Now that 2011 is finally gone and we're all looking into the rising sun that is the glory of 2012, so to speak, one might be inclined to suggest that last year's interesing yet futile debates on the justification of nostalgia in contemporary pop music should somehow be over by now, but most of today's reviews of Cloud Nothings' probably quite excellent album "Attack on Memory" prove otherwise. Enter Montréal's Christian Richer, whose (unfortunately still unreleased) album 1968, recorded under his psych-infused guise The Haiduks, was nothing but a full embrace of late sixties pop, unabashedly and indeed rather shamelessly nostalgic, not to say: retromanic. Yet to wipe away all possible misunderstandings, what we were facing with 1968 was neither a "plundering of the past" nor a "fatal attraction" whatsoever but a means of cultural production that civilizations have created since time immemorial: the tribute. And above all, in Richer's case it was a marvelously beautiful, truly original yet still faithful and honest tribute to pop music's Golden Age.
It is from this particular angle, and not through Simon Reynolds' eyes, that one ought to look at The Lemon Tape, the "psychedelic pop experience" that is Richer's latest project, a twelve-track cassette which will be released soon via Frank Ouellette's Hobo Cult and his own, newly founded tape imprint Kinnta Records. The compilation gathers contributions from some very exciting exponents of the Montréal underground, including tracks by two of Richer's countless ventures, Élément Kuuda and The Haiduks (delivering one of the collection's standouts with "A Tide Through The Flames"), who are not exclusively treating the psych-pop realm but who also indulge into the temporally related sounds of library music's heyday, that certain, mostly British tradition of production music that recently regained some attention and appreciation with the reissues of Daphne Oram's oeuvre and the output of London's excellent Public Information label.
So anyone who's seeking music that's pushing boundaries, step aside (and come back tomorrow). All others who are just looking for some crazy good music that aims at providing a playful, skillful and just plain awesome reverence to one of pop music history's greatest eras, take an exclusive look at three accompanying videos, all made by Moduli TV aka Frank Ouellette, and listen to three seriously gorgeous tracks from this excellent compilation.
Check the tracklist below:
Side A:
01 The Reveens - Twisted Games
02 Brave Radar - A Spike
03 The Haiduks - A Tide Through The Flames
04 The Capital of Plastic Daffodils - Princess
05 Bataille Solaire - Harpe Pierreries Chatoiement
06 Jane L. Kasowicz - Looking for Jim Sullivan
Side B:
01 The Yesteryears - Never My Love
02 Einar Leiknes - Hvordan
03 Léopard et Moi - Prend de Nouvelles Formes
04 Tomato Saucers - Cosmique Love
05 L'Oeil Nu - Trance Oedipienne
06 Élément Kuuda - Insomnie Astral
The Capital of Plastic Daffodils - Princess
Brave Radar - A Spike
L'Oeil Nu - Trance Oedipienne
Read more →
Now that 2011 is finally gone and we're all looking into the rising sun that is the glory of 2012, so to speak, one might be inclined to suggest that last year's interesing yet futile debates on the justification of nostalgia in contemporary pop music should somehow be over by now, but most of today's reviews of Cloud Nothings' probably quite excellent album "Attack on Memory" prove otherwise. Enter Montréal's Christian Richer, whose (unfortunately still unreleased) album 1968, recorded under his psych-infused guise The Haiduks, was nothing but a full embrace of late sixties pop, unabashedly and indeed rather shamelessly nostalgic, not to say: retromanic. Yet to wipe away all possible misunderstandings, what we were facing with 1968 was neither a "plundering of the past" nor a "fatal attraction" whatsoever but a means of cultural production that civilizations have created since time immemorial: the tribute. And above all, in Richer's case it was a marvelously beautiful, truly original yet still faithful and honest tribute to pop music's Golden Age.
