RxGibbs: “Futures”.

30 Jan 2012 — Henning Lahmann

RxGibbs is a project by Michigan-based artist Ron Gibbs (with occasional help of Jason Wiesinger on synths and vocals by Lorraine Lelis and Elsa Heenan), who's churning out some nicely ambient electronica that is pretty upbeat while openly embracing some evident and heavy shoegaze influences, ending up with a blend of fuzzy dance music in the vein of Ulrich Schnauss that might not exactly be considered a call to the dancefloor, rather some laid-back, deliberately organic after-hour comedown that might guide your way back home from the club. The Futures EP will be out February 21 via Cascine. RxGibbs - Futures Read more → RxGibbs is a project by Michigan-based artist Ron Gibbs (with occasional help of Jason Wiesinger on synths and vocals by Lorraine Lelis and Elsa Heenan), who's churning out some nicely ambient electronica that is pretty upbeat while openly embracing some evident and heavy shoegaze influences, ending up with a blend of fuzzy dance music in the vein of Ulrich Schnauss that might not exactly be considered a call to the dancefloor, rather some laid-back, deliberately organic after-hour comedown that might guide your way back home from the club. The Futures EP will be out February 21 via Cascine. RxGibbs - Futures

Stream: Bon Accord - Unknowing EP.

29 Jan 2012 — Tonje Thilesen

After the success with Arrange's Five Years With The Sun, JUKBOXR have another quite excellent synth-pop release coming up tomorrow, which I guess you could label slightly in the direction of Arrange himself. Bon Accord, the London-based electronic producer has put up quite a few EP-s for free to download on Bandcamp last year, varying from atmospheric to strictly synth infused pop, perfectly fitting for late nights or early mornings. The first 50 orders of Unknowing will receive a limited CD with handmade cover artwork (if you donate $6 or more), and can be grabbed right here. Get an exclusive first-listen below. Read more → After the success with Arrange's Five Years With The Sun, JUKBOXR have another quite excellent synth-pop release coming up tomorrow, which I guess you could label slightly in the direction of Arrange himself. Bon Accord, the London-based electronic producer has put up quite a few EP-s for free to download on Bandcamp last year, varying from atmospheric to strictly synth infused pop, perfectly fitting for late nights or early mornings. The first 50 orders of Unknowing will receive a limited CD with handmade cover artwork (if you donate $6 or more), and can be grabbed right here. Get an exclusive first-listen below.

Video Sunday vol. 14.

29 Jan 2012 — Tonje Thilesen

This week's features on Video Sunday contains beautiful visuals for Phèdre, Baron, Porcelain Raft, Cloud Castle Lake, Siinai and Rangers. Phèdre - In Decay (directed by Jesse Ewles) Baron - Comea Cloud Castle Lake - Another Girl (Jacques Greene cover) Porcelain Raft - Unless You Speak From Your Heart Siinai - Finish Line (by Caleb Dunham) Rangers - Zombies (Day) (by Benjamin Shearn) Read more → This week's features on Video Sunday contains beautiful visuals for Phèdre, Baron, Porcelain Raft, Cloud Castle Lake, Siinai and Rangers. Phèdre - In Decay (directed by Jesse Ewles) Baron - Comea Cloud Castle Lake - Another Girl (Jacques Greene cover) Porcelain Raft - Unless You Speak From Your Heart Siinai - Finish Line (by Caleb Dunham) Rangers - Zombies (Day) (by Benjamin Shearn)

Carlos Giffoni: “Evidence”.

28 Jan 2012 — Henning Lahmann

In the January issue of my monthly column for Electronic Beats (not yet published, don't blame me), I've predicted that 2012 will be dominated by RVNG Intl, but if Software continues in this manner, maybe I'm gonna have to correct myself in a few weeks. What I've heard so far from the forthcoming Megafortress release is among the most painstakingly beautiful I've come across in recent months, and Slava's footwork-induced house anthem "I've Got Feelings Too" (see below) is frickin' excellent. But it's "Evidence" by NYC via Venezuela musician Carlos Giffoni, otherwise known as the organizer of the preeminent No Fun Fest, that has just completely taken my breath away. Starting with a few simple piano chords and bare vocals, the track quickly develops into a massive acid techno slasher that would be an embellishment for any Berghain club night. Absolutely unexpected and outright terrific. Update: As both Dummy and FACT just reported, the title track's "mechanized piano and synth riffage" is actually provided by Laurel Halo. And yeah, you should really listen to Slava as well: Both Carlos Giffoni's Evidence EP and Slava's Soft Control EP will be out February 7 via Software. Read more → In the January issue of my monthly column for Electronic Beats (not yet published, don't blame me), I've predicted that 2012 will be dominated by RVNG Intl, but if Software continues in this manner, maybe I'm gonna have to correct myself in a few weeks. What I've heard so far from the forthcoming Megafortress release is among the most painstakingly beautiful I've come across in recent months, and Slava's footwork-induced house anthem "I've Got Feelings Too" (see below) is frickin' excellent. But it's "Evidence" by NYC via Venezuela musician Carlos Giffoni, otherwise known as the organizer of the preeminent No Fun Fest, that has just completely taken my breath away. Starting with a few simple piano chords and bare vocals, the track quickly develops into a massive acid techno slasher that would be an embellishment for any Berghain club night. Absolutely unexpected and outright terrific. Update: As both Dummy and FACT just reported, the title track's "mechanized piano and synth riffage" is actually provided by Laurel Halo. And yeah, you should really listen to Slava as well: Both Carlos Giffoni's Evidence EP and Slava's Soft Control EP will be out February 7 via Software.

