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September 28, 2007
Friday grab bag
What, you don't think we need another cover version of "Rapture"? Too bad! From the 2007 release Speakers And Tweeters, by Dub Pistols.
Her Space Holiday released a pair of instrumental EPs recently; this track caught my attention in rotation on my Nomad just the other day. From Let's Get Quiet Vol. 2.
Whatever you might think of Julie Taymor's recent Beatles-infused flick Across The Universe (I kinda liked it), it's hard to argue with the trippy majesty of this Secret Machines track (one of two) from the deluxe version of the soundtrack (only available at Best Buy or via iTunes).
Secret Machines - Blue Jay Way
Recently on Comfort Radio:
Ulrich Schnauss - Nobody's Home
My Computer - There Are Ways
Roots Manuva - Colossal Insight (Royskopp Remix)
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
September 26, 2007
Justice
I could not be more excited about the debut release Cross by the French techno duo Justice. Seriously - it's one of the few records lately that has really just jumped out at me and captured my attention. I noticed one online reviewer comparing it favorably to Daft Punk, but let's be clear, the last Daft Punk album was a pile of monotonous washboard recordings compared to this. It's got elements of Mint Royale in places on the record - that kind of joyously silly pop techno that you can't help but find infectious. But it's also got a strangely appealing grind to it as well. I realize these guys are potentially all over the mainstream, if not now then very shortly, but don't let that dissuade you from checking this record out; it's a simple, unsophisticated pleasure, but a thorough pleasure nonetheless.
Justice - Let There Be Light
Justice - Waters Of Nazareth
And you may as well watch this engaging little video for "D.A.N.C.E." that got nominated for a VMA recently... the track itself is totally catchy.
Recently on Comfort Radio:
Nalepa - Fresh
Trans Am - Remote Control
Arling & Cameron - change
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (1)
September 24, 2007
The Go! Team
The Go! Team is back with their long awaited second album, Proof of Youth, and I have to say, my expectations were perhaps unreasonably high. Their first album, Thunder Lightning Strike, was outstanding and unexpected - a perfect blend of retro pop and charming thrash antics, or what John Richards referred to as "cheerleaders on crack" music. I vividly remember the first time I heard "The Power Is On" as one of those "lightning in a bottle" moments. The band's sophomore effort, unfortunately, fails to reach such propulsive heights on a track by track basis, possibly because the novelty of their sound has become so familiar due to repeated listening, and quite likely because they choose a mellower, more ambling approach for many of the tunes. But it's still quite a treat to hear a new raft of songs from these pop maniacs, even if the album only clocks in at 36 minutes (a bonus disc of 4 songs adds an additional 11 minutes).
The Go! Team - Titanic Vandalism
The Go! Team - Flashlight Fight (feat. Chuck D)
Recently on Comfort Radio:
Dizzee Rascal - Respect Me
Bauchklang - Barking News (DJ Vadim Remix)
Os Mutantes - Baby (1971)
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
September 21, 2007
Victor Bermon
Ambient artist Victor Bermon recently released his debut, Arriving at Night. Some folks are referring to it as "folktronica," but to me, it just sounds like a flavor of gentle, old school ambient; maybe the "folk" part is how people are interpreting what sounds like toy instruments in the mix, who knows, but the point is, this is both simple and lush at the same time - quietly iterative.
Victor Bermon - Farewell Lunch For Laura
Victor Bermon - Photographs Are Not Memories
Victor Bermon - First Encounters
Recently on Comfort Radio:
DJ Cam - 6 Sense
J Boogie's Dubtronic Science - Chopsticks
Lee Perry + Mad Professor - Writing On The Wall
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
September 19, 2007
The Marcia Blaine School For Girls
Quirky ambient & IDM today from The Marcia Blaine School For Girls, on the 2007 release Halfway Into The Woods. The more uptempo tracks reminded me of Jackson & His Computer Band (another unwieldy but memorable name for a group), with a penchant toward unpredictable evolution within individual tracks. Good stuff.
The Marcia Blaine School For Girls - Rude Mechanicals
The Marcia Blaine School For Girls - Still
The Marcia Blaine School For Girls - Quolet
Recently on Comfort Radio:
Sheila Chandra - Speaking in Tongues III
Lederhosen Lucil - All Good Scabs
Muse - Feeling Good
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
September 17, 2007
Future Loop Foundation
Future Loop Foundation is back with a new record called Memories From A Fading Room. It's largely an atmospheric, ambient affair, although a few tracks pop out of the woodwork, but the overall effect is nicely emotional and reminiscent of days when ambient music seemed a little more relevant than it seems to be today.
