Review: Feist - Metals

Regarding her second album, the eminent The Reminder, there are songs that make me love Leslie Feist, namely I Feel It All and My Moon My Man and there are songs that make me want to use the record as a Frisbee, the kind that gets chewed to shreds by your dog. Ok, maybe it’s not her fault that 1,2,3,4 is synonymous with about ten advertisements as it undoubtedly aided in her popularity, reaching a demographic from indie kids to middle-aged housewives i.e. Question Time and Corrie viewers alike. I am of course being overly abrasive to make the point that I hope her latest album consists of songs of the same caliber as The Limit To Your Love and is vacant of tracks in the same vein as “that song from that advert”. However, the question is, how will this affect its popularity with the masses when it comes to a middle-class dinner party?

I first call to the stand the single from the album, How Come You Never Go There?, which indeed is the most similar to 1,2,3,4 in terms of its potential as an obvious hit. However this would be an overstatement as in honesty, there are few parallels to be drawn between the two. In fact, the whole album seems like it has been recorded far from commercial TV and indeed civilization itself, possibly in a Canadian Forest with surrounding Centaurs. There are no hints that Feist is trying to please her current following, it appears as more of an album for her own consumption. Her approach is refreshing even in a world not lacking in female vocalists that can be described by referencing Billie Holliday, moreover its lack-of-influences originality exudes modernity. This is odd considering the album is more lo-fi and rough around the edges than its predecessor.

The singles title rhetoric followed by the line “How come I’m so alone there”, describes the morose tone of the album. The song is jerky and has a strange time signature compared to its flowing, upbeat forerunner. Undiscovered First sounds like a Robert Plant country song that was conceived around a campfire. It is probably the most uplifting song on the album but so is the case with country music, there is still a thread of Macabre. By the end of the song, it has progressed into a head-banging loud stomp where Feist flourishes out of subtlety and really lets loose. It is remarkable how much different she sounds without the jazz kookiness. Feist is also a lot louder on Comfort Me where she explores her vocal range. A Commotion is pretty much a garage rock tune that meets shabby chic (Black Keys Vs Cath Kidston?) that turns out as another welcome addition to the already multi-faceted album. There are a few songs that are just a bit too subtle and indistinct from each other so that you can play each one back to back and you won’t notice the change.

To conclude I think that if Feist tried to recreate the pop songs of The Reminder, it would have seemed like a bit of a carry on. Her back-to-nature where the charts don’t exist attitude was definitely the right decision and she has turned out an exceptional album.

Soundclash ft. Daedelus @ KOKO 17-09-11

Set the scene, the grand former Victorian theatre, with stalls rammed and the circles lined with people and taking centre stage is a menacing figure lurching vigorously as if conducting some demoniac ritual. Daedelus looks like he’s from the same era as the venue, dressed in a tatty three-piece suit complete with muttonchops. In front of him, at his mercy, is a medley of complex control interfaces which have backlit buttons arranged in a grid that flash like a 2001 space odyssey computer. He systematically toggles the appropriate buttons, which adds a new sample to the already manic ensemble. This occurs in rapid succession and each time he does it, he gesticulates like an orchestral conductor and pulls an ominous facial expression, similar to Jack Nicolson in The Shining. Behind him are stacks of convex mirrors which move independently, reflecting the projected light behind Daedelus, silhouetting him. The music is a mash-up of the highest complexity, chopping and changing every other bar. Although it is hard to say, I would describe it as having a constant up-tempo minimal tech undercurrent with massive dubstep-esque synths, hip-hop breaks along with Daedelus’ own brand of glitch. Clearly his technical production abilities translate well into an intricate and diverse live show. However, he definitely geared the set up to be filthier and more danceable but not necessarily more accessible. I’m not saying he was playing to the crowd at all, it was still abstract, but his album material is more down-tempo and atmospheric. Oh and it was a lot, lot louder. It looked as though Deadelus thoroughly enjoyed rattling everyone’s innards almost to the point of vomiting. On the contrary, everyone including myself enjoyed his set and if you get a chance, make sure you go and see him.

A Tribute to CANADA

Not the country silly, although what an interesting article that would make, no, the extremely inventive, abstract video production company from Barcelona. You can spot their style a mile off, identifiable by numerous short cuts of surreal footage, none of which seem to follow the same theme. A man shooting the head off a toy panda bear, women licking pine-cones, roller skates, lamps, flowers and doorknobs. Half of it does seem heavily influenced by the sexploitation films of the 70’s. Clearly, most of it is too strange to describe with any degree of credibility. Although it sounds like pretentious, overly arty for the sake of being overly arty rubbish, a lot of it is actually very clever. The composition of the shots is genius, as well thought out as a piece of fine art (As the camera is usually still and the length of each is clip is so short). I would love to be at their meeting brainstorming ideas for the next video, as I have no idea where they get it from or what drugs they are doing. You’d have to ask them about what the overall theme or meaning of each video is but I’m sure there is one. I think a lot of it is to do with just being aesthetically pleasing, each video is just so sexy. Also, I’m a big fan of the landscapes they use in combination with whatever camera and filter they have which give it that nostalgic tinge. The latest video was released a few weeks ago for Holy Ghost by White Lies. Check out this and CANADA’s other videos and then you can see what I mean by all of the above.

