Is And Of The – New EP – Latepril
Washington, DC is home to Is and of The, an experimental electronic music project which incorporates sampling, with live instrumentation. It’s an impressive outing, one that puts the search to build something spectacularly explorative over all else. A beautifully designed bandcamp page exudes thoughts that would require you to search yourself. Lovely painted pieces that fit without gaps to this risky, and refreshing music. Its more or less great IDM that incorporates some true blue sounding organic instruments. I love the anarchist approach on some of these numbers. All of a sudden you’re at this place, then within seconds the transition is skipped and you’ve given birth to a new aesthetic, one that has you burnt from the scary yet dazzling adventure. The brand new 7 track EP, latepril was just released via bandcamp, nab it for a FREE DL, and explore the other great releases. Album artwork by Anissa Najm.
Pick Of The Week: Fortyone
When you search “Samples” as a keyword you can find some pretty amazing songster crafts on soundcloud. I came across Fortyone, and a new album filled with said samples, running the spectrum. The Joy of Plowing is free and massive coming in at 32 songs. There’s quick drops of everything, like a record addict in the store doing quick hits to decide what’s coming home from the stack. A remarkable snippet fest, that gets smokey from all the dancing.
Take songs like “Jazz it up,” a classic hot box get down for the neighborhood on a saturday night. The project really just seems to be all about having fun, giving away free music without revealing much. The tunes are filled with a conducive memorabilia that blend together like a drunken pool party, which means some are spot on, others are weird enough together they work.
The track “Be The Love Bone Pony” lays out music from some real greats, all accompanied by an announcement telling you whose up. You’ll sway between Ricky Nelson, Elvis, and Fats Domino. A brilliant “wonder smile” perfect for the whole family.
Sampling is one of my favorite art forms, and when done correctly, old classics can be reinvented to form this new experimentation, unleashed and lovely. Not everyone can do this, it’s not like a derivative painting. This exploration is somewhat crazy, making its celebratory conclusion a piece that’s seldom found for most of us. The time, and care put into doing this would require a vision, only Fortyone could explain. Just a great find, I do hope you DL this record.
I also put up “George Washington Meets Mrs. Rabbit,” not off the record, but worth the laugh, just listen to how much effort this project takes to get where its going. So much respect! The Joy of Plowing just came out, nab it FREE HERE. And be sure to go through the other material on Soundcloud, basically a treasure chest of throwback gems.
Pick Of The Week: Wizards Only Presents Disney Worlds
There’s always a concept album that will hit you up during the year. When you discover the one, there’s this weird joy, some kind of psyched out experience you feel, even before you’ve heard the record. This kind of emotion is what I experienced when I came across this entirely interesting concept record.
Wizards Only Presents: Disney Worlds is a whimsical experimentation, shifting the timeless sounds of Disney onto the hip/hop modern, and the future synth marble warble. The album was compiled by 19 different artists, ranging from the more bleep oriented sample heavy button down, to the more expansive breathing room which allows the samples to rest easy on their unique place in our memories.
If you’ve been to the Magic Kingdom, preferably in the 80′s, looking back it’s not far from thinking that it has the mysterious element that can scare a child. I can remember being stuck on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride for hours, or It’s a Small World After All. These pieces in time are yesterday for me. I can see them vividly. How about watching the classic Disney films, and the grainy aspects still embedded in the origination of all that magic. The heart and soul of a trillion little souls, wrapped up in one sense of character. The magic, the lights, the castle, and now the beats.
This record is so many levels of weird, classic whimsical cascades, of carnival bliss beated out in a daze, simply to be faded into the mix of superb beat heavy essence of the mixtape community. A must have for the year. You can get it FREE or Name your price HERE.
Congrats to the group of Artists responsible for this, they all do a solid bid in their own way, I picked some tunes to put up front, but honestly the whole thing is so damn dope.
Pick Of The Week: We Are The West
We Are The West, the humble sounding duo who just released a new EP called We Are The West II. Their sound, a gentle breezy neo-folk vibe, with a little valley essence from the freak movement. But this mostly sits on standard, classic sounding folk, with only a pinch of modernity. A refreshing new release, and honestly I quit listening to this type of music awhile back, it depressed me at a certain point. This was mainly done from a broken heart. These dudes are not that world, and listening to their new EP, allowing it to swoop in, and be what it is, I found myself getting back to a simpler sound. One that wasn’t a dust off in the vinyl collection. This is new, and important to have in the rotation.
