Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Cool Video Funtime #235 - Blue Suicide (+BONUS Video;)



+ BONUS VIDEO (because I enjoy the song:)

Help Japan (and your ears) out..

Benefit for the Recovery in Japan is a compilation album dedicated to the victims and survivors their families, and the aid workers courageously struggling to deal with the aftermath of the earthquake, resulting tsunami, and nuclear emergency that occurred on March 11th, 2011 in Japan. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this compilation will go directly towards the recovery and relief effort. The album features the contributions of sixty-four artists from around the world and clocks in at nearly five hours of music.

As the crisis continues to unfold and the full scope of the disaster becomes even more apparent, our sisters and brothers in Japan face many challenges: both the immediate needs—provisions for food, water, shelter, and healthcare—as well as the long term recovery and rebuilding efforts in the impacted communities. The ripple effects of the earthquake and resulting tsunami will be felt for years to come. Benefit for the Recovery in Japan was created with the goal of providing immediate and tangible aid in the relief, recovery, and rebuilding that will take place over the coming days, months, and years.

The people of Japan need your help now, and your purchase of this music is one way to connect with and provide assistance to the people in Japan working to recover from this disaster. 100% of the proceeds from your purchase of this release will go to the Japanese emergency response organization Civic Force—thereby helping support real work happening on the ground by Japanese-based relief workers.

Benefit for the Recovery in Japan is curated by Antiopic's David Daniell and James Elliott, with invaluable assistance from Regina Greene (Front Porch Productions), Greg Davis, and Bettina Richards (Thrill Jockey). Greg Davis mastered the compilation and Sadek Bazaraa designed the cover art. This release is made possible by the generosity of Thrill Jockey and all of the artists involved.

Tracklisting:
1. Fennesz: "Fearless"
2. Helado Negro: "Cabeza Bella"
3. Stephan Mathieu: "(Excerpt from) The Floating World"
4. School of Seven Bells: "Midnight Sun"
5. Lawrence English: "Hotaru"
6. Noveller: "Darkheart"
7. Zeena Parkins: "The Letter"
8. Tom Carter (of Charalambides): "Mended"
9. Akron/Family: "Deep Kazoo"
10. The Ex: "Cold Weather Is Back"
11. Shinji Masuko (of Boredoms/DMBQ): "Botsuon"
12. Oneohtrix Point Never: "The Inside World"
13. Tokimonsta: "Sound Caves"
14. Joshua Abrams: "Jackdaws"
15. Keith Fullerton Whitman: "Anzac #3"
16. Ben Frost: "Snæugla"
17. David Daniell: "Shiho-hiru-tama"
18. Grouper: "Cassiopeia"
19. Tape: "Mirrors"
20. Jefre Cantu-Ledesma: "Moon in a Dewdrop"
21. D. Charles Speer: "Steel Infant"
22. Evan Caminiti (of Barn Owl): "Blue Veil"
23. Blackshaw, Wood, Wood & Tomlinson (James Blackshaw & Hush Arbors): "Are You Alright? (Chump Change)"
24. Nat Baldwin (of Dirty Projectors): "In the Hollows"
25. Chris Forsyth & Shawn Edward Hansen: "Dirty Pool Blues"
26. Zelienople: "Stone Faced About It"
27. Elm (Jon Porras of Barn Owl): "Diamond Dust"
28. Lobisomem: "Kusha"
29. Stabbing Eastwood (Tunde Adebimpe & Ryan Sawyer): "Thundersnow Mountain"
30. Alan Licht & Greg Malcolm: "Natasha Utting Reporting"
31. Scott Tuma: "To: Hasty"
32. Rhys Chatham: "Prayer for the People of Fukushima"
33. Prefuse 73: "The Only Climactic Dissonant Hums"
34. Growing: "Untitled"
35. James Plotkin (of Khanate): "Broken '96"
36. Totem Test: "Pulse Prayer for Japan"
37. Marcus Schmickler (of Pluramon): "2.71828 Up"
38. Tim Hecker: "Hatred of Music (Double Gate Mix)"
39. Sylvain Chauveau: "Colours in Darkness"
40. Bear In Heaven: "The Days We Have"
41. Spires That In The Sunset Rise with Michael Zerang: "Collision Theory"
42. C. Spencer Yeh: "Solo Violin March 13th 2011"
43. Lau Nau: "Oi Kuolema"
44. Oren Ambarchi: "Merely A Portmanteau"
45. Warm Ghost: "Uncut Diamond (Dripping Pollen Mix)"
46. Bradley & Geofrey (Atlas Sound + White Rainbow): "Mr. Stephen's Private Service"
47. Peter's House Music: "Half Step"
48. Leb Laze: "Da Plane Da Plane"
49. Matthewdavid: "Stop Laughing / Be Honest"
50. Sam Prekop: "Lakes River"
51. Simon Scott: "Of You (Before 2082)"
52. Tetuzi Akiyama/Jon Mueller/Jim Schoenecker: "Untitled"
53. Shelley Burgon: "Let It Be New"
54. Giant Sand: "Recovery Mission"
55. William Tyler: "Tears and Saints"
56. Mountains: "Still Life"
57. Ben Vida: "Quadsweep +2 (snkglazz iii)"
58. Maria Chavez: "Natural Disaster #2_2011"
59. Cleared: "Nova"
60. Neptune: "FIG IV"
61. Water Fai: "Tokitomori"
62. Parts & Labor: "Dokonimonai"
63. Jackie-O Motherfucker: "Blood of Life"
64. Greg Davis: "Sho Sai Myo Kichijo Dharani"

