söndag 15 Jun 2008, 17:57
Time clicks away impatiently. I load my mind with music and filter emotions through letters and words. This is the best I can do to remember. This is the best I can do to forget…
————————————————————————————————————–
http://www.headphonecommute.com/covers/june08/axolotl.jpg
Nautilis - Are You An Axolotl (Planet Mu)
One day in a record shop, I saw a Planet Mu logo on a record with incomprehensible green reflection. Being a fan of pretty much everything Mike Paradinas puts out on his label, I grabbed the vinyl as one of those random finds. Back at home I played the record over and over. I was struck by its ingenuity of combining instrumental hip hop beats with jazzy breaks and glitchy elements of IDM. But it was the melodies and the intelligent micro rhythms that kept on ringing long after in my ears. Skyler McGlothlin's fun and confident approach to creating his first LP, Are You An Axolotl, is still refreshing and exciting to listen six years later . Based out of Texas, McGlothlin followed up his critically acclaimed debut with a second full length, Sketches. In 2005, however, McGlothlin moved to Florida based Merck (RIP, sigh…), and produced more downtempo and instrumental hip hop, under Malcom Kipe alias. The two quick releases were Breakspiracy Theories and Lit. I thoroughly enjoyed both, but must admit that I dig his Nautilis sound a lot more. It's a bit tighter, DSP-driven, production that continuous to unravel new elements within each listen. Since Lit, however, McGlothlin has been silent. I attempt to catch up with Skyler to see what he's been up to, and if we'll hear from him again. And in case you were wondering, yes… I am … actually… an axolotl.
http://www.myspace.com/nautilis | http://www.myspace.com/childrenofmu
————————————————————————————————————–
http://www.headphonecommute.com/covers/june08/nautilis.jpg
Two and a Half Questions with Skyler McGlothlin
You've been quiet lately. Not including the mini limited EP on Cactus Island Recordings, "Stonch", what have you been working on?
Shapes Have Fangs.. My laptop was stolen in 2006 and this inspired me to quit making beats for a while. Since then I've been focusing all my time on our band Shapes Have Fangs.
Who do you like more, Nautilis or Malcom Kipe; and more importantly, why?
Nautilis, because it is a collection of information that originated from 5th dimensional information sound waves that were retrieved by pleiadian spirit crystals given to me by Billy Meier.
What are your feelings on your earlier work when you listen to the album now?
I'm quite surprised by some tracks and can not listen to others. Certain tracks from Axolotl are used every day to 4th dimension wave gates.
Are you an axolotl?
Well the title is based on 'Axolotl' by Julio Cortázar. The short story deals with existentialism - the individual is entirely free, and, therefore, ultimately responsible.I am not an axolotl, I am human. But I do not claim to be 'of earth'.
http://www.myspace.com/nautilis | http://www.nautilis.net
————————————————————————————————————–
http://www.headphonecommute.com/covers/june08/cujo.jpg
Cujo - Adventures In Foam (Ninja Tune)
Before Amon Adonai Santos de Aravjo Tobin shortened his name to simply Amon Tobin, he released his debut album under Cujo alias (indeed borrowed from a Stephen King novel), on a small south London label, Ninebar Records. Soon after, Ninja Tune noticed the Brazilian born artist, and signed him in 1997 for his critically acclaimed Bricolage. The rest, as we say, is history. Covering Tobin's bio and discography is a lengthy task, so I'll leave the research up to you . In 2002, Adventures In Foam was re-released on Ninja Tune, this time as a double CD, containing previously unreleased material. Here's a statement from the label: " fact remains that "Adventures In Foam" was a really good record, one that deserved to be heard, so when Ninja were offered an opportunity to re-release it, they jumped at the chance. Not least, because a rather unscrupulous company in the States have been circulating a version of the record with a changed tracklist, different (and unapproved) cover art and mis-titled tracks". So this should settle it once and for all. If you first fell in love with Amon Tobin after hearing his Bricolage, full of jazz infused, Latin influenced downtempo and drum'n'bass breaks and broken beats, then you'll definitely enjoy another round of Tobin's signature sampling techniques. You'll even smile after recognizing familiar sounds and beats, later reused in his subsequent albums. Definitely still enjoyable after all these years, as a first or repeated listen. A must for collectors. Artist cloud includes DJ Food, Funki Porcini, Bonobo, Wagon Christ and The Herbaliser. Favorite unreleased track: The Brazilianaire.
