drwex: (pogo)
So I figured I'd close out with a sampling of new and old voices doing new things.

http://audioporncentral.com/2013/05/crystal-fighters-you-i-gigamesh-remix.html
In my quest to find something in the new electro-disco soundscape that really appeals to me this is a reasonable entry. Gigamesh is reworking Crystal Fighters' "You and I" (https://soundcloud.com/crystalfighters/you-and-i) which is a boppy, happy, jangly original with some fun speedy vocals. Gigamesh strips out the high jangly instrumentals and lays down some fairly energetic dance grooves.

http://www.trickysite.com/listen-to-the-full-album-now/
In case you weren't already convinced that you wanted to buy the new Tricky album, here, just stream the whole thing for free. It's new and fresh and yet it's Tricky doing what Tricky does best - he's strong and intimate, intense but not overwhelming. I love the feeling that on some of these tracks he's singing directly to me (or you, the listener) - it almost wants to be a headphones-only experience.

https://soundcloud.com/virginmagneticmaterial/nine-inch-nails-the-hand-that
There's a lot to like here. First, it's a remix built on one of my favorite NiN tracks ever. The song is brutal and lyrical at the same time. It's infused with Reznor's signature post-industrial sounds. So when Virgin Magnetic Material (https://soundcloud.com/virginmagneticmaterial) - an Israeli remixer - puts hands on it, respect has to be shown. I think the remix does that; you never forget that it's Reznor's song and voice that drives things but the remix gives it a lot more of a hard club edge. There's a bit of wub experimentation around the 6:10 mark that I think could be edited out but otherwise a very solid take on the tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RteQ47_z7K0#!
https://soundcloud.com/sayloulou/fool-of-me-feat-chet-faker
Say Lou Lou (nee Saint Lou Lou) have a new EP out and these two tracks are the ones hitting hardest right now. The first (for which I recommend watching the video - subtext much!) is "Julian", a dark harmonic duet that fairly begs to be played out under an open summer night sky.

The second is the women collaborating with Chet Faker (http://chetfaker.com/), an Australian I've noticed once before. As with Julian, this track is also dark and lushly harmonic but with stronger instruments and urgent beats that fit more into the "dream pop" category.

According to last.fm these women are the twin daughters of Steve Kilbey of The Church. Excellent musical heritage to work from.

http://audioporncentral.com/2013/05/austra-home-kevin-saunderson-and-the-house-of-virus-detroit-darkness-remix.html
Another electro-house remix to round out this set. Austra (http://www.austramusic.com/) are going to be putting out a new album this coming month and this track - Home - will be on it. This remix is by Kevin Saunderson (http://www.kevinsaunderson.com/) a Detroit house DJ/mixer. I like this track almost despite its disco elements, as Saunderson does a lot of playing the vocals up and down, in and out, creating a fast, trippy feel to the track. I particularly like the transition around 4:00 where he drops everything down to just piano and then starts layering the warbled vocals and house sounds over that. This mix has really grown on me the more I listen.
drwex: (Default)
This is the stuff I had meant to post yesterday when I found out about Gil Scott-Heron. It didn't seem right to post these then. Today is a new day, and this post is some pleasant listening stuff.

http://soundcloud.com/ashhowell/moguai-u-know-y-ash-howell-2#
I thought I had posted about Ash Howell before, but apparently not. He's a remixer I picked up on Soundcloud and have been following for a while. This is his latest, a heavy old-school funk rework of Moguai's "U Know Y" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0arpGsIFU4c) which is itself an electro-funky tune to begin with. I like what Howell has done in de-emphasizing the vocals and making the bass more slammin'.

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Diamond_Rings/track/Austra_-_Lose_It_Diamond_Rings_Remix
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LJtMrhb558
Diamond Rings (aka John O'Regan, http://diamondringsmusic.com/) comes across as a bit pretentious in appearance but the sound is much lighter and more pleasant than you might expect. It's a minimalist solo project, with some simple instruments and backing vocals. O'Regan's voice is pleasant and even when he shifts to minor key he avoids the whiney stuff.

The Diamond Rings remix of Austra's "Lose It" is also a respectable job and you really must hear the original. I seem to have been remiss at not pointing to the Austra tune, which is a shame. I think I first heard this trio last winter and this song in particular has been sitting in my 'to blog' pile for about three weeks. They've just put out a 12" I highly recommend. Katie Stelmanis has a spectacular voice and despite being in the modern electronic camp she's not autotuned. I hope they put out more stuff soon.

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Mr_Little_Jeans/track/The_Suburbs_Arcade_Fire_Cover
Speaking of female vocals, Mr. Little Jeans (http://myspace.com/mrlittlejeans100) is actually Monica Birkenes and she's another one who's not afraid to get up and personal with the microphone. She's quieter and less powered-up than Stelmanis, but that's not a bad thing. Her take on modern pop has some folk and choral influences that I really like.

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/richard_buckner/track/traitor
Richard Buckner (http://www.myspace.com/richardbucknerpreservationsociety) is a big scary-looking dude who titled his album "Our Blood" and then puts out soft folk-rock sounds that wouldn't wake a baby. I have mostly outgrown my folk upbringing but I couldn't pass up Buckner's vocals and instrumental choices (though I recommend ignoring the first few seconds of the song - just be patient 'till the guitar comes in). I read that Buckner considers himself "alternative country" - whatever that means.

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/karl_blau/track/a_melody_to_wake_us_in_the_morning
Karl Blau (http://myspace.com/karlblau) is another one with clear folk influences in his modern electronic-pop. He also does fun spacey things with the backing singers and has some jazzy riffs you wouldn't expect. He reminds me of some of the 70s artists who considered themselves psychedelia and were likewise drawing heavily on the jazz sounds of that decade. And the horns don't hurt.

Profile

drwex: (Default)
drwex

July 2021

S M T W T F S
    123
45678910
11121314151617
1819 2021222324
25262728293031

Syndicate

RSS Atom

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jan. 4th, 2026 10:54 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios