TAG: Electronic

Mar18

jj – jj n° 3 (Review)

jj

jj n° 3

Released by Secretly Canadian/Sincerely Yours


Sweden’s latest indie buzz band, jj, veer toward the electronica-tinged pop sounds of their countrypeople—think Robyn, The Knife, Air France—on sophomore record jj n° 3, proving there’s no need to ditch a profitable formula. But jj’s elusive, publicity-eschewing band members Joakim Benon and Elin Kastlander, know the secret to a steady output of bright, shiny records is not-so-happy underpinnings, bringing a sense of humanity to what, on the surface, can come across as lullaby music.

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Mar10

Video Premiere: Hurts “Wonderful Life” (Video)

Parisian lable progresses the globe with their latest compilation. 

French brand, Kitsuné knows a good thing when they see it. Between their amazing fashion line and record label, it maintains the credibility that the French are known for when it comes to trends. Their label has put out records for amazing artists like Wolfmother, Yelle, Boyz Noize and Digitalism.

With their latest venture, Kitsuné Maison 9 – The Petit Bateau edition or The Cotton Issue, Kitsuné has teamed up with bands like Washed Out, Crookers feat. Yelle, Holy Ghost!, Penguin Prison and more for their ninth studio compilation.

Electronic duo, Hurts who is also featured in the compilation, rounds out the Kitsuné aesthetic with their light, break beat rhythms and Theo Hutchcraft’s pleading vocals. Their latest video, “Wonderful Life,” will be featured on the upcoming compilation, which is set for an April release date.

Here is the release of Hurts’ film noir …

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Feb22

Bomb the Bass – Back to Light (Review)

Bomb The Bass

Back To Light

Released by !K7


My first experience with the music of Bomb the Bass (also known as Tim Simenon) was through Kruder & Dorfmeister’s masterful compilation, The K&D Sessions (1998), on a dub version of the track “Bug Powder Dust” with Justin Warfield (originally released on the magnificent and genre-defining 1995 album Clear). The work on Clear has a quality reminiscent of the musique concrète stylings of Pierre Schaeffer, which made it a remarkable and highly noteworthy album. His subsequent albums have always represented an evolution and departure from the preceding work, as if done by a completely different artists, and this explains how Simenon’s work has always found a superb depth through his varied musical interests--it’s probably because he spends a lot of time actually thinking through the music. Currently we find ourselves with the new Bomb the Bass project, Back to Light, a quick follow-up installment to his 2008 release Future Chaos. From the get-go the album announces itself through insidious emotive aural effects, which through a blistering barrage of time-travel sounds, encompass the listener in a feeling that although intense, evaporates rather instantly.

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Feb10

Mosca – Square One EP (Review)

Mosca

Square One EP

Released by Night Slugs


Everyday in electronic music, something new pops up that challenges listeners to find new ways to dance their asses off. From almost abusive sub-bass half-step rhythms to percussive funky beats, the sounds emerging from the U.K. have been dominating parties worldwide with a huge variety of artists and tunes. This emergence birthed new record labels, and from small beginnings as a successful party in their homeland, producers Bok Bok and L-Vis 1990 put their heads together and created the fresh, new imprint of Night Slugs. Carefully choosing the talent they will put out, they begin their record label venture by churning out a release that has been surrounded by hype and a bevy of remixes that are destined for rhythmic euphoria. Starting off with producer-du-jour Mosca, Night Slugs has begun a surely successful ascent into the pantheon of amazing independent labels.

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Feb03

Four Tet – There Is Love In You (Review)

Four Tet

There Is Love In You

Released by Domino


Kieran Hebden has been hailed as the thinking man's electronic producer for years now. Presiding over experimental electronic music for about ten years, Hebden's work under the alias of Four Tet has always provided something introspective and irregular, starting with Dialogue, released in the late '90s, and progressing throughout the years up until 2008's Ringer. Hebden has also done some work with live instrumentalists under his own name, the most well-known collaboration being with legendary drummer Steve Reid. Since then, Hebden laid low, only releasing a small pressing of a beloved collaboration with former schoolmate Burial, the shady vinyl masterpiece that was 2009's two-track release, Moth/Wolf Cub. But with a residency at London club staple Plastic People, Hebden began implementing more of a dancefloor influence on his tunes, in his own way of course. With the release of this new album, There Is Love In You, he's shown his versatility in dancefloor culture while remaining true to his own soundscapes. The result of this new venture may be the most satisfying Four Tet experience since 2003's release of Rounds.

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Feb03

Felix Cartal “Popular Music” and Tour Dates (MP3)

Here’s the first rave-inducing track from Felix Cartal’s debut record, Popular Music, due out on the 23rd via Dim Mak. With its punchy beats, tantalizing vocals, and murky instrumentation, the track is wonderfully addictive. But then again, Cartal must know how to make a banger after having remixed the likes of MSTRKRFT and pop stars like Brit Brit, as well as opening for Justice and Busy P. This time around, he opened his Rolodex and invited Johnny Whitney (The Blood Brothers, Jaguar Love), Todd Fink (The Faint) and Austrian newcomers Beta Bow. We’re expecting nothing short of earth-shattering (no pressure). Tour dates after the jump.

Felix Cartal “Popular Music”

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