White Lies – Holy Ghost

White Lies - Holy Ghost from CANADA on Vimeo.

Battles – Ice Cream

BATTLES - Ice Cream from CANADA on Vimeo.

El Guincho – Bombay (NSFW)

El Guincho - Bombay from CANADA on Vimeo.

Review: Neon Indian - Era Extraña

Neon Indian is a pioneer in that infectious, poorly named genre called Chillwave that swept the indie world in synchrony with the likes of Washed Out and Toro Y Moi. Although retro is as popular as ever, it is remarkable how such a mushy, drowned out, synth heavy sound ever made it out alive. Its nostalgia inducing tone evokes emotions that are as vague and as blurry as the dreamy music videos. Allow yourself to get lost in that pensive, slightly melancholy sound: It’s self-indulgent music for self-indulgent people. I think due to the prolific rise, we all expected an imminent and not very dramtic fizzling out. However, haters think again. This summer Washed Out released his first LP and both Toro Y Moi and Memory Tapes released their second, so it seems against the odds Chillwave is still making, err, waves.

Whereas all three of the aforementioned have kept it terminally chill, Neon Indian has gone for a tighter sound on his new album Era Extraña. Yes, you still have massive synths, layer upon layer with strange space noises to accompany, but it seems more intricate and accomplished than Psychic Chasms. The song Polish Girl is far more danceable than anything on the previous album and is quite poppy. There are of course the down-tempo numbers, namely the title track, where all the various synths blend into something that has a lot of atmosphere with the power to entrance. I think that this latest release shows that Chillwave has credibility and should continue to be pursued. Although the change is subtle, it may be a step towards the evolvement of Chillwave into the next sub genre. I think they called it blue wave or something stupid. The album is available to buy now.

R.I.P. DJ Mehdi

Mehdi Favéris-Essadi is “Somebody, somebody, somebody” as his lyrics repeat in one of his singles. Much to the dismay of the whole of the hip-hop world, the electronic music world and indeed all those who knew him, Mehdi was fatally injured in a tragic accident at his home in Paris last night. The artist bridged hip-hop and disco, which seems an awkward combination but he made it appear seamless. It pains me to write in the past tense, but such are the regrettable circumstances, so I must continue. He was an integral member in that Parisian-discotheque-come-dirty-electro-club movement that was made popular in the mid 00’s by Justice, Simian Mobile Disco, Chromeo and SebastiAn among others. The Ed Banger culture (Ed Banger Records is the label that supported the most of the aforementioned artists including Mehdi) swept the electro clubs of the world and Paris was seen as the epicenter of dance. A new fashion was spawned, it accelerated the rise of electro and yet it was different from your usual grimy dance music scene. It was light-hearted, jovial and it had a retro feel such has been developed by Breakbot. Please note I am not continuing to write in the past tense because this culture is over with Mehdi’s death, as I am sure it will carry on, but I am doing so merely out of respect.

I personally was excited to hear the fruits of Mehdi’s and DJ Riton’s collaboration as Carte Blanche. The initial release from which sounded very promising, especially the filthy banger Gare Du Nord. It turns out that the party where the accident occurred was in celebration of Riton’s birthday. I also had the pleasure of seeing Mehdi perform a few times, once solo and once collectively with friends Cassius, Busy P and Xavier de Rosnay (From Justice) who called themselves Club 75. Both nights we’re spectacular, displaying Mehdi’s profound DJing ability which he enjoyed so much.

The freak accident was caused by the collapse of a plexiglass mezzanine floor at Mehdi’s house, fatally wounding him and sending three of his friends to hospital for treatment. Mehdi was aged 34. Rest in peace.

I will leave you with some Tweets from fellow musicians:

“We lost our brother. No Words.” – Chromeo

“R.I.P. Dj MEHDI. The void he has left behind is unbearable. Love you, Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo” – Bob Cornelius of the Bloody Beetroots

“Rest in peace to my brother forever here and in the after life djmehdi. i love u and miss u.” – Steve Aoki

[Video] NOIR CŒUR - TOTAL NIRVANA

NOIR CŒUR - TOTAL NIRVANA from ANTIHERØES COLLECTIVE on Vimeo.

