer to the release. Braiden & Mark Flash on the remix for The Look EP.

Top 30 Songs / 2010

2011-01-05T20:19:00.000-08:00

After the break-

30. Gold Panda - Same Dream China

Glitchy electro meets Chinese Chord Progression.

29. Bonobo - Eyesdown ft. Andreya Triana

Trip Hop meets Bass Music

28. Submerse & Resketch - Hold It Down

Future Garage meets Its Case For Existence

27. Girl Unit - Wut

Night Slugs meets Every Dancefloor On The Planet

26. Foals - Spanish Sahara

Math-Rock meets Post-Rock

25. Teen Daze - Everywhere

Chillwave meets Infectious Happiness

24. Phaeleh - Afterglow ft. Soundmouse

Dubstep meets a Silky Smooth Voice

23. Mount Kimbie - Carbonated

Crispy Vocal Chops meet Synths Like Butter

22. Jamie Woon - Night Air (Ramadanman Refix)

Burial meets the Drumline

21. Lethal Bizzle - Pow 2011 ft. JME, Wiley, Chipmunk, Face, P-Money, Ghetts, Kano

Over-the-top Instrumental meets Over-the-top MC's

20. Addison Groove - Footcrab VIP

Chicago meets Curiously Interested Producer from the UK

19. Scuba - You Got Me (I Got You)

Industrial Dubstep meets the Dance Floor

18. DJ Nate - Back Up Kid

Chicago meets Curiously Interested Label from the UK

17. Pariah - Railroad

Vocal Chops meet Warm Bass Happiness

16. Baths - Plea

Glitch Hop meets a Gay Electro Love Ballad

15. Skream - Give You Everything ft. Freckles

Popstep meets Guilty Pleasure

14. Jamie xx - Far Nearer

The xx Fans meet The Truth (that Jamie is the real mastermind)

13. Marco Del Horno vs. Swerve - Ho! Riddim ft. P Money

Good Old Dubstep meets Good Old Grime

12. Martyn - These Words ft. dBridge (Roska's Speechless Mix)

Dubstep Heavy Hitters meet a UK Funky Legend

11. James Blake - CYMK / Wilhelm's Scream

Minimal Garage Prodigy meets the Desire to Sing As Well

10. Starkey - Stars ft. Anneka / Playing With Fire

Philadelphia Community College Music Teacher meets Beautiful Bristolian Girl

Magnetic Man's MAD meets It's Match

9. Kingdom - That Mystic / Fogs

Night Slugs meets Dancefloor Murder

8. The xx - Crystalised (Dark Sky Remix)

Bristol Emo Kids meet 2-Step Perfection

7. Katy B & Benga - Katy On A Mission

Afro Warrior meets Anglo-Saxon Queen

6. Maddslinky - Special (MJ Cole's Back To The Future Remix)

2-Step Legend meets The Ability to Turn a Terrible Tune into a Great One

5. DJ Zinc - Nexx / Wile Out ft. Ms Dynamite

Body meets the Sudden Uncontrollable Urge to Wile Out

4. Snowden - Don't Really Know Me

Previously Mediocre Indie Band meets An Incredible Rebirth

3. Xxxy - Ordinary Things

Stripped Down House meets Stripped Down Garage

2. DOM - Living In America

Tongue-In-Cheek Patriotism meets The Catchiest Song of the Year

1. Jacques Greene - Another Girl / (Baby I Don't Know) What You Want / Must Be Love

HOUSE MEETS ITS COMEBACK

Disclamer: Not all of the songs have been released yet and the fact that I group some songs by artist practically guarantees that the list was constructed somewhat arbitrarily. Also, I will very likely change this list randomly.

Mixtape Downloads #7A & #7B: Party Van / Night Owl

2010-12-27T12:23:00.000-08:00

I've been accumulating too many great songs lately, so here are two new mixtapes to help you celebrate the holiday season!
-

Party Van Mix / Dec 2010

Mixed / 41:11

1. DJ Zinc - Nexx

2. Wiley - Never Be Your Woman (Herve Re-work)

3. Xxxy - Ordinary Things

4. Boddika - Syn Chron

5. DJ Zinc - Wile Out ft. Ms Dynamite

6. A1 Bassline - Stabs

7. Jacques Greene - Tell Me

8. Jacques Greene - (Baby I Don't Know) What You Want

9. Taz - Future Funk

10. Y Tribe - Enough Is Enough

11. Jacques Greene - Another Girl

12. Kingdom - You

13. Submerse - Passion

14. Groove Theory - Tell Me (George Fitzgerald Remix)

15. DJ Nate - Back Up Kid

See Downloads Section

Meant to keep you moving for all 41 minutes. Made with holiday parties in mind! Mixed tracks.

Night Owl / Dec 2010

1. Mystery Track 1*

2. Orbital - Belfast

3. Kollektiv Turmstrasse - Uneins

4. Mystery Track 2

5. Cooly G & Scratcha DVA - Dis Boy (DVA's Hi Emotions Remix)

6. Starkey - Playing With Fire

7. Cassie - Must Be Love (Jacques Greene's Marriage Proposal Mix)

8. M2J - Infinity Complex

9. Creep - Days (Deadboy Remix) ft. Romy Madley Croft

10. Disclosure - Offline Dexterity

11. Dawn Landes - All Dressed In White

12. Primary 1 - Never Know (Submerse Remix)

13. Ramadanman & Midland - Your Words Matter

14. George Fitzgerald - Weakness

15. KingThing - Mad Hatter

16. B-Complex - Raindrops

17. S-Type - Medusa

18. Actress - Maze

19. Jack Dixon - Be There (Cairo Remix)

20. John Roberts - Glass Eights

See Downloads Section

Accompaniment for quieter nights. Tracks kept separate.

*Mystery tracks are for the benefit of the RIAA.

Dec 6 / Releases

2010-12-06T22:06:00.000-08:00

I haven't been this excited about the music released in one day for quite a while:

1. Starkey - Space Traitor Vol. 1

2. Planet Mu - Bangs & Works Vol. 1

3. Jam City - Magic Drops

Expect reviews soon.

Review: Night Slugs Allstars Vol. 1

2010-12-01T22:00:00.000-08:00

Review

Night Slugs Allstars Volume 1

Dubstep / House / Funky

1. Mosca - Square One VIP

2. Lil Silva - Golds 2 Get

3. Girl Unit - IRL (Bok Bok Remix)

4. Kingdom - Bust Broke

5. L-Vis 1990 & T. Williams - Stand Up

6. Jam City - Arpjam

7. Lil Silva - Seasons

8. Egyptrixx - Liberation Front

9. Bok Bok & Cubic Zirconia - Reclash Dub

10. Optimum - Broken Embrace

11. Jacques Greene - (Baby I Don't Know) What You Want

12. Velour - Booty Slammer

13. Girl Unit - Wut

9.5/10

Definitely one of the most anticipated compilations of the year. A gathering of tunes from one of my favorite labels of 2010, Night Slugs (started by Bok Bok & L-Vis 1990). The subgenre's are quite varied here, so there's something for everyone. Personally, Jacques Greene's "(Baby I Don't Know) What You Want" takes the cake as one of my favorite songs of the year, finally seeing a real release. Of course, "Booty Slammer" and "Wut" are old favorites (I've put both of them in mixes!).

Review: Teen Daze - Beach Dreams & Cold House/Everywhere

2010-12-01T21:49:00.000-08:00

Review

Teen Daze - Beach Dreams (2010)

Lo-fi / Synthpop / Chillwave

1. Let's Fall Asleep Together

2. Water

3. Cliff Jump Love Song

4. Beach Dreams

8.5/10

Not to be confused with Beach House's Teen Dreams. From the man himself:

I really came to fall in love with the whole lo-fi pop scene this summer, and I wanted to see what I could come up with. After writing “Let’s Fall Asleep Together”, the last three just sort of happened in the span of a few days.

I know that it’s starting to get cold, and that carefree love songs about beach life may seem out of context, but I hope that you guys can look back on your past summer, and let these songs remind you of some of the good experiences you had!

For this final tribute to the hazy summer of '10, the Canadian/elusive/very friendly Teen Daze has set aside his traditionally electronic style for something decidedly more analog and guitar-based. I'm actually quite impressed that he was able to make the switch so easily. The catchiness of his dance-floor friendly tunes made Teen Daze one of my favorite new artists of the year, but these songs hold their own quite well despite falling closer to the very crowded style of noisy lo-fi pop. Oh wait, that reminds me...

Review
Teen Daze - Cold House/Everywhere (2010)

Lo-fi / Synthpop / Chillwave

1. Cold House

2. Everywhere

8/10

This was a single released a bit earlier, much more electronic than lo-fi. "Everywhere" is probably the catchiest, most uplifting song I've heard all year.

Review: Submerse - Gundam EP

2010-11-27T10:56:00.000-08:00

Review

Submerse - Gundam E.P.

Future Garage / J-Pop (J-Garage?)

1. Gundam

2. Kashoku

3. OVA

4. Passion

5. Full Metal

9/10

This is what makes Submerse one of my favorite artists today--you know he grew up watching anime and playing Japanese games like the rest of us. This is a free EP with J-Pop samples, aptly described as "J-Garage" by the man himself.