Help out a beautiful country in-need, get something out of it. (win-win;)

Check into Orange Blossom Flyover..

Orange Blossom Flyover - Fast Reverse (plus a few more goodies:)


..like Atlas Sound meets Ducktails with more of Glow..

Monday, March 28, 2011

EIC'S10Q'S w/David Shane Smith

"..you may hear slight nods towards a couple Indie bands of yesterday; Microphones, Fog, Clouddead (a tad bit anyways), and Throbbing Gristle (no, this album is not "Industrial") to name a few.."


David Shane Smith
Eccentric Sound Spectacular

David Shane Smith Bio:
Apparently David is a bit of a mystery man. I looked for a bio online and found nothing. Here's what I can tell you; David lives in Los Angeles, his music is unique to him. You can listen to/download all of his albums for FREE right HERE.



Hello, how are you?
I'm quite well, thank you. I either can't or won't complain.

What are you currently listening to?
I'm streaming the droney noise of Noose Doom from their website. Before that it was Method Man.

Whom/what inspired you to create the sounds you make?
When I was growing up the music lying around was Paul Simon and Bob Dylan but my older brother hipped me to They Might Be Giants. There was always a lot of hip hop and punk going around in my circle of friends so I always liked a lot of diverse stimuli. My friends push me a lot and I think that they have often directly influenced me the most.

What is your favorite track off of "Controls SM"?
"Global Warming" is probably my favorite because its the prettiest.

Will you be touring for said album?
There's no plan to tour at all right now. In fact I don't even know whether there's going to be a physical release of the album. Everything is in the future. I could use a record label perhaps to release it. If there are any out there. Anyone? I tend to be a little bit reclusive so I need to get myself into some new skin if I'm going to jump around in front of people.

What's next for you?
After I make a solo album like this I tend to collaborate with other people for a little while before making another one. That's probably what this year is going to be all about. Also I feel like I should paint something like a landscape or a figure. I also have books I mean to finish. And this place is messy. .

Who is your favorite local talent right now?
All my friends in Los Angeles are talented musicians and they are all different and mostly unknown. I like Julious Jive, Robert James, Danny Bobbe and his band "LA Font", Stanley Lucas Revolution..My neighborhood is a soup of talent. The stencil artists inspire me. Everything going on here has some spark to it.

If you could collaborate with any artist of your choosing whom would it be with?
There are a million electronic music producers out there I would love to make something with because their music is so remote from the singer/songwriter genre. Mark Fell or Tim Hecker would come to mind because I've been listening to them.