The middle track “Cauliflower Ears” is a beautiful steady lover, rocks you back and forth, makes you feel alright to see again. I’m sitting here in the morning, coffee in hand, bird swirling outside in the dark, and everything just feels right. Cheers to We Are The West for making a timeless sound, and sticking to their passion for the simplicity in life, the evocative aesthetic is pure, worth the walk down to the water while you explore how you got there. This music reminds me of so much, and its a welcomed feeling. Thanks for the ride We Are The West, and the build up on the closer “JV Tryouts,” quite deft indeed. Nab the new EP We Are The West II for 3 bucks. Yeah, 3 dollars for this brilliant group.
“The Los Angeles-based duo has recorded in storm drains, performed on sheep farms and in abandoned convents, and now hosts a concert series in the underground parking garage of an office building the Saturday night before each full moon. This Spring they release the second in a four part album of recordings, this installment handcrafted with love and care in a barn in Western New York during the summer months.”
Pink Elephants EP
Bradley Coy, San Diego’s Pink Elephants just released his first EP on April 7th. Its a four track sound blaster, riding heavily on the shoegazer in all of us. Coy, a 17 year old explorer of sound makes a variety of different things based on his own words. A trip to his soundcloud backs that up quickly. The EP is good, bold, and its drenched in this pull, sort of that blurry vision the Sun gives you when you’re trying to focus in, and it freezes you for a few moments in time. The song “Indescent” was a standout for me, but honestly the EP is solid on all four numbers, the closer is a big take off song, “The Flying Bandstand” ends the record, and really serves as a jump off closer for this project. You know this is just a “wet your beak” moment. The LP must be around the corner, and with tunes like this, I have no doubt its going to thrill the blogosphere. Well done Mr. Coy. Make sure to “name your pice” for this record.
Babe Terror’s New Tape Haunted Anarchy
Warbly grain fills the spectrum on Babe, Terrors new “Perdizes Campe Seniors”. A haunted tinged 12 minute looper thats video is an abstraction collage of old movies, basketball, and some other transposed weirdness. All pretty heady, and potently fitting for the neo-cassette-culture-movement. The new Tape came out on Glue Moon. Listening through it has a dark drone appeal. The constant looping sounds that smash against the tide, are possibly being transmitted by some beat box over top the valley. Almost a warning signal that some Walking Dead shits about to happen. There’s an anarchy to all this, the album starts to get into a discernible music tone on “Berlin Trendy Lifters & Halterofillists” but it’s still filled with this chase. This record is looming, something is going to happen, I just hope I grow wings before then so I can fly my family out of dodge. Seriously worth the listen, for me it’s about exploring what Babe, Terror is thinking with his decisions on College Clash. Two parts Art Installation, one part music. Pretty cool. Tapes are 6 bucks on Glue Moon, digi 8 dollars via Babe, Terror. A stand out track for me was B2 “Nairobi Party Loners & Trashhopers”.
“College Clash” is a tribute to american college basketball, telling a story of secret college meetings and sports battles in a forest camp.” ~ Glue Moon Tapes
Tiiiza Drops Youth EP
Previously featured on Acres Top 20 of 2012 list for the cut “July,” Tiiiza just let loose a hand full of new chiller waves via soundcloud. His music has space, and a vintage hue which lends us all some time with the past. There’s an eerie back drop to his production. If you’re into some true blue soundscape atmospherics (this would be dope in a movie like Drive) pay attention. His new EP just came out called Youth, via Ultra Vague Recordings.
Caveman The Wise Shadow Heat
This record has a nice warmth to it, similar to that evening when you decide a movie from the early years is what you’re looking for. Those films never step all over themselves to get to the next scene. Old movies relieve us from the obvious impatience of a modern scenario retread, with soul. The opening track “Getting Along” is the peak of chill, and “Little Leviathon” is the highlight of the record. A cool like jazz ether, and the vocal hits to perpetuate a state of zen. Oh and Don Draper and Biggie Smalls make appearances on the record, which is never a bad thing to work with. Caveman is a jazz man, no doubt.
Caveman the Wise (Chicago), Time in the Shadow of the Thing too Big to See, is FREE which is almost criminal. Creators gotta start asking for their worth, regardless of how many listeners we might lose. But free is nice, I’m broke right now. The album is hosted by The Day Old Recording Company, they have others worth exploring.
“…an up and coming producer in the Chicago and Nashville areas. A professional saxophonist, jazz colors his sound, no matter what style he produces. Tastes and genre are constantly evolving as he experiments with new sounds and old, always finding a new groove.”
Home Alone In The Clouds
Setting aside the projects constant reminder of being stoned, this is a nice collection of tunes from a wave rider looking through foggy glasses while exploring the fruits of bedroom pop. The project latches on to the ride of this generations musical evolution, with a first record worth thinking about. A standout is the album’s title track called “Teaddybears & Weed” which is a bubbly number, overflowing with youth. Nab the record, worth the Free DL, and sounds like tapes are coming out soon. I really like the complete package of this album, dope art to match a cool sound. Well done Dude!
“Home Alone is the pseudonym of Thomas Mazurkiewicz, the newest addition to the Orchid Tapes family. Living in the quiet Toronto suburb of Mississauga, Tom uses his basement and a modest collection of modern and vintage equipment as his studio to create over-exposed low-fidelity stoner pop songs.” ~ Orchid Tapes
White Blush Mirror Tasers
LA is the home of White Blush, aka Carol Rhyu whose album is out now on bandcamp. This track “Mirror” really caught my attention. A fluttery IDM bend, with enough similar Lali Puna roll to make me reflect on a certain period. There’s also a dark element to this record, which I guess we’re suppose to call “Darkwave” at this particular point in our genre timeline. Her vocals are very well placed in Pop, but the musical edge makes everything breathe a fresh sense of artful noise.
LakeBeats Sick Child
LakeBeats, a 16 yr old from the Netherlands, released his first “Beat Tape’ #16, late last year (November), so this is still FRESH on so many levels.
There aren’t many tunes that make me throw my hands up in the air while wearing my sweat pants, and sipping my 10th cup of coffee at 6am. But this sure did. Lake sticks deep grooves flawlessly, letting the sample on tracks like “Smoke Sum” do their thing.I could easily throw in the ‘for such a youth” qualifier before every bold statement, but I’m not going to. L.B. sets them up, knocks them down, nothing else but quality, sample driven jamz here, FREE DOWNLOAD.
Forrest James Burst Traverse
Under The Chrome Sea is the new concept album from Forrest James, a self-described dream waver out of Massachusetts. Setting aside the deft self description, the new record is one of the best finds of the year. James incorporates Boards of Canada (ISH) atmosphere, while spinning the glowing side of Neon Indian, almost like a hint or flutter in the ozone. This really comes through on the track “Waves,” but there’s more to the record than simple comparisons. Forrest calls it a “concept album” which was nine months in the making; this is quite apparent throughout the record. The new album plays like a trip being taken exclusively by your mind. Hell, the rest of you might being pulling a couch potato jones, but not the inner work. It’s all deep with a tinge of bitter-sweet, and the continually (popular) epic style explorative. One of the big stand outs for me is the way Forrest makes his song layout. He’s very patient, never in much of a hurry to change, but it will change into something. That’s the special part about his new record, you maintain this constant while somehow getting the motion with it.
On his bandcamp page Forrest explains the album this way…
“I’ve always wanted to work on a concept album. As an art form I really admire them in a way that “single” culture can’t ever touch for me. On top of that I planned from the beginning to release this album on vinyl, so whilst composing I was also considering timing, song placement, and how length affects sound quality. It has been an enjoyable voyage to new, welcome, terrain. Needless to say, I studied the 1970′s and 80′s and how the idea of the album was approached in that era. “Under The Chrome Sea” is the result of all these meanderings and more.”
Its imperative you nab the limited edition red colored vinyl via his bandcamp, or DL for FREE. Well done dude!