Download Here

Mixtape #6: Silly Business

2010-11-24T11:19:00.000-08:00

Silly Business

Mixtape Download / 54:10

1. Luke Abbott - More Room

2. Phaeleh - Fallen Light

3. Bonobo - Eyesdown ft. Andreya Triana (Floating Points Remix)

4. A1 Bassline - Breathless (Original Mix)

5. Fantastic Mr. Fox - Sketches (SBTRKT Remix)

6. Daedelus - LA Nocturne

7. SBTRKT - Step In Shadows

8. ??? - Crystalized (Dark Sky Remix)

9. Drop The Lime - Thwomp Stomp

10. Supra1 - Ghoster

11. Raffertie - Rank Functions (Ital Tek Remix)

12. Terror Danjah - All I Wanna ft. Lauren Mason

13. Marco Del Horno vs. Swerve - Ho! Riddim ft. P Money

14. Dark Sky - Leave

15. Girl Unit - Wut

16. Hyetal - Phoenix

17. JME - Famalam

18. Maddslinky - Special (MJ Cole's Back To The Future Remix)

19. Submerse & Resketch - Hold It Down

See Downloads Section

As promised. Another month, another mix!

What do Aphex Twin, Kanye West, and Chris Rock have in common?

2010-11-12T21:17:00.000-08:00

This song. Kanye samples one of my favorite songs of all time on his album...

For what it's worth, I think the song/album are fine, though I wish Kanye's samples weren't so pronounced sometimes (and of course Aphex Twin won't get the recognition he deserves).

Future Sound: An Underground Electronic Music Documentary

2010-11-07T22:51:00.001-08:00

Future Sound - An Underground Electronic Music Documentary - HD from Jamie Whitby on Vimeo.

Dir: Jamie Whitby & Rachel Lob-levyt // UK // 2010

Future Sound is a short documentary that looks into a small cross section of London's forward-thinking underground dance music scene, exploring some of the things that define and affect it as it moves into a new age of digital innovation.

Featuring interviews with Roska, Scratcha DVA, Blackdown, Mark Fisher, and Lisa Blanning, plus footage from a live SBTRKT DJ set.

Single Sundays #2

2010-11-07T22:38:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the absence of posts lately. Here's another batch of tunes. Expect a November mix next!

-

Terror Danjah - All I Wanna ft. Lauren Mason

Teen Daze - Everywhere

Shuttle - Rotten Guts ft. Cadence Weapon (Gold Panda Remix)

Pretty Lights - Out Of Time

Nosaj Thing - Caves (Teebs Remix)

MORE AFTER THE JUMP

Phaeleh - Tachi

Fantastic Mr. Fox - Sepia Song

Siah & Yeshua Dapoed - Gravity

Bonobo - Eyesdown ft. Andreya Triana (Floating Points Remix)

Dorian Concept - Her Tears Taste Like Pears

Offshore - Jen At The Station

Anti-Pop Consortium - Volcano (Four Tet Remix)

Le Knight Club - Santa Claus (Paul Johnson Remix)

Mark Knight & Funkagenda - Man With The Red Face

Thunderball - Solar

Dark Sky - Leave

Trolley Snatcha - We Go Deep

Single Sundays #1

2010-10-24T00:03:00.000-07:00

THIS IS WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY THERE IS TOO MUCH MUSIC TO LISTEN TO

Darkstar - Dear Heartbeat

Jamie Woon - Night Air (Ramadanman Remix)

Shed - Leave Things

Gold Panda - Same Dream China

Phaeleh - Changes ft. Soundmouse

MORE AFTER THE JUMP

Clubroot - Remember Me

SBTRKT - The Unspoken

Skrillex - Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites (Noisia Remix)

The XX - Crystalised (Dark Sky Remix)

Small Black - Camouflage

Simba & Profisee - Rubicon Donz

Dark Sky - Drowned City

Hyetal & Peverelist - Rrrr

LV ft. Okmalumkoolkat - Boomslang

Lenzman - Open Page ft. Riya

Jamie Woon - Night Air (Ramadanman Remix)

Benga - I Come From London

Raffertie - Rank Functions (Ital Tek Remix)

Hammer - Explosive ft. Royal-T

Marco Del Horno & DJ Swerve - Ho! Riddim ft. P-Money

Mimosa - Drippin

Review: Clubroot - II - MMX

2010-10-23T23:45:00.000-07:00

Review: Clubroot II - MMX

Dubstep / Garage

CD1

1. Orbiting

2. Waterways

3. Dry Cured

4. Sjambok

5. Toe To Toe

6. Whistles & Horns

7. Running On Empty

8. Physicality

9. Dust Storm

10. Closure

11. Cherubs Cry

CD2

1. Chamber

2. Solar Flares

3. Remember me

9/10

Wow. This release completely flew by me, but I'm glad I had the chance to listen to it--it's one of the best albums I've heard all year. Clubroot turns atmospheric dubstep into an art-form, masterfully blending heavy synths and basses with garage rhythms and some chopped-up, down-tuned vocals. The album is very reminiscent of Burial, Scuba and Synkro; a bit derivative perhaps, but you won't hear me complaining.

Review: Dark Sky - Frames / Something To Lose

2010-10-22T23:08:00.000-07:00

Review: Dark Sky Frames EP

Dubstep

1. Reflex

2. Night Light

3. Drowned City

4. Fly

4.5/5

Review: Dark Sky Something To Lose

1. Something To Lose

2. Ghost Notes

4.5/5

Dark Sky is very, very quickly becoming one of my favorite producers, and is definitely one to watch. Grab these, and hope for an album as much as I am.

Review: Darkstar - North

2010-10-22T23:00:00.000-07:00

Review: Darkstar North

Dubstep / Electronic

1. In The Wings

2. Gold

3. Deadness

4. Aidy's Girl Is A Computer

5. Under One Roof

6. Two Chords

7. North

8. Ostkreuz

9. Dear Heartbeat

10. When Its Gone

8.5/10

Darkstar's trademark gloomy, chopped up production has lead to some of my favorite songs in the past couple of years, so it's no surprise that the debut album for the group came with very high expectations. It turns out they added a singer to the group and went with a more vocal route, veering slightly toward the realm of moody electro-pop a la ... well ... The Postal Service and Styrofoam. Thankfully, the production is top notch throughout and the songs are quite memorable when done well ("Dear Heartbeat"), but the album can seem a bit too gloomy at times. Once listen to "Aidy's Girl," which has been floating around for a while, and you'll miss the Darkstar of old.

Protect Your Neck (Fall Knitwear)

2010-10-17T02:29:00.000-07:00

Everyone needs a good necktie, and wool seems to be the perfect choice for the coming winter (just don't spill anything on it). After shopping around the internet, here are some of the nicer options I came across, with some samples:

Howard Yount

http://www.howardyount.com/

Berg & Berg

http://www.bergbergstore.com/

Pierrepont Hicks

http://pierreponthicks.com/default.aspx

Alexander Olch

http://www.olch.com/

Drakes of London

http://www.drakes-london.com/

Mixtape Download #5: Still Not Doctor

2010-10-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

Mixtape Download

Still Not Doctor

Dubstep / Future Garage / 2 Step

RIAA killin' me. See Downloads section.

New mixtape for October! This one is mainly songs I've been using lately to psych myself up for interviews, hence the name. Hope you like it!

Robert G. Edwards Wins The Nobel Prize

2010-10-04T20:32:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Robert E. Edwards, and congratulations Britain, for winning the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
-
In vitro fertilization innovator Robert G. Edwards wins Nobel Prize

British biologist Robert G. Edwards, whose contributions to the technology of in vitro fertilization have made more than 4 million couples parents, has been awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine.
Working with Dr. Patrick Steptoe, Edwards, now 85, developed the techniques for removing mature eggs from a woman's ovaries, fertilizing them in test tubes and inducing them to begin dividing before implanting them back in the mother.
Their efforts yielded the July 25, 1978, birth of Louise Brown, the first "test tube baby," both demonstrating the success and the safety of the technique and bringing hope to infertile people all over the world. An estimated 10% of all couples are unable to conceive naturally.
Edwards, an emeritus professor at Cambridge University, is in failing health and was unable to accept the early morning call from Sweden's Nobel Committee. "I spoke to his wife, and she was delighted, and she was sure he would be delighted too," the committee's secretary, Goran Hansson, told a Stockholm news conference.

via LA Times
-
And in the other corner...
Vatican: Nobel Win For Robert Edwards 'Completely Out Of Order'
via Huffington Post

Really?

GYAKUSOU: Nike X UC

2010-10-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

Bit of a late pass on this one. Nike and Undercover have collaborated on a range of running gear, a good fit given Undercover's tendency to experiment with synthetic fabrics and practical innovations. The price points seem very reasonable as well. I wasn't too interested at first seeing as how I already have a bit of running gear, and I get the feeling everyone and their marathon-running mothers will be lining up for this. Then, I saw this:

I mean...damn. That is a beautiful jacket. The sleeves are detachable as well for year-long usage. It looks like just the thing I might need in the NY rain...perhaps over a nice new base layer...and perhaps a set of pants while I'm at it...

Sigh. Looks like I'll be lining up with the rest of 'em after all.

More here.

"Let It Bleed Vs. Let It Be" by Yoshi Sodeoka

2010-10-04T12:41:00.000-07:00

"The entire track is constructed out of two of the most well-known songs in the history of music, Let It Be by Beatles and Let It Bleed by Rolling Stones. Each track was sliced up into small pieces and rearranged. Let It Be is panned on the right channel, Let It Bleed is panned on the left channel."

I had seen the photos before but I never realized there was a video to this. It's always nice to come across something you've seen before and realize there's much more to the story.

Also by Sodeoka:

Beautiful. See more here.

