I don't start my new job until Monday, so I have some time to kill, posting tracks and bullshitting around. Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo and I played the Sabbo track and the James Brown via Eli Escobar re-edit, it killed. There was some pretty crazy dancing for such a chill place.
Dimlite is a Switzerland born producer who I actually found just recently. I fell in love instantly. He's been releasing tracks since 2003 and, from the earlier stuff I’ve heard, has really come into his own and developed his own sound. His newest release is Prismic Tops. I Feel like this guy would fit in well in L.A. with Flying Lotus, Nobody, Gaslamp, and all those dudes. I'm always exited to hear interesting downbeat, experimental, electronica.
More influenced by roots club/dance music, Sabbo gives us his Tel Aviv version of dance music. Some of his biggest influences being Fela Kuti, Funkadelic, James Brown, Bootsy Collins, The Meters, and Nina Simone. I'm really into how this guy makes his music, especially being from Israel. The new EP is called It Is the Time. The record has dancehall, dubstep, and electronic elements. If world club is more your thing, check this out.
The Chicago native, Felix da Housecat, is getting the remix right with Nina Simone's classic "Sinnerman". I didn't hear this song when it first came out but now I hear it on some God damn commercial every 5 seconds. Either way, the track is done very well. I could see this one being a house classic. Only time will tell.
Eli Escobar is one of my favorite producers to remix a song. The first one I heard of his was the Justice song, "D.A.N.C.E." I liked Eli's version because instead of taking the hard electro route (which I think is easy) he chose a more laid back housey way to change the song. Here, with his take on "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag", he turns the James Brown classic into a straight dance-floor, Baltimore club banger. I used this song twice last week and it killed both times. Way to go Eli. Way to make Gainesville get down. Hopefully he's reading this in his East Village apartment.
It's been a while since I posted last so I'll make this short and sweet. I'll also keep this one more upbeat than the past few, just to keep it more entertaining.
Onra is a newer DJ/producer and from France and is killing it on his new single Long Distances. The single contains elements of electronica, soul/funk, and hip-hop. Fans of artists like Dam Funk, Hudson Mohawk, Flying Lotus, Prince, and J Dilla will dig this. This EP has been playing nonstop in my room for a few weeks now. GET THIS!
Mos Dub is a new project that mixes Mos Def tracks with classic reggae tracks. It's produced by Max Tannone, a silly white kid from New York, who makes these great mash-ups. These are very appropriate summer songs. I'm very glad this happened.
Mind Spiders is a new garage/power pop band from Texas that really blows shit out. The new 7" is self titled and is a side project of Mark Ryan of the Texas punk band The Marked Men. Play this loud.
Diamond K and Al Ripken Jr. are Baltimore club DJ/producers on the Top Billin' label. The new EP Hands in the Air is going to be playing in your local club soon, so you might as well get on this shit now. There's not really anything new going on here, but it's still good, fun Baltimore club to get down to. The Bok Bok remix of "Hands in the Air" on this record is my favorite, but the "Single Ladies, Single Fellas" track seems to be pretty popular as well. Wah-bam!
It's really difficult for me to choose tracks for this site. I like a lot of different types of music, but I really started this site as a vent to talk about music that I like without bothering my friends because they're into different music than I'm into (if anyone was wondering).
Prins Thomas peeped his head into our world around 2002 with some remixes that he put out. At this time he was more of a house/tech house kind of producer. He's really blossomed into this wonderful, airy, spaced out, jam oriented, minimal disco producer. With all the elements of 70's production and a deep knowledge of disco that I'll never be able to compete with, he dominates this modern electronic scene. I'm personally drawn to him because he's never gets cheesy. He has a good ear for what each instrument in his songs should do, and how to arrange them.
Thomas recently put out a stellar album collaboration with another Nordic electronic hero, Lindstrom. The album was simply entitled II. This album (self-titled) is Thomas' first solo album. I've played a few tracks out early in the night at clubs and I listen to it constantly in my room. I can't get enough. The album is mostly disco, but contains elements of house and deep house and was released on his own label, Full Pupp. If you are someone looking for a pop hook or if you have a short attention span, this is not for you. I heard Yeasayer just put a new album out, maybe you'll dig that, Pitchfork does.
Aloe Blacc has come a long way from his indie rap debut in Emanon in the mid 90's. He has really blossomed into this influential modern American soul signer. I really hope he keeps progressing.
His new single "I Need a Dollar" seems like a very appropriate song for the life in times in America currently. Shine Through, Aloe's 2006 release seemed a lot more abstract than the new single, which will be on his new album Good Things. The new album will feature members of the groups The Expressions (from Lee Fields and the Expressions) and El Michels Affair. If you haven't heard anything from those guys yet, get the fuck on it.