Future Loop Foundation - Everything As It Should Be
Future Loop Foundation - Sunshine Philosophy
Future Loop Foundation - The Sea And The Sky
Recently on Comfort Radio:
Bebel Gilberto - Mais feliz
Wisp - Daffodil
Album - 2/3
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
September 14, 2007
Tipper
Tipper put out an album last year called The Seamless Unspeakable Something, a decidedly more ambient turn than I was expecting from an artist who I'd originally described as "glitch hop." On this record, the glitch is absent, although hints of hip hop are still present throughout. But overall, it's an ethereal affair.
Tipper - Whomi
Tipper - Outsideinsideout
Tipper - Odd From Every Angle
Recently on Comfort Radio:
Dabrye - Truffle No Shuffle
Deep Space Network - Epen'a
Karsh Kale - Empty Hands (DK Pyar Amor Mix)
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
September 12, 2007
Makossa and Megablast
"Dynamic dub specialists" Makossa and Megablast kick out some excellent dance tunes on their upcoming G-Stone debut, Kunuaka. These are dark, driving tracks, and they're compulsive to listen to; I've gone back to them several times already.
Makossa and Megablast - Like A Rocket (feat. Capitol A)
Makossa and Megablast - Porque (feat. Cleydys Villalon)
Makossa and Megablast - Mangia Amore (feat. Marsmobil)
Recently on Comfort Radio:
They Might Be Giants - I've Got A Match
Underworld - Spoon deep
Towa Tei - Last Century Modern
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
September 10, 2007
Peder
On the 2007 release And He Just Pointed To The Sky..., trip hop artist Peder delivers a melancholy, moody collection of tracks that are reminiscent of some kind of funeral procession. Nino Moschella pops up as a guest vocalist on a particularly weird track, but for the most part, it's an instrumental affair that makes you feel like it's raining all around you.
Peder - Ache
Peder - Timetakesthetimetimetakes
Peder - White Lillies (feat. Ane Trolle)
Recently on Comfort Radio:
Meat Beat Manifesto - Hallucination Generation
Ladytron - Sugar
TV On The Radio - Staring At The Sun
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (3)
September 07, 2007
Turzi
On the new release A by the French band Turzi, we're treated to a whole platter full of psychedelic art rock weirdness, kind of reminding me of what Bauhaus might have sounded like if they were a thrash band, although that doesn't really do the sound justice. The band's founder, Romain Turzi, offered this provocative quote: "Music, whether you are initiated in it or not, should make you have the same sensations as doing drugs. With this in mind it is our intention to play with the listener, to make him go up and down, to create a malaise as well as pleasure." Ohhh, that clears it all up. At any rate, the tunes here have a driving insistence and vaguely electronic twinge that combined to rope me in; it's not your average arbitrary art rock sound, but something a lot more fierce.
Turzi - Alpes
Turzi - Animal Signal
Turzi - Authority 17
Recently on Comfort Radio:
VanZalman - creative uzbeks
The Shinin - Who Knows
Pacifica - The Strength of Relation
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
September 05, 2007
Blue States
The new Blue States record, entitled First Steps Into..., provides a welcome dose of the group's (well, at this point, it's just the one guy) delectable brand of sweeping, orchestral techno. The tunes are theatrical without being bombastic, delicious and warm.
Blue States - Allies
Blue States - The Electric Complement
Blue States - Last Of Old England
Recently on Comfort Radio:
Rashaan Roland Kirk - Spirits Up Above
Noonday Underground - Rock Steady
Method Man - Afterparty (featuring Ghostface)
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (2)
September 03, 2007
Tujiko Noriko
Some delightfully quirky electropop today from Tujiko Noriko, whose latest album Solo is brief and inscrutable. I'm new to Noriko's work, and of course it absolutely begs comparison with some of Björk's recent work; to me, Noriko sounds less ambitious and less absurd, but consequently more emotional and more succinct. If that makes sense. Anyway it's a pretty weird little record; your mileage, as always, may vary.
Tujiko Noriko - Magic
Tujiko Noriko - Gift
Recently on Comfort Radio:
Spiralmouth - Closer
Peter Gabriel - Digging In The Dirt
Ugress - Time Travel
Posted by Scotto at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)