Stream: Chevalier Avant Garde “Resurrection Machine” (exclusive)

10 Sep 2013 — Henry Schiller

Resurrection Machine, The new LP from Canadian duo Chevalier Avant Garde, is out today and I'm pleased to announce that No Fear of Pop is hosting an exclusive stream of the album. Digging a little deeper than a lot of electronic music, Resurrection Machine combines soft IDM beats with swooping, warbling electronics and ghoulish vocals. Tracks like “When We Meet” and “It Was Me” attach warped atonal elements to common pop structures while more traditionally electronic fare like “Temenos” and “Nothing Between” are the products of murky digital spools unwinding into soft cataclysms.

Resurrection Machine’s weathered tone gives it a naturalistic take on modern electronic pop. The victorian upbeatness of a song like “Nowhere” - with its new wave inspired organ work - reminds me of Roxy Music’s Avalon album; calm, almost brooding electronic music that sounds like it should be played from the parapets of an ancient castle. The shimmering guitar work on “When We Meet” wouldn’t be out of place on a Ducktails album. There’s enough variety on each of Resurrection Machine’s 13 tracks to make it a diverse listen, without sacrificing any of its coherence.

The album is available now on 180-gram 12” vinyl (limited to 300 copies) or digitally via Fixture Records. Stream the entire album below:

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Monster Rally “Orchids”

09 Sep 2013 — Henry Schiller

“Orchids”, the first track from Monster Rally’s upcoming Return to Paradise LP, is like a bossa nova version of Portishead’s “Elysium”. Combining lush, southern European instruments (or at least what sounds like a bouzouki) with modern hip hop beats, Monster Rally manage to strike a fair balance between traditional acoustics and digital manipulations. There is a warm and pleasant graininess to “Orchids” that gives it the feel of something composed and recorded in the early 20th century that might have found its way onto an Avalanches album.

Return to Paradise is in stores October 29 on Gold Robot Records.

 

 

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Preview: Perspectives Festival

09 Sep 2013 — Evelyn Malinowski

A couple of weeks ago, I had a nightmare about going to a Berghain where there were only women. No male bar staff, no discriminative bouncers, no male DJs, and only women dancing out on the floor. I woke up laughing about my backwards anxiety toward a female utopian take-over of Berghain.

While in reality Berghain is predominantly a male realm – no different than the unarguably large percentage of all techno related scenes – serving as a beacon for the music world that, according to Wolfgang Voigt, still just doesn't have as many female artists as male ones, it is nonetheless unlikely to not see female artists listed frequently. An all male line-up, staff, and, for sure, a gender-utilitarian crowd, will never be encountered any given weekend inside Berghain. That said, it appears that the club has become more inclined to put female artists behind the decks (but not the sound board?), and we may be surpsied to go for more than two weeks without seeing another female headliner. Yet, the male-female ratio is meager enough to imply some kind of bashful, easying-into the fact that women have a groundbreaking grip on contemporary electronica. The current times are indeed historical moments and it is becoming difficult to deny. But, as for Berghain, either there is no revolution being taken out on it, or they are hiding the war evidence very well.

The Perspectives Festival, launching next week in Berlin, will aesthetically and calmly rumble the disproportionate gender profile of techno/electronica. Proudly and poignantly stating that, as there are stunning numbers of female producers on the global scale, the Berlin club scene simply does not take them seriously. The festival attacks the polemical trap by inviting some artists who have frustrations getting gigs because they're too inexperienced; yet their ability to gain experience is interrupted by the fact that they cannot get gigs. These artists happen to be female. Occurrences such as this most of all point to a pattern of neglect, disinterest, greed.