Good Thing is going to be a pure soul record, unlike Shine Through. Hearing all the Latin influence on the last record though, and knowing that both of his parents are Panamanian, we can expect more Latin influenced music from Aloe to come. I'm very excited to see what this artist does with sound.
Sonny Smith, the singer/songwriter from San Francisco, CA has a lo-fi, beach-pop sound, which may be some of the most charming music that I've heard in a while. I am a classic pop fan (especially the Beach Boys) so this to me is very reminiscent of what maybe a demo version of what a Brian Wilson song would sound like pre-Pet Sounds on just an acoustic guitar. Sonny can't sing as well, but he gets the genre perfectly, which makes me like the music more.
Tomorrow is Alright is the full length and Hypnotist is the new 7". My Friends in the Jacuzzi Boys are playing with Sonny and the Sunsets soon in San Francisco, so if you happen to be in San Fran. around May 21st, go.
Thomas Fehlmann, a sometimes collaborator with the Orb as well as a DJ, musician and producer has just released a full length on Kompakt Records entitled Gute Luft. It's a soundtrack to a TV show in Berlin called "24H Berlin". The album is all electronic based with dub techno, tech house, and ambiance being the basis of sound for the record. I know when most people hear techno they think party, party but this record is the opposite of that. It's a very chill, relaxing record. There's a lot of really beautiful melodies that play throughout it and sometimes the melodies resurface in other tracks throughout the record.
I wouldn't put this record on before I went out to a club or bar but it might be nice to drive home to or listen to on a Sunday morning after a little smoke, doing some Sunday cleaning.
It's funny to me that bands like the Sandwitches don't get more press. They have soul, song writing ability, and they're never cheesy. It seems people just want to hear over-produced pop songs that mean nothing and have some shitty hook. Even more appealing to me is that sometimes you see the Sandwitches in clown costumes and sometimes you see them in Loretta Lynn type outfits from the 1960s. People are so obsessed with image that they don't know how to have fun and enjoy quality music anymore.
The Sandwitches are a lo-fi lady trio (I feel sexist saying girl group) from San Francisco, California. The members are Grace Cooper, Heidi Alexander, and Roxy Brodeur. Their sound goes from gothic folk to 60s pop with deep influence in soul, especially the vocals. There is an overall 60s production style going on but without ever feeling gimmicky.
The newest record is called How To Make Ambient Sadcake and was released on Turn Up Records. If you haven't heard it yet, dip your balls in it. The band is also playing Gainesville, FL on Sunday, March 14th at venue TBA and lots of other shows across the states with bands like Thee Oh Sees, Washed Out, Real Estate, and Best Coast.
(for some reason my fonts, sizes, bold and italics aren't working so this interview doesn't look as nice as it could)
So who are you girls and where are you from?
We're classy ladies from California.
Who are some of your biggest influences (could be music or non-music related)?
Dad, Todd Rudgren, Gene Wilder, Grandma, all the boys.
When I first read your band name, I thought this might be a silly, lo-fi, female band. Is that the intention you had or is there some long running inside joke?
Well, that's sort of what we are -- except now we've got our man Lance -- but moreover we accidentally happened upon the name in conversation and unfortunately couldn't help naming ourselves that once we though of it, despite our own better judgment.
You ladies are playing the Gorilla vs. Bear Showcase at SXSW, and you're playing with Thee Oh Sees out west in March. To me, all that sounds like a pretty big deal, how do you feel about all that?
We feel pretty good about it. Thee Oh Sees are good friends but all the kind press was unexpected and we feel real lucky to have it.
I believe this is going to be your first trip to Gainesville and Florida. Are you excited about that as well? I'm excited that you are playing, we get a lot of punk, metal and alt country shows here which is fun but there's a lot of good music out there that's not coming to Gainesville.
Heck yes, and we'd love to see a gator.
Are there vegetarians in the band?
Lazer's a veg.
What fast food do you eat on the road? Do you make food before hand, gas station snacks, weed brownies, hot-pockets, fruit roll ups?
Mostly Slim Jims, beef jerky, and weed brownies.
Are there any straight edge people in the band?
Nope.
How often do you do laundry on the road and how often do you wear the same thing before washing it?
We'd rather not answer that question.
What are your plans for 2010?
Take it to the max we guess.
What bands would you like to tour with?
Sludgehammer.
If anyone could produce your next record, who would do it?
Phil Spector, so has he keeps his trigger finger in sight.
Domino's recently said their pizza won in a taste test over Papa Johns. Do you believe this and whom do you prefer?
ROUND TABLE!!! We're no fools.
Anything you want to tell Gainesville before you play here?
Those we seek only loves peace and pleasures are better to pass out of love's domain, but they will not laugh all their laughter, nor cry all their tears.
