I’m currently getting a bit of musical mileage out of the self-titled debut LP by the mysterious entity known as Sbtrkt.
Continuing in the same melancholic vein as James Blake’s LP earlier this year yet managing to sound less harrowing and bleak thanks his pop leanings. Several tracks feature soul-inflected vocalists while the instrumental aspects constitute a cross-pollination of electro, dubstep, house and african styles. A definite contender for my LP of the year.
So I’ve been lost in the metaphorical desert of daily life the last few months and am now returned possessed of grand musical insights with which to feed your emaciated musical souls.
Hyperbole aside, I’ll start with the rather lamely named ‘Flako’, whose music seems to be somewhat of a post-Dabrye exercise in atmospheric electronic hip hop (a sorely under-represented exercise).
Flako – Desert Ride
As at least one other internet reviewer has astutely noted, James Pants’ sound is a rather curious blend of oddball vinyl fetishism and hero homage. Pants inhabits a unique sonic territory, existing neither as an overt rip-off, or ironic-pastiche yet relies heavily on his rather broad-yet-odd Vinyl tastes. Unlike other acts of recent times who’ve shunned the cleanliness and precision of modern recording techniques in favor of recreation of classic 70’s 80’s lo-fi ‘organice’ aesthetic, he manages to inject personality into his stylistic appropriation.
Given every other Online Magazine and their proverbial dog has done one, I feel it’s my duty also.
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Beverly Kills
Beach House – Norway
Caribou – Sun
Matthew Herbert – Dublin
Space Dimension Controller – The Love Quadrant
Onra – My Comet
Oneohtrix Point Never – Returnal
Africa HiTech – Boingy
I fancy myself a half-decent electronic producer but after hearing the production quality on Onra’s LP Long Distance I might be inclined to give up the game.
Here’s a fantastic slice of Hypnagogic pop taken from the video haze of Neon Indian’s Psychic Chasms LP. This kooky track -replete with funky synth chords heavily reminiscent of a cheesy disco/funk hit the likes of which I struggle to recall the name of- I can’t get enough of.
The video at least reminds me very much of the Boards of Canada’s earlier attempts.
80’s inspired soul-drenched electro/boogie seems to be doing the rounds lately. Earlier this year we had Dam-Funk’s inspired electro workouts gaining widespread notoriety and lately a number of notables including Onra, Oriol and now Benedek.
His Laser Forest track taken from the patchy, but decent, Proximity One: Narrative of a City all laden with soulful electronics LP is hopefully a sign of things to come.
I’m a bit of a sucker for a well crafted, dreamy pop song and pop/psyche greats Air are one of the best at the form.
Taken from 2009’s Love 2 LP and complete with a gorgeous video reminiscent of soft 60’s pop-artwork, it can’t help but impress.
Awesome psychedelic Boogied-out funkness from Arp 101’s new 2 track ‘Dead Leaf‘ EP.
Here’s a track of carefree Soulful hiphop from Toronto based Elaquent.
This light and plaful EP of tropical dubstep’s been getting a bit of a spin at my end.
Real Life is a particular standout
Ding Dong Music 