Oldhouse Bicycle Remnants
Shining out of Glasgow, there’s a fantastic new group called Oldhouse. They just released their debut EP, which is FREE through bandcamp. The music veers in/out of many themes that are all rooted in Folk. Oldhouse lets loose though, take the track “Tumble,” an intimate tale of two souls connecting. This reminds me of a small group, in a small room, jamming with the window open, so the neighborhood can hear the declarations. The other track I found intoxicating was the more “freak folk” sounding “Submerge.” Through the hall you grew up in as a little child, you come of age, and remember writing on the walls. This song puts me in my hometown, thinking about the ghostly silhouettes, and the faded tracks of our youth, resting still in the new era. Those remnants represent the adventures we had, and how we implored ourselves to explore, as little dudes.
I suggest getting this entire record, it’s really wonderful, and reminds me of how great this kind of music can be, especially if it’s a memorial of suggestions, without depending on depressing you.
~ Ryan Boos
Julsy Lone Wanderer
It’s easy to call music something, or categorize it into some magical-butterfly, flying around like a head trip. But the immediate sensation of those analogies, or dream esque psych pops, don’t make the words less meaningful, or somehow less original. Clearly I’m about to go off on some magic-magic, blanket thrill ride with this album review. Julsy, who we’ve covered on here a couple of times, just released Break, which is a slow evolving, hands spread out in the air, dizzy circles, with enough floating long hair to make its own boat to sail away from here. I have no idea what that means, but her music made me say it. The record is two parts sound collage, scratch that, its pretty much a whole sound collage, yearning to be in an abstract DIY film made by some filmster doing a passion project, which is something I love always.There’s a vivid bright spot on the things Julsy makes. Never in a rush to cover up spaces, almost if you met her she would be most comfortable in those awkward quiet moments. The music is like that, but all taking place off this trail someone told you to walk down, because your true self is at the end of it. I’m rambling now about self discovery and over doing the whole dreamy wordy review, but that’s this music for you. It’s slowly complex, a discovery channel special showcasing the ecosystem perils of man. You can name your price right here, and pick up this wonderful piece, which will surely bring some calm to your daily life. Heavy rotation, especially for those meditations. I dig it so much I wrote this poem.
Patient listener, bright-eyed fawn,
The lone wanderer, found his one,
Vivid hallways, cold spoken heat,
Shadow light, foliage beeps,
Wild fun, abandon hills,
Hands together, they kill,
Wind feathers, color thrill,
Daydreams are better.
~ Ryan Boos
MPFlynn Heavy & Dizzy
For some time I’ve had Matthew Flynn on my radar, especially since starting this site. When I first started listening to him, he was using the name Shifty Teeth. With his new album just being released via his own Bandcamp, he goes by MPFlynn, an obvious moniker in limbo situation. But the name matters little, mainly b/c his music is so damn wonderful. I’ve been a fan of his soundcloud page for a while now. Flynn can do it all, from remixes, to chill out droplets that leave you wishing you had told a friend how much they mean to you. But he’s sticking to solid ground here. On his new record Heavy & Dizzy, Flynn is standing up straight for a more folk favored affair. This album seems to be the one he hopes to catch a more accessible turn with, and that’s just fine. Matt knows what he’s doing here, this preference in style suits him well. He has a nice steady vocal that doesn’t overreach, or get too playful, but keeps a soulful edge, one that won’t hesitate to carry you home. The attention to simplicity is what these turns call for, and Flynn holds steady, right on top of the ridge. The CD is a ten spot, with “DIY, hand carved rubber stamped, hand sewn case. 10 dollars a pop. As is in album artwork. My hands were all over these bad boys (with special help from Erin Curtis (we washed our hands, don’t worry).” That quote alone makes this package worth it, buy it here. Or be a slave to technology and get the digital DL for 8 dollars. Either way it will be well worth it, and on those evenings when the lightning bugs light your backyard, all is quiet in the neighborhood, these tunes will provide all the comforts you need. Goes well with spiked apple cider, small fires, and the warmth of your companion.
Lastly, this is a record with great musicianship, not fancy samples or tricked out electronics, real players, doing the real biz. Yeah, these cats do exist in the DIY world.