A few months back the track "The Splendor" was released and I started to get really excited about the hint of a new Pantha Du Prince album. The last album he (Hendrik Weber) released was The Bliss on Hamburgs Dial Records and was one of the most sonically impressive albums I heard in 2007. I actually think I heard the album more in 2008. Regardless, the man knows who to make minimal techno. Shit, I mean he remixed Animal Collective. Not every producer gets asked to do that. Only Dam Funk, Black Dice, Zomby and a handful of others have been asked to do so so far.
For the new record, Black Noise all the dry parts of the last record are cut out to make a new more solid Pantha Du Prince. All the lush strings and intricate bell and percussion parts are still here. But instead of the long winded string and bell parts in some tracks along with the too hard for the record techno tracks, this record has more of a solid mix of the two here. The only part that I don't love on this record is the track with Panda Bear a.k.a. Noah Lennox of Animal Collective. I don't really feel his voice is right for minimal techno. He breathes this kind of child like essence into the track that Weber doesn't have or need to produce his brand of music. Fans of shoegaze also might like this being that Weber uses droning notes and chords that fans of My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Ride and Moose might be into. Weber himself is also a hugh fan.
Joy Orbison! I've written about this guy way too much. I'm still consistently impressed with the tracks he (Peter O' Grady) puts out. His dubstep/house/disco tracks are smarter than most guys twice his age. He's only 22 and every single he's released had been blogged about. Even his b-sides are blogged about. I'm not going to write too much more, I'm tired of blowing this guy. Here are some new tracks. Where’s the full length O’ Grady?
Hailing from the Baltimore, MA and having released two albums already, I didn't really see Beach House doing much more with their sound. Signing to Sub Pop Records, I should have known that things might have changed. I'm always really interested to see what bands do when they have bigger budgets, from their newfound labels. Whether they go for that all reaching pop sound that usually is not very good in order just to see how far their sound can reach commercially and how long they can last on a decent label without getting the boot. Here, that's not the case. Beach House, instead of going down that pop route, they go for a bigger, more in touch with who and what they are Beach House record. I love them for that too.
The new record Teen Dream has been playing almost non-stop in my room since I got a hold of it. The record is dark and beautiful without ever stepping into the "this is too angsty" realm. I'm getting older and I'm very hesitant to get into an indie rock record nowadays. Something about that genre is too gimmicky or "white" sounding for me to pay mind to. This record has soul though, check it out.
Wild Nothing is a recording project for Jack Tatum who's a Virgina native. There's not too much I can write about this because there's not too much info available yet. The vocals are breathy, the back-up vocals are haunting, the guitars are bright and the production value is that of a 90's alt rock bands. The new single "Summer Holiday" reminds me of the guitar in the Cure song "Pictures of You". Wild Nothing is playing some shows up in New York soon, so Brooklyn friends, make sure to take note and try to see them.
Nite Jewel is Ramona Gonzalez from Los Angeles, California. She released a record last year entitled Good Evening to rave reviews and is currently on tour and on her way to Florida. She will be playing in Orlando on Feb. 9th at Backbooth and in Tampa on Feb. 10th at Crowbar.
Nite Jewel’s sound can be described as lo-fi dreamy bedroom disco with 80’s synths and hints of 90’s R&B. I know that sounds like a lot, but when you hear it, it makes sense. The lo-fi end would come from the fact that she only records on an 8-track with analog keyboards and drum machines, which to me gives the recordings the edge and uniqueness that makes her work different from other indie bedroom-recording artists.
Ramona is married to Cole from Haunted Graffiti (who sounds like a more FM pop, lo-fi, tripped out version of Syd Barrett). Together with a few other friends they create Nite Jewel. Ramona is also working on a record with Dam-Funk (a futuristic funk artist) under the name Nite Funk, how great is that? That record will be released on Stones Throw Records sometime in the future. Did I just say in the future? No shit. Ramona also just released a podcast mix for Stones Throw, which is killer and sounds a lot like her music. It’s podcast 54, check it out.
I had a chance to catch up with Ramona and ask her a few questions. Also, I feel more in love with the fact that she answers her own e-mail. How many artist do that nowadays? Make sure to see her while she is in Florida.
Where are you right now and what have you been up to lately?
I'm working right now. I'm reading about Eno's Another सोमेव्हेरेवर्ल्ड. Lately I've been recording and figuring out how to get from my house to the car without getting drenched in rain.
I feel the LA scene has one of the most progressive scenes right nowin terms of alternative music with acts like Flying Lotus, Nobody,Health, No Age, Dam Funk, Nite Jewel, etc.. How do you feel about itand how often do you see live music?
I love it here, I feel that I'm surrounded by a lot of creative people. I haven't been out to see many live shows since I've been touring a lot. As one of my professors said, "We get to the point when the only shows we are able to see are our own."
I just watched your XLR8R Tune in an Afternoon with Dam Funk entitledNite Funk. How was that experience and how was working with Dam Funk?
