KaraKara “Bringing It All Back Again” (exclusive)

14 Aug 2013 — Tonje Thilesen

Here is yet another sample of some fine, beat-infused sounds coming out of the promising Irish grounds, perhaps more altered than what we might be used to, translating a chopped & screwed, however perfectly elevated production into a pure pop landscape. It might not be the first beats we've been hearing from the 'profilic' producer KaraKara as of late, having already put up a good amount of superb works on his Soundcloud page — but "Bringing It All Back Again" sounds to be something in a new, perhaps less weighty direction than previously noted. Keep an eye out for this producer, and don't forget to miss out on his (yet untitled) EP due to September. 

Review: 555 “Solar Express”

14 Aug 2013 — Evelyn Malinowski

The masonic geometry on the inside of 555's Solar Express, out now on Oakland's Moon Glyph, mimics the symbolism of ancient medicine and science.

Numerologically, the project is a six. The number five added to itself three times – five times three – sums in fifteen. Then, adding one to five, we are down to a six, a digit signifying nurturing and healing. Such qualities are happily available in these songs. In fact, hopefulness is a key characteristic. While artists like Alveol work to resurrect unremitting trance-dance, with sparkling melodies, 555's album is more forgiving, something you want to listen to late at night when you stay up reading stuff on the internet, riding into the next day awake, knowing you'll be tired at work.

The opening track “Rainbow Death” conveys a melodic blanket comparable to the ones found in Ulrich Schnauss, but moving like Tetsu Inoue's compositions. The subsequent tracks “Ultralight Survey Malfunction” and “IED Intercept,” with prominent, dragging drums, countered by humbling keystrokes, are similar to the earlier work from Paul Dickow aka Strategy. The latter track also bares likenesses to the synthy jazz-drivenness of Stellar Om Source's latest release, Joy One Mile.

“Poor Tide Judgment” is a breathing, shimmering track reminiscent of Loscil's “Sickbay." It reminds me of this time of year exactly, when the height of summer is overcome, and everybody is inclined to sit some sunny days out, recuperating.

While I would call it straight-up electronica, Solar Express offers a refreshing source of psychedelia. Chris Farstad, the guy behind the five's, pulls no flashy tricks nor adheres to scene-related themes. Instead, he produced a meandering, kind-spirited cassette which demands only that we enjoy some contentment. This is typical of Minneapolis' Food Pyramid collective, of which Farstad is a founding member. As the group continues to activate space with sound, Farstad's branching out was perhaps necessary for cosy introspection.

Inner Oceans “Ready Your Ghost” (exclusive)

14 Aug 2013 — Andi Wilson

It's so refreshing when you hear a brand new track and feel as if you're going back in time. Tinged in lo-fi ambience and screaming of Oasis-like melodies, "Ready Your Ghost" is the first single from Denver's Inner Oceans, led by Griff Snyder. The song seems effortlessly crafted, yet as a listener you receive a deeper impression. An intensified mixture of guitars, synth sounds and estranged vocals leads to a resonated chorus, leaving you in a shoegaze paradise. By the time the track ends you're now back on solid ground with a clear conscience.  

Inner Ocean's upcoming EP is set to release November 9. Stream "Ready Your Ghost" below.  

Active Child “She Cut Me”

14 Aug 2013 — Lukas Dubro

Sure thing, we all love teasers to upcoming EPs and albums. Take for example "World" and “Maxim's I”, the first singles from Julia Holter's forthcoming album Loud City Song, which both made our hearts beat quicker. “She Cut Me”, the first material to surface from Active Child's new EP Rapor, creates its own (and disappointing) suspense. The instrumental track is building up with every single measure, until you can't help but wait for a release - or that at least something will happen. The song however ends before that, prematurely. So I guess we'll have to wait until the release, the date of which is still unknown. What we already can learn from “She Cut Me” is that Active Child hasn't changed his style too much. The harp, the 80s synths and the choirs still seem to be the foundation of the artist's dream-like music. Maybe a big surprise will come with the EP. Maybe not. We will wait. Promised.

Stream "She Cut Me" or watch the teaser video below:

BYRSLF “Summer Crisis vol. 2”

13 Aug 2013 — Tonje Thilesen

Just in case you thought summer was over, our favourite Paris-based, beat infused label collective BYRSLF are here to prove you excessively wrong. Following their splendid summer mixtape as of last year (which personally found itself spinning a whole lot in my DJ sets), our buddies return with yet another "summer survival kit", featuring singles from Illishbeats, ¥oin, SertOne, Umba and Ryan Wells amongst others. On top of it all, the tewnty-two magnificent tracks can also be downloaded via BYRLSF's Facebook page. Listen to the excerpts below. 

Watch: Jef Barbara “I Know I’m Late”

13 Aug 2013 — Henning Lahmann

After a string of exuberant and lush singles and EPs, the official debut full-length by NFOP darling and Montréal's queer superstar Jef Barbara is finally upon us. The wonderfully weird Soft to the Touch is out October 1 via his hometown's Club Roll Music, but already now you may take a brief glimpse at the work by watching the expectably colourful and astonishing video for the single "I Know I'm Late" below. Hail to the freak:

Watch: The Soft “Prana”

13 Aug 2013 — Henry Schiller

Suffolk trio The Soft weave their deceptively minimal electro-pop through a kaleidoscope of subterranean performances shows and fluid explosions in the video for “Prana.” William Glass’ high resolution version of an extremely friendly acid trip suits The Soft’s brand of mellow electronica well. Much like the music set to it, something a little dark and perhaps depraved lurks just below the surface. Something real and emotionally substantial swimming laps in the bliss of a neon atmosphere.

The Soft's debut EP, Uncanny Valley (a rather appropriate reference to an aesthetic hypothesis that usually relates to simulated people) , is out in September on Ceremony Recordings.