Visvim Americana Deck Folk

2010-10-01T23:27:00.000-07:00

I think I've found my absolute favorite shoe of all time, and it's the Visvim Americana Deck Folk. I have worn these nearly every single day for the past 2 months and I don't see myself stopping anytime soon. The Americana is sized just large enough to have a more interesting shape than a typical, everywhere-you-look boat shoe, yet not too bulky for everyday wear. The leather and the construction are holding up excellently, more-so than any other shoe I've ever owned. In fact, they got absolutely soaked today in the NY rain and the only noticeable difference is that they're a lot cleaner than they were before. I've been stepped on about 50 times and no encounter has ever left a mark.

Visvim is a favorite of mine because of how much I love the brand and hate it at the same time. Hiroki Nakamura's devotion to detail, heritage, functionality and socklessness (!) place Visvim's footwear among the best and most sought-after in the entire world. On the other hand, exorbitant prices, often-questionable originality and the occasional design misstep make the shoes hard to acquire and the cost hard to justify.

It's a testament to the brand, though, that if I could only stop by one store during a visit to Tokyo it would undoubtedly be F.I.L. I don't think I've ever been able to leave F.I.L. empty-handed, either, and this last trip was no different. I'd long put the Americana as a shoe I would probably never acquire for any number of reasons (timing, proxy costs, etc.) but it turns out F.I.L. had just done a full re-stock. There they were, tempting me, and my love-affair with all things Chromexcel certainly didn't help matters. I mean just look at the damned things.

Yes, Visvim's pricing is hard to justify, and yes, you can get very similar shoes for a very different cost (that's a full-on rip, by the way). But if you don't mind a little break from tradition (and you shouldn't), there's something to be said about the way these feel each time I slip them on, and that happens quite a bit.

Notes:

-If you're looking for a pair, the cheapest option is to call up a friend or proxy in Japan and have them either visit F.I.L. in person or scour Yahoo.jp auctions.

-Purchase the shoes a half-size down if possible, even though they fit true to size. They'll be uncomfortable for a bit but they will eventually stretch to a perfect fit. This applies to all Chromexcel footwear, given the leather's pull-up--purchase them too large and you risk marking the vamp with the edge of your toes.

Review: Eskmo - Eskmo

2010-10-01T22:14:00.000-07:00

Review: Eskmo Eskmo

Glitch Hop / Electronic / Dubstep

1 Cloudlight

2 We Got More

3 Color Dropping

4 The Melody

5 You Go, I See That

6 We Have Invisible Friends (Washed Mix)

7 Become Matter Soon, For You

8 Moving Glowstream

9 Starships

10 Communication

11 Siblings

12 Gold and Stone

13 My Gears Are Starting to Tremble

4/10

"Cloudlight" is a great song, so I was excited to hear the rest of the album. Unfortunately it's quite a huge disappointment. Every track is basically a less satisfying shadow of "Cloudlight"--sounds and instruments are reused all over the place, and I would have a lot of trouble telling many of these songs apart. The terrible vocals don't help much either. Worth a listen only if you absolutely love glitch hop, otherwise you can skip this.

Rick Owens Women's S/S 2011

2010-10-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

The collection won't change anyone's mind about the designer, but it is a breath of fresh air after last season's mess. Reminds me of F/W '09, probably my favorite, but with a surprising amount of variety and refined experimentation. I love this silhouette.

From LA to NYC

2010-09-30T00:59:00.000-07:00

I've just touched down in New York, where I will be living for at least the next few months. Unfortunately, due to interviews and such I'm not going to be able to spend as many of my days here as I'd like. Regardless, expect more photographs from cities and schools around the country in the coming months. The apartment search officially begins tomorrow...

(If you're in the city and I haven't contacted you, shoot me a message or something!)

Review: Magnetic Man - Magnetic Man (Album)

2010-09-30T00:31:00.000-07:00

Review: Magnetic Man Magnetic Man 2010

Dubstep / Electronic

1. Flying Into Tokyo

2. Fire (Feat. Ms. Dynamite)

3. I Need Air (Feat. Angela Hunte)

4. Anthemic

5. The Bug

6. Ping Pong

7. Perfect Stranger (Feat. Katy B)

8. Mad

9. Boiling Water (Feat. Sam Frank)

10. K Dance

11. Crossover (Feat. Katy B)

12. Box Of Ghosts

13. Karma Crazy

14. Getting Nowhere (Feat. John Legend)

8.5/10

Magnetic Man, both the group and the album, is a big deal for dubstep. The genre's first "supergroup," the project consists of Skream, Benga, and Artwork, long-time friends since meeting at Croydon's historic Big Apple Records. Skream and Benga are two of dubstep's biggest and most prolific producers, responsible for many genre defining tunes such as Skream's "Midnight Request Line" and Benga and Coki's "Night." The Magnetic Man album contains the first dubstep-rooted single to crack the UK Top 10 ("I Need Air"), and "Perfect Stranger" looks poised to do it again. By all means, the release of Magnetic Man will mark a change in the genre. It will introduce dubstep to the masses, it will spur a league of copycats, and it will certainly split the already-divided followers of the genre.

If you're not here as a dubstep devotee and wonder why I keep posting about it, listen to this album. If you have any interest in electronic music at all, it may end up being the best thing you've heard all year. I personally know a few listeners who were converted after Skream and Benga played at Nocturnal last weekend, stealing the show from the other, more mundane acts.

Unfortunately, I feel that the album will leave the rest of us slightly disappointed. Granted, some of the tracks are the best I've heard all year, including "Perfect Stranger" and "I Need Air." The problem, though, is that I have been listening to them all year. And having eagerly awaited the rest of the album for so long, what we're left with pales in comparison. "Flying Into Tokyo" starts the album off with a weird Yann Tiersen-esque vibe, which is fine but unnecessary, and "The Bug" is just pointless. "Anthemic," with its heavy, melodic vibe, is probably my favorite of the new instrumental tracks. "Crossover," while far from a bad tune, unfortunately doesn't hold a candle to its Benga-produced counterpart, "Katy On A Mission."

I like the album, but given that half of it was previewed before hand, I already knew I would. I only wish Magnetic Man would have pushed the envelope a little more, and I know they have the talent to do so. They've already begun to direct the course of dubstep, certainly in a more melodic and radio-friendly direction (see: Caspa's "Love Never Dies"). They could have also taken things to the other extreme by producing more interesting and heavy-hitting tracks to balance things out, but it seems they've chosen to play it safe. This may very well be the album of the year, but I'm confident it could have been better.

The Interview

2010-09-28T01:59:00.000-07:00

Prepping for interviews has got me looking around for some suiting inspirations. If I find the time, I'll try expanding this to a what-to-wear post. What makes the interview difficult, of course, is looking as sharp as possible without drawing any attention to what you're wearing...

Review: Soul Jazz Presents: Future Bass

2010-09-28T01:27:00.000-07:00

Soul Jazz Records Presents: Future Bass

"Future Bass! Post-Dubstep, post-House, post everything! Four Tet, Mala, Untold, Black Chow (Kevin Martin/The Bug’s latest project), Coki and loads more all-exclusive new tracks on this new album for Soul Jazz Records."

1. Mala - Don't Let Me Go

2. Four Tet - Nothing To See

3. Untold - Fly Girls

4. Coki - Ransom

5. Ramadanman - Bass Drums

6. Black Chow - Air

7. LD - Mastermind

8. V.I.V.E.K - Talking Shadows

9. Randomer - Puzzled

10. Ginz - Boss

11. Harry Craze - Gone

12. Distal - Grape Donut

13. Sub Version - Free To Funk

8.5/10

A new and very highly awaited compilation from the label behind the well-received Steppa's Delight series. True to it's name, this comp operates mainly at the sub-bass level but keeps things interesting and manages to span a few genres. Randomer and Distal are the only two artists who haven't released through Soul Jazz before, and their tracks are very impressive. If you're not a big fan of bass-heavy music this may not be the best introduction, given the lack of melody in the high frequencies, but if this is your thing then seek this out immediately.

Randomer - Puzzled

Harry Craze - Gone

Ramadanman - Bass Drums

Review: Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest

2010-09-27T04:40:00.000-07:00

Deerhunter Halcyon Digest (2010)

Indie, Experimental, Alternative

1. Earthquake

2. Don't Cry

3. Revival

4. Sailing

5. Memory Boy

6. Desire Lines

7. Basement Scene

8. Helicopter

9. Fountain Stairs

10. Coronado

11. He Would Have Laughed

8/10

A pleasantly listenable new album from Deerhunter. A little uninspired at the beginning, but things really open up after "Memory Boy" into lush, somewhat dreamy sounds that are a bit surprising from a band known for their frequent genre-bending and experimentation. "Desire Lines" is a must-listen.

Skream & Benga (Live)

2010-09-26T06:37:00.000-07:00

I've finally had to chance to see Skream & Benga (joined on-stage by Plastician, Hudson Mohawke, 12th Planet and Caspa) perform together after an entire summer of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Those two short hours were probably the most fun I have ever had in front of a set of (very large) speakers. Both producers pulled out their best tunes from the past few months and even threw in some new surprises (I'm pretty sure they played a new Magnetic Man track, didn't record it but it was good). The crowd was a little weak, but a few of us in front knew nearly every tune they threw out, and being in good company you bet your ass we sang along. Don't judge. Shaky, unintelligble videos after the jump.