It was pretty much exactly how you see it on the program. Chill, easy breezy, and fun.
How do you find out about music new or old (blogs, magazines, friends,infomercials, B.E.T.)?
I find about old music as a daily ritual. With new music, I usually get advice from friends about what to listen to. Once in a blue moon I'll turn on KCRW just to see what the kids are into, which occasionally is good.
I know you're coming to Florida on your tour. Will this be your firsttrip to Florida and did you purposely miss out on Gainesville? Justkidding about the last part.
First time in Florida, yes. I'm super excited! I hear Gainesville's a liberal town, don't know how it was overlooked!
I've been seeing your record Good Evening sold out on lots ofwebsites. Does this give you a comforting feeling or are you pissedthat your record company didn't press enough copies?
Haha. I put it out myself so I don't mind really.
What are your plans for the new year?
Recording new material. Academic applications.
If anyone could produce the next Nite Jewel album, who would you choose and why?
It's currently being produced by myself, Cole Greif-Neill, Scott Thiessen, and David Barrett.
To me your record is a kind of staying inside, cooking dinner withfriend(s), smoking some weed and taking it easy. Did you have anyintention on making a record like this and does this reflect who youare?
I had no intention in making this record, but I'm glad it ended up soothing. Seems obvious that my music would reflect who I am. I guess lately I have been sort of a homebody.
I saw in another interview the other day that you still have a dayjob. To me you released one of the best records of last year and itblows my mind that you're not making a living making music. Are thereartists you love that still have day jobs and does it blow your mindthat they're not making a living off their art?
It's hard to make a living doing music. You have to be extremely savvy. There are lots of desperate people in the industry trying to find any way of giving less money to the artist. That's because less money is coming in to the industry due to the internet and what not. So we as artists have to do it our own way. That's why I am trying to self-release my recordings most of the time, which means I don't pay myself an advance. So I have to work, but I don't mind really, my job is pretty easy. It doesn't blow my mind that my favorite artists have day jobs. A lot of my favorite artists were never and will never be popular. That's okay. Many great artists aren't. Hopefully with the internet though, they can be popular in a different way, where they have a day job and they still get accolades from web crawlers and bloggers like yourself. It's a beautiful paradox.
If you and your husband divorce, would you ever go on a date with me?I think any girl I'd be dating would be okay with this.
If my husband and I divorce, I'll probably end up living in ashram somewhere।
I haven't written anything in a while, instead I've been watching 30 Rock and Jersey Shore. I don't get it, I talk shit about all the trash on television and then I watch the trashiest show on TV, Jersey Shore. Maybe I like it because I love sub-culture and I really know nothing about this sub-culture? I'm not sure. Anyhow, this is what's been good.
All of you know who The Knife is. If you don't, WHAT FUCKING ROCK HAVE YOU BEEN HIDING UNDER? Everything this group does pushes the boundaries of sound and never looks back on the past, only the future. If you didn't hear either of their solo projects last year, you need to get on that shit. It's quality stuff.
Either way, they're currently working on an opera. What the fuck? An opera? They're pretty ridiculous, but that makes them far more interesting. Riiiiight? The opera is a tribute to Charles Darwin and is called “Tomorrow, in a Year.” The work should reflect the text by Darwin from On the Origin of Species. The work will contain 3 singers. Each singer will be singing from a different background, electronic pop, classic opera, and performance. The Knife will be arranging the music and words to the opera. I've only heard one song from this but I am very excited to see what else comes out. Hopefully this is released on DVD. I'm sure visually this will be amazing.
In case you guys haven't been following, Dam-Funk and Nite Jewel have collaborated on a great new track called "Am I Gonna Make It". It's a great mix of Nite Jewels lo-fi funky disco and Dam-Funk's futuristic funk. The recording was made for XLR8R's video podcast Tune in an Afternoon. Nite Jewel produces the track and Dam-Funk sings and adds his own input on the production. Make sure to watch the video. Watching the song come to life is half the charm.
Young Man is a new lo-fi, dream pop, bedroom artist. This style is very popular right now and seems to be making the blog lists all around. This guy is very reminiscent of Panda Bear and Atlas Sound to me but is still charming in its own way. Don't think I'm dying to hear this live but it's nice background music for my room or nice waking up to. I'll see how the full length comes out. It's due out early this year.
Gigi is a project of two men who love Phil Spector and the Wall of Sound. The group is based out of Vancouver and is the work of Nick Krogvich (songwriter) and Colin Stewart (producer). For those of you who love 60's pop production and harmonies, this should be your cup of tea.
This record comes out Jan. 26th, 2010. The record also contains credits to groups such as Black Mountain, Cave Singers and Destroyer. In some way, this reminds me of a Martin Scorsese movie, mostly Mean Streets.
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