http://www.myspace.com/tobinamon | http://www.amontobin.com
http://www.ninjatune.net
————————————————————————————————————–
http://www.headphonecommute.com/covers/june08/manic.jpg
Manic - 1986 (Summer Rain Recordings)
Summer Rain Recordings is a digital net label that has already released over 30 EPs from independent artists, covering everything from IDM, glitch, and breaks to trip-hop, downtempo, ambient, and jazz. The label itself has another honorable mission: every signed artist donates a portion of his royalties to NextAid (nextaid.org) or a charity of their choice, to be matched by a donation from the label's profits. So with every purchase, you and the music you support, make a difference in the world. Manic's debut is the fifth Summer Rain release. The four track 1986 EP is a light, breezy, and upbeat stroll. The very first track, Spring, had me bopping my head with the hip-hop beat, as I walked along the street with blooming flowers, and I smiled at the synchronicity of track's title. The jazzy percussion and the hard-cut-off, lo-fi, and looped MPC sound remind me of the early, crate-digging, sample-based works by Amon Tobin, DJ Shadow and DJ Krush. And those are all the great things. When Manic takes it down a notch, and the beats recede into a lounge-like smokey downtempo with melodic piano chords, I can not help by think of Dictaphone. It is also worthy of mention that this San Francisco based artist works for Beatz, "a non-profit organization that teaches inner city and disadvantaged youth how to dj and make music using turntables and samplers". Really enjoyed the entire EP. Jump to the label's site, and grab yours from the many supporting outlets.
http://www.myspace.com/samplebasedmusic | http://www.myspace.com/beatznpo
http://www.myspace.com/summerrainrecordings | http://www.summerrainrecordings.net
————————————————————————————————————–
http://www.headphonecommute.com/covers/june08/superposition.jpg
Fraction - Superposition (Infiné)
Superposition is a delicately packaged EP, with intricate designs and CMYK offsets that at first looks like it's going to deliver some club sounds from a French label, Infiné. And the first track from Eric Raynaud, aka Fraction, hints a little bit of that. With a light four/four beat the headlining A1 begs for the dance floor. But for me things start getting interesting right afterward. For the next four tracks on the EP, Raynaud drops minimal techno inspired rhythms, and instead twists and turns through some dark and experimental IDM, from steady flow to glitchy hip-hop flavored hiccups. Since I'm a bigger fan of the latter, this is where Fraction truly shines for me. Eric Raynaud turned his attention to electronic music after a decade of playing in an indie band. After moving to Paris from Boston, Raynaud pursued electronica production, drawing from inspirations like Aphex Twin, Monolake, J. Coltrane, and even John Cage. While on US tour of 2005, Raynaud got to meet Marco Haas (T. Raumschmiere), who invited him to release some tracks on his own label, Berlin based Shitkatapult. His track, Waiting For Josh, appeared on a compilation 12-incher with Apparat, Magnum 38, Soap & Skin, and T. Raumschmiere himself. My favorite tracks on the Superposition EP remind me of that Warp Records sound from Clark, Prefuse 73, Plaid and of course, Autechre. If this is just a teaser of things to come, than Infiné (who also has released a remix EP from Apparat) may be in as much anticipation for a full length from Fraction as I am. Favorite track: Supermarket of Soul.
http://www.myspace.com/myfraction | http://www.fraction.fr
http://www.myspace.com/infinemuzik | http://www.infine-music.com
————————————————————————————————————–
http://www.headphonecommute.com/covers/june08/vinesandstreams.jpg
Welder - Vines And Streams (Cyberset)
Brendan Angelides is the man behind his solo project under the name of Welder. With his debut on a San Francisco based collective, Cyberset, Angelides demonstrates that he's just as proficient at downtempo as he is at breaks under his other alias, Eskmo. Following this full length release, Welder got picked up by a West Coast downtempo label, Native State Records, for a digital only Bamboo Snow EP. The Purple and Orange track gets upgraded to another EP with additional remixes by Bluetech, Fanu, Dov, and Audiovoid. Ranging from world music to orchestral glitchy instrumentation, Vines And Stream is simply a fun album to listen to. From the very first track, you're enveloped in easy bopping beats, that take you on a ride in a country with the convertible top down and your spirits up. The production is tight, the percussion is crisp, and the broken melodic patterns get stuck in your memory. The uplifting and organic mood of this IDM-meets-trip-hop album, reminds you that mother nature doesn't have that something that we call "bad weather", and as it rains outside you'll feel delighted to embrace the falling drops. And you'll smile. I place Welder somewhere between Portishead, Tricky, Banco de Gaia and The Orb. Favorite track: Rain.