~ Ryan Boos
ChromadaData Costume Sea Goggles
ChromadaData released the Arival EP this week and its filled with “Afro Futurism.” Ian Jones love for hip hop and the essence of soul are typically at the heart of all his tunes. The extra flavor that keeps me interested is the continuations of an experimentation throughout. While he keeps things pretty well on the same points, his loops remind me of the under the sea ride, except this one is for the really cool fish.It helps to have your own sound, something unique to your music, and his keys are the things riding over the samples and beat, which essentially separate CD from the rest. Seriously though, bring your goggles and some flippers, this whole EP is riddled with bubbles, star fish, and the costume imagination mermaid that finds you whirling the underbelly of an Alice in Wonderland sea ride. The new album is only 3 bucks on his bandcamp page, I picked it up this morning, I suggest you put down the granola snacks and do the same.
~ Ryan Boos
Cube Face Summer Lights
Out of Brighton, Britain (UK) Cube Face is part of the Cadence Collective whose Cadence Sampler hit the net waves at the end of March on Bandcamp. We had Bearcubs “Cascade” on our volume one mixtape, which is another bright spot in this shining collectives deep pull.With Cube Face and “Tell Me” its hard to imagine anything as awesome on the whole deal. First, I’m a sucker for that voice clip sample, that sounds like a needle being randomly dropped on a spoken word record. Cube Face, and the collective seems like the type of group that wants to bring you the deepest and most addictive bass lines. This tune sheds bright city lights on the sexual tenure of pop music, while riding the edges of electronic ocean music or something for the Florida Beaches, or hitting out of Ann Arbor’s Ghostly label. This song sounds like something off one of The Streets records, I kept waiting for the nasty brit flow to come on the mic, and drop some knowledge. Cool thing, it’s not needed, mainly b/c the productions is so damn flawless not even an MC could do much to make it better. It’s like being in a meeting with your manager and they tell you that your yearly review is in, and the thing was so damn HOT it caught on fire, and burnt down their headquarters office.
You can get the sampler for a five-spot, so put down the pizza slice or your annoyingly specific coffee, and buy it.
~ Ryan Boos
Cosmic Sound Liquid Colors
Some songs you know are going to be wonderful from the moment they start, and if you’re lucky enough, the Artist behind it will have taken the time to instill that sense on the whole damn record. Most of the time, you might pick up something with a few gems, something to put on your mixtape for the summer. I always get into records you can put on and just roll with them throughout, the one that has the up and downs to shift with your bendy mid-afternoon mood swings, especially with the refreshments are out, and you have to make the semi weird trip to the store(not me). I think that’s why I love this whole tape culture thing, and of course the 50 cent bin LPs at my local. Those forms implore you to be patient and appreciate what people like Stephen Farris AKA Cosmic Sound was trying to do in 2010 when this shining piece originally came out. On Crash Symbols reissue of VHS Vision I will gladly make a run to any store, just so I can listen to this bad ass puppy on tape in my car, we gots the 10′ sub under the passenger, so the full range of DOPE won’t be in question. If my window on driver side would roll down, I would gladly share with the rest of these early day, thrill seekers. They enjoy sitting porch side in my neighborhood, similar to our early mornings. And there’s my point, I can take this album anywhere, and play it anytime. Just last week I heard it playing in my head while floating on a giant pink noodle in an empty cove somewhere. Round and Round the album swoops you up and gives you this circus-circus, cool water breeze, with enough vivid color imagery to build your own fruit house, somewhere off in the woods. I wouldn’t say VHS Vision is an original album, you’ve heard this kind of thing before, but probably not done as well, not even close. Well Campfire Headphase is probably the standard for part of this type of record, but it has to start with someone, and I imagine Farris is heavily influenced by Boards of Canada, hell who isn’t?
Regardless, the amount of style you’ll find here is addictive, so you’re in good hands with this one. Hug a bunny, put on a straw hat, and sip something tubular. The tape is available for a five-spot (best option), and the digital is only four bucks through Crash Symbols here, who continually keeps raising the bar. You can find out the haps on Farris through his ridiculously cheap and glitched out other magical joints via his bandcamp.