Review: Magnetic Man - Magnetic Man (Sampler)

2010-09-21T02:55:00.000-07:00

Magnetic Man Magnetic Man (Sampler)

Dubstep, Electronic, Drum and Bass

1. I Need Air (Feat. Angela Hunte)

2. Boiling Water (Feat. Sam Frank)

3. Getting Nowhere (Feat. John Legend)

4. Perfect Stranger (Feat. Katy B)

5. Mad

8/10

Magnetic Man is Skream, Benga, and Artwork. It seems like anyone who cares at all about dubstep loves them or hates them. Given the fact that Benga & Skream's Rinse show basically sit at the top of my essential-listening list, my stance should be no mystery. "Pop-step" or not, Magnetic Man tunes accomplish what dance music ultimately exists for--they get people moving. How do you reconcile that with a recent post praising Burial and all that dark, atmospheric artists have done for the genre? Er...you don't think about it, and move along.

Anyways, "I Need Air" was a chart topper in the UK and the forthcoming album (Oct 11) will certainly be no different. This little sampler was leaked a little while ago with two new songs from the group, "Boiling Water" and "Getting Nowhere" (featuring John Legend, somewhat unfortunately). Unfortunately, these are probably the two weakest songs they've put out so far. "Boiling Water" is basically "Perfect Stranger" redux, with less attractive vocals. The drum loop is almost identical as well, and how they managed this (on a sampler, no less) is kind of baffling. "Getting Nowhere" fares better, a little more spacey than the rest of the songs, but John Legend's vocals are a bit distracting and don't mesh well with the rest of the track. You've probably heard the other songs, but in case you haven't they're all good. When Mary Anne Hobbs dropped "Mad" in Tokyo, I was grinning from ear to ear.

The full album is out October 11. If you want to preorder it or just peek at the tracklist, it's listed on itunes here.

Magnetic Man - Perfect Stranger (f/ Katy B) (Video) from Adrien Picard on Vimeo.

Review: The Walkmen - Lisbon

2010-09-18T03:28:00.000-07:00

The Walkmen Lisbon (2010)

Indie, Rock

1. Juveniles

2. Angela Surf City

3. Follow The Leader

4. Blue As Your Blood

5. Stranded

6. Victory

7. All My Great Designs

8. Woe Is Me

9. Torch Song

10. While I Shovel The Snow

11. Lisbon

7.5/10

The Walkmen's "The Rat" is one of my guilty pleasure songs. If I found it at a karaoke bar, you can bet it'd be near the top of my list. It's got tons of energy, it's fun to sing, and it's just as fun to watch it performed. "Angela Surf City" impresses for the same reasons, and kicks Lisbon off to a great start. It's quite obvious, though, that if I judged Lisbon that way I'd be missing the point by quite a large margin. Lisbon is a good album because it's timeless. Hamilton Leithauser has a great voice, and the production is top-notch. The album has it's energetic moments, but what's important is the refinement that's heard from start to finish. The melodies are stripped down to their essentials--perhaps too much at times, but generally to great effect. These songs may not catch you at first, but they'll never fail to provide a good listen. "Angela Surf City" may stand out, but it's "Torch Song" that really reflects the simple and mature song-writing that lies at the heart of Lisbon.

Mixtape Download: ATMOSPHERIC RE-ENTRY

2010-09-10T01:46:00.000-07:00

Atmospheric Re-entry Mixtape

24:05

1. Arbol & Fibla - Last Screening

2. Vaccine - Wishful Thinking

3. D1 - Sorrow

4. Silkie - Beauty

5. Pariah - Railroad

6. Zomby - Test Me For A Reason

7. Jose James - Blackmagic (Joy Orbison's Recreation)

8. D1 - Paradox

9. Skream - Organic

10. Darkstar - Videotape

11. Shuttle - Tunnel

12. Skream - Burnin Up (A Jungle Tribute)

DOWNLOAD HERE

I said I'd try my hand at mixing some songs together, and here's the promised result. After quite a bit of trial-and-error, I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out and the process was a lot more fun than I expected. I took a mix I made a while back that was taken down by the RIAA (!) and updated it a bit--the songs have a lot more in common this time around and the mix has it's title for a reason! Anyways, as I'm still in the learning process, feedback is definitely appreciated about anything, mixing technique, song choices, etc. Enjoy!

Burial/Kode9 Farewell Mix for Mary Anne Hobbs' Final Show

2010-09-09T01:55:00.000-07:00

After 14 years at BBC Radio 1, Mary Anne Hobbs performed her last show earlier tonight with a guest mix from Burial & Kode9, capping a few weeks of farewell mixes from incredible guest artists (Skream, Joker, Digital Mystikz, Ramadanman and Shackleton). Having Burial come out of his trademark radio silence was the most memorable and appropriate ending she could have given her show, given that Burial (on Kode9's Hyperdub) and Mary Anne Hobbs are arguably the two most responsible for dubstep's rise in popularity over the years.

Download the mix here

1. Speedy J – Tesla
2. Zomby – Natalia’s Song
3. Brandy – Never Say Never (El-B version 1)
4. Brandy – Never Say Never (El-B version 2)
5. Brandy – Angel (X-Men vocal mix)
6. Laurie Spiegel – Voices Within – A Requiem
7. Alena – Turn It Around (Hard House Bantons
8. Cooly G – He Da Biz
9. Theo Parrish – Soul Control feat. Alena Waters
10. KMFH aka Kyle Hall – Girl U So Strong (Wild Oats)
11. Terror Danjah – S.O.S.
12. Darkstar – 2 Chords
13. Prince – Condition of the Heart
14. Erykah Badu – Telephone
15. Foul Play – Being With U Rmx
16. A Guy called Gerald – Silent Cry

I won't talk too much about the mix, because it needs to be heard for itself. I just finished listening to it and all I can say is it's incredible. It is every bit as atmospheric as one would expect from Burial, and even though it doesn't feature any new tunes by the artist his trademark ambience and haunting samples tie the entire thing together. This is definitely late-night listening material, to be enjoyed in the solitude of one's home.

If you have even a passing interest in the genre and you haven't listened to Burial's "Untrue," or Mary Anne Hobb's "Dubstep Warz" show, don't miss out. They are undoubtedly the sounds of a genre coming into it's own, and tonight the two came together to mark, and celebrate, the end of an era.

-

Skream - Outside the Box

2010-09-06T02:39:00.000-07:00

Skream Outside the Box (2010)

Electronic, Dubstep, UK Garage, 2 Step

1. Perferated

2. 8 Bit Baby (Feat. Murs)

3. CPU

4. Where You Should Be (Feat. Samn Frank)

5. How Real (Feat. Freckles)

6. Field Of Emotion

7. I Love The Way

8. Listenin' To The Records On My Wall

9. Wibbler

10. Metamorphosis

11. Finally (Feat. La Roux)

12. Reflections (Feat Dbridge & Instra:mental)

13. A Song For Lenny

14. The Epic Last Song

Bonus

1. Give You Everything (Feat. Freckles)

2. Do U Know

3. Amity Step

4. Organic

5. Stand Up

6. WTF

9/10

If you haven't picked this up yet, do so immediately. Like every other producer, there are some people out there who don't particularly like Skream, but the popularity of "Midnight Request Line" can't be ignored and the guy's output is huge. "Skream!" isn't a perfect album by any means, but that and Skream's Rinse CD played a huge part in selling me on dubstep as a genre. Not to mention, his show with Benga is one of the best things on Rinse and pretty funny as well...

Anyways, unlike the other originators of dubstep who find themselves labeled "brostep" these days (Rusko, Caspa, etc.), Skream seems to have attracted the "popstep" or simply "mainstream" label with both his latest album and his Magnetic Man project w/ Benga and Artwork. That's not too far off the mark, actually, but for the first time (and it was long due) dubstep can be called "catchy" and there's nothing wrong with that. Some of the backing vocals and melodies are so well done, in fact, that the more old-school Skream tracks like Widdler and Metamorphosis seem almost bare in comparison. On the flip-side, the collaborations with huge artists don't seem to bode well for the future of dubstep. Katy B and Freckles, fine. But Murs and La Roux...?

Despite his place as one of the founders of dubstep, Skream's latest album is probably best categorized as Electronic music, and left at that. It might not appeal to everyone, but hey--to each his own. Personally, this is one of the best-produced albums I've heard all year, even if the vocals are a little much.

Salem - King Night

2010-09-05T00:26:00.000-07:00

Salem King Night (2010)

Witch House / Goth Juke / Drag / ??? / Triangles and Shit

1 King Night
2 Asia
3 Frost
4 Sick
5 Release Da Boar
6 Trapdoor
7 Redlights
8 Hound
9 Traxx
10 Tair
11 Killer

8/10

Depending on who you ask, this is either one of the most original albums of the year or a bad joke that's gone too far. It's hard to write about Salem or the genre without sounding ridiculous, so I won't bother. If you haven't been introduced to them yet, give it a try. You'll either find yourself having a blast, or turning them off pretty quickly. Personally, my favorite thing about Salem is that they're not afraid to show off their influences, from techno, shoegaze, the dirty south, and everything in between. Actually, scratch that, my favorite thing about them is their infamous live performances, which I really hope to catch one day. Anyways, this album is mostly previously released/leaked songs, and some of the new ones have yet to grow on me. It does seem like all of the songs received some much-needed professional mastering, though, which makes them all worth a re-listen. "Redlights" is always the favorite, but I'm quite happy/surprised that "Trapdoor" made the cut as well. Now where's the White Ring album?