So, I was sent this via e-mail the other day by French collective NOIR CŒUR which to my understanding translates to "Black Heart". No way did I expect it to sound anything as good as this. If anyone else would like to send me stuff up to this standard then seriously, I don't mind. The video is super rad aswell. Hot on the heels of Toro Y Moi, these guys are ones to watch for their debut EP later this year.

Twinsistermoon - Desert Prophecy

A haunting, morose lo-fi song from a Twinsistermoon, the side project of Mehdi Ameziane, 1/2 of Natural Snow Buildings. Tripped out folk that borders on post-rock, which has a tinge of macabre throughout. Most of the album is instrumental, unusually for folk, save Mehdi's ghostly wailings. Check it out if you're suffering from mild depression.

Twinsistermoon, "Desert Prophecy" by primary-numbers

12 Minute Mix

Here's a quick 12 minute mix of a few tracks I've been diggin' recently. Like always on InsideOutsider, the mixing quality is poor but maybe in serendipitous kinda way. Or maybe not.

12 Minute Mix by insideoutsider

Tracklist:
Hercules & Love Affair - Leonora
Ford & Lopatin - New Planet
Com Truise - Futureworld
Brian Eno & The Words of Rick Holland - Glitch
SBTRKT - Sanctuary
VGA Forest - Malinowski

Brian Eno & The Words of Rick Holland - Drums Between The Bells

Aphex Twin, Autechre, Flying Lotus, Squarepusher and Roxy Music..?? Doesn't sound quiet right really. But then again Eno probably influenced a lot of the Warp entourage and is also a master of ambient music, see The Pearl by Brian Eno and Harold Budd. In fact Eno has had a hand in so many genres, pioneering technically brilliant music (My Life in the Bush of Ghosts), that it is fair to say he could choose whatever record label he likes. Eno made his debut on Warp last year with Small Craft on a Milk Sea and released Drums Between the Bells earlier this month.

It features the words of poet Rick Holland which are read by various speakers. Perhaps it's my distinct lack of intellect but I just can't get along with it. If I want to listen to the music, I'm distracted by the storytelling prose, Dreambirds or the 1984-esque nationalist chantings of Sound Alien being spoken over it. If I want to listen to the great words of the poet, I cannot focus on the imagery or meaning because of the music. I am sure that the two are meant to co-exist and complement each other but like I said, maybe I'm not clever enough. It is however VERY Brian Eno, almost to a satirical level, exactly the kind of album I'd expect him to release just because he's always trying to be so, forgive my French, fucking clever.

I do particularly like the song Glitch where Eno demonstrates that he is down with the kids on the same record label. You could even probably hold a small, well organised, intellectual rave to the synth breakdown. Bless the Space shows the technical brilliance of the Eno of yesteryear and also it sounds like a Death In Vegas number with it's screeching guitar solo. There is no doubting the music is great and the words of Rick are even better, but together it's awkward and too demanding.

6/10

Brian Eno - glitch (taken from Drums Between The Bells) by Warp Records

Débruit @ SGP 2011

Of all the things I saw at Secret Garden Party 2011, Débruit was probably the best...

[Video] Pure X - Easy

Pure X - "Easy" from Malcolm Elijah on Vimeo.

Motëm - The Force // The X Files (Kid Years Remix)

First discovered this cat on the awesome Hands Together Vol. 1 compilation and checked his Soundcloud out. Found this rmx of two songs by Canadian Skweee pioneer Motëm that have been fused. Therefore, there is considerable variation in that it is just one song plonked immediately after the other. It starts off extremely glitch and then turns ambient but somehow fits. The second thing of note is that the final drop is absolutely sublime.

Motëm - "The Force//The X Files" (kdyrs rmx) by kid years

Washed Out - Wicked Game

Washed Out has covered Chris Isaak (Chillwave poineer?) with Mrs Greene providing evocative backing vocals

Washed Out - Wicked Game (Chris Isaak Cover)

Kim Ann Foxman

She is the coolest cat around, too much cool for InsideOutsider to handle whilst watching camp cross-dressing future 90's electro outfit Hercules & Love Affair. The moves, the cutesy voice, her multi-coloured disco leggings and the tattoos. Raised in Hawaii, moved to SF and then to NY where she met Andy Butler, Mr. Intl., becoming close friends, DJing and making music together. Seeing Hercules & Love Affair at Glasto was an interesting one for sure. It felt like guilty pleasure, gay disco with two gay cross dressers prancing about gay style with Andy gaylording it at the back. But the music was just so good, I couldn't help but dance gay style aswell, it felt right. With such a petit, candid appearance Kim makes a big noise whilst it seeming effortless. Effortless cool, thats Kim, half-arsed dancing with the occational roly poly. You'll have to go and see Hercules & Love Affair yourself to see what I mean.

