So, I must be getting jaded by the blogosphere because there is less and less stuff that wow's me to the point where I need to hop on and spread the word to the 10 people that actually read this thing. But this can also serve as a note to self: "Cibelle and her "Lightworks" is so stimulating and vibrantly eccentric that she is an artist to watch out for."
I haven't heard of Cibelle prior to watching the video (for her cover of Raymond Scott's "Lightworks"/Dilla Donuts track/currently revisited by DOOM on his '09 release Born Like This), so I did some research. Cibelle has emerged from Sao Paulo, Brazil, with music that has been deemed unclassifiable, but, best as "tropical punk." She has a multitude of EP's and two full length albums The Shine of Dead Electric Leaves (2006) and Cibelle (2003). Her method has been described as "imagining a world, and then going to fulfill this world with the appropriate sounds and textures."
Her next album, Las Venus Resort Hotel, drops this Spring via Crammed Discs. Based on pictures and minimal exposure, I can best describe her (with no intention to type cast) as an M.I.A. fashioned Bebel Gilberto with a more "punk" than hip hop attitude. Although she has been performing since the age of six and her first LP was in '06, she seems fit to break in 2010.
Video here or below.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Free Energy/ "Hope Child" at Brooklyn Bowl
Ray Concepcion beautifully captures Free Energy's "Hope Child" for Pitchfork's "Tunnelvision." Free Energy is derivative music that stylistically could fit any Almost Famous classic rock mold. On record they sound like a more populist version of the Hold Steady-like bar band which is no reason to head over to their myspace, however, the video below is worth the 5 minutes.
Gil Scott-Heron/ "Me and the Devil" Video
First thing, in I'd say about a month (check my last post date), that sparked a "I need to share"/"I need to discuss" fire in my brain.
Directors, Coodie & Chike and Michael Sterling Eaton, portray skate culture as a mysteriously deviant voodoo gang. The video captures the sweeping movement of skating within the haunting city night. Like most videos out there, "Me and the Devil" isn't exceptional or "post-worthy" because they well...are in congruent to the song or are just flat out flat. However, for me Gil Scott-Heron's voice and consequential musical track brings about powerful images of a man that has once lived, died, and now speaks to us from the beyond. (Not to say he is Jesus or anything, but, he sings like a man on the brink.) The song over shadows, but, the video compliments nicely.
Directors, Coodie & Chike and Michael Sterling Eaton, portray skate culture as a mysteriously deviant voodoo gang. The video captures the sweeping movement of skating within the haunting city night. Like most videos out there, "Me and the Devil" isn't exceptional or "post-worthy" because they well...are in congruent to the song or are just flat out flat. However, for me Gil Scott-Heron's voice and consequential musical track brings about powerful images of a man that has once lived, died, and now speaks to us from the beyond. (Not to say he is Jesus or anything, but, he sings like a man on the brink.) The song over shadows, but, the video compliments nicely.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
"Brother Sport" Video
Animal Collective continually prove they are a factory of ideas. Vision and execution pervail in this childish psyche explosion of color. Feels like a coloring book laid over/then integrated with real life images.
Pigeons/"Tendress"
Pigeons' "Tendress" is the sound of dark seduction. The echoing psyche guitar or high pitched whine of female vocals where female control projects images of sorcery and black magic. A woman winging within the hallows a dark basement huddles over your voodoo. Where will the needles land? "Tendress" can be found on the Lunettes 7" on Soft Abuse.
Pigeons:: Tendress
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Mos Def/"24 Hour Karate School"
Kanye posted new "24 Hour Karate School" from Mos Def. Track was produced by Jay Z beatmaker Ski Beatz. Track showcases all the low key too high to pronunciate flow that we all have come to dig.
Beck's Record Club/Skip Spence's Oar
Beck's Record Club is currently covering Alexander "Skip" Spence's Oar. Jamie Lidell sings vocals on "War in Peace" which features some great guitar solos by Wilco guitarist Nels Cline. "Weighted Down" features Feist on lead vocals and has a deeper impact than "War in Peace." Regardless, both tracks are amazing and caused me to immediately add Skip Spence's Oar to my Amazon Wish List. I suppose that's the point of all of this.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Winter Mix-In a Recession
*disclaimer: The songs in this mix are songs that I enjoy and figure people should hear. If you own the copyright and want them taken down, please contact and I will do so.
The Holidays are an emotional running in from the cold. A time to warm near a fire place, eat until stuffed, and pass along some long overdue love in form of material gestures. Today, in 2009, it is a greater struggle to the confront the chill that Winter poses. The contrast between gloom and cheer is never more apparent than in the month of December.
In a Recession, isn't depressing or pessimistic; however, it starts with the understanding that it is cold outside, it is poor outside, it is hard to live during the Winter. As the mix plays, it, like us, seeks refuge in warm tone and Holiday flavor. Due to time constraints, it isn't a fine tuned mix; but, In a Recession is a rough sketch of how this time of the year feels to me.
May we never be too proud to come in from the cold and accept a warm meal. Once inside, may we never forget what it was like to freeze, nor, hide from what it means to live.
[DOWNLOAD]
winter mix- in a recession (68mb)
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Best of '09: Animal Collective/Merriweather Post Pavilion
Tons has been said about Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion, so its hard for me to say something that hasn't been already. I suppose, when you set aside the record itself, this album is far larger than the sound Avey Tare (David Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), and Geologist (Brian Weitz) created. This album marks the emergence of a creative powerhouse. From the cover/packaging to the actual music itself, nothing is bland and nothing is expected. Most writers always solute the blank page. The idea that the power within any creater is the ability to make something out of nothing. When listening to music (especially the basic variety) you can usually come to the conclusion of how one achieved the sound. Try doing that with any song on Merriweather Post Pavilion. I can remember upon first listen wondering how the fuck a band could conceptualize such an intricate sound. Animal Collective, like everyone else, started with a blank page and through whatever process made intricate electronic music palatable to the masses.
"My Girls" descends from the universal unknow to a shimmering array of vocal harmony and wet percussion that expresses an apologetic need for simplicity, "there isn't much that I feel I need/a solid soul and the blood I bleed/But with a little girl, and by my spouse/I only want a proper house." SImplicity in ethos, but, never in its musical expression, MPP contains songs that need multiple lessons. I remember giving my