Mixtape Download: MATHBLASTER MIX

2010-09-04T02:22:00.000-07:00

Mathblaster Mix

34:53

1. Submerse - One More Day

2. Baths - Nordic Laurel

3. Swarms - I Gave You Everything ft. Holly Prothman

4. Cop Magnet - Benched

5. Hard-Fi - We Need Love (Joker Remix)

6. Teen Daze - Driving Home From The Beach (The Feeling Of)

7. Erykah Badu - On and On (Pariah Remix)

8. Snowden - Don't Really Know Me

9. DJ Fresh - Gold Dust

10. TOKiMONSTA - Gamble

11. Benga - Slaughter ft. Youngman

12. Rubix Qube - Ride Round Town

13. Killa Kela - Everyday (Q-Bik Remix)

14. Starkey - Stars ft. Anneka

I made this mixtape for superfuture's mix-trading thread, which I am horribly late to. I tried mixing the songs together for the first time, but since I am a total amateur don't expect any fancy beatmatching or crazy effects or anything. Maybe next time! There's no real theme here either, just a few songs that I really like listening to (mostly new, some old). I tried not to overlap too much with the other mixes, and mixed up the genres as best I could. Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD HERE

For more mixes:

Second Floor of Corso Como) (sup lab)

You Knew Pac (Pop) (sup DÜM)

Review: Pariah - Safehouses EP

2010-09-03T23:04:00.000-07:00

Review: Pariah Safehouses EP (2010)

Dubstep, 2 Step, Future Garage

1 The Slump

2 Prism

3 Railroad

4 Crossed Out

5 C-Beams

6 Safehouses

8.5/10

Pariah is very quickly becoming one of my favorite producers. He hasn't been producing for very long either, which makes his music all the more impressive. 'Orpheus' was the track that really put him on the map, but I have yet to hear a tune of his that I don't like. The basslines on this EP are always rolling and heavy, characteristic of the Future Garage sound. Influences from Burial and UK garage are front-and-center as well; the vocal samples are always beautiful and often quite dark, and Pariah nailed the drum track grooves. If I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be 'Railroad.'

Music Dump

2010-09-03T02:55:00.000-07:00

Here's some of the music I posted to facebook in my absence, will get back to new music soon. After the jump.

Movies, Guns, and Mann - Another Random Obsession

2010-09-03T00:44:00.001-07:00

The American

Un Prophete

I watched both this week, and have happily added them to the small list of movies that understand how gunshots are supposed to look/feel/sound.

If you don't understand the obsession, watch the bank heist from Heat with the sound turned up (subwoofer or headphones are necessary, youtube here if you insist on low quality).

Mann was one of the first directors to understand that a gunshot is much more than a simple sound effect. In reality, the sound of a gun firing manifests itself both physically and mentally, by pushing sound waves into your chest and placing fear in your mind.

In the heist scene, when the shots start firing that's the only thing you'll be able to hear, and that's how it should be. Notice, too, how each gun has a very unique sound, something many directors don't bother paying attention to. At the very least, the way a gun sounds in a particular movie reflects whether the director intends to pursue realism or simply cater to what the average movie-goer is accustomed to. Mann may not be the most balanced film-maker in the world, but he was the first to focus on realism in his action scenes and it shows in all of his movies. (Another stand-out: The use of military tactics vs. untrained criminals in 2006's Miami Vice)

Another title for this post: Why I Liked Public Enemies Even Though Nobody Else Did

Stars - The Five Ghosts

2010-06-14T02:55:00.001-07:00

Review

Stars The Five Ghosts

Indie Pop

2010

1. Dead Hearts
2. Wasted Daylight
3. I Died So I Could Haunt You
4. Fixed
5. We Don't Want Your Body
6. He Dreams He's Awake
7. Never Been Good With Change
8. The Passenger
9. The Last Song Ever Written
10. How Much More
11. Winter Bones

5/5

This was definitely one of my most anticipated albums of the year. Listening to it still feels like a dream, and hearing Amy/Torquil's voices again feels every bit as good as I was hoping. In my opinion the album starts very strong and kind of loses steam in the second half, but there's just something about them (it's probably the voices) that makes even their most boring songs stand out in some way or another. From my first impressions, "Wasted Daylight" is my favorite.

The Glitch Mob @ The Music Box

2010-06-14T02:13:00.001-07:00

This show cemented my opinion that edIT is a genius. The crowd wasn't really what I was expecting (a lot of crazy, screaming fan-girls?) but it was a fun show. The unreleased tracks they played were amazing. iPhone photos, poor quality, sorry. Free The Robots played a crazy opening set too. Acid jazz, psychedelic trance, dubstep, a rapping Mac text-voice, and everything in between. I don't know. I liked it!

The Trad's Blind Chino Tasting

2010-06-08T15:52:00.001-07:00

Staying on the subject of chinos, the excellent blog The Trad recently did a series of 'Blind Chino Tasting,' posts where men's style writers G. Bruce Boyer and Robert E. Bryan reviewed 13 pairs of chinos with the tags and prices removed. The results are interesting, and without spoiling too much, lend faith to the idea that when you purchase a garment produced with a focus on detail, fabric, and history, the extra money is worth it. I've never heard of Bill's Khaki's (link) until the posts, and while I'm a positive they won't fit me without some serious alteration, I'm a bit curious to try a pair.

Link: "A Blind Chino Tasting" @ The Trad

EP's Rivet Chino

2010-06-06T23:52:00.000-07:00

(Note: Father's Day Gift Idea?)

I like Epaulet (link). On one hand, they are a nicely curated web-store with quite a strong list of brands in stock (including Alden, Gitman Vintage, Mark McNairy, Wm. J. Mills & Co.). What I really like about them though is that, when they find a hole in the market for simple and classic men's garments, they will find way to fill it with a quality product and at a very competitive price point. In this regard they're not so unlike Drew and his ToJ project. Both offer clothing where attention to detail is put at the highest priority, and pricing is always as fair as possible, the difference being that Epaulet does very small stock runs vs. ToJ's made-when-ordered system, meaning Epaulet tends to sell out quite quickly but at least you can have your order within the week.

I was a little on the fence about the styling of their products, though, until they released their EP's Rivet Chino which is right up my alley. Their attention to fabric choice and detail is readily apparent: The cotton is a nice and smooth Pima cotton (link) sourced from the UK, the 8oz fabric is a perfect summer weight, and the fabric has been "Mercerized," (which...uh...apparently makes it stronger), and the entire pant is produced domestically in Los Angeles. As if that wasn't enough, the pockets are a nice hickory-striped contrast fabric, the fly consists of gun-metal donut buttons, and the main seam is taped up for longetivity. But my absolute favorite detail of all on these pants is the natural harringbone twill that runs down the entire inside seam, which beautifully covers up the stitchwork and provides a really eye-catching detail when the pants are rolled up (and for those of you who know me...they always are). Finally, it comes down to the fit, which is a perfect, slightly slim and tapered cut that isn't too tight and provides enough room for comfort. For $135, I think these pants are a steal, and it looks like they've been selling very well. Compared to Uniqlo's very popular vintage chinos (which retail at $40 I think), the price difference may be a bit steep, but this is one of those rare cases where the extra attention to fabric, fit, and detail on the Epaulet chinos makes them worth every extra penny. I honestly can't think of a detail I'd like to have on a pair of chinos that isn't available here.

Buy here, while they're still available: EP's Rivet Chino (Offered in Navy and Khaki)

Sorry if it seems ridiculous to have written so much about a pair of chinos. Its nice to take a break from writing my personal statement, and honestly I love these pants to death. It's not that often anymore that I fine a piece of clothing that feels really special, and really earnestly designed, and I wanted to share that feeling. Expect some more reviews in the future of stuff that makes me happy.

june 5

2010-06-05T01:52:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates, quite busy lately. AMCAS, moving, unpacking, reading, watching, etc. The candle helps.

Mount Kimbie's new album finally pushed me to review something again, but I've certainly missed a lot of great stuff from last month (Glitch Mob, Tame Impala, DOM come to mind...). When I have access to my computer again, with all of my music, I'll try to recap things that shouldn't be missed. I feel a bit disheartened these days, as I can't shake the feeling that so much is passing me by, and I can't keep myself updated because of all the crap I have to do. You know... that feeling when Google Reader posts start piling...and piling...and piling some more. Terrible.

Some quick thoughts:

My impressions on Oshima's In the Realm of the Senses: This was the wrong movie to watch on Bluray. I am an idiot.

My impressions of UCLA's campus: There is a cafe geekily-called Cafe Synapse down the hallway from the lab I'd like to work in. This is a huge deal for me. If I take the 110 to the 2, then the 101, I might even be able to skip through the worst of rush-hour traffic. Actually, who I am kidding.

My impressions of the Panasonic DMC-GF1: I love this camera more and more every time I use it. I am constantly being amazed by the quality of the lens, and the size/look of the camera is simply unbeatable. I know a few people who I have picked one up at this point and no one seems disappointed. For a non-professional photographer, the GF1 is (almost) the perfect companion. I hate to say it but sometimes I feel like I won't be touching my 40D for a long, long time. I'll convert this into a proper post about the camera at some point.

My impressions of Umami Burger: The burger was okay. Pretty good. The thin fries though!!! Holy shit!!! With truffle-oil ketchup! (Even though all truffle oil is apparently fake!)

Mount Kimbie - Crooks and Lovers

2010-06-05T01:26:00.000-07:00

Review

Mount Kimbie - Crooks and Lovers

2010

Electronic / Dubstep

1. Tunnelvision
2. Would Know
3. Before I Move Off
4. Blind Night Errand
5. Adriatic
6. Carbonated
7. Ruby
8. Ode to Bear
9. Field
10. Mayor
11. Between Time

5/5!!!