May Mix

In an attempt to catch up with technology, this month is actually a continuous mix and is available to download for free. Some of it might be a bit dodgey in parts because using Virtual DJ without a controller isn't ideal (OK I know automatic beat matching means I don't have any excuse). Atleast listen to the first song, its insane.

Total Length: 37 mins

May Mix by insideoutsider

Tracklist:

C Powers - French Alex
Pure X - Twisted Mirror
Durutti Column - Vino Della Casa Bianco
Beaumont - Midnight
Arthur Russell - Wax the Van
Sun Araw - Crete
Master Musicians Of Bukkake - Prophecy of the White Camel
Islet - Jasmine
The Coathangers - Trailer Park Boneyard
Julian Lynch - Ground
Brian Eno & Harold Budd - A Stream With Bright Fish

Julianna Barwick & Ikue Mori - Rejoinder

The atmospheric, fairytale-esque, rising chorus of looped vocals of Juliana Barwick are as captivating as ever on this recording from an installment at the White Columns Gallery, NY. RVGN Intl. curated the project as part of the FRKWYS series with Ikue Mori. Some of the sessions took place with Julianna and Ikue in seperate cubicles in the gallery and the other, from which the video is taken, shows the pair opposite each other. Julianna's angelic voice contrasted with the electronic chimes and bleeps envelops you in the kind of place that her LP The Magic Place takes you to.

Julianna Barwick & Ikue Mori - Rejoinder from RVNG Intl. on Vimeo.

[Live] Islet @ Undertone, Cardiff

Islet are a band shrouded in such mystery, who do not actively pursue extensive means of promotion or engage in any activity that does not agree with the bands ethos: 'to act in a way that people we admire do, to be true to ourselves, our ideals and beliefs. Which are mainly to enjoy being in a band!'. Considering this, Islet have managed to attract a lot of attention through eccentric live performances and sporadic releases of EPs, earning them a spot at Primevera Sound festival in Barcelona.

Their gig at undertone on Monday was the third I have seen, each with different levels of manic. The first time was the last act of Swn festival and was by far the most manic, with the floor of the Model Inn feeling like it was going to cave and the members of Islet climbing on the speakers and banging their sticks on the roof. The second was at Clwb Ifor Bach and was the least manic as their was a metaphorical barrier between audience and band maybe due to the bigger venue. In response to this, a gig and the gritty, sweaty, cramped setting of Undertone was anticipated to be very manic.

There is no ignoring Islets stage presence: somewhere between fear, respect and intrigue are my feelings as they beat the drum rims in a primeval manner whilst bouncing around the room (How they bounce so high I'm not sure). The band switches instruments when they fancy which shows their free flowing approach to music and it gives the impression that everything happens by chance and luckily, by chance, its bloody good. Sometimes the guy with the handlebar mustache comes bounding into the crowd chanting their tribal song, head banging and knocking peoples drinks all over the place. The crowds reaction to this is interesting, some find it amusing and some are just plain frightened. Unfortunately everyone was too nervous to start bouncing around with Islet and generally going mental, like Islet. It's not the standard of music wasn't good enough, just people we're intimidated by their unusual approach to live music. In terms of the actual performance, it was spectacular and I can't wait to see them again.

[Video] Battles - Ice Cream

[Review] Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi - Rome

Broken Bells was one of my favorite albums from last year which was both due to the fact that I was hankering after new Shins material and because Mercer and Brian Burton aka Danger Mouse proved to be a formidable duo. Burton's torrent of creativity has not ceased to carve its path through various genres and will no-doubt influence many to come.

The first song, The Theme of Rome sets the tone for the album but its got about as much to do with the city as Clint Eastwood as it sounds like a Spaghetti Western Soundtrack. In fact the original choir from The Good the Bad and the Ugly have been resurrected for the backing vocals. However don't let this make you think its another variation of the 60's revival.

Given Burton's visionary approach to his musical endeavors, it makes sense that any guests on the album should be of similar prolificacy. Jack White, a man of equal ambition and who, like Burton seems to have endless talent, features on three of the songs. As the album is decidedly bluesy, White's delicate voice translates well. Also his theatrical nature fits the peculiar, psychedelic tone of the album. You will have heard first single Two Against One where Jack White sings about battling with the mind over struggles with self-loathing and insecurity. I particularly like the use of harpsichord contrasted with the themed Mexican feel.

Norah Jones similarly bluesy but more provocative voice has been used as a romantic counterpart for Jack White in this paritcular Spaghetti Western. Her country influence sits well with the imagery of ol' towns in the Sanatana Susana Pass in Ventura county, California.

