Cassida Pax Wild Fire Highlights
Cassida Pax is warbling through this retro ether, more like sniffing the good glue then walking the park after dark. Ricardo Stacey out of Canada lives in the Lo-fi TAPE culture. The bedroom pop aesthetic never seems to go away, daily finds of experimental goings on. An explorative measure so expansive the genre continue to rain down supreme pretty lights. Cassida Pax is another pleasant vibe in a long line of great wild wonders. Head over to his bandcamp page, and peep the massive collection of releases.
Cristallin Swirling Memory
Cristallin out of Switzerland released “Terranea” last week. The new song opens up in the ocean setting. The emotions released and resonating off the coral reef, it boomerangs back to you, the image walking underneath the clouds. This is a really wonderful song. Cristallin is a filmmaker who makes music to accompany his visuals. It’s easy to hear the emotional input on this track. Inspired by something unsaid, but vivid from the start. Funny thing about this, I wrote the review while streaming via soundcloud, then watched the video. Great to see what the song put in my mind is exactly what this filmmaker translates on the screen. The imagery is super cool, hard not to picture yourself hanging with these dudes, skating, seeing all the beauty their set has to offer. There’s plenty of others to watch and explore over on vimeo. Get the song for a NAME YOUR PRICE over on bandcamp, along with some other wonderful sounds.
Fantasy Camp Zone Glow
The thing sets in, skies darken, there’s running aimlessly. At the edge is Fantasy Camp, whose sound transcends his youth. At 16 Jonah Kramer AKA Fantasy Camp beams out of Pennsylvania, with a self relayed “clumsy & shy” persona. Silly rabbit, there’s nothing like that coming out of your sound. This is potent chillwave, the kind that evoke cool moods, on the cusp of the latter part of the evening. Mix the atmospherics with solid beat making, the kind of sampling that inhabits this Feng Shui in the mind, making the complete song a real pleasant work that has no rigidity.
The new song “Campground” hits on all those evocations, it’s a slow burner, whose fruit seems out of reach, cause you keep ruminating about shit. All this is taking place along some shore only you know about, cause you designed it.
Jonah is part of this influx of the “beat tape” genre. His new full length came out in late December, you can grab that here, its a NAME YOUR PRICE. There’s so much to listen to, so get listening. I’ve posted some songs that really stand out, all FREE DL.
Swim Good Under The Radar’s Radar
Swim Good released “Dollar Iced Tea” last year on Soundcloud. From what I can tell this song has gone relatively under the radar, way under it. It’s a great song! From the moment it begins, the invisible colors we see from the bright sun in our eyes, comes out like vibrations. You’re half blinded and the pulse transmits the sound. A FREE one I might add. “ALL I WANNA DO” is listen to this song, and be in this video.
The song is a car commercial just waiting to be plucked from the cloud. Who is this Swim Good? Why is this song not being blasted everywhere? How the hell did I find it? The last question is easy, traffic on one of my own releases turned me onto Swim Good. I noticed the name, so I went to explore, and here we are. I’M IN LOVE! It looks like Swim Good is Ben Hoffman, honestly I wish Artist would get on the “links” tip so when we cover them I know WTF I’m looking at, no worries, the song makes up for it. Cheers Ben! There’s also a pretty Rad mixtape on his Soundcloud. Be sure to hop over and nab that as well both FREE. WE WANT MORE DUDE!!!!
- In case this is some big hit I just completely missed, and Swim Good is one of these maestros posting CR material, my apologies up front. The song is that good people. It’s so damn good that I think it’s possibly this massive hit that everyone has already loved on. This can happen, hope its the real deal so I can feel good about my discovery.
Tropical Tobacco Color Color Surf Surf
Saturday Morning! Not your typical day for a blog post. I’m chilling out in the country basically sitting in the front yard of the National Park. Last night I came across Tropical Tobacco. Now, I can’t say for certain I haven’t seen this name before, either at a glance while surfing some of my favorite sites. Maybe, I get him confused with the other Tobacco fella, who sings in that creepy acid trip band who shows the B movie roles at their concerts (See Black Moth Super Rainbow)?. This is not him, or that group, nothing the same, except the SUN.
Tropical’s sound is quite simply “Tropical”. With the song “One Ounce” released back in January (missed it), this is indeed the setup of the summer for me. Every blog or site from here to Pluto is saying that about one song or another, sure this one as well. It’s probably the most over played thing to say, a cliché no doubt. But who cares about superfluous jargon. We’re talking about summer here, the season when people feel young, and run around like crazy people for a few months. And that’s why we post about “summer songs” so much when we hear them.