Unfortunately only the promo is available right now, with Hotflush voice-overs, but I suggest you grab it anyways. It sounds like Mount Kimbie have diverged a little from the ambient, warm dubstep sound that made them famous; this album's production is definitely colder and crisper, and the sub-bass is much more subdued than before. The album isn't perfect, but at it's high points it's beautifully restrained, infectious, and extremely creative. If 'Field' isn't an homage to The Field, it sure as hell sounds like one. And I can't think of better cutting of a vocal sample than what MK accomplish on 'Before I Move Off.' That song and 'Carbonated' are probably my favorites, but it's still early and I'll be listening to this one for a while.

Mount Kimbie - Carbonated

may 1

2010-05-01T17:26:00.000-07:00

(flickr)

today was a pretty good day. it's nice to relax and take some time off before gearing up for my next final...

oh, and i learned today that color profiles actually make a difference (who knew??). i started working in prophoto RGB because someone 'highly recommended' that i do so to preserve color info, but i couldn't figure out why my flickr photos were looking like shit, all desaturated and stuff. well apparently flickr has a bad habit of stripping color profile info, and if your photo is in a larger profile than sRGB (say, adobe or prophoto) it is going to look like ass. so, lesson learned, if you're gonna be working with prophoto, make sure you save in sRGB before uploading to the web...

baltimore critical mass apr 2010

2010-04-30T19:51:00.000-07:00

(flickr)

today was perfect weather for biking in baltimore....

so bike we did.

the turn-out this time was not bad at all. certainly not as big as last halloween's critical mass, but riding in any group of this size is so much fun.

i was looking forward to next month's until i realized that i probably won't be here, and that this was probably my last baltimore critical mass ever. and to think, right as they're finally beginning to repave the roads... (i can't believe they even repaved druid hill park! definitely need to ride there more often now)

well, i'll certainly miss it. hopefully i can find something similar in LA or NY, but i doubt i'll find a cycling community that is as friendly, welcoming, and modest as it is here (and for this a special thanks goes out to mica cycling/velocipede/baltimorebikeworks). not to mention, with all of the changes being made (repaving, bike lanes, critical mass restarting), it feels like i'm leaving the city just as things are getting so good for cyclists.

but anyways...

Top 5: April 2010

2010-04-30T14:49:00.000-07:00

chillwave (or glo-fi if you're so inclined) seems to have had a pretty weak april but things are finally looking up again, and just in time for the sunny spring! so... this month's top 5 songs are (once again) dedicated to the surprisingly resilient genre, even if it has produced some pretty terrible offspring...

5. Best Coast - Our Deal

4. Pure Ecstacy - Voices

3. Korallreven - The Truest Faith

(One of them is in The Radio Dept.!)

2. Teen Daze - Shine On, You Crazy White Cap

1. DOM - Living In America

(This is the best biking song EVER even it is self parody)

Starkey - Ear Drums and Black Holes

2010-04-25T21:41:00.001-07:00

Review

Dubstep/Glitch

1. OK Luv
2. Murderous Words feat. Cerebral Vortex
3. 11th Hour
4. Numb feat. P-Money
5. Stars feat. Anneka
6. Multidial
7. Spacecraft
8. Neck Snap
9. Fourth Dimension
10. Club Games feat. Cerebral Vortex & Buddy Leezle
11. Alienstyles
12. Capsule
13. New Cities feat. Kiki Hitomi
14. Pleasure Points
15. Fidelio

4/5

Damn, I love Starkey. Moody dubstep with an astronomical/sci-fi touch. This album isn't exactly full of the best tunes but Stars is one of the best songs I've heard all year.

lazy

2010-04-25T21:34:00.001-07:00

Bye Bye Blackbird - Happy High EP

2010-04-25T13:31:00.003-07:00

Review

Chillwave/Lo-Fi

1. Happy High

2. Heartbeat

3. So Sorry, Girl

4. Ups & Downs

4/5

I haven't heard anything really good from chillwave in a while, so at this rate I'll take whatever I can get. These four songs are pretty catchy but they certainly don't stand with the best of the genre. The wait continues...

Listen Here

Noisia - Split The Atom

2010-04-21T18:17:00.001-07:00

Review

Noisia Split The Atom

Drum and Bass/Electronic/Dubstep

2010

1. Machine Gun
2. My World Ft. Giovanca
3. Shitbox
4. Split The Atom
5. Thursday
6.Leakage
7. Hand Gestures Ft. Joe Seven
8. Headknot
9. Red Heat
10. Shellshock Ft. Foreign Beggars
11. Whiskers
12. Alpha Centauri
13. Soul Purge Ft. Foreign Beggars
14. Diplodocus
15. Paper Doll
16. Dystopia
17. Sunhammer Ft. Amon Tobin
18. Stigma
19. Square Feet

4/5

Foals - Total Life Forever

2010-04-19T15:59:00.000-07:00

Review

Foals Total Life Forever

Indie/Rock/Math Rock

2010

1 Blue Blood
2 Miami
3 Total Life Forever
4 Black Gold
5 Spanish Sahara
6 This Orient
7 Fugue

8 After Glow
9 Alabaster
10 Two Trees
11 What Remains

5/5

One of my most anticipated albums of the year (I feel like I'm saying that all the time this week). I loved 'Antidotes' but the way Foals took their signature sound (insect-like guitars and all) to pretty incredible heights on "Spanish Sahara" and the small previews they provided online kept me counting the days until TLF was [released]. The new album is much more polished and varied than the first, and a lot warmer in tone, but the hyper-energetic feel of 'Antidotes' has certainly been turned down here and I feel like a lot of people will miss it. In my opinion, though, this album has a larger range than the first and is stronger for it. None of the tracks really reproduce the epic build-up of "Spanish Sahara," which is probably for the best anyways. I enjoy nearly every song on the album though, and I find myself getting caught up in them just when I'm about to dismiss them as okay.

Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (2nd)

2010-04-18T12:23:00.000-07:00

Review

Crystal Castles Crystal Castles (2nd)

Electronic/Chip-tune/Glitch/???

2010

1. Fainting Spells
2. Celestica
3. Doe Deer
4. Baptism
5. Year of Silence
6. Empathy
7. Suffocation
8. Violent Dreams
9. Vietnam
10. Birds
11. Pap Smear
12. Not In Love
13. Intimate
14. I Am Made of Chalk

5/5!!!

Okay, who cares if Crystal Castles are weird and Claudio is the biggest douche and whatever whatever. When I heard that they were releasing a new album, all I asked for was that they take 'Magic Spells' and make that song like 12 more times. In other words, I was expecting to be disappointed... But somehow, I am not!

The album starts off kind of weird with Celestica being surrounded by the scratchy, glitchy Fainting Spells and Doe Deer which aren't really too great (Doe Deer is pretty catchy though). But then the rest of the album is good and it gets better. It's has a glitcher, more lo-fi feel than the first which is perfectly fine, and it leans more toward the rolling, melodic electronica/chiptune that I loved from them. And 'Suffocation' is the 'Magic Spells' replacement I was looking for! Hell yes!

(All of my videos were taken down, this is the last one standing)

Supercar - Highvision

2010-04-15T20:15:00.000-07:00

Review

Supercar Highvision

JPop/Post-Rock/Electronic

2002

1. Starline
2. Warning Bell
3. Storywriter
4. Aoharu Youth (Album Version)
5. Otogi Nation
6. Strobolights (Album Version)
7. I
8. Yumegiwa Last Boy (Album Version)
9. Nijiro Darkness
10. Silent Yaritori

5/5

An incredible album. Post-rock elements mixed with starry electronica and a healthy dose of infectious J-pop catchiness. This album gets its fair share of haters for straying too far from the post-rock establishment but whatever; post-rock always seems to attract the most uptight of music fans anyways. I wouldn't be surprised if Supercar's decision to pursue electronic music is, for them, akin to putting auto-tune on a folkish indie band or something (I'm looking at you, Nick Thorburn). Anyways, I love something about almost every song so this one is definitely worth a listen. And this video reminds me of Ellegarden, which makes me happy:

Supercar and Ellegarden...come back :(

Scarlet Youth - Breaking The Patterns

2010-04-15T20:08:00.001-07:00

Review

Scarlet Youth Breaking The Patterns

Shoegaze

2009

1. Gleaming Endless Ocean

2. Wave Goodbye

3. Tokyo Daydreamer

4. High On Sky

5. Before The Surface Breaks

6. Sunshine Girl

4/5

Pretty standard shoegazey fare from Finland. Easy to listen to and get lost in. Kind of drags in the middle but begins and ends well.

Baths - Cerulean

2010-04-13T00:04:00.001-07:00

Review

Baths Cerulean

Electronic/IDM/Ambient/???