A favorite of mine is The Gambling Priest which reminds me of music from the time of the vietnamese war. It also demonstrates, along with many other songs particularly the interludes, the influence of composer Daniele Luppi as they have the feel of a movie soundtrack. This is not to detriemntal effect but merely removes another boundary in that film scores are highly accomplished pieces of music and who says that style can't be incorporated into a chart album.

Burton takes on music from all eras and genres which can include at any time, Spaghetti Western, Baroque and blues rock. This combined with eery vocals does make the album have a deranged feel and makes it impossible to pigeon hole. But I guess that is Danger Mouse's game; pushing past genre boundaries, soaring above the squabbles over which music is what and creating something completely new.

8/10

Release date: 17/5

Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi - Rose With A Broken Neck feat. Jack White

Washed Out - Within or Without

A pioneer in that infectious, poorly named genre Chillwave that swept the blogging world in synchrony with the likes of Neon Indian and Toro Y Moi. Although retro is as popular as ever, it is remarkable how such a mushy, drowned out, synth heavy sound ever made it out alive. Its nostalgia inducing tone evokes emotions that are as familiar as they are unfamiliar?? That is, it's all about getting lost in that dreamy, slightly melancholy sound that leads us to think of the past. So dreamy that I'm surprised Life of Leisure wasn't the soundtrack to Inception and that when you listen it feels like you are in the fourth dream layer. I think due to the prolific rise, we all expected an imminent and not very dramtic fizzling out. However, think again all you haters. Toro Y Moi released their second LP with Memory Tapes set to release their follow up to Seek Magic.

And now Washed Out is keeping the ball rolling by announcing his debut full length called Within and Without. It's co-produced by the same guy that did Merriweather Post Pavillion and early reviews liken some of the songs to Caribou. Also a more singer/songwriter side has been explored, showcasing Ernest Greene's soulful voice. A single has been released for free download by Sub Pop and you can listen to it below. Album due 12/7

Washed Out - Eyes Be Closed

[Video] White Denim - Drug

[April Mix]

You know the drill, hit the triangle and listen your way through an hour of delectable tunes from April and beyond.




Tracklist:
Grimes - Sagrad
Keep Shelly in Athens - Cremonia Memories
Purity Ring - Lofticries
Prefuse 73 - The Only Valentines Failure
Brian Eno & David Byrne - Regiment
d'Eon - Transparency (How to Dress Well Rework)
Puro Instinct - No Mames
Grimes - Crystal Ball
TV on the Radio - You
The Kills - Baby Says
Yuck - Get Away
Eels - Susan's House

[Video] Purity Ring - Lofticries

Tom Vek - A Chore

It's been while since Tom Vek got us dancey with C-C (You Set the Fire in Me) and If You Want and finally he returns. As much as I rate this song, I can't help but think in a few months it'll have been devoured by endless repetition in Topshop stores as is the fate of so many songs (Most recently Infinity Guitars by Sleigh Bells). Still enjoy it while you can

[Review] Grimes & D'Eon - Darkbloom

First off... sorry about the disappearing act, dissertation meant no blog time or music time for that matter. Anyway it's ok because an exciting new record dropped today even if I have no idea about what new music actually is (just discovering Chillwave, its so totally rad).

It's a split 12" with the A-side featuring the multi-talented Grimes and the B-side featuring her fellow Montreal partner in crime D'Eon. Both styles of music appear to have the same 80's pop grounding, with the pair releasing their own debut LP's last year, at a time where their respective sounds were very much with the times... if not ahead. However, each have branched off on Darkbloom with Grimes pursuing a darker more theatrical sound and D'Eon having a retro feel with R&B influence.

I'll start with Grimes who has a penchant for juxtaposing her pre-pubescent ethereal voice with abstract synth chaos. She seems to have included the whole catalogue of sounds from whatever software program that was used to make her songs. Each song chops and changes frequently, save her voice which maintains the fluidity so the songs are in no way clumsy. The single Vanessa is a haunting dance tune which evokes similar emotions as what the likes of 'Holy Other' and 'How To Dress Well' do. However the real masterpiece is Urban Twilight which has an eery drone synth throughout against layered angelic voices and glitchy drums.

D'Eon has more nostalgic connotations which for me is symbolised by the use of an 808 cowbell on Tongues. Again contrast is emphasized on this track with the uptempo R&B beats and D'eons, sometimes wanky, voice. I really like Transparency which is buried in layers of retro synths- check out the video in which Grimes chomps on D'Eons hair.

In conclusion both artists deliver a couple of gems each but I'm not a fan of the avant-guard stuff (Orphia and Telepathy) which are just plain annoying. Still I'd recommend it for Grimes' experimentation and D'Eons early synthesizer revival.