http://www.myspace.com/weldersounds | http://www.weldersounds.com
————————————————————————————————————–
http://www.headphonecommute.com/covers/june08/approach.jpg
Subheim - Approach (Tympanik Audio)
I first came across Tympanik Audio, a Chicago based label with the dark electronic roster, late in 2007, with their first double compilation release, Emerging Organisms. In the first months of 2008, I reviewed an intelligent rhythmic industrial album by Totakeke, ELekatota. But with this fourth catalog release, I can shamelessly proclaim that Tympanik has struck gold. With the release of Approach, Tympanik is quickly gaining momentum to the ranks of the beloved Hymen and Ad Noiseam. Subheim is the brainchild of Greek composer, Kostas K, whose complete biography is shadowed by the haunting sounds and occasional sighing voices of Katja. The organic elements of piano, cello, and ambient atmospheres are struck with slow building crispy beats and bitcrushed digital sounds. Approach is Subheims debut album. It perfectly encompasses all of my favorite elements: orchestral, cinematic, dark, crunchy, rhythmic, and extremely musical. "Moved by subjects such as urban isolation and the outburst of mankind's deepest emotions, Subheim delivers the ideal soundtrack for those moments of chaos or melancholy reflections." After half a dozen listens and consecutive ratings of five stars on my playlist, I give up and throw my hands in the air. I refuse to rate music with numbers, so hopefully these words will speak for themselves, as I attempt to contain my excitement for Subheim. Being filed right along my top favorite artists in the genre, Architect, Kattoo, Hecq, Lusine Icl, Arovane, Gridlock and Aaron Spectre. Highly recommended! Do not miss this next step in evolution of electronic music.
http://www.myspace.com/subheimmusic | http://www.subheim.com
http://www.myspace.com/tympanik | http://www.tympanikaudio.com
————————————————————————————————————–
http://www.headphonecommute.com/covers/june08/subheim.jpg
Two and a Half Questions with Subheim
Your album is full of emotion. What is the story behind the music and Subheim?
I guess emotion had always been the main inspiration for me all the way from the start. Quite extreme and harsh at the beginning and really ambient, downtempo later, however always chasing after those passionate moments… started off with a blackmetal band around 2000 and later on continued with atmospheric post rock / trip-hop and so on. In 2006 I came up with the idea of forming the Subheim project, which was meant to be an absolutely personal expression of my deepest feelings and inner thoughts. The beginning of 2007 until the recent days was the most important period for my musical vision, since it was the period when "Approach" was conceived, composed and took its final form. There was no original plan or guideline as to how it should finally sound like, I was just mixing up sounds, images, feelings and elements that move me.
Katja's voice perfectly brings out the melancholy in some tracks. How did you meet and decide work together on the project?
We know each other for about 4 years and from the first moment, I strongly believed she could deeply feel what my music is about and put the perfectly matching emotion into it. We had previously worked together on a few tracks that were mostly into trip-hop/ambient style and I knew we had to be on this together as well. She is a wonderful singer and a very talented artist that has a unique and incredibly passionate way to make things sound very sensitive and deeply emotional. "Voces Perdidas" would actually be nothing without her… which I have to mention is my favourite track… What is 100% sure is that the next Subheim album will feature much more vocals by Katja and you should expect a lot more aspects of her genuine talent to unfold ;)
How does your experience as a visual artist and graphic designer compliment your musical production?