~ Ryan Boos
Headaches Implore Fractured Fun
Nueroplastic drops Headaches new single “Oh Honey” which reminds me of something Moby put on his Play album. Its a non stop sample chop carnival that gets you moving. The single pack out now on Nueroplastic has three total songs.Headaches gets tuned up in the whole thing, not risking leaving any space or even a second you might wonder off from the sound. The other song “Genie” is fantastic, the samples have this mars like otherworldly quality, much of which plays like communications that are be fractured by the sun. Probably a good idea to get this, not only is it free, its damn good. Along with the digital gem stones, you get a “visual diary from a surreal exploration of the Salton Sea, California.” Rad!
~ Ryan Boos
Bedroom Please!
Noah Kittinger is just some kid from Nashville making melodic folk essence, filled with dream pop, no big deal right? Overall the thing that strikes me the most is his patience throughout his Bedroom project, EP called Toys. Most of the time High School kids don’t relate to anything for me, not b/c of anything they’ve done, but they’re just kids, most of them punks. But not Noah, at least not his music anyway. Listening to his album, while staring into the vast wonders of the smokey mountains this past weekend, with my best friend/wife, I kept thinking of all these experiences I’ve had throughout my life. There’s some real heat in these memories, heart break of the highest order, all while trying to figure out what the hell to say, if not, how to say one word right to anyone. Toys just blew me away with its honesty, and integrity toward life, then I find out he’s just a kid? WTF!!! Its theses rarities that put things on the level for me. The songs are good, no doubt. He treats his instruments similar to how I treat mine, especially the acoustic guitar. Basically just play something that sounds nice, and don’t stop until that warm fuzzy shit goes away. Noah lets it ride, and then comes in with some full on verses. He reminds me of a band I watched in Chicago years ago called Seldom. But I’m not sure how much I can compare, except for the feeling. In all honesty though, I’m a sucker for the chanty, big folky sounds, with some claps. So, this album hits me where it counts. Its all heart man. And I’m sure he’s a great dude, it would be hard to be anything less with the pure emotion like you’ll find on his record.
~ Ryan
We Were Born Canaries Are Ideal Silhouettes
We Were Born Canaries – My Beat from Jakob Steen on Vimeo.
We do grow in the summer, or at least the moments of joy are longer, and our memories can only hope to stay in that time. We Were Born Canaries “My Beat” is a whirlwind through the wonder of looking up. It’s funny how much this video is the exact opposite of the light in the face perpetuation we see today. When is the last time you went anywhere and didn’t see tons of people looking into their pits of social acceptance? It’s such a staple now, you can often see the driven multi-tasker light up a cig, hit the text button, and work their cars. Best advice, get the hell out-of-the-way, by looking up and moving to your own beat.
I’ve been listening to the album all morning, which came out April 20th on A:Larm music. First impression is nothing short of chill. The music provides a space for Stine to solidify her soft, easy-going approach to delivery. Her voice is pure, leaving out the force that would inevitably take the light away from the blissed out places Jakob takes you through. Much of this record reminds me of a silhouette trying to burst out from beneath an ever passing ideal, that you eventually grow out from under. Like my favorite premise in a movie, this is a coming of age tale, or at least it sounds how that looks to me. Pop over to iTunes and support the band.
Jacob who sent us the info, also told me Brian Batz from Sleep Party People mixed the record with the band in his living room. I love those little nuggets of information about music, and how it comes together.
We Were Born Canaries is Stine Grøn & Jakob Steen.
~ Ryan Boos
Happy Record Store Day!
I’ve debated all morning whether to go out and enjoy the record stores today. I might hit them up later, Knoxville has some really great hidden gems, one thats five minutes from our house. Nothing like getting a top shelf margarita at our spot and stumbling around Lost and Found records for a few, which happens throughout the year. But until I hit the street for a stroll, I’m enjoying Hair, the new Ty Segall and White Fence record.
I’ve been a big fan of White Fence since the first album came out, such a fan that we tend to listen to Presley’s sunny antics all summer long. The follow up Is Growing Faith was a big staple in our house as well, all of White Fences songs play so well, I can’t really say I skip around too often on either record. They’re on my imaginary top ten, of the last ten list. I’m really looking forward to the double album, Family Perfume volume one vinyl is sold out on Woodsist. Thankfully, I put in my order soon enough though, just got word Amazon is sending me a copy. Finally, after weeks of messages saying “this item cannot be found,” even though I already paid my dimes man. At least I have the this collab. record to play until then, sounds awesome.