Video: Running In the Fog - “Know When to Run”.

27 Jan 2012 — Henning Lahmann

We've been loving the mildly off-kilter synth pop by San Francisco's Amanda Harper aka Running In the Fog ever since we got lost in the foggy bliss of "Missed the Rain" last summer, yet somehow we totally missed out on Harper's latest single "Know When to Run", dropped sometime late last year through Bad Panda Records. Anyway, I'm glad we can make up for that now by debuting the brand new video for this truly awesome song, shot at San Francisco's Ocean Beach by Zach Ehrlich of Sonny & the Sunsets. Harper explains: "As lovers of the ocean and specifically this SF break, we edited it together to make a dreamy homage to being wrapped up and carried away from everything, which is exactly what I try to make my music do." If you need to get carried away from something or everything as well (and who doesn't), then this has been made for you: Running In the Fog - Know When to Run Read more → We've been loving the mildly off-kilter synth pop by San Francisco's Amanda Harper aka Running In the Fog ever since we got lost in the foggy bliss of "Missed the Rain" last summer, yet somehow we totally missed out on Harper's latest single "Know When to Run", dropped sometime late last year through Bad Panda Records. Anyway, I'm glad we can make up for that now by debuting the brand new video for this truly awesome song, shot at San Francisco's Ocean Beach by Zach Ehrlich of Sonny & the Sunsets. Harper explains: "As lovers of the ocean and specifically this SF break, we edited it together to make a dreamy homage to being wrapped up and carried away from everything, which is exactly what I try to make my music do." If you need to get carried away from something or everything as well (and who doesn't), then this has been made for you: Running In the Fog - Know When to Run

Cleared: “Breaking Day”.

27 Jan 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Cleared is the duo of Chicago-based artists Steven Hess and Michael Vallera. After last year's debut, originally put out by Digitalis Ltd., Chicago's excellent Immune Recordings has just released the project's second full-length Breaking Day. The album is a staggering blend of stone-cold drones and pitch-black noise elements that are piled up to form massive, breathtaking soundscapes, all tied together by ultra-precise, relentless drumming. This is all very unsettling yet strangely mesmerizing, like watching quickly rising flood waters, deadly yet sublime, and completely irresistible. A highly recommended record, listen to the mind-boggling title track below. Update: Immune released the self-titled debut from Cleared in January 2011 on both LP and cassette. Digitalis Ltd then released a cassette of different material that was also self-titled. Sorry for the misinformation (but the label admitted that this has confused people before). Order Breaking Day directly via the label or (recommended if you're in Europe) via Boomkat now. Cleared - Breaking Day Read more → Cleared is the duo of Chicago-based artists Steven Hess and Michael Vallera. After last year's debut, originally put out by Digitalis Ltd., Chicago's excellent Immune Recordings has just released the project's second full-length Breaking Day. The album is a staggering blend of stone-cold drones and pitch-black noise elements that are piled up to form massive, breathtaking soundscapes, all tied together by ultra-precise, relentless drumming. This is all very unsettling yet strangely mesmerizing, like watching quickly rising flood waters, deadly yet sublime, and completely irresistible. A highly recommended record, listen to the mind-boggling title track below. Update: Immune released the self-titled debut from Cleared in January 2011 on both LP and cassette. Digitalis Ltd then released a cassette of different material that was also self-titled. Sorry for the misinformation (but the label admitted that this has confused people before). Order Breaking Day directly via the label or (recommended if you're in Europe) via Boomkat now. Cleared - Breaking Day

Video: Hhappiness - “Bananas”.

27 Jan 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Hhappiness are a jolly good outfit hailing from Stockholm with a growing musical repertoire somewhere between straight lo-fi and somewhat more polished guitar glory, at times rather noisy but invariably playful and with that certain amount of pop appeal that is somewhere in the genes of every Swede, pardon my cheap stereotyping. Don't ask me about that extra "H" - it's not even googleable, the mighty search engine will correct it bluntly. To quote the label's description: "Amongst the trails of their three years as a band they have (...) picked up an H along the way." Anyway, "Bananas" is the title track of the band's first official release, a 7 inch that will be put out by French boutique imprint Almost Musique on February 14. Order the vinyl now over here and stream or download the songs until the release date right here. Read more → Hhappiness are a jolly good outfit hailing from Stockholm with a growing musical repertoire somewhere between straight lo-fi and somewhat more polished guitar glory, at times rather noisy but invariably playful and with that certain amount of pop appeal that is somewhere in the genes of every Swede, pardon my cheap stereotyping. Don't ask me about that extra "H" - it's not even googleable, the mighty search engine will correct it bluntly. To quote the label's description: "Amongst the trails of their three years as a band they have (...) picked up an H along the way." Anyway, "Bananas" is the title track of the band's first official release, a 7 inch that will be put out by French boutique imprint Almost Musique on February 14. Order the vinyl now over here and stream or download the songs until the release date right here.