Pictures, images, people, places I've been to affect me in so many ways that couldn't be separated from my music. I could never imagine my compositions without bringing to mind this desperate world we live in… the feelings of emptiness, despair, the struggle to stay alive in this neverending urban madness and so many issues that keep my mind active, urge me to incorporate sceneries that captivate as much as possible the moments that keep me going. My next project will be a video-clip for Subheim. Video Design has always been a fascinating art to me and I'm impatient to start working again on it.
http://www.myspace.com/subheimmusic | http://www.subheim.com
————————————————————————————————————–
http://www.headphonecommute.com/covers/june08/kolia.jpg
I'm really trying to be unbiased when it comes to one of my favorite labels, Hymen, but there's just way too many great releases from this German offshoot of And-Zen, and I can barely keep up. While I'm refreshing my memory with Nebulo's 2006 debut, another artist that I blindly "collect" everything by, Hecq, has released his fifth album (more on that later, I don't want to digress). Nebulo is an alias of French composer Thomas Pujols. Pujols received a degree from Bordeaux Conservatoire, and began producing the dark and melodic crispy IDM after embracing noise from electro acoustic composition courses on experimental and avant-garde sound. He also works with several agencies as a sound designer, composer, and audio consultant for various media. Nebulo has previously contributed remixes to Hecq's 0000 and Architect's Lower Lip Interface. The tracks on Kolia are full blown compositions, each with a unique story transforming the listener into a world of surreal dreamscapes painted with tears and sometimes even with blood. The gentle harmony and calm melodies are offset by glitchy percussion and rhythmic labyrinths carefully deconstructed and molded back into one whole. I was last this excited about an outstanding production when I picked up Kattoo's Hang On To A Dream (coincidentally on Hymen as well). Kolia is a perfect soundtrack for the imagery within a melancholic soul, locked in the prison of a troubled mind. The intelligence and complexity of the sonic onslaught immediately catapult Nebulo to the ear-candy's favorites. And I want more! Recommended for the above mentioned names as well as Lusine, Gridlock, Keef Baker and Somatic Responses.
http://www.myspace.com/nebulo
http://www.myspace.com/hymenrecords | http://www.hymen-records.com
————————————————————————————————————–
http://www.headphonecommute.com/covers/june08/nebulo.jpg
Two and a Half Questions with Nebulo
There seems to be a lot of different names for this genre of music in which you excel, and frankly, the umbrella term, "IDM" does not capture it well. How would you describe your music?
I don't feel close to any particular term. I'm just a musical human sponge, every musical / sonic material is welcome to feed my brain's idea box. Then I make this kind of "ambient / sub-stretched drones / soundscapes / ghosts melodies / sculptured textured & sudden beats", but in fact it's simply electronic music.
What do you think the future will be for this genre?
Electronic music now belong to the pop culture. Sampling technique is everywhere - you can hear IDM things on TV, people mix influences and explore the sonic textures, melting genres. A lot of people that were initially into pop/rock stuff have been attracted to electronica (Radiohead is a famous good example), and I think it's interesting because it opens up the doorway. So I think that all of this is just going to blur more and more of genre's frontiers, creating a sort of global digital hybrid music.
What artists do you draw your musical inspirations from?
Hmm… As I've said before, I'd define myself as a sort of mental sponge - I don't exactly know who inspires me, I think it's a mess of influences. Listening to music, reading, watching films, hearing sounds in the streets or elsewhere give my brain ideas. I quite often take notes about a passage of a film or music, or a sound I've heard, an image that amazed me. Sometimes I only listen once to a particular piece, and it can inspire me, an idea comes true and I try to make it concrete quick, before it escapes. It makes sense in the present, but if I let it go, I won't understand later what I've found "so" interesting. It changes with time. And of course there are the artists that have an aesthetic universe which I find inspiring. For this check out my influences on myspace page.
Tell us about your upcoming album.
