I've been listening to this quite a bit lately. Sounds like a mix between Boards Of Canada and M83's first album..
P.S. Here's a few more ;)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Check into Conelrad..
I've been listening to this quite a bit lately. Sounds like a mix between Boards Of Canada and M83's first album..
P.S. Here's a few more ;)
Friday, April 2, 2010
REVIEW: Jónsi - Go
8.25 out of 10 Sigur Rós frontman Jón “Jónsi” Þór Birgisson was once quoted as wanting to make a record full of music that didn't quite fit the specific style of the music he's most known for making. It wasn't until the writing process for Sigur Rós' 6th studio album "Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust" began. It was then that his audial visions started to come into focus. Last January, the band had announced that the were taking a year long hiatus for several reasons, one of them being several members recently having children. This opening in Sigur Rós' schedule gave Jónsi time to bring his ideas to fruition. Enter; "Go".
This solo effort by the falsetto intoner more than picks up where he and his band mates left off, only in a sightlier "more whimsical direction" boasting an almost childlike feel. On the more up-tempo tracks like "Go Do", "Animal Arithmetic" and "Boy Lilikoi", the driving drums astronomically aligned with sweeping woodwinds and flirty strings paint a portrait of a innocence and young love. On the opposite side of the audio sensory spectrum, songs like "Tornado", "Kolniður" and "Hengilás" are instilled with the familiar Icelandic Shoegaze formula that we're used to hearing (minus the quiet epic lengthiness of Sigur Rós). However these tracks could still easily be mistaken for b-sides from "Takk..." or "( )", but the adolescence-inspired shtick still applies. Also contributing in this opus is composer Nico Muhly, Fat Cat Records producer Peter Katis (Mercury Rev, The National, Fanfarlo, The Swell Season) and Parachutes founding member as well as Jónsi's live-in boyfriend, Alex Somers (1/2 Riceboy Sleeps).
"Go" can best be described as "Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust" Part 2. Which might be bad news for those of you who aren't huge fans of Sigur Rós' more recent "Pop" feel. But don't fret. Although "Go" is saturated with naive playfulness, Jónsi clearly and beautifully crafts a wise and mature approach to what I consider to be the quintessential soundtrack of youth in general.
Standout Tracks: Go Do, Kolniður, Grow Till Tall
Thursday, April 1, 2010
REVIEW: Monster Movie - Everyone Is A Ghost
Monster Movie are one of those bands that have been around for a while (10 years or so), they have the right musicians; Christian Savill (ex Slowdive) & Sean Hewson (Eternal), and yet for some reason they have yet to get the attention they deserve. "Everyone Is A Ghost" is the band's 5th full length and by all means should be their most commercially successful.
I'll go ahead an admit it, the only reason I ever checked into MM was because of Mr. Savill, as many of you know I am a huge Slowdive nut. I make it a point to check into any and every release they have a hand in. I don't have all of the Monster Movie albums (yet) but I do believe this one to be one of their more tenacious releases. It defines their sound by using stronger productions, and contagious compositions. "Everyone Is A Ghost" starts out with the terrific track "Bored Beyond Oblivion", which has a killer guitar riff that sort of reminds me of Weezer's "blue era". After that the catchy pop tunes just keep getting better. Some tracks are a little Indie Pop/Rock-y and some are a little more Indie Electronic/Synth Pop. I read a review online somewhere that referred to this album as a mix between My Bloody Valentine and Grandaddy, I couldn't agree more. For those of you that aren't into MBV because their "too loud" don't worry, this album picks only up hints of fuzzy & distorted guitar bliss. For those of you that aren't fans of Grandaddy because they're too "light-hearted/poppy" don't worry, this album only carries a few of GD's sunny dispositions, as well as their catchy attributes. Mellow guitars (both rock and reverberated), gallant synths (both air-y and pulsating/dancey), uncomplicated drums (both electronic and standard), and pleasing vocals make this album a nice addition to anybody in need of a "new" pop sound. If I had anything negative to say about the album, it's that the second half doesn't seem quite as "strong" as the first, but that's not really a bad thing considering how good the first half is. I really do hope though that "Everyone Is A Ghost" finally gives Monster Movie the much needed attention they really do deserve.
This is pretty good Indie Pop music with a slight electronic edge to it. If you're looking for something simple and catchy/good for the warm seasons ahead check into "Everyone Is A Ghost" post haste. Recommended.
Standout Tracks: Bored Beyond Oblivion, Everyone Is A Ghost, Fall, Help Me Make It Right (love the drum samples on this one)
Remember SPC-ECO?
SPC-ECO - 3DEIC's #7 album of 2009:
"Dark, lush, rich, electronic, loud, heavenly, fuzzy, cathartic, and damn near perfect. With plenty of vocal layers, keyboard fx, electronic drum sounds, and complex guitar tones it's easy to see why any Gazer will become enamored/slammed to the ground from the very first listen...Hand's down the best Shoegaze release of 2009, an essential to any collector of the genre. Fans of Jesus & Mary Chain, A Place To Bury Strangers, Pale Saints, Asobi Seksu take notice."
Yeah, check them out NOW, if you haven't..
Anyways, it turns out Dean Garcia of SPC-ECO has dipped his hands into another amazing project called "Inkraktare", the album is called "You Have Reached Your Destination". It's FREE, and it's absolutely terrific. A pleasing mix of dark electronic soundscapes that sort of remind me of T. Reznor's work for Quake mixed with a some lush atmospheres.
I HIGHLY recommend you check this album out, I mean it is free afterall..
Check into Twin Sister..
These guys sight Stereolab, Bjork, & Cocteau Twins & as their main influences...
(better hurry up, this is only free for about another week or so)
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