It is from this particular angle, and not through Simon Reynolds' eyes, that one ought to look at The Lemon Tape, the "psychedelic pop experience" that is Richer's latest project, a twelve-track cassette which will be released soon via Frank Ouellette's Hobo Cult and his own, newly founded tape imprint Kinnta Records. The compilation gathers contributions from some very exciting exponents of the Montréal underground, including tracks by two of Richer's countless ventures, Élément Kuuda and The Haiduks (delivering one of the collection's standouts with "A Tide Through The Flames"), who are not exclusively treating the psych-pop realm but who also indulge into the temporally related sounds of library music's heyday, that certain, mostly British tradition of production music that recently regained some attention and appreciation with the reissues of Daphne Oram's oeuvre and the output of London's excellent Public Information label.
So anyone who's seeking music that's pushing boundaries, step aside (and come back tomorrow). All others who are just looking for some crazy good music that aims at providing a playful, skillful and just plain awesome reverence to one of pop music history's greatest eras, take an exclusive look at three accompanying videos, all made by Moduli TV aka Frank Ouellette, and listen to three seriously gorgeous tracks from this excellent compilation.
Check the tracklist below:
Side A:
01 The Reveens - Twisted Games
02 Brave Radar - A Spike
03 The Haiduks - A Tide Through The Flames
04 The Capital of Plastic Daffodils - Princess
05 Bataille Solaire - Harpe Pierreries Chatoiement
06 Jane L. Kasowicz - Looking for Jim Sullivan
Side B:
01 The Yesteryears - Never My Love
02 Einar Leiknes - Hvordan
03 Léopard et Moi - Prend de Nouvelles Formes
04 Tomato Saucers - Cosmique Love
05 L'Oeil Nu - Trance Oedipienne
06 Élément Kuuda - Insomnie Astral
The Capital of Plastic Daffodils - Princess
Brave Radar - A Spike
L'Oeil Nu - Trance Oedipienne
Eearlier this month, we reported about the German producer Anton Pfurtscheller aka Anthony Drawn from Mainz, and his current work with London's Teknical Development on his EP Ghost In The Shell. However did we forget to inform you all about Anthony Drawn's debut album A Beautiful Fragile Balance; released today over at Sicht Exot. In the veins of this, we're giving all you beautiful people a first listen to the outstanding "E.S.T.R.I.P" featuring Joshua Keyes; a moody, exploring track dedicated to the Swedish jazz trio Esjorn Svenson Trio, one of Anton Pfurtscheller's biggest inspirations in music; of which the lead singer recently passed away.
Order A Beautiful Fragile Balance in digital or vinyl format via here. Highly recommended.
Read more →
Eearlier this month, we reported about the German producer Anton Pfurtscheller aka Anthony Drawn from Mainz, and his current work with London's Teknical Development on his EP Ghost In The Shell. However did we forget to inform you all about Anthony Drawn's debut album A Beautiful Fragile Balance; released today over at Sicht Exot. In the veins of this, we're giving all you beautiful people a first listen to the outstanding "E.S.T.R.I.P" featuring Joshua Keyes; a moody, exploring track dedicated to the Swedish jazz trio Esjorn Svenson Trio, one of Anton Pfurtscheller's biggest inspirations in music; of which the lead singer recently passed away.
Order A Beautiful Fragile Balance in digital or vinyl format via here. Highly recommended.
This week on Video Sunday, we've selected videos featuring Matthew Dear, Me & My Drummer (whom played an outstanding set together with Einar Stray at Berlin's .HBC yesterday), Jacaszek, Active Child, O F F and Bonobo x Letherette.
Matthew Dear - In The Middle (I Met You There) [ft. Jonny Pierce of The Drums] (directed by Morgan Beringer )
Me & My Drummer - You're A Runner (by Stephane Leonard and Martin Eichhorn)
Perfume Genius - Hood (directed by Winston H. Case)
Jacaszek - Dare Gale (by Pedro Maia)
Active Child - Hanging On (directed by: T.S. Pfeffer & Robert McHugh)
O F F - Be Around U
Bonobo - All In Forms (Letherette Remix)
Read more →
This week on Video Sunday, we've selected videos featuring Matthew Dear, Me & My Drummer (whom played an outstanding set together with Einar Stray at Berlin's .HBC yesterday), Jacaszek, Active Child, O F F and Bonobo x Letherette.