I'm still working on it. I should have everything finished by June. It should be titled "ãvutmã" and will be released early September, 2008 on Hymen Records. It' ll contain more or less 10-12 tracks. It 's a bit different from my first album "Kolia", maybe a little less rhythmic, more ambient/hypnotic approach, darker and more complex in my opinion… some tracks don't have any beats at all. I'd say it's also a bit more noisy/crunchy imperfections generally in the sonic textures. One track can be only made of processed flutes / voices and organ, another one is focused on musicboxes, one is almost piano solo with clicky beats, changing textures… I'm really happy with the relief of the whole thing, each track has a specific play and it gives a particular and coherent mood to this album. I'll be uploading some previews on myspace page.
http://www.myspace.com/nebulo
http://www.myspace.com/hymenrecords | http://www.hymen-records.com
————————————————————————————————————–
http://www.headphonecommute.com/covers/may08/amateurgirlfriends.jpg
Xploding Plastix - Amateur Girlfriends (Palm Beats)
Originally released as Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents on Beatservice Records in 2001, re-released by Palm Beats in 2004, and (finally) re-discovered by me (with a helpful hand from a friend) in 2008, this acid jazzy, trip-hop infused, broken beat heavy debut album by Xploding Plastix is an absolute delight! I am instantly reminded by Amon Tobin's best tracks, and it's no surprise, since the albums are from the same era. Xploding Plastix is an Oslo (Norway) based duo comprising of Hallvard Wennersberg Hagen and Jens Petter Nilsen. The two producers are joined by Rita Augestad Knudsen under another alias, The Electones, to release a Summercloud LP on Inertia Records in 2002. The group is mostly known for their track (and debut 7" EP), Treat Me Mean, I Need the Reputation, released in 2000 on Beatservice Records and later repressed for Hospital Records. With nu-jazz fused keys, upright bass samples, scratches, and broken rhythms, the tracks on the debut album are fresh and groovy. If you love the sound of Amon Tobin's earlier and lighter works, Squarepusher's bass slaps with broken time signatures and The Herbaliser's UK-flavored instrumental hip-hop, then you'll surely fall in love with Xploding Plastix from your first listen. I know I did. Here's a great sentence from Norwegian Beatservice that I can't help but quote: "Xploding Plastix has a sound like irradiated neon washes; shimmering and pulse glowing accordingly disproportional to the flashy stuttering red lights, like cancerous cocktails; splintering with deranged delight. The cinematic, dirty film noir feel is mercilessly exploited. Xploding Plastix is the epicure of a gorgeous, jagged, murderous pulse." The last full length release by the group was The Donca Matic Singalongs, on Columbia Records in 2003. Besides the above mentioned, similar artists include Skalpel, Jaga Jazzist, Red Snapper, Nostalgia 77 and Bonobo.
http://www.myspace.com/xplodingplastix | http://www.xplodingplastix.com
————————————————————————————————————–
http://www.headphonecommute.com/covers/may08/vampireweekend.jpg
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (XL)
There is something intriguing and almost unnatural about the fact that I am continuously drawn towards Vampire Weekend. The light-hearted melodies with simple accompaniment of organ, harpsichord, strings, and flute, turn the clock back to the times of invincibility and carefree college days. Vampire Weekend is a four member New York City indie band, that slightly nods towards the afro-pop genre with a hint of ska. The 2/4 percussion, accented with African elements and an occasional conga, bring on that feeling of kwassa kwassa rhythms. Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij, Chris Tomson and Chris Baio describe their style as "Upper West Side Soweto", with influences from both, Western classical music and Congolese soukous music. After a couple of successful top hit singles on the UK Indie charts, Vampire Weekend got picked up by none other than XL Records. 2008 brought on their debut self titled full length, and by now it may be too late to hail praise to their sound - Spin has already declared them as The Year's Best New Band in March '08 issue. Look, it's been a while since I've written about anything other then instrumental or electronic, and even though I consider my taste pretty wide and open, Vampire Weekend reminds me that there's a whole ocean of untapped genres. Simply put, Vampire Weekend brings back the ease with which The Beatles conquered the world.
