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May 30, 2007
Blockhead
I finally got around to listening to the 2005 record Downtown Science by Blockhead, a clever and engaging slice of instrumental hip hop that is edgy and groovy without overplaying its hand. And his palette on the record incorporates rock elements in an interesting fashion, without going overboard.
Blockhead - Cherry Picker
Blockhead - Good Block Bad Block
Blockhead - Nightlife
Recently on Comfort Radio:
Jensen Sportag - Japanese Zombie Schoolgirls
Hifana - seeem
Nitrada - Everything Is Not Alright
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
May 29, 2007
Dungen
Weirdo psychedelic rockers Dungen have a new record out called Tio Bitar. It doesn't break any new ground, but sometimes another dose of a satisfying formula is just the thing: swirling guitars, lush vocals, a general air of unpredictability... I dare say this is modern prog that actually sounds kind of pretty.
Dungen - Gör Det Nu
Dungen - Du Ska Inte Tro Att Det Ordan
Dungen - Svart Är Himlen
Recently on Comfort Radio:
Ananda Project - Falling For You
Spylab - Celluloid Hypnotic
Ugress - Reason To Believe
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (2)
May 25, 2007
Friday grab bag
We start things off today with a spacy & weird electronic ballad from Antennas. Plus, a video, which is mostly useful for hearing the original version of the track.
Antennas - Always On My Mind (Andkar Remix)
Hey look, a new single from Gusgus. It's dancetastic!
Gusgus feat. Daniel Agust - Moss
Matthew Herbert has a new album out called Score, collecting contributions to various films. The album's a mixed bag, given the nature of soundtrack music, but it has this one outstanding track on it that made finding it worthwhile.
Matthew Herbert - Singing In The Rain
Recently on Comfort Radio:
Serge Gainsbourg - Bonnie & Clyde (Herbert's Fred & Ginger Mix)
Gak Sato - Penetrare (Belleville B-Boy Mix)
Chemical Brothers - Out Of Control (Sasha Remix)
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
May 23, 2007
Psapp
On the 2006 release The Only Thing I Ever Wanted, the quirky electropop group Psapp offers a vaguely crunchy, clangy collection of tunes - it sounds a little like the last Broadcast album, in terms of sparse arrangements and mechanical undercurrents, but Psapp delivers a bit more warmth.
Psapp - Hi
Psapp - Needle And Thread
Psapp - The Words
Recently on Comfort Radio:
Tori Amos - When I Was Dreaming (studio outtake)
Reverbaphon - our heart beats with joy
Jan Turkenburg - Oddio Theme Song Part One
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (1)
May 21, 2007
Kava Kava
Sometimes I'm just in the mood for uncomplicated, funky dance music. I recently came across the 2003 release Maui by Kava Kava and found exactly that: it's entertaining, groovy, slick & well-produced. It scratches the same itch for me that Jamiroquai or Jazzupstarts do - sometimes music is just meant to be fun, nothing more and nothing less.
Kava Kava - Don't Stop The Music
Kava Kava - Sicfuck
Kava Kava - Tic
Recently on Comfort Radio:
Le Tigre - Deceptacon
Sneaker Pimps - Tesko Suicide (Americruiser Mix)
Writer's Block - Road to Monte Carlo
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (1)
May 16, 2007
"Crystal Top Music Presents"
If you've ever listened to Comfort Radio, you'll know that - while not infinitely unbounded - it's a pretty eclectic mix. To me, part of the fun of that programming style is putting disparate genres together and hearing connections. A new compilation called Crystal Top Music Presents features much the same philosophy: the press materials describe tracks ranging from "jazzy bluegrass-rock-funk" to "electronically-altered indie-rock" to "cosmopolitan, jazz-infused afrobeat" to "sweet organic soul." I was initially skeptical, but the first three tracks hooked me and the whole thing comes off wonderfully; even the two tracks in genres I don't typically appreciate ("country-rock" and "stripped-down storyteller") made sense when hearing the record. I can easily imagine many occasions where putting this compilation on will seem the right thing to do.
Elizabeth & The Catapult - Momma's Boy
Ryan Scott - Harmony
Recently on Comfort Radio:
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Vietcaterpillar
William Orbit - Fire And Mercy
Romero - Sanctuary (Jupiter Mix)
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (1)
May 15, 2007
Skeletons and The Kings of All Cities
Skeletons and The Kings of All Cities (formerly Skeletons & The Girl-Faced Boys) have a new record out, entitled Lucas. It's hard to describe their swirling miasma of a sound - oh wait, does "swirling miasma" work? Layers and layers of instrumentation and electronic swooshes and noises, lyrics that seem to churn in and out of the mix, song structures that start off dense and still manage to build... no, I guess I can't describe them at all. Anyway, it's another fine release from the gang at Ghostly International.