With a strong line-up including Gudrun Gut, Sarah Farina, Electric Indigo, Chra, Acid Maria, plus more, we are sure to acquire a rich musical experience governed only by seasoned and dedicated female musicians. Unfortunately, such an experience is overshadowed by its very mission in politely yet confidently rebelling against “mainstream,” taciturn, male-dominated events. We have to ask: how effective is reverse psychology in the case of gender discrimination in electronic music? Does a resistance such as this greater divide the gap? Does on-sight resistance created by diversity serve as a consistent detriment? Does femininity as opposed to feminism have an aural influence on music? 

Perspectives will be September 12th and 13th. Be sure and catch the showcases as well as lectures at about:blank.

 

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Michael RJ Saalman “Ripe Hymns”

09 Sep 2013 — Parker Bruce

The video for Michael RJ Saalman's new track, "Ripe Hymns", is very focused on hands. Director Stephanie Wickizer gives us hands doing a bevy of myriad things. Saalman and his song are kind of flirting with us and getting to know us at first like the hands in the video are, then things get serious with aptly uncoordinated, unceasing cymbal compressions marking the change in intensity and the sounds of things ripening if you will then going rotten with rapidity. Salmaan's tape, "Ripe Hymns" is coming out on Crash Symbols, so look out for that. Also, check out the video for a new track by Diode (Worried Mothers' David Hansen, Digital Leather's Shawn Foree), the clanky, banging-on-pots-and-pans "Peck on the Lips." Their first tape will be out on Crash Symbols in a bit as well.

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Preview: Decibel 10: Hyperdub Showcase with Kode9, Ikonika, and DJ Rashad

07 Sep 2013 — Evelyn Malinowski

Seattle proudly hosts the 10th Decibel Festival this month. The program is packed full of both recognizable and unfamiliar names and labels, ranging from classic to up and coming, while hybrid artists fill the space of the polarity.

Decibel of course declares and celebrates its ripe age, its seasoned deliverance and steady growth. It seems that this year they want to do something bigger, better, defending its maturity, that they know what they're doing more so than ever. The line-up does this, and also conveys a subtle nostalgia. Like Kelsie reflecting on the way the festival has grown, there is a whiff of looking back in the air, something indicative of transitioning from its first decade into its second, and something that makes moving forward slightly less pronounced.

On Wednesday, September 25, Hyperdub will be showcasing at the Crocodile beginning at 9pm, motoring through any hints of squishy nostalgia. Appearing on behalf of the fierce and friendly London label which has seen so much action this year, is Kode9, Ikonika, DJ Rashad, and flashy local Jimi Jaxon.  

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Steve Goodman aka Kode9 is the head of the eclectic label as well as a new breed of techno intelligentsia. Whereas Goodman is known as a very busy man, Kode9 is reputed for noisy dance music and jarring pitches which accommodate fast, indecipherable movements, and usually hostile environments. As a visual extension to Goodman's soundscape, Zach Walker's work with organic electronic representation will likely provide an overall strong sensual experience which may remind some of us of Goodman's redux of the 1962 Chris Marker film La Jetée, premiered at Unsound Krakow in 2011.

Leading up to Kode9's late night ambush is Ikonika, who has been well-received since her first release on Hyperdub in 2008. Outright, she consistently displays an amazing capability for navigating through techno labyrinths with a smile emulated by 8-bit melodies. Her sounds, both comical and driven, focus on concentrated techno-scopes that are gateways to futurist nostalgia. We can imagine that she will cast a glow of concentration and joy on the 25th. This year's Aerotropolis is exemplary of that concentration.

With his recent release “I Don't Give a Fuck,” and with a reputation for working the crowd, DJ Rashad's set will surely provide a rush of urban aggression and rhythm. He has a tendency to slap vocal samples around as if they don't pose a problem for beat syncing. Such craft excites and engages an audience in a brutally unique form.

More brutality will be had from Jimi Jaxon, as he will be providing the showcase audience with some progressive sensuality and sharp-edged house crunches. His pairing with the Hyperdub line-up confirms a type of awareness that Decibel, in conducting its biggest year yet, undoubtedly possesses. 