http://www.myspace.com/vampireweekend | http://www.vampireweekend.com
http://www.myspace.com/xlrecordings | http://www.xl-recordings.com
————————————————————————————————————–
http://www.headphonecommute.com/covers/may08/epilogueinwaves.jpg
Bitcrush - Epilogue In Waves (n5MD)
I thoroughly enjoyed Mike Cadoo's previous album, In Distance, under his Bitcrush alias. So I waited for a perfect moment to listen to Epilogue In Waves in a serene place setting. I was especially looking forward to the album after I read somewhere that this may be Cadoo's last release (hence the "epilogue" in the title). The latter rumor is clearly incorrect, and I've got the Two and a Half Questions with Mike Cadoo, to prove that. Plus there is an upcoming re-issue of a long unavailable digital release, Shimmer and Fade, remastered and extended. Epilogue In Waves has received mixed reviews. It may be due to unintended expectations from the ever changing musical approach - Cadoo has morphed between styles for years, from his choppy IDM Gridlock project with Mike Wells, to the d'n'b infused breaks as Dryft. Or it may be due to specific expectations of evolution in sound - anything that has been done before may not be exciting to some listeners. Nevertheless, I wholeheartedly welcome the chilled out production of ambient and post-shoegaze influenced bliss. There are instantly recognizable elements from inspirations like Hammock, Lights Out Asia and This Will Destroy You. And these are the sounds that I can't get enough of. In my opinion, this effortless genre migration demonstrates true musicianship, and should receive all the recognition it truly deserves. Cadoo continues to evolve his sound, and as the owner of n5MD, his label's output, through limitless boundaries of uncaged approach. If you follow the label make sure you also pick up Loess, Last Days and Hologram.
http://www.myspace.com/haveyoulostyourway | http://www.bitcrush.net
http://www.myspace.com/n5mafia | http://www.n5md.com
————————————————————————————————————–
http://www.headphonecommute.com/covers/may08/bitcrush.jpg
Two and a Half Questions with Mike Cadoo
To be honest, I still enjoy your Dryft tracks. Bitcrush, however, is such a departure from music you were making eight years ago. Do you miss producing that genre? Any chance of a return?
I am actively working on Dryft material. But what style or project I work on really depends on how I feel when I hit the studio. There are so many angles and projects that I am now working in and on. The next Bitcrush which will be somewhat different from what people I think will expecting. The Dryft material is probably what the people who could not follow me this far around the circle will want to hear. Then there is the SubtractiveLAD collaboration as well as some single guitar ambient I've been toying around with that will possibly see the light of day under my own name.
Who are your current musical inspirations and what genre elements excite you?
Genre has been a tough game for me from the music I create, release and listen to. I really try not to think of anything genre specific… just does it sound good and do I have an emotional connection with it. My inspirations for making music are usually how I am feeling. There are some days when the weather can be a nice dull gray and that sometimes is of inspiration as well.
What are some of the exciting upcoming n5MD releases?
Near the Parenthesis has a new album called L'eixample that will be releases this summer in tandem with the reissue of the Bitcrush Shimmer And Fade EP which has bonus material in the form of 4 unreleased tracks which extends it to album length. Then there will be releases in the fall from Another Electronic Musician, Lights Out Asia, and Funckarma. Last Days and Slidecamp are also currently working on albums for n5MD so the fall may be busy depending on when they finish.
http://www.myspace.com/haveyoulostyourway | http://www.bitcrush.net
————————————————————————————————————–
http://www.headphonecommute.com/covers/may08/dedications.jpg
Klimek - Dedications (Anticipate)
Sebastian Meissner migrates his Klimek project from Kompakt on to Anticipate Recordings. For this eight-piece ambient album, German based Meissner indeed creates tracks dedicated to his many artistic influences. This guitar driven, effect saturated, and soundscape rich composition, positions Klimek perfectly along the leading experimental and modern classical composers like Ben Frost, Marsen Jules, and Deaf Center. Meissner's previous notable ambient recordings include Selected Random Works under his Random Industries alias; The Very Best Of under Bizz Circuits; and Walking In Jerusalem under Random_Inc alias for Mille Plateaux label. Meissner has also previously released Into The Void album on Sub Rosa under his real name. He is responsible for numerous installations in Germany, Poland, Norway, and an upcoming collaboration with Zaellia Bishop in Italy. Add to the CV a couple of latest soundtrack works, and you have yourself a fully immersed, musically rounded artist. The delicately crafted textures on Dedications, suggest hours upon hours of painstaking labor, pulling the strings through reverberation chambers, until they slap back into the standing waves of ghost filled echoes. Somewhere, in the back, an old piano is playing. Like Disintegration Loops of William Basinski, the sampled sources are cut and fed back into the machine, while retaining all of their organic characteristics. Whether taken out of context, or together as a conceptual piece, the tracks on Dedications speak all on their own. Haunting, lush, and timeless - Dedications is not an album to pass by or brush off lightly. Other artists to check out from Ezekiel Honig's Anticipate label include Sawako, Morgan Packard, and the very latest Nicola Ratti. And don't forget to pick up Klimek's last 2006 release on Kompakt, Music To Fall Asleep. Favorite track: For Steven Spielberg & Azza El-Hassan.