Matthew Dear - In The Middle (I Met You There) [ft. Jonny Pierce of The Drums] (directed by Morgan Beringer )
Me & My Drummer - You're A Runner (by Stephane Leonard and Martin Eichhorn)
Perfume Genius - Hood (directed by Winston H. Case)
Jacaszek - Dare Gale (by Pedro Maia)
Active Child - Hanging On (directed by: T.S. Pfeffer & Robert McHugh)
O F F - Be Around U
Bonobo - All In Forms (Letherette Remix)
We've been keeping in touch with Brandon of the Chicaco based, dark R&B-electronic duo The-Drum since their (at first) mysterious emerge with the track "Omar" last year, later followed up by a few creations from their EP Heavy Liquid on Soundcloud. We're happy to finally announce that Heavy Liquid is available for pre-order, and will start shipping on the 31st of January via Audraglint Records, limited to 300 beautiful white vinyls for your fine ears to enjoy. Have a first listen to two splendid outtakes exclusively below — which unfortunately aren't included in the album (for some reason), but still lean on that deliciously disturbing, R&B infused sound.
The-Drum - OxbloodThe-Drum - Let Me
While your at it, we highly recommend you to take a peak at their most recent collab with SICH MANG, the excellent Chicago production duo consisting of Rand Sevilla and Eric Lee Gale (who is also involved in NFOP favs Golden Birthday) in the veins of the one and only Teams.
Read more →
We've been keeping in touch with Brandon of the Chicaco based, dark R&B-electronic duo The-Drum since their (at first) mysterious emerge with the track "Omar" last year, later followed up by a few creations from their EP Heavy Liquid on Soundcloud. We're happy to finally announce that Heavy Liquid is available for pre-order, and will start shipping on the 31st of January via Audraglint Records, limited to 300 beautiful white vinyls for your fine ears to enjoy. Have a first listen to two splendid outtakes exclusively below — which unfortunately aren't included in the album (for some reason), but still lean on that deliciously disturbing, R&B infused sound.
The-Drum - OxbloodThe-Drum - Let Me
While your at it, we highly recommend you to take a peak at their most recent collab with SICH MANG, the excellent Chicago production duo consisting of Rand Sevilla and Eric Lee Gale (who is also involved in NFOP favs Golden Birthday) in the veins of the one and only Teams.
As seen over at The Line Of Best Fit earlier today, the moniker of Denmark's Brian Batz, Sleep Party People (whom also makes appearance in Scarlet Chives) is finally set to release a new album, following the utterly splendid self-titled debut in 2010. "A Dark God Heart Song Of The Day", the first single from the upcoming album sounds bigger than ever — a little like I remember it when catching up on Brian and his band playing at Oslo's Bylarm festival a few years ago. We can't wait to see what his second full-lenght, We Were Drifting On A Sad Song will avail, out on Blood and Biscuits on April 9th.
If you happen to be around, don't forget to drop by their gig in London on April 19th, brought to you by our dearest friends at The Line Of Best Fit and Ja Ja Ja truly.
Read more →
As seen over at The Line Of Best Fit earlier today, the moniker of Denmark's Brian Batz, Sleep Party People (whom also makes appearance in Scarlet Chives) is finally set to release a new album, following the utterly splendid self-titled debut in 2010. "A Dark God Heart Song Of The Day", the first single from the upcoming album sounds bigger than ever — a little like I remember it when catching up on Brian and his band playing at Oslo's Bylarm festival a few years ago. We can't wait to see what his second full-lenght, We Were Drifting On A Sad Song will avail, out on Blood and Biscuits on April 9th.
If you happen to be around, don't forget to drop by their gig in London on April 19th, brought to you by our dearest friends at The Line Of Best Fit and Ja Ja Ja truly.