2010

1. Apologetic Shoulderblades

2. Lovely Bloodflow
3. Maximalist
4. ♥
5. Rafting Starlit Everglades
6. Aminals
7. Indoorsy
8. You're My Excuse to Travel
9. Rain Smell
10. Seaside Town
11. Mecha Joy
12. Palatial Disappointment
13. Departure
14. Hall

5/5

( )

Light Pollution - Apparitions

2010-04-12T23:58:00.000-07:00

Review

Light Pollution - Apparitions

Shoegaze/Lo-fi

1. Good Feelings
2. Oh, Ivory!
3. Drunk Kids
4. Fever Dreams
5. Deyci, Right On
6. Bad Vibes 4
7. All Night Outside
8. Witchcraft
9. Ssslowdreamsss

4.5/5

( )

Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record

2010-04-12T23:43:00.000-07:00

Review

Broken Social Scene Forgiveness Rock Record

Indie/Rock

2010

1. World Sick
2. Chase Scene
3. Texico Bitches
4. Forced to Love
5. All to All
6. Art House Director
7. Highway Slipper Jam
8. Ungrateful Little Father
9. Meet Me in the Basement
10. Sentimental X’s
11. Sweetest Kill
12. Romance to the Grave
13. Water in Hell
14. Me and My Hand

4/5

Okay, so I had a really positive review all written up but then I decided to re-listen to 'Broken Social Scene' and 'You Forgot It In People,' and I became increasingly disappointed in the new album. Yes, it's good, in fact it's very good, but I don't quite think even the best of the album (All To All/Sentimental X?) holds a candle to 'Swimmers', 'Bandwitch', '7/4 Shoreline,' or hell, any of 'You Forgot It In People.' (Maybe it's the lack of involvement from Feist/Amy Millan/Emily Haines?)

Then again, BSS seem to grow on me in unexpected ways, so who knows...

Speaking of Amy Millan, there's a new Stars album coming soon!!!

Scuba - Triangulation

2010-04-09T23:36:00.001-07:00

Review

Scuba Triangulation

Dubstep

2010

1. Descent
2. Latch
3. Three Sided Shape
4. Minerals
5. On Deck
6. Before
7. Tracers
8. You Got Me
9. So You Think You're Special
10. Heavy Machinery
11. Glance
12. Lights Out
13. Last Stand

5/5!

Sorry for not writing about this one sooner, this was definitely one of March's stand-out albums. I wasn't a huge fan of Scuba's previous, 'A Mutual Antipathy,' so I wasn't expecting much but I was very, very mistaken. The experimental edge seems to have been taken off a bit in exchange for some actual song-structure and the result is a much more enjoyable album. Some garage and house influences can definitely be felt as well. If anything, I can see 'Triangulation' selling some people onto dubstep when they weren't convinced before, for better or for worse.

Bonus points to Scuba for heading up Hotflush and working (previously) with Vaccine, one of my absolute favorites! (Among many, many others...)

Future Islands - In Evening Air

2010-04-09T23:23:00.000-07:00

Review

Future Islands In Evening Air

Post-punk/New Wave

1. Walking Through That Door
2. Long Flight
3. Tin Man
4. An Apology
5. In Evening Air
6. Swept Inside
7. Inch of Dust
8. Vireo's Eye
9. As I Fall

4/5

Another great creation from the not-always-so-great town of Baltimore. "Wave Like Home" is one of my favorite songs on "A: Reminiscence," so I knew this album wouldn't disappoint. I've never had a chance to see them in person, but this album tells me I should try to catch a show I before I leave. I'm not entirely sold on the singer's voice (Okay, this is kind of mean but he sort of sounds like Weezy on 'Long Flight') but the instrumentals and melodies are engaging enough to make up for it.

Caribou - Swim

2010-04-09T23:15:00.001-07:00

Review

Caribou Swim

Indie/Electronic

2010

1. Odessa
2. Sun
3. Kaili
4. Found Out
5. Bowls
6. Leave House
7. Hannibal
8. Labelia
9. Jamelia

4.5/5

Hazy, danceable, flowy, and poppy. Grew on me quite a bit.

Very very hard to pick a favorite song. Definitely isn't 'Odessa' but I can't find any others on youtube...

Items: Tote Bags

2010-04-08T20:44:00.000-07:00

Makr

Wm. J. Mills

Visvim

Engineered Garments

Waste(twice)

Altadena Works

Blk Pine Workshop

Archival Clothing

The Real McCoy's

Snowden - Slow Soft Syrup

2010-04-08T20:39:00.000-07:00

Review

Snowden Slow Soft Syrup EP

Indie/Shoegaze

1. No One In Control

2. Don't Really Know Me

3. Anemone Arms

4. So Red

5. No Words No More

4.5/5

WTF?? I've been pronouncing "anemone" incorrectly as "ane-no-mee" for my entire life??? Anyways, the video below speaks for itself. Amazing EP.

Archive - Londinium

2010-03-30T21:10:00.000-07:00

Review

Archive Londinium

Trip-Hop / Downtempo

1996

1 Old Artist
2 All Time
3 So Few Words
4 Headspace
5 Darkroom
6 Londinium
7 Man-Made
8 Nothing Else
9 Skyscraper
10 Parvaneh (Butterfly)
11 Beautiful World
12 Organ Song
13 Last Five

5/5!

My first exposure to Archive was their soundtrack to the French movie Michel Vaillant, which I spent about 6 years trying to find English subtitles for (Seriously. I finally succeeded though!) I've heard this described as one of the most under-rated and overlooked albums of all time and I can see why. This album is an true experience and crosses many boundaries. It is at times chill, melodic, brooding, hard-hitting, dark, and even playful (there's even some rap) ... There is definitely a surprising amount of beauty and talent at work here.

Delorean - Subiza

2010-03-28T20:53:00.001-07:00

Review

Delorean Subiza

Electronic / Indie

2010

1. Stay Close
2. Real Love
3. Endless Sunset
4. Grow
5. Simple Graces
6. Infinite Desert
7. Come Wander
8. Warmer Places
9. It's All Ours

5/5!!!

Have been looking forward to this ever since the amazing Ayrton Senna EP last year. The album is a little more toned down than the EP but there is something to love in every song. Full marks!

Cinnamon Chasers - A Million Miles From Home

2010-03-27T13:47:00.001-07:00

Review

Cinnamon Chasers A Million Miles From Home

Electronic / Indie

2009

1. I Like Watching You

2. Jetstreams

3. Wishing For The Fire

4. The World Is Yours

5. Candle Lights

6. Adored

7. Luv Deluxe

8. Modern Love

9. Ray Of Sun

10. Ultraviolent

11. White Flag

12. Your Heart Isn't Open Anymore

13. Sentimental

5/5!!!!!!

WHAT THE?!?! Where did this come from!? Who is this Russ Davies guy?!? And how did he manage to make like the catchiest album I've heard all year??? Okay I say that a lot but sometimes I feel like I actually mean it and this is one of those times yeah?? This is part electronic, part shoegaze, part indie, part chillwave, part super-sappy pop music which means it is 500% good! (You can skip the first track though.)

Breakage - Foundation

2010-03-25T06:08:00.001-07:00

Review

Breakage Foundation

Dubstep / Grime

2010

1. Open Up
2. Hardcore Music (interlude)
3. Hard (feat. Newham Generals & David Rodigan)
4. Digiboy (interlude)
5. Old Skool Ting
6. Squid Bass (interlude)
7. Run 'em Out (feat. Roots Manuva)
8. Temper (feat. Kemo)
9. Over (feat. Zarif)
10. Higher
11. Foundation
12. Justified (feat. Erin)
13. Vial (feat. Burial)
14. Speechless (feat. Donae'o)
15. If (interlude)
16. If (feat. Threshold)

4.5/5

Was a little worried after the Burial track didn't really live up to the hype after it leaked, but it fits into the entire album as a whole pretty well. Surprisingly good.

MGMT - Congratulations

2010-03-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Review

MGMT Congratulations

Electronic

2010

1. It's Working

2. Song For Dan Treacy

3. Someone's Missing

4. Flash Delirium

5. I Found A Whistle

6. Siberian Breaks

7. Brian Eno

8. Lady Dada's Nightmare

9. Congratulations

3.5/5

An okay album, with awesome album art (for what it's worth). I've really warmed up to the last song though.

Broken Bells - Broken Bells

2010-03-25T05:55:00.000-07:00

Review

Broken Bells Broken Bells

Indie

2010

1. The High Road

2. Vaporize

3. Your Head Is On Fire

4. The Ghost Inside

5. Sailing To Nowhere

6. Trap Doors

7. Citizen

8. October

9. Mongrel Heart

10. The Mall & Misery

4.5/5

Danger Mouse + James Mercer (The Shins)!!

Bonobo - Black Sands

2010-03-25T05:42:00.000-07:00

Review

Bonobo Black Sands

Downtempo / Trip-Hop

2010

1. Prelude

2. Kiara

3. Kong

4. Eyesdown ft. Andreya Triana

5. El Toro

6. We Could Forever

7. 1009

8. All In Forms

9. The Keeper ft. Andreya Triana

10. Stay The Same ft. Andreya Triana

11. Animals

12. Black Sands

5/5!!!

A lot of people have been waiting for this for a long time...4 years in the making, and it doesn't disappoint at all!

A: Reminiscence

2010-02-14T21:05:00.000-08:00

A: Reminiscence

1. Washed Out - Good Luck

2. Pure Ecstasy - Easy

3. Wild Nothing - Vultures Like Lovers

4. Neon Indian - Should Have Taken Acid With You

5. Pure Ecstasy - DWLDWD

6. Memoryhouse - To The Light House (Millionyoung Remix)

7. Tanlines - Real Life (Memory Tapes Remix)

8. Toro Y Moi - You Hid

9. Millionyoung - Cynthia

10. Small Black - Despicable Dogs (Washed Out Remix)

11. Washed Out - Feel It All Around (Toro Y Moi Remix)

12. White Hinterland - Icarus

13. Memoryhouse - Sleep Patterns

14. Washed Out - New Theory

15. Memory Cassette - Asleep At The Party

16. Toro Y Moi - Movements

17. Future Islands - Wave Like Home

18. Wild Nothing - Summer Holiday

19. Harbour - Talking To Myself

20. Best Coast - When I'm With You

Download

Another mixtape! This is all chillwave. Haziness, nostalgia, and fun times!