http://www.myspace.com/random666industries | http://www.random-industries.com
http://www.myspace.com/anticipaterecordings | http://www.anticipaterecordings.com
————————————————————————————————————–
http://www.headphonecommute.com/covers/may08/sigurdsson.jpg
Valgeir Sigurðsson - Ekvílíbrium (Bedroom Community)
The founder of the Icelanding collective, Bedroom Community, finally releases his solo debut on his own label. Although this is a first full length album for Valgeir Sigurðsson, he is no stranger to the studio. His musical career spans over a decade, and includes a lot of production work for Björk (Selmasongs, Vespertne, Medúlla and Drawing Restraint 9). He has also worked with múm on Finally We Are No One and CocoRosie on The Adventures Of Ghosthorse And Stillborn. On Bedroom Community releases, Valgeir contributed towards Ben Frost's Theory of Machines and Nico Muhly's Speaks Volumes. Nico in turn reciprocated, and played piano for six (out of ten) tracks on Ekvílíbrium. Which finally brings us to the album. Ekvílíbrium captures some of the most essential elements of today's electronica . From tightly produced, programmed, cut up, and re-arranged sounds to organic drums, guitars, full blown strings and brass section, Valgeir toys with sounds and melodies that speak out in their own unique music tongue. The vocals from Will Oldham (aka Bonnie "Prince" Billy) and Faun Fables' Dawn McCarthy, are neatly folded and cradled by the top-notch mastered instrumentation. Some pieces contain that toytronic sound with music-box-like-quality, that is so reminiscent by the aforementioned múm. What I'm trying to say is this: if "Icelandic" was a sub-genre of electronic music all on its own, then Sigurðsson should be mentioned in the headline for its definition. For now, I can only attempt to throw around labels like leftfield, downtempo, and modern classical, to capture this unique sound. Whip out your best headphones - Ekvílíbrium is a sure treat for audiophiles. Recommended for the above mentioned names, plus Sylvain Chauveau, Deaf Center, Helios, Marsen Jules and Jóhann Jóhannsson. Favorite track: Winter Sleep.
http://www.myspace.com/valgeirs | http://www.bedroomcommunity.net
————————————————————————————————————–
http://www.headphonecommute.com/covers/may08/starsofthelid.jpg
Stars Of The Lid - And Their Refinement Of The Decline (Kranky)
It seems that I've been lately in a "chill out" mode, talking up Somnia, Hidden Shoal, and Darla labels, so it only makes sense that I turn my attention to Kranky once again. Two disks full of ambient bliss come from this Chicago label, giving us yet another quality release from Austin based guitarists Adam Wiltzie and Brian McBride, also known as the Stars Of The Lid. The latest SOTL release, And Their Refinement Of The Decline, is much more than a collection of drone-based ambient textures. It is indisputably modern classical in nature, where acoustic sounds stand out in front of the curtain of beatless soundscapes. The waves of pads and strings gently swell in dynamics towards the perfectly groomed and endless playa del sonido. These cycles of calmness retreat and repeat, as does everything else in the universe. Some critics may snicker at the genre, reminding them of massage parlors and yoga studios. But that may be because their mind is over polluted with thoughts - the daily noise that always promises a better tomorrow. But only if they pause and really listen, they would locate the present moment and the peace that lies within, with Stars Of The Lid providing the ideal accompaniment. In the world of contemporary ambient composition few excel in continuous evolution of sound. Stars Of The Lid is at the frontier, along with Hammock, The World on Higher Downs, Fennesz, Bitcrush and William Basinski. Their latest album reasserts once again, that Wiltzie and McBride are indeed the stars of our own personal cinema, located somewhere between the eye and the eyelid.
http://www.myspace.com/starsofthelid | http://www.brainwashed.com/sotl
http://www.myspace.com/krankyltd | http://www.kranky.net
————————————————————————————————————–