7/10

D'Eon - Transparency

Grimes - Vanessa

Both videos directed by, and starring Grimes herself

[February Mix]

Here is a mix of some favorites from February and beyond!

[Just press play on the first one and it will play through each one]
Total Length - 60 mins

LA Vampires ft Matrix Metals - How Would U Know
Purity Ring - Ungirthed
Gold Panda - Made in Television
Gil Scott Heron and Jamie XX - The Crutch
Holy Other - YR LOVE
Falty DL - St. Marks (Sepalcure Remix)
This Mortal Coil - FYT
Boyfriend - The False Cross
Range Rover - There's Nothing For Me Here
Com Truise - Slow Peels
Games - Strawberry Skies
Teams Vs Star Slinger - The Yes Strut
Efterklang - Modern Drift
Radiohead - Codex
Pavement - Here

[Review] Siriusmo - Mosaik

Siriusmo has been making his own brand of spinny hard hitting well, electro (I guess), for a decade now and never fails to deliver. Always seemingly just off the radar, bringing out great EP's now and then with people at your average discotheque remarking "TUUNNEE" without knowing who made it. Then he resides back to his Berlin music cave to make another. This time however, he has just released his first long play on Modeselektor's Monkeytown entitled Mosaik. He brings back some old favourites such as the trippy, head nodding High Together and the mellow, uplifting Nights Off. The rest is a mixed bag in terms of destroying genre boundaries and creating a 17 track hedonistic whirlpool where no 2 songs sound alike.

Where to start, hmmm... Well, the title track, like so many Siriusmo tunes, starts off like one thing and then ends a completely different song. What starts off as a bouncey spun out jumble of rising arpeggios and hip hop beats turns into a dubstep beat driven skank out.

The album can be abit demanding with the first 30 seconds of 123 being German ramblings from an old educational video (I imagine). But its worth the wait when it drops to exactly the kind of song that makes me love Siriusmo. It's like his previous tunes that have cropped up sporadically from his music cave such as Die Rockwurst or Das Geheimis that are just so on it, so infectious but are effortless, like just on the off chance he decided to make a song, not that its a big deal or anything.

There are a couple of hard electro tunes which are very suited to the dancefloor, (Sirimande and Feromonikon) and some, not-so-nice on the ears experimental bits (Peeved) and the beautifully named Feed My Meat Machine.

My possible favourite is the funkiest interlude known to man; the boucey, sample heavy Las Den Vogel Frei!. There's no way you can't nod your head violently like James Brown singing Sex Machine on speed.

To conclude, this is undoubtably the most original electro LP you'll ever hear. You could spend hours trying to pigeonhole it but it would be futile. You could listen to it and wonder how the gothic detuned 'Adams Family' synths can make you want to listen to it over and over. . Instead forget all I've just said and get lost in the wacky world of Moritz Friedrich.

9/10


"Mosaik" (MTR10) by Siriusmo

[MP3] CFCF- "Reincarnation" Mix

InsideOutsider favourite CFCF has just released a brilliant mix for Oki-Ni's mix series. It includes three unreleased CFCF tracks which are mind blowing Fever Ray-esque instrumentals. Its got some pretty strange tracks in the bag (see the tracklist), most notably the Steel Cathedrals by David Sylvian.

CFCF - Reincarnation Mix


Leroy Vinnegar - Reservation
CFCF - Gamelan 1
John Roberts - Glass Eights
Emmanuel Jal - Kuar (Olof Dreijer Remix)
These New Puritans - Hologram (Salem Remix)
Holy Other - We Over
David Sylvian - Steel Cathedrals
Geinoh Yamashirogumi - Reincarnation
CFCF - Zaar 2
CFCF - Canton No. 2
Leftfield - Swords
Trey Songz - Unfortunate
How to Dress Well - Ready For The World
Virginia Astley - Tree Top Club
Shriekback - Coelocanth

[Two For Tuesdays]

GAMES


One half of Oneohtrix Point Never, Dan Lopatin and Tigercity's Joel Ford joined forces last year forming the little known, Games. They released their debut EP That We Can Play last November on Brooklyn Label Mexican Summer. Disco, 80's electro freak outs, Miami Vice blah blah. It's nostalgia laden using 80's production techniques to reincarnate video arcades, commercial themes and laser quest. Sound pretentious? Well I'll leave you to make up your own mind.

This year sees them change their name to Ford & Lopatin and they have founded their own imprint via Mexican Summer known as Software. Expect a long play release this June.

Games - Strawberry Skies feat. Laurel Halo by Games

HOLY OTHER


Berlin based producer HOLY OTHER released this hollow, dark, eery tune last year. It is warm and enveloping yet will sometimes give you shivers. Haven't heard much from HOLY OTHER of late, lets just hope he's working on some similar material to this.