See you on the dance floor!

Preview: Decibel Festival 10 (& Hush Hush Records Showcase Giveaway)

06 Sep 2013 — Kelsie Brown

Seattle is a city that has been known for quite some time as a prominent music city - though not quite for its electronic scene, it's rapidly changing. This can be attributed almost entirely to the presence of Decibel. Starting in 2003, every September Decibel hosts a multi-day electronic festival, bringing in prominent artists from all over the globe. Each year the festival expands, bringing in bigger and bigger audiences and hosting more and more events. Decibel now is responsible for a large portion of electronic events throughout the entire year.

Coming up on its tenth year, Decibel is ready for its largest event to date. Taking place from September 25-29, the festival includes five days and nights of shows, after-hours parties, boat parties, experimental & audio/visual events (OPTICAL events), educational panels & conferences, and film showings. For full details, lineup, and information on how to acquire individual show tickets and full festival passes, visit the Decibel website.

As No Fear of Pop's sole Seattle writer/editor, and has someone who has been attending Decibel for several years, I am thrilled to announce that we will be conducting a ticket giveaway for a showcase that fits directly with NFOP's vision as part of our series highlighting Decibel. Follow the break to find out more information on #dBx, and how to win a pair of tickets to Hush Hush Records' official showcase.

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Considering Decibel's location, it's only natural that one of Seattle's most prominent music labels is hosting a showcase. Hush Hush Records have been responsible for the releases of several of our favorite Seattle electronic artists, like Cock & Swan and DJAO. Taking place on Saturday, September 28 at downtown venue The Crocodile, the lineup is a hefty one featuring six prominent artists. The night starts off with three of Hush Hush artists, all well-established Seattle beatmakers, taking the stage for a while. Domokos opens the show, followed by buddies DJAO and Kid Smpl.





The second half gives the reigns to three international producers: Henry Krinkle, Ryan Hemsworth, and Cyril Hahn. Relative newcomer to the scene, Henry Krinkle makes stunning, lush house beats from his home in Shanghai, China. Ryan Hemsworth, of course, is a poster child for NFOP - we're straight-up addicted to his cheerful breed of dance music. Bern, Switzerland native and Vancouver, BC resident Cyril Hahn struck gold with last year's house remix of Destiny's Child's hit "Say My Name". His house-infused remixes of classic R&B tracks intertwined with indie classics (Haim, anyone?) will be the perfect way to close out the night at nearly 2am, just in time to head over to the Kompakt 20 or Mixmag afterhours parties. Ticket information, set times, and venue details are over here.







Want to win a pair of tickets to the #dBx Hush Hush Records showcase? All you have to do is go over to the No Fear Of Pop Facebook page, make sure you've "liked" us, and comment on the preview, part 1 post by no later than Sunday, September 15 at 9pm PST. The winner will be selected randomly and will be contacted via Facebook sometime that week.

We're also quite excited about XLR8R's showcase at Decibel, taking place the night of Thursday, September 26 at Capitol Hill venue Chop Suey, featuring extensive sets by three artists of whom we're big fans: Huerco S., Vessel, and Evian Christ. Advance tickets and Decibel passes can be purchased through Decibel's website.

Eastern Hollows “The Way That You’ve Gone”

06 Sep 2013 — Ashley Canino

Today, Eastern Hollows brings us the second single from their upcoming, eponymous LP. "The Way That You've Gone" follows the release of the first single from the album, "Summer's Dead," way back in December 2012. The wait was well worth it--lead singer Travis DeVries' vocals shine on the aggressively heartfelt track. This may be the strongest hook we have heard from the band, which is saying something with super sticky songs like "Northern Lad" -- off of Days Ahead EP -- under their belts. "The Way That You've Gone" falls right into Eastern Hollows' M.O. of making listeners feel amped and dancey in the face of the morose.

The Eastern Hollows LP drops this Fall.

 

 

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