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?
Philip Glass and Ravi Shankar "Passages"

Are you living your dream?
I think my dream or vision of an ideal future changes as I grow older so thats pretty hard to say. I have what I need to be happy and thats pretty dreamy.

Thanx David!

David Shane Smith is currently working on a few collaborations and then possibly a new album, in the meantime make sure to soak in all that is David HERE...

REVIEW: David Shane Smith - Controls SM

8.75 out of 10

I had never heard of David Shane Smith prior to him sending me "Controls SM". That's so typical, some of the best/most unique talent out there, being ignored/going unnoticed (I know, I'm repeating myself). Any-how, now that I have (finally) become acquainted with Mr. Smith's talent/sound (over and over actually) I find myself slightly happier and fulfilled.

I'm not sure if you want to consider this his third official release or not, but on David's (third) release "Controls SM" you will hear him master his unique craft of mixing "Lo-fi-Indie-Experimental-Pop" with a bit of Electronics and "estranged" atmospheres a little more. His sound is somewhat unmatched. Although, you may hear slight nods towards a couple Indie bands of yesterday; Microphones, Fog, Clouddead (a tad bit anyways), and Throbbing Gristle (no, this album is not "Industrial") to name a few. "Controls SM" is an acquired taste, it is my taste (almost) 100%. It's an album that has that "good-kind" of weird vibe to it, makes you nod your head while listening to it, is completely relaxing/fun, and just all around astonishing (especially if you like any of those bands mentioned above). Each song standouts from (almost against) the next, but the absurdity in sounds is what makes this album so cohesive. Hand's down one of my favorite releases of 2011. This is probably the most unique experience your headphones will have this year. It's a shame this may/will go unnoticed. Oh yeah, (I almost forgot) Did I mention it (the album) is free (as well as a few others HERE.)?

HIGHLY Recommended (ESPECIALLY towards the proper set (the "right" kind) of ears).

Standout Tracks: All, All, All & Cool Pesticide, Freaks, Ifeelalive (Clouddead Vs. Throbbing Gristle--don't want this song to end), Shampoo, Global Warming Makes Me Hot (Feat. Ice Truck) (sooooooo yummy--reminds me of Air), Blackbirds (one of the best tracks of '11), Overfeeling (reminds me of Owen Pallett--kind of), Gasmask (reminds me of Aphex Twin--yeah, this guy really is all over the place..)

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Cool VideoMovie Funtime #234 - Blinky™

REVIEW: Ringo Deathstarr - Colour Trip

8 out of 10

Since 2005 "underground" Shoegazer's Ringo Deathstarr have been creating quite a stir amongst the proper crowd. Their only releases at this point were a couple of singles and an EP. Flash forward about a half decade later and "Colour Trip" (the band's debut full length) has finally arrived. If you haven't acquainted yourself with the group, do so now (you can thank me later).


Now that you know Ringo Deathstarr are 100% Shoegaze Pop and are comparable to anyone from MBV, Dandy Warhols, or the more recent Pains Of Being Pure At Hearts, you know how excited to get (assuming your into these kind of acts). RD aren't necessarily "cliche gaze" but they certainly do have a way with re-enacting the best sounds of said genre. I've been on a BIG "Loveless" kick lately, my soul has literally fused into that album's entire theme/sound (I know...we all LOVE that album). Going from that (MBV) to Ringo Deathstarr isn't that much of a challenge, the sounds are quite similar (which is a really good thing). Though, more than focusing only on "cinematic & lush", RD also focus
(more) on "warm and fun". Hopefully, that analogy makes sense, if you get it, you'll get this. Basically what I'm saying is this, if you're into the Shoegaze/Dream Pop genre(s) you'll love "Colour Trip". But then again, if you're into said genres you've probably been obsessing over this band for quite a bit now. Right?


An impressive debut from a band with a substantial amount of buzz. Patience really paid off with this release. Highly Recommended.

Standout Tracks: These are all perfect songs for the upcoming warm(er) weather, especially; Imagine Hearts, Two Girls, Day Dreamy (certainly is), Never Drive (soo good)

Check into Last Remaining Pinnacle..

