05 Aug 2013 — Evelyn Malinowski
As if to compensate for his hitherto vaporous, non-beaty discography, a Noreaster of albums, Oneohtrix Point Never's preview track off of the anticipated R Plus Seven verifies the continuation of rhythmical sound and acute percussiveness. That said, it seems as if the temperature is beginning to rise after this series of gloomy storms.
"Problem Areas," like songs such as "Up" and "Nassau" from Replica, convey a choppy restlessness which serves sparsely as a beat. However, the new track's flow is agreeably more, well, bouncy, and driven. With a title such as "Problem Areas," the A.D.D. soundscape unique to OPN is thus acknowledged in words; it also allows for a hyperactive influence of hip-hop, experimental, metal, classical music to shine through. The vocal samples in particular convey a nostalgia for 90s hip-hop, perhaps even sample-happy drum-n-bass drops before punching builds. The child-like voices strobe through metallic and clever motion, similar to Evian Christ's "Fuck It None of Ya'll Don't Rap," or, to take a risk, Hive's "Ultrasonic Sound," as well as hundreds of others. The dischord of the video gamer's midnight shift belies the curiosity of the melodic-complex confronted immediately at the start of the song, making for a dynamic and rapid three minutes. Above all else, the rather thick bassline gives away the drum-n-bass as well as implies the approaching hot weather. I'm eager to hear what else is in store.
R Plus Seven is out September 30/October 1 on Warp Records.
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02 Aug 2013 — Kelsie Brown
"In The Mood For Love", the new one by East London producer Midnight Davis starts out slowly. A dark, throbbing techno beat pounds along for half the song to set the mood before Midnight Davis's vocals come in and add another layer of dissonance and unease. The track comes to fruition when guitars come in, making the whole thing reminiscent of seeing again an ex-lover, and experiencing the harsh sexual tension that comes along with feelings of defeat.
"In The Mood For Love" is taken from Severance EP, out September 16 on Five Easy Pieces.
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02 Aug 2013 — Henry Schiller
Sometimes a music video doesn't need to be anything more than a singer singing into the camera; just ask Radiohead, whose video for “No Surprises” used the austere premise to stunning effect and critical acclaim. With the video for “Water Me” British singer FKA Twigs has taken this trope to a jarring (and intensely minimal) extreme. In the video, Twigs’ head is rattled unnaturally back and forth, and her static gaze broken only by the emergence of a squishy, self-propelling tear drop. The creepy video also utilizes some of the same sublimely unsettling facial transformation techniques as Grizzly Bear’s “Two Weeks” video.
“Water Me” was co-produced by rising producer Arca, and sounds like a haunted new age twist on trip-hop staples. The lyrics to “Water Me” serve as a devastating reminder of the dangerous power others can wield over our own perceptions of ourselves.
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01 Aug 2013 — Silent Shout
Montreal's Brusque Twins have been producing dark minimal synth music in the vein of bands like Linear Movement for some time now. Their latest endeavour (and first video) is a more modern nod to the sublimely repetitious but infectiously danceable Factory Floor. In "Game of Desire," Derek George's hypnotic groove is partnered beautifully with Hollie Hensman's airy, ethereal vocals, and the strobelight video increases that hypnotism ten-fold.
The song was released last month on a split 7" with Toronto's Kontravoid, and can be purchsed now via Visage Musique.
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01 Aug 2013 — Andi Wilson
Lucid state, dreams, memories. Feeling lost, feeling found. Trickles down your spine and moments of realization. In and out of neverending nostalgia. These are all characteristics that Pretty endures.
I recently spoke with Brooklyn musician Erik Littmann about his current project, Steve Sobs. Intrigued by his new album and witnessing the act's new live set, I was curious to see what the stimulus was behind his music. The writing process began under his former moniker, Phantom Posse (or Power), in the winter of 2012 after a bad breakup. We've all been there right? This resulted in him releasing FUCK. and Forever Underground . As of late, the Posse ended with Niche. Almost immediately after, Pretty was released with the concept regarding rooted feelings of detachment and a bleak interpretation of arbritary selection. We spoke about how depression is so prevelant in music and art. Sadness may not always lead to innovation, but you might create something beautiful that effects the life of another invdividual. From the words of Littmann, "Pretty is a dynamic aesthetic idea, dependent on culture, individual experiences, etc. Aesthetics change with time...pretty now, maybe ugly eventually...or just not important."
Each track on the album repurposes one sample from a song that's been important to Littmann (Yo La Tengo, Esbjorn Svensson Trio, and more), and features the vocals of Nadia Hulett on "Impulse" and "Satisfaction". We also have confirmation that there will be a companion release in the near future with more acoustic elements.
Stream, download, or purchase Pretty for your own listening pleasures below.
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01 Aug 2013 — Henry Schiller
Pillars and Tongues’ “Knifelike” is the far too likeable lovechild of Peter Gabriel and Phosphorescent. Though Pillars and Tongues’ alt pop on the savannah stylings are overwrought, one can’t deny their intrinsic beauty and the absolute richness of tone exhibited in “Knifelike.” Vocals ring out in honeyed shudders, dripping with agony. It's is a very orchestral piece; the song’s closing moments remind me of the fireplace symphony sound evoked on Julian Lynch’s Lines LP. If you’re looking for something to watch a sunrise to, check out “Knifelike” below.
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30 Jul 2013 — Kelsie Brown
One of our favorite psych bands, New York's The New Lines, have a way of bringing us deep into a world inspired by science fiction and the '60s. After being silent for over a year, the group has come back to unveil the precursor to their newest LP, the organ-heavy and reverb-drenched psychedelic gem "The Tale Of The Bamboo Cutter". The song itself is named after the Japanese folktale for which the entire album is loosely based, the proto sci-fi story of a princess who is discovered living in a bamboo plant. In The New Lines' version of the tale, the princess lands on Earth in the midst of World War II and draws the attention of a scientist who begins experimenting on her. It's a far-fetched story, to be sure, but The New Lines tell it well with the appropriate use of vintage synthesizers and woozy vocal lines, and it shows them continuing to make the unhinged pop psychedelia we know and love from them.
The New Lines' Fall In Line LP will be released on August 19 on limited edition vinyl via Moon Glyph, another NFOP favorite. For now here's "The Tale Of The Bamboo Cutter".
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29 Jul 2013 — Tonje Thilesen
Most of the "over average" fans of Molly Nilsson or Geneva Jacuzzi may have heard of the Vancouver-based underground pop star Sally Dige (Dee-uh as she spell checks), emerging from a catalogue of artistically seductive, home-made youtube videos; constantly shifting perspective in idenity and fashion, intelligently conceived within a layer of 80's consumerism. In similarity to her bigger sisters Molly and Geneva, Sally also passes through the intellectual pop / minimal wave genre with glance — perhaps making it even more approachable for the uninvited, blending in vocals in aid of Madonna's earlier days with haunting, almost paralyzing melodies.
Have a first look at her brand new video for "Forget Me" below. The 7", including both "Forget Me" as well as "Losing You", is available for pre-order via Night School Records.
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