TAG: Kraut

Jul01

DiskJokke – En Fin Tid (Review)

DiskJokke

En Fin Tid

Released by Smalltown Supersound


Diskjokke (aka Joachim Dyrdahl) is together with friends Prins Thomas, Todd Terje and Lindstrøm all part of Oslo’s pulsating disco scene. He’s a classically trained violinist and classical music has always been an important part of his life. Joachim studied mathematics for eight years, and holds a master degree. The new record, whose title translates to "a happy time," symbols an important turning point in his life: becoming a father and deciding to do music full time, while setting aside his career in mathematics. His first break came with ...

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May17

New Territory For UNKLE (Interview)

James Lavelle, the DJ, producer, Mo’ Wax record label boss and founder of musical outfit UNKLE, is back with the fourth official UNKLE album Where Did the Night Fall. With Pablo Clements (Psychonauts) as his new sideman, they go one a new route, using primarily live instrumentation and rock/psych pop as their sonic palette. I had a talk with him about this leap into new territory, on a sunny day in Hollywood.

URB: Why do you choose to use the UNKLE tag, since there’s always been a changing cast of group members.
JAMES LAVELLE: It’s not different from why would you keep on calling it Fleetwood Mac? Many bands come and go, but when it’s not started as a traditional band, then group members come and go. The main reason is because we created an identity, and to create an …

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Apr11

Prins Thomas – Prins Thomas (Review)

Prins Thomas

Prins Thomas

Released by Full Pupp


Norwegian remix king (or Prince), Prins Thomas, releases his first full-length solo album on his own record label. And it’s not all balearic disco, as many expect. Norwegian royals Lindstrøm and Todd Terje lend him a helping hand, and together they create wet bearded dreams of sonic landscape and echoing sunsets. The whole affair is proggy; while Thomas' inspirations are clear, the record is more post-rock than cosmic disco.

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Apr05

Christian Prommer – Drumlesson Zwei (Review)

Christian Prommer

Drumlesson Zwei

Released by !K7


Christian Prommer presents us his second chapter of Drumlesson and he still draws his influences from Detroit techno, but also moves toward classic European electronic music this time around. His organic cover versions are less heavy on straight jazz, and have more of a prog rock and fusion edge surrounded by avant-garde arrangements. He gets a little more psychedelic and adds some kraut rock flavor, inspired by the plentiful German acts from the '70s and '80s. The selections are broad, from Carl Craig to Laurent Garnier, Dennis Ferrer, Jerome Sydenham and Jean-Michel Jarre. He produced everything alongside Peter Kruder and a handful of studio musicians. He was also more directly involved in playing drums, piano and percussion. After the recording sessions, he worked on each track in his studio, switching roles from live player to electronic producer.

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Jan29

Lindstrøm & Christabelle – Real Life Is No Cool (Review)

Lindstrøm & Christabelle

Real Life Is No Cool

Released by Smalltown Supersound / Feedelity


The Norwegian maestro of disco, Hans-Peter Lindstrøm, teams up again with Christabelle (also known as Solale), and together they craft a masterful 10-song pop album. They have worked together since 2001, and begun working on the album before 2008’s epic Where You Go I Go To. Even though Lindstrøm is famous for his retro futuristic space disco, it never sounds like he’s working within a format. Real Life Is No Cool lacks the long masturbatory jams, and is tighter and more formal than his last few releases. The album is filled with new-wave pop melodies and piano house keys. It's sharp and chunky with heavy stomping basslines and wobbly arpeggiated synths. Wrapped in a warm and organic analog production, it's as dreamy as its title suggests.

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