(250 downloads! Thanks everyone!!!!)

Top 10: January 2010

2010-02-06T00:33:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't been updating so much. Here's 10 songs though!

Top 5 (Dubstep)

5. Guido - Beautiful Complication ft. Aarya

4. Starkey - Moments of Mine ft. Anneka, Reso

3. Silkie - Beauty

2. Sub Focus - Could This Be Real (Joker Remix)

1. D-Bridge - Wonder Where

Top 5 (Not Dubstep)

5. Small Black - Despicable Dogs

4. Four Tet - She Just Likes To Fight

3. Tanlines - Real Life (Memory Tapes Remix)

2. Pure Ecstasy - Easy

1. Memoryhouse - To The Lighthouse (Millionyoung Remix)

Top 5: December 2009

2010-01-19T23:22:00.000-08:00

Might as well...

5. Imma G (Memory Tapes Remix) - Dem Getaway Boyz

4. You've Got The Love (The XX Remix) - Florence & The Machine

3. You Are Not Alone (Synamatix Remix) - Olive

2. You Hid - Toro Y Moi

1. Feel It All Around (Toro Y Moi Remix) - Washed Out

Sorry if they're not all from December. It's all kind of a jumble.

Skream - Repercussions Of A Razorblade / A New Daw

2010-01-19T23:10:00.000-08:00

Review
Skream Repercussions Of A Razorblade / A New Dawn
Dubstep
2010

1 Repercussions Of A Razorblade
2 A New Dawn

4.5/5

A surprisingly moody release from Skream...awesome.

Emancipator - Safe In The Steep Cliffs

2010-01-19T22:49:00.001-08:00

Review
Emancipator Safe In The Steep Cliffs
Instrumental/Hip-Hop/Electronica/Chillout/Ambient/Trip-Hop/???
2010

1 Greenland
2 Black Lake
3 Jet Stream
4 Kamakura
5 All Through The Night
6 Old Devil
7 Nevergreen
8 Ares
9 Rattlesnakes
10 Bury Them Bones
11 Vines
12 Hill Sighed
13 Siren
14 Safe In The Steep Cliffs

5/5!!!

For a long time Emancipator has been the rare artist that, in my opinion, can do no wrong. Think the best of Nujabes, Bonobo, Four Tet and Blue Sky Black Death combined. 'Soon It Will Be Cold Enough' is certainly one of my favorite albums of all time and today it's follow-up was finally released! In Emancipator's own words:

'Safe In The Steep Cliffs' represents the tightest, most unique, most organic beats I've made in the last three years. This album has a new palette of sounds and samples from around the world, including more original recordings (guitar/violin/mandolin/banjo) and new guest artists including Japanese jazz musician Uyama Hiroto. It's ominous and overgrown, dense and ethereal. And epic. Always epic.

On first listen, 'Nevergreen' is the stand-out track but they're all amazing. I will be listening to this for years!

Zomby - Where Were U In '92?

2010-01-19T00:09:00.000-08:00

Review
Zomby Where Were You In '92?
Jungle/Breaks
2008

1. Fuck Mixing, Let’s Dance
2. Euphoria
3. We Got the Sound
4. Daft Punk Rave
5. Tears in the Rain
6. Get Sorted
7. G.T.i.
8. Float
9. Need Ur Lovin'
10. Pillz
11. Hench
12. B With Me
13. Where Were U in ‘92
14. U Are My Fantasy (Street Fighter II Theme RMX)

3.5/5

"The rave album that was never made in the early '90s," from the very prolific dubstep producer Zomby. The album is okay, but the point here is 'Float.' Incredibly addicting song.

(sampling this, i'm sure)

Small Black - Small Black EP

2010-01-19T00:04:00.001-08:00

Review
Small Black Small Black EP
Chillwave
2009

1 Despicable Dogs
2 Weird Machines
3 Bad Lover
4 Pleasant Experience
5 Lady in the Wires

5/5

Hot Chip - One Life Stand

2010-01-18T23:53:00.000-08:00

Review
Hot Chip One Life Stand
Indie/Electronic
2010

1 Thieves In The Night
2 Hand Me Down Your Love
3 I Feel Better
4 One Life Stand
5 Brothers
6 Slush
7 Alley Cats
8 We Have Love
9 Keep Quiet
10 Take It In

4/5

Those four songs are a blast. The others ... not quite my cup of tea.

Gregory and the Hawk - Moenie & Kitchi

2010-01-18T23:46:00.000-08:00

Review
Gregory and the Hawk Moenie & Kitchi
Indie
2008

1 Oats We Sow
2 August Moon
3 Doubtful
4 Grey Weather
5 Voice Like A Bell
6 Wild West
7 Stone Wall Stone Fence
8 Ghost
9 Superlegend
10 Harmless
11 Two Faced Twin

4.5/5

(from The Boats & Birds EP)

Pantha du Prince - Black Noise

2010-01-17T00:40:00.000-08:00

Review
Pantha du Prince Black Noise
Electronic/Minimal
2010

1 Lay In a Shimmer
2 Abglanz
3 The Splendour
4 Stick To My Side
5 A Nomads Retreat
6 Satellite Sniper
7 Behind the Stars
8 Bohemian Forest
9 Welt Am Draht
10 Im Bann
11 Es Schneit

4/5

Warm and melodic. Very easy to listen/relax to.

Anamanaguchi - Power Supply

2010-01-17T00:31:00.000-08:00

Review
Anamanaguchi Power Supply
Chiptune
2006

1 Sting Operation
2 Helix Nebula
3 Airbase
4 Video Challenge
5 Fast Turtle
6 Flora/Fauna
7 Power Supply

4/5

Electric President - The Violent Blue

2010-01-17T00:23:00.000-08:00

Review
Electric President The Violent Blue
Indie/Electronic
2010

1 The Ocean Floor
2 Mr. Gone
3 Safe and Sound
4 Feathers
5 Nightmare No. 5 or 6
6 The Violent Blue
7 Circles
8 Elegant Disasters
9 Eat Shit and Die 10 All the Distant Ships

5/5

Yes yes yes another album from one of my favorites! If you like this, make sure to check out the previous albums, it's all good stuff.

(an old one)

Wild Nothing - Summer Holiday

2010-01-14T20:08:00.001-08:00

Review
Wild Nothing Summer Holiday
Shoegaze/Indie Pop

1 Summer Holiday
2 Vultures Like Lovers

5/5!

Hell yeah! When is there going to be more?!

Los Campesinos! - Romance Is Boring

2010-01-14T20:02:00.000-08:00

Review
Los Campesinos! Romance Is Boring
Indie

1 In Medias Res
2 There Are Listed Buildings
3 Romance Is Boring
4 We’ve Got Your Back (Documented Minor Emotional Breakdown #2)
5 Plan A
6 200-102
7 Straight In at 101
8 Who Fell Asleep In
9 I Warned You: Do Not Make an Enemy of Me
10 Heart Swells / 100-1
11 I Just Sighed. I Just Sighed, Just So You Know
12 A Heat Rash in the Shape of the Show Me State; Or, Letters From Me to Charlotte
13 The Sea Is a Good Place of Think of the Future
14 This Is a Flag. There Is No Wind 15 Coda: A Burn Scar in the Shape of the Sooner State

5/5

The American Dollar - Atlas

2010-01-13T19:36:00.001-08:00

Review
The American Dollar Atlas
Post-rock/Ambient

1. A Few Words 2. Age Of Wonder 3. Fade In Out 4. Shadows 5. Oil And Water 6. Circuits 7. Red Letter 8. Clones 9. Equinox 10. Second Sight 11. Frontier Melt 12. Flood 13. Escapist

5/5

Another incredible album from the band that essentially sold me on post-rock. Don't be fooled by the ambient tag, this is post-rock at its most melodic and beautiful. A bit more complex than their past (phenomenal) albums.

Phaeleh - Within The Emptiness

2010-01-13T19:32:00.000-08:00

Review
Phaeleh Within The Emptiness
Dubstep, Downtempo

1. Dark Clouds ft. Sammi Pithia
2. Never Knew
3. If
4. Heavenly Lies
5. Numb
6. Awakening ft. Anneka
7. Moving Forward
8. Healing ft. Indi Kaur

4.5/5

Weighs a bit toward the chilled, ambient side of dubstep. Not too heavy-hitting. Strong, consistent production throughout. Don't think I could pick a favorite track if I tried (maybe Numb). Goes without saying that without a proper set of headphones or a subwoofer this album will probably be worthless.

Delphic - Acolyte

2010-01-13T19:18:00.000-08:00

Review
Delphic Acolyte
Indie

1 Clarion Call
2 Doubt
3 This Momentary
4 Red Lights
5 Acolyte
6 Halcyon
7 Submission
8 Counterpoint
9 Ephemera
10 Remain

4.5/5

Silkie - City Limits Vol. 1

2010-01-12T23:38:00.000-08:00

Review

Silkie City Limits Vol. 1

Dubstep

1 Concrete Jungle

2 Turvy

3 Spark

4 Sty

5 Quasar

6 Purple Love

7 Planet X

8 Cats Eyes

9 Head Butt Da Deck

10 Techno 22

11 Mattaz

12 The Horizon

13 Beauty

4.5/5