Last Remaining Pinnacle - Students Of The V.U.

Visualize yourself going on a Safari hunt during the darkest hour of the night. Your only weapon; some dark & twisted Psych-Noise-Gaze based out of Virginia off of the terrific Shoegazer label Custom Made Music..

Monday, March 21, 2011

EIC'S10Q'S w/Forest

"..a unique way of mixing "classical" Oldies/Surf Pop sound with "Calypso/island" themed synths, soothing/slow moving drum machine beats, a bit of Folk (just a tad) and "that sound" that makes almost every SRVC band standout from the rest. With this release it's the vocals, to me they glow. Very unique, sweet, and somewhat cinematic. Overall, there isn't one sound I disagree with.."


Forest
Pacified Pacific Sound

Forest Bio:
Forest is a new Swedish three-piece from Stockholm, pioneering a distinct and romantic sound. From the snowy John Bauer forests just under the polar circle, the sounds of someone, or something, making music of loneliness on dew-covered harps of a spider web.



Hello, how are you?
Just fine.

What are you currently listening to?
I mostly listen to Beach Boys, Ramones and Abba. The past year or two I have also listened a lot to Yellowman.

Why the name "Forest"?

It was very difficult coming up with a name, I think forest was just the least bad name. Now i think its ok, it fits.

How did you get connected with SRVC?
Through Myspace. Ola Borgström heard us there, I think someone that we know told him to look us up.

Care to shed some light on "Soon Be Over"..?

Its about getting old. That it will soon be over.

Any side projects we should know about?
Not that i know about.

If you could collaborate with any artist of your choosing whom would it be with?
That's a difficult question. I think it would be any early eighties reggae producer, maybe Junjo Lawes (if he's alive?). I always imagined that the early eighties reggae sound would be perfect for Forest. On the other hand they probably couldn't reproduce that sound today.

What was the best thing that happened to you last year?
I reunited with a very old friend, we had a great time, it felt important.

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?
A Beach Boys compilation with their biggest hits.

Are you living your dream?
Not yet.

Thanx Jeff & Forest!

Forest are currently (hopefully) working on a follow up to this year's s/t album, look for that in the future...

REVIEW: Forest - Forest

7.75 out of 10

Forest are a terrific new band off of the terribly overlooked SRVC label. Their debut self-titled album is melancholy, chill, and somewhat sunny/happy sounding/feeling. To put it simply, Forest's debut is an "easy-going" album filled with a plethora of guilty pleasures.

As far as comparisons go, the best pairing I can think of is El Perro Del Mar's song structures meets Flotation Toy Warning's (<-Do you guys remember them?) whimsical musings, only more "tropical". Forest have quite a unique way of mixing "classical" Oldies/Surf Pop sound with "Calypso/island" themed synths, soothing/slow moving drum machine beats, a bit of Folk (just a tad) and "that sound" that makes almost every SRVC band standout from the rest. With this release, it's the vocals, to me they glow. Very unique, sweet, and somewhat cinematic. Overall, there isn't one sound I disagree with. Pop this one in next time you're in the mood to relax with a smile on your face.

I like Forest quite a bit, it's soft, calming, and charming. A forest can be an easy thing to get lost in given the right mood. Recommended.

Standout Tracks: They're all pretty good; Just One Day, I Like Your Dreaming (sounds like a "modern day" Beach Boys track), We Can Go Away, Soon Be Over (love the "estranged/endearing" vocals on this one)

Save the Earth, Pollute the Internet (Free/Tasty comp)..

Various Artists - Earth Day Compilation



"This compilation was put together by a collective of artists to support Earth Day in 2008. 2 years later and now it's finally up! It was well worth the wait. This album has a variety of sounds, stylings, emotions, and colors. Keep an open mind, open heart and open ears.."