On this color filled, drug induced beach run, Tropical Tobacco just hits all the right notes, for me especially. The song induces a running down the beaches of Lake Michigan visual for me. Now instead of Holly and me holding hands, and tripping on ourselves while laughing like goof balls, I see that plus my son strapped up in the Ergo, bobbing back and forth on my back. It’s interesting how your kids can make you see the colors all over again, make you see the youth in yourself as you explore the sand for the very first time together. This song is that experience, and it’s just FUN. Also nab the track “Debris/” to come down off the super high experience. Get them both FREE HERE! They have a new album coming out sometime this year, thank goodness.
Future Valleys Jumbled Star
England’s Future Valleys, currently splitting time between the 60′s, the 80′s, and now he’s into a more experimental electronic music. Its to the point where you’re unclear whose making what, I had to email him to make sure the rock stuff was actually him, or an accidental upload with the new electronic material. Future Valleys really connects all of them together on some of these numbers. Take the song “I will never die,” a White Fence style vocal showered in an 80′s ether, leaving the edge for a garage oriented rock.
I appreciate explorers like this, people wanting to make everything they can. Not a product, not a plot to swoop up a market, but instead self discovery through the lens of some unknown desire to create. The first track on this list of great work, is a summer time player for sure. And probably will be on Acres mix #2. I’m pretty stoked I found this Artist. You can’t put the Lo-fi like this in front of my ears without pure excitement. I love the mix of sounds, but I would really love a Future Valleys record of the hazy garage sound. There might be one, but like so many great talents on soundcloud, there’s a lack of links to info on them. So I have no idea if there’s more info, an album, or maybe a side project making elevator jams? Regardless, the soundcloud pages are a good start.
Tonmo Zip Line Swirls
Tonmo, wonderfully crafted chiller out of Iceland. The new tune “Vashite” has a nice vox clip, which gives the track an early morning beach vibe. There’s a nice selection of tunes on SC worth listening to. I included a few of the newer ones all which cross into this sample drone hip-hop, shifting in the realm of experimental chill. Not sure if Tonmo has an official release, no link on his page, but worth the stream no doubt. Dope!
Powercut Vintage Polo
Powercut out of Italy will make you do a double take, and try to turn up the volume more. It’s a blast from the past, almost so damn vintage 80′s I couldn’t tell if it’s just released as a fake artist. They sound like they’re dropping polo shirt wearing, cocaine snorting tracks, that no one heard in 1985, but were on the backup record for the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack. Once I went to their label Future City Records I saw they are real. The group Powercut is Terra, Toto, and Big Mike and they have big love for things French, and Disco.
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.
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
My 20 Picks For 2012
2012 was an interesting year for Holly and me. We learned we’d become parents, due date late January 2013. Our son’s name is Cove, he now is the proud owner of years of collecting music, and a few choice instruments. My first album came out under Nomadic Firs, which had so many weird, and exciting moments. With those two big items I give you this random list, which is a collection of Artists I heard getting played over and over again in our house. These are some of the folks that took me out of my own creations, and allowed me to just be a fan of music again. Something I honestly misplaced, and the reason I do this site. So cheers to all of you for making this last year fun for us, we appreciate it.
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!
Echo Champs Gold Waves
Lush synth loops from Canada, Vincent Bussi or Echo Champs is a self-appointed chillwaver with extra emphasis on the wave. A personal favorite I might add, but there’s an atmospheric tone that gets me to some almost sad places here, mainly my own worry of self doubt, and terrible tendency to drown in past steps. It’s not that kind of music though, I think the aesthetic “Shiny Eyes” envelops is the kind that gets me wondering, and on occasion my foot gets stuck in an old thought I’d rather not remember.It’s also the perfect hazed out beach bum track, it gets you dazed out looking at the semi-awkward family trying to get their shit in order, so they can have a family picnic. The odd part of the tune is the sample vocal, it adds an element that gives this shiny number some genuine freshness. A hop-wave filled with atmospheric hip shakes that will either get you wet, or find you coloring alleyway bricks. Honestly I could paint a million pictures in my head based on this song, or it could be the super strong coffee this morning, mixed with the birds outside. Whichever is the stronger influence, Echo Champs has a plethora of releases on Bandcamp, and SC, so I would get into it here.