YR LOVE by HOLY OTHER

[Feel Good Sundays]

Tori Amos - Cornflake Girl

[Live] Dinky @ The Backrooms // Cardiff // 5.02.11

ENTER THE VOID



Photography: Sam Strivens

You enter the grand, pillared, grade-II listed building of the old bank to find nothing but a big empty space, the remains of what was once a busy Natwest. Walk through the space in the direction of a small side door and the low frequency rumble. Through the door you'll find white tiled walls and green neon lights, reminiscent of a mental asylum. Down the stairs is the vault; cages where riches were once kept have become a dance floor. At the front, Dinky is behind the turntables playing an unreal tech-house set.

If you haven't been to the Backrooms and you live in Cardiff, it's a must. Actually that goes if you don't live in Cardiff aswell. It's on only once a month and tickets sell out fast. It used to be a spot for illegal free parties and I don't think much has changed since its legalisation apart from it doesn't get shut down by the plod. Makeshift bars and few creature comforts are all signs and provide an atmosphere unlike any other club in Cardiff.

Next month its Levon Vincent, check the Facebook page

Dinky - Acid In My Fridge

[Video] Sanso-Xtro - Hello Night Crow

Sanso-Xtro - Hello Night Crow

Via [GorillaVsBear]

Two For Tuesdays

Range Rover


This teenage trio from San Diego have managed to produce a brand of lo-fi that is evocative enough to skim over the puddle of other bands who have similarly ridiculous names. How they have got away with naming their band after a 4x4 I'm not sure. There's Nothing For Me Here is a six minute, hazy, reverb bleached, delay soaked masterpiece. The glass not-so-half-full lyrical subject is a nice lullaby for any mid afternoon depression you may have... check it.

Range Rover - There's nothing For Me Here

Brokenchord


Now it's time for Lithuania's answer to dubstep. He's been featured on Mary Ann Hobbs and has been likened to Mount Kimbie. Not bad eh?

Dribble Drift by brokenchord

Star Slinger - Elizabeth Fraser (Live)

Star Slinger - Elizabeth Fraser.

Considering Liz is my favourite singer of all time (I approximate her voice to be that of God), I was a little dubious when I came across an IDM rework of the Cocteau Twins song Heaven Or Las Vegas. But then I underestimated Star Slingers talent, he is a master of the trusty MPC and the sound that emerges is mind blowing. How he ever got J Dilla hip hop beats and retriggers to work with Liz's angelic voice is left a mystery. The clip is of him playing live at his favourite comic book store (Hey what a narc!).

Star Slinger has just released an EP with Teams via Mexican Summer. Its disco crossed with hip hop and abit of glitch. Here's a nice ambient one off it:
Teams vs. Star Slinger - Close to Me

Feel Good Sundays

Ok so its not Sunday, but we still have to try and feel good on Mondays too eh? Diana Ross is a fox but she has an unhealthy obsession with pianos.

Com Truise - Colorvision

Yes I know he's spelt colour wrong and Com Truise is a ridiculous name in the first place but this is a tune. It's 80's synths galore but it has the funk behind it to discard any pretense. Different from some of this other tunes which are ultimately Chillwave (see Sundriped and Slow Peels) but I think variety is something we can expect off his forthcoming debut which will be released later this year.

Colorvision (WIP) by Com Truise

Baths - The Nothing

Cerulean was one of my favourite releases of 2010 (Check out the review here) and now baths is back with a new one. It's a 7" EP The Nothing / Nightly, Daily and is out in March. Check out the A-side below. I'm pretty sure I like it, but I think I expected more after Animals. I dunno, I think it's the vocals that are throwing me off.

Baths - The Nothing[Pitchfork]

Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie XX

We're New Here



Gil Scott-Heron - NY is Killing Me (Jamie XX Remix)

Comeback err.. Granddad Gil Scott-Heron released his album I'm New Here this time last year after a 16 years hiatus. Regular attendance to prisons for drug charges kinda got in the way. A spectacular album I'm sure, more interesting however is that XX mastermind Jamie Smith is releasing a remix album of I'm New Here, entitled We're New Here. By now we've all heard NY is Killing Me and we've all agreed it is an absolute stonker. Like it's ridiculous how on the money that tune is, I couldn't think of a song better suited to the demands of the average Warehouse Project goer. It's almost enough for me to hate it, but I don't. The ghostly organ with that bouncy bass really does raise the hairs on the back of your neck.