Tracklisting:
1. Twin Sister - Pony Expressions
2. J Tana - Wax & Wane
3. Ed Schrader - Ghost
4. Dan Deacon - For Santa Dads
5. Lost Boy - Universe Lights
6. Barkuna - Paper Mask
7. On Safari - Jenny's Home
8. Boats - Brainmaus
9. Project Nairb - Fail To Act
10. Twi the Humble Feather - Adventures Of Castle One
11. Universe - Silkscreen Skies
12. Gotham City All Stars - Fight Song
13. Liek As Shadow - Wake Up Pirate
14. Gimme Kibbler - Bite It
15. Air Waves - Shadow Racer
16. Lost Boy + Boats - Let Me In
17. Excepter - Dress Duress
18. Windwoods - Flu Shot
19. Alias Pail - Ghost Master
20. Ivana XL - White White
21. R Stevie Moore - Googleplex Safari
22. Julianna Barwick - Green Days
23. Melodious Thunk - Cigar Shaped Object Vanished Without A Trace
24. MJJ Jr - Family
25. Mutual Fund - Escape Pod


Just thought I'd share..

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Check into Outpost 13..

Outpost 13 - Remote Purity Control

Outpost 13 features Stuart Argabright (Ike Yard/Death Comet Crew), Mark C. (Live Skull), and Kent Heine (The Holy Ghost) If you like this track I also recommend you check out the "Vandal Tribes EP" they did with Luca Davis (which kind of reminds me of THIS) HERE is track one off of said release. Thanks again for sharing Stuart!

REVIEW: Cold Cave - Cherish The Light Years

7 out of 10

It's already been about a half decade or so since Cold Cave began forming/emerging. Their earliest sounds were barely audible Industrial Lo-Fi masterpieces that carried the same aesthetics as an early Throbbing Gristle release ..and then came "Love Comes Close", the band's first "official" release/LP. On "Love Come Close" (EIC'c #4 of '09) Cold Cave pushed themselves harder than they had before. The production was astounding, the general writing/quality of songs was up, the sounds were catchier than I thought would be possible. "Love.." was a nearly perfect album with highly addictive results. Now, "Cherish The Light Years", in-which we see the band push themselves even harder as well as gain a little help from (Indie "Man of the Moment" Producer 2.0) Chris Coady (YYY's, Beach House, TVOTR). There is also a slight shift in sound, instead of "dark/gloomy Industrial Pop" CC have now entered the realm of "Hardcore-esque" Dance Pop. So what do I think of this "shift"?

As far as comparing this release to previous releases it will be clear from the album's grand opener "The Great Pan Is Dead" that "Cherish The Light Years" is most certainly the strongest forward-push in the "right" direction of seriously solid/strong Pop productions. As far as comparing it any other aspects of Cold Cave's young career, I would say older releases are a little better/more my taste. I fully realize the title of this album, however this album almost feels "too peppy/bright" for Cold Cave. It makes me wonder if that was the band's decision or a certain producer? If it is indeed the bands decision kudos to them for trying something a little different. Please, please, just don't forget about where you came from, maybe "return to form" on one of your next releases? This album will sell, I know that much. Honestly, I can see this release becoming a household/Hot Topic name. They've got all the right names behind them now, they have an incredibly catchy Pop record here, they've got the right image & they've already got a bit of a fan base. Your 15 minutes begins now Cold Cave. With all this "bashing", understand this; I do really appreciate the quality of writing on this release, I can still hear a bit of CC in a few of these tracks, I just also know it's not 100% up my alley, close (really close). Just not what I was expecting.

A good/solid album, not the way I prefer my Cold Cave, but still pretty decent. Either it's the shift in their sound the bothers me, or there was a shift in my musical taste over the past couple years (which is completely plausible). Expect to see/hear about Cold Cave more and more if the band decides to continue down the Pop route.

Standout Tracks: The Great Pan Is Dead, Underworld USA, Burning Sage (I want an album full of tracks like this!!), Villains Of The Moon

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Monday, March 14, 2011

EIC'S10Q'S w/Dirty Beaches

"..like something out of a 60's Surf documentary.."


Dirty Beaches
Archaic Drifter Cinema

Dirty Beaches Bio:
Dirty Beaches is the sound of waves against a picturesque and putrid shore, the silent rumble of a Chevy as it speeds by in slow motion. Sparse but condensed, relentlessly edging forward: this is music for locomotive travel, for racing your weary motorcycle through neon archways and into dusky tunnels.

The man behind Dirty Beaches is Alex Zhang Hungtai; solo performer, sound-smith, and trans-Pacific nomad. Born in Taiwan, Hungtai has made Toronto, Honolulu, Montreal, and Vancouver his homes.

Like Bo Didley or minimalist synth provocateurs Suicide, Dirty Beaches’ compositions are not so much stripped down as refined to their essence. Drum loops entrance, Hungtai’s croon enchants, and the yearning melodies draped over top belie as much a sense of haunting mystery as they do romanticism and wry humor.


Hello, how are you?
(Mr. Hungtai left this one blank, we'll assume he's OK:)

What are you currently listening to?

I'm currently listening to The Offset: Spectacles, a band based in Beijing. Rock n' Roll noise in Cantonese poetry, son.

Can you name the first band/movement that truly influenced your signature sound?

My influences are a collage of a wide source, so I can't really pin point one specific source. Out of all of them, Wong Kar-Wai films have hit me the hardest due to an early exposure to them films at a young age. Musically, Vincent Gallo furthered that aspect of romance and dread in my music. If there were a car commercial that can sum up my life, Gallo directed and created a slogan for a Japanese car ad campaign called LIVE LOVE DRIVE. I think that sums up my music and life ambition pretty well.

What is the overall theme for "Badlands"?
The overall theme of badlands focuses primarily from the viewpoint of the road. The character is exiled from his familiar surroundings, chasing a dream. The album chronicles the psychological landscape it envelops, along with narratives that explore themes of evil, which comes in different forms. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men. That's some deep shit right there.

Out of all the songs you have written which are you most proud of?

I don't think I have reached that point yet, each piece of music I've made along the way shapes and builds what comes next. I want to explore different genres, different recording techniques, etc. Being productive validates my existence, so I'm gonna keep at it. Gotta work that shit and get your money's worth from your equipment mang.

Have you ever actually played a live show on a beach?
No. probably will never happen since there's no electricity.

Do you have any side projects/friends bands you would like to talk about?

Yes! There are a few actually. Side project wise, I've worked with my friend Zachary Fairbrother (Lantern, Omon Ra II) this past summer when we were both in Montreal, we tried to put together a loud noise Rock n' Roll band based on minimalism ideas that he had studied in school. I would very much like to continue that project in the future and expand it more when we both have more time.
Another side project I'm currently working on is with Nic and Aja from Cosmetics. They are real sweethearts, and good friends of mine. We're trying to tackle on some classic pop compositions, and challenge ourselves to write a pop single.
As for friends bands that I truly love, fellow Night-People records crew:
Wet Hair, Ela Orleans (look out for a split 12" between Ela and I, a co-release from La station radar and Night people)
Fixture Records crew: Postcards, Femminielli, and Conor Prendergast (which I'm releasing a split 7" with on UK based label Soft Power Recordings)

What's the most embarrassing/funny album you own?

I don't own this CD anymore, but I used to own Kaneshiro Takeshi's first album. (Half Taiwanese/Japanese pop singer turned actor)
Here's a youtube video for reference:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cipk6j4n4Q8&feature=related
Actually, I kinda still like this song.

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?
I have one actually. Vincent Gallo's "When". Been listening to it for the past 10 years. I think I'll be listening to it until I'm buried.

Are you living your dream?
Yes! It took me 10 years to fulfil this dream.
Touring across the heartlands of America, down through the south, coast to coast, wandering through the desert, smoking on the Manhattan Bridge, walking down tenderloin in San Francisco in the rain eating a burrito. Exploring different cities and its abandoned architecture, playing music, making new friends on the way, getting my face smashed by someone else's fist, smashing some asshole's face with my fist, falling in love and getting your heart split in two.
I take it all in.
I'm living the life I've always dreamt of 10 years ago. If it were a film, I'd buy it on DVD.
Dreams are forever. LIVE LOVE DRIVE !!!!

Thanx Alex!


Dirty Beaches releases albums left and right, if you have a moment at least soak in THIS ONE...