Skeletons and The Kings of All Cities - What They Said
Skeletons and The Kings of All Cities - Dont Worry (edit)
These and other fine, fine tracks can be heard on Comfort Radio. See you next week.
Posted by Scotto at 09:29 PM | Comments (0)
May 14, 2007
Ojos De Brujo
Ojos De Brujo fuse flamenco, techno, and hip hop elements to create their distinctive sound. On the 2006 release Techarí, the hip hop and techno come to the fore a bit more by comparison to their older record, Bari; some people do prefer the more traditional sound of Bari, but to me, Techarí captures a more unique sound.
Ojos De Brujo - Color
Ojos De Brujo - Todo Tiende
Ojos De Brujo - El Confort No Reconforta
Recently on Comfort Radio:
Fischerspooner - Just Let Go (Thin White Duke Remix)
The Bees - Chicken Payback
Ed Rush & Optical - Funktion
Posted by Scotto at 06:21 AM | Comments (0)
May 11, 2007
The FarCry
Some very good netlabel techno today from The FarCry, via the 2006 release The Calling. After opening with these two stellar tracks, the EP then progresses into some (admittedly good) trance that I couldn't bring myself to post because, you know, trance. But if you're the type who goes for that, the whole EP is free for the downloading, courtesy of the Japanese netlabel Bump Foot.
The FarCry - Follow Me
The FarCry - Motion
These and other fine, fine tracks can be heard on Comfort Radio. See you next week.
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
May 09, 2007
Laura Veirs
I heard an outstanding track on KEXP the other day and was immediately entranced; the track was "Don't Lose Yourself" by Laura Veirs, from her 2007 release Saltbreakers. It's an interesting album; I don't do singer-songwriter stuff much these days, but Veirs mixes a little electronics in to appease trend-happy idiots like me, and the result comes off to me like a kind of intelligent folk rock, if that makes sense.
Laura Veirs - Don't Lose Yourself
Laura Veirs - To The Country
Laura Veirs - Cast A Hook
Recently on Comfort Radio:
Asian Dub Foundation - Officer XX
Talking Heads - Psycho Killer
23 Degrees - Born Of Earth's Torments
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (2)
May 07, 2007
Mr. Tube and the Flying Objects
We saw !!! last week at Neumos, and the show was outstanding. As icing on the cake, one of the opening acts was also pretty fantastic: Mr. Tube and the Flying Objects put on a kick stomping show with a three-piece horn section front and center. The act kind of reminded me of a grittier and funkier version of Tuatara. Naturally - as with !!! - the live show is more exciting than the recordings (in particular, the horns are hidden in the mix on the album), but these tracks still give you a sense of how much fun this band is. From the 2005 release Listen Up.
Mr. Tube and the Flying Objects - Lost Days
Mr. Tube and the Flying Objects - Todos Los Noches
Mr. Tube and the Flying Objects - The Sell
Recently on Comfort Radio:
Creature - 'Ow Much?
Seefeel - Industrious
Alpha - Wishes
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
May 04, 2007
"Electro Zone - Volume 1"
The netlabel 01Audio-Video recently released a treat - a compilation called Electro Zone - Volume 1, filled with moody, brooding electronica, almost a little goth in places but never truly falling off that cliff. Grab the whole thing for free, or just check out these highlights.
Etikal Lab - Again
Kid Cholera - Cathaedrabysmal
Xerxes - Lo-Fi Beauty
Everybody Loves Irene - Uncertainty And Anxiety
William Besson - By My Side
These and other fine, fine tracks can be heard on Comfort Radio. See you next week.
Posted by Scotto at 07:01 AM | Comments (0)
May 02, 2007
The Go Find
The Go Find makes gorgeous, lush electropop in a vein that seems familiar and intimate. Live instrumentation throughout the record helps make the proceedings seem a little warmer than your average electropop, and I suppose it's not Dieter Sermeus' fault that his voice is reminiscent of a certain Postal Service singer, "in a good way!" From the 2007 release Stars On The Wall.
The Go Find - Dictionary
The Go Find - New Year
The Go Find - Adrenaline
Recently on Comfort Radio:
DJ Vadim - Theme from Conquest of the Irrational (remix)
The Mermen - By The Sea I Will Stay Forever
Ben Neill - It's Only Money
Posted by Scotto at 06:53 AM | Comments (0)