~ Ryan Boos
Swims Giant Bubbles
Swims drops “Bioluminescent flora” which sounds like something they recorded while searching for the lost city of Atlantis. Maybe they hit record as they entered the Abyss, not realizing the magic they had cultivated with all these dolphins playing games around them. Another brand new song from a group with little else to report, I am a little short on time to research more on them. This new song brings a ton to get excited about. Although the music never shifts away from its main theme, the atmosphere surrounding it tracks through many levels, from a deeper point of view. Its fun, super bubbly, and you can travel with it from your sofa.
~ Ryan Boos
Phantom Power Elusive Reflection
Eric Littman (NYC) aka Phantom Power releases a superbly hazed out cover of Hot Babes “Cool Stuff.” It has all the drunken highlights of the warbled, who gives a fook walk home. The hooks phase out with the dope repeater. Eric’s most impressive stock pile is his album releases on bandcamp, just a massive cache of great music centered slightly off pace. This dude is exactly what the tag line on his facebook says, ‘über pseudo.” Couple weeks back he released “Loop In My Head” which is one of the finest summer tunes this year, especially for those late nights adventures through the dark, and weirdness of holding hands through the festival as the carnival freaks hand you tickets to come in their mirror mazes. Lets not forget to mention the comparisons to the Haunted Graffiti, b/c you’ll have to do a double take at the titles to make sure this isn’t new A.P. material. Whatever though, its hot, and there’s even more funk on Phantom Planet’s renditions of this unique chill+wave+weird aura music. There’s so much content on his pages, so spend some time, get a few records, few specialty tunes on his soundcloud page. I just might make this a Phantom Power weekend, why not?
~ Ryan Boos
Anymals Sun Hat Adventure
Chillwave is the shit, anyone else thinking otherwise, well I feel sorry for you. Out of Bordeaux, France comes Anymals, and “Kids Grow Better Under the Sun” has every possible golden gem you could ask for, except it could be longer. I can just keep hitting play over and over again though, its well worth it. We’ll all have to repeat this one tune for now, I don’t see any news about an LP or more tracks. But I’ll be watching for it. I want more! Name your price on the single here. The song has gotten some love on SC, and surely other sites didn’t miss this one when it came out a month ago, but not everything has to be brand new, and we certainly don’t care much about single release dates here.
~ Ryan Boos
Tours Beach Supreme
Tours aka Dylan Sieh, out of Philadelphia releases “Deuxiéme” which is a remix of Memory Houses “Lately.” Like most of Tours work the production and cadence are pure synth glitch pop that would melt the face of any waver on the beach. I stumbled upon this beat wizards page and was hooked for life. I was actually surprised I hadn’t crossed paths with Dylan’s music before, mainly cause his work is that good, figured I should of had an email from one of my dudes with subject line “you have to check this out.” On the new tune there’s the great vocal sample which evokes a butterfly riding the ridges of a flower, through the meadows after a storm or during early rain fall. Yeah, something real colorful and cheesy like that. Tours delivers in a big way and the decisions on this remix come from someone hitting a real “next level” of sorts. The beat is sick, and there’s no accidents here, just a grand wizard controlling the ecosystem while whittling his pipe, and occasionally checking to make sure the levels are in balance. Tours knows exactly where he’s going, and he’s on the fast track to something big big big. There’s some FREE goodies on Soundcloud and a couple of choice albums on bandcamp.
OKTASEEYOU Shoots With A Sun-Gun
Sometimes we need to just walk through there, together if we must, but not afraid to go it alone. Out of France comes this sun drenched “Nostalgia” courtesy of OKTASEEYOU. I went to their Bandcamp, but there’s no option to purchase their music. That was a total bummer and confusing to say the least, but hopefully my corespondence will not go unanswered. I would very much like to spend our warm weather days calming down in our hammocks, and getting soaked from the rays blasting through OKTASEYOU’S sun-gun. If they were a superhero that would be their power I do believe.
~ Ryan Boos
Luke Reed “Under The Sun”
This one’s for those highlight wavers, right before the night shifts into that “what’s next” moment. Its been awhile since I found myself slugging through the crowds of glow face hipsters, and non attentive koolios.This cut is for those other kids, the one’s who hit the park after dark, and enjoy the chill of their immediate collective. You know the memories where you’re laying on the hill, moon is beaming over you, and the crew. Its early everywhere else, but you lay still, grounded in the lateness of life. Luke Reed is without a doubt similar to Neon Indian, Washed Out, etc. But I mentioned this, now we can establish Luke as his own thing, and with his only single on Soundcloud, he’s done just that. It’s just before midnight, yet I feel like I’m “Under The Sun (true love).” Pass the whirls y’all.
~ Ryan Boos