The other big one off the album is I'll Take Care of You which is the polar opposite of the danceable aforementioned tune. It's a soulful, bluesy one of Gil's which is the main feel the original album. It starts off subdued with his raspier, age-weathered voice against a single piano and then it breaks into the trademark XX ethereal guitar. Midway through the song the vocals are chopped and it turns more dancey. The Crutch is an uptempo glitchy one contrasted against Gil's spoken word which actually does well not to sound out of place. My Cloud is a soulful lullaby that is beautiful in its simplicity.

The whole album, together with a few jazzy interludes is an interesting listen. You don't find many remix albums, especially not as debuts, so it is quite a bold move of Jamie's. It is varied and you could invent a different genre for most of the tracks. I think fresh would be an apt word to describe it. Amazing is another.

8.5/10

Release Date | 21st February

Benni Hemm Hemm @ Buffalo / Cardiff / 28.01.11

Last Friday I had the pleasure of seeing Benni Hemm Hemm live at Buffalo Bar in Cardiff. To some up the gig in one word: Melancholy (but in the best way possible). Who said melancholy is bad anyway, I like melancholy. Sometimes I'm melancholy and I even like saying the word, it sounds nice. The trio that make up the brass section looked bored to the point of tears, raising their gaze from the floor only to play a high note on the trombone or trumpet (The girl on the french horn only changed position to empty a globule of spit from the valve). The drummer however, he was great, he had the comedy drummer facial expressions down to a tee.

Front man Benedikt H. Hermannsson has a truly amazing voice and is incredible on the guitar. The number of members at his shows range from 3 to 40 so this particular event was towards the bottom of that spectrum. Between songs he showed himself to be quite the comedian, in his own melancholy way. The band finished the gig with a great freak out and quick exit. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was enthralled by the level of respect the population of Buffalo offered. Here is a beautiful video from their latest album Retaliate.

Benni Hemm Hemm - Retaliate .

Purity Ring

Two For Tuesdays

Toro Y Moi "New Beat" by carparkrecords

When I saw Toro y Moi in Cardiff last November I remember him announcing that he wanted to play a new song and proceeded to play a distinctly more funky, dancier number than the rest of the Causers of This catalog. Since then I have been trying to locate it and finally its here. It's called New Beat and it's taken off the forthcoming LP Underneath the Pine



The Kills - Satellite by DominoRecordCo

Thanks to that slag Kate Moss, we have had to wait 2 years for the new Kills Album. It was rumored that the supermodel threw Jamie Hince's laptop into a swimming pool resulting in the loss of 6 new kills tracks. It may also have something to do with the Dead Weather, I dunno. Anyway the new album is called Blood Pressures and this is the first sneaky taster from it.

Mogwai

Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will



Right, lets get the obvious out the way. Shit name. I mean really shit name unless I'm proved wrong by some intelligent, uncontrived reasoning that in noway is related to the Hardcore music genre. Good, now lets talk about how this is completely different to any previous Mogwai album. Sure, its got music you can fall asleep to. Sure, its got music you can bathe in your miserable, deadbeat life to. BUT, it is different I promise.

Ok, maybe not to the untrained eye, but the seasoned Mogwai fan will notice that this is the most accessible album to date, with songs rarely pushing past the 6 minute mark. The album is not void of vocals like Hawk is Howling nor does it prominently feature vocals Mr. Beast. Hawk is Howling was produced by Mogwai confidant Andy Miller (One half of the production team of the legendary 1997 Mogwai Young Team album. Whereas, Hardcore brings back the other half, Paul Savage.

You know when you here a song that defines your music taste you feel that its your song even though its quite clearly not? Too Raging to Cheers is that song for me, even though it's clearly by Mogwai, I feel like I wrote it. I hope you know what I mean so I don't sound arrogant

San Pedro is formulaic and aggressive. A song that bellows from the Scottish Highlands. Multiple layers of noise rock guitar that although has melodic breaks, is an unrelenting power trip. Although it does sound like the soundtrack for a montage on a Halo 3 advert.

Mexican Grand Prix has a Kraut Rock feel with synthesized drums, vocoded lyrics and primitive sounding synths. This is set to be the popular track from the album and proves that sometimes branding Mogwai as Post Rock is a wee unfair, nay, a lazy misnomer. It would have been easy for them to have song after song of melodic build ups and ethereal cruscendos like the rest of the Post rock bunch. But Mogwai have once again proved that they can shake up a stereotyped music form and have produced a varied album which provides all the right answers to why you search for good music and wait great lengths for albums such as this.

Even after all this though, I'm still left wanting. Maybe it's because that although the form of the music is undefined and diverse, it is predictablty so. But I prefer to think it is just because I am used to Mogwai's standard of excellence and because it is near impossible for them to better themselves. I doubt Hardcore will go down as their best album, but it is a Mogwai album nonetheless and I love it.

8/10

Mogwai - White Noise