Not entirely sure if anyone noticed, but Omma Cobba's self-titled LP on Sweet Rot Records made my year-end list, and rightfully so (in all modesty). Anyway, the folks around mastermind Daniel Miller have just delivered another gemstone of delightfully fuzzed-out, mesmerizing psychedelic garage with just the right amount of classic blues and folk leanings, the eight-track cassette Faster Acid Tongue, the purchase of which shall hereby be considered mandatory. Listen to "Greet Us" below, the album's slightly melancholic, beautifully sundrenched standout track.
Faster Acid Tongue is out now via Ottawa, Ontario's Bruised Tongue.
Omma Cobba - Greet UsRead more →
Not entirely sure if anyone noticed, but Omma Cobba's self-titled LP on Sweet Rot Records made my year-end list, and rightfully so (in all modesty). Anyway, the folks around mastermind Daniel Miller have just delivered another gemstone of delightfully fuzzed-out, mesmerizing psychedelic garage with just the right amount of classic blues and folk leanings, the eight-track cassette Faster Acid Tongue, the purchase of which shall hereby be considered mandatory. Listen to "Greet Us" below, the album's slightly melancholic, beautifully sundrenched standout track.
Faster Acid Tongue is out now via Ottawa, Ontario's Bruised Tongue.
Omma Cobba - Greet Us
Been sleeping on this way too long now but thankfully received another reminder this morning that the debut release by Pittsburgh's Jennifer Baron aka The Garment District is a tremendous and truly fascinating effort, an incredibly fine-grained and carefully arranged collection of songs that linger in that delicate place between classic DIY songwriting and highly playful, texturally sophisticated experimentalism, never neglecting the music's ubiquitous pop sensibilities. Here's the gorgeous, still fairly new video for album track "Nature-Nurture", made by Keith Tassick from some 700 still photographs of television images taken by the musician.
Melody Elder is out on Night-People.
Read more →
Been sleeping on this way too long now but thankfully received another reminder this morning that the debut release by Pittsburgh's Jennifer Baron aka The Garment District is a tremendous and truly fascinating effort, an incredibly fine-grained and carefully arranged collection of songs that linger in that delicate place between classic DIY songwriting and highly playful, texturally sophisticated experimentalism, never neglecting the music's ubiquitous pop sensibilities. Here's the gorgeous, still fairly new video for album track "Nature-Nurture", made by Keith Tassick from some 700 still photographs of television images taken by the musician.
Melody Elder is out on Night-People.
Murfreesboro, Tennessee's Joseph Volmer is a man of many guises, Party Trash, Skylines, and, perhaps most prominently, Police Academy 6, but the musings of his that I find most intriguing surely are those originated under the moniker Clearing, slowly unfolding soundscapes of unsettling, at times threatening ambient drones and cinematic incursions that evince true sonic mastership.
Below, watch the otherworldly beautiful, Geoffrey Sexton-directed video for "Blank", a track that appears on Clearing's latest cassette, No Titles, which is out now on No Kings.
Read more →
Murfreesboro, Tennessee's Joseph Volmer is a man of many guises, Party Trash, Skylines, and, perhaps most prominently, Police Academy 6, but the musings of his that I find most intriguing surely are those originated under the moniker Clearing, slowly unfolding soundscapes of unsettling, at times threatening ambient drones and cinematic incursions that evince true sonic mastership.
Below, watch the otherworldly beautiful, Geoffrey Sexton-directed video for "Blank", a track that appears on Clearing's latest cassette, No Titles, which is out now on No Kings.
Eearlier this month, we reported about the German producer Anton Pfurtscheller aka Anthony Drawn from Mainz, and his current work with London's Teknical Development on his EP Ghost In The Shell. However did we forget to inform you all about Anthony Drawn's debut album A Beautiful Fragile Balance; released today over at Sicht Exot. In the veins of this, we're giving all you beautiful people a first listen to the outstanding "E.S.T.R.I.P" featuring Joshua Keyes; a moody, exploring track dedicated to the Swedish jazz trio Esjorn Svenson Trio, one of Anton Pfurtscheller's biggest inspirations in music; of which the lead singer recently passed away.
Order A Beautiful Fragile Balance in digital or vinyl format via here. Highly recommended.
Read more →