On Hair both Segall and Presley share their sounds fairly evenly. Both are similar from the start anyway, but White Fence tends to be a bit more on the hazy psychedelic side, with Segall shredding anything in his way.
Well, not much else to say right now, I’m really enjoy the album, and walking outside to sit on the porch and almost tripping on the Drag City box was the best Saturday morning gift I’ve had in a long while. The album officially comes out April 24th.
Cheers!
BlakeAndrew Releases Awakening
In the interest of being on point with honesty, BlakeAndrew is my closest friend. Our experiences together are vast, from DJ sets to producing songs, and he was a big part of me getting into blogging. He runs the solid DJ electronic music blog Twilight_Frequencies, which is where I got my start writing online.
Blake has been working on his first full length release for several years. He came out with an EP when Myspace was the best place to release music, which implicates how long Blake has been doing his networking in the new media world. Blake was the first person I knew to cross multiple platforms with his creativity, and use those places to share music, design work, blogging, and general technology news, among other things. I think his consistency in the game, is similar to the type of music he makes.
Awakening is like a machine that keeps coming. And at the end of it all you hear the “Voices” that give you some comfort. It makes perfect sense the closing song on the album is the one that eases up a bit, as if to signify a big change in life.
The structures are always tight in his songs, with great emphasis on solid drum samples, and an atmospheric that lends to a heavy use of the word dark. Blake would be the first to admit he is largely influenced by Trent Reznor, and the historic nature of the epic genre called Techno. I listened to the album months ago, and other than my Jack Russell Terrier named Leo running scared out of the room, the experience was interesting to say the least. Even if your general cup of tea doesn’t rest on a more ominous, gritty end pieces; BlakeAndrew manages to shed the fear with his great production, and consistency. On top of all this metal being bent there’s a veiled soulfulness to the music. The rhythms are solid, almost too perfect, but they have a shake to them, which reflects the diversity in the man.
Make sure to nab the entire record for the low low cost of $5.00. You can grab some nice singles, including “Voices” which is my favorite for free on soundcloud.
~ Ryan Boos
Atuin
This is one SoundCloud collaborating junkie right here! I give to you Atuin, an amazing folk artist who’s bounced around Germany and Turkey his whole life. Atuin is known as Taner in the not so musical world that is every day life,and has been my favorite male lyricist for about a year. I’ll be talking about two things today, my favourite track of his titled “Little River” and his newest release which is titled The Amazing Business. Alright, lets jump in to this “Little River” shall we?
Atuin has collaborated with a SoundCloud artist known as Jonny Bear and I have to say together, their sound is priceless. I remember the first time I heard this song, it was in the morning when I woke up and had pressed play on my dashboard. The lyrics start out like this “I won’t stop by because I’m a river. A moment is all I can deliver…Jump right in, I will make you shiver.” The sound scape alone will make you feel these lyrics without anything being sung. This is why it’s an amazing track, if you were to take out the music and keep the vocals, you would hear the music just the same. With such simple lyrics and beautiful vibrato between the vocals and the strings in the background, this song will make you shiver, give you those goosebumps which always feel so strange.
Moving on! Atuin has released 4 albums over the course of his busy and interesting life as a musician. The Amazing Business came out almost a year ago, I hope to hear more releases soon! When Taner was younger he used to spin hip hop, which he says still holds a soft spot in his heart today, but he had to let go and record these solo lo-fi tunes you’re hearing now. Atuin has no shortage of imaginary words to fill your mind of stories and moments to make you feel like you’ve experienced them your self. To me, that’s just what this album is, a long line of stories. Here is a track from the album titled “To The Left Behind” which has a special place in my heart.
So there you have it folkies, story tellers, easy listeners, here is an artist who can fill all your wants and needs within this genre. Head over to his BandCamp and get his album which he has available for $5 and then head over to his SoundCloud and listen to all the collaborations he’s done so far. Maybe you’d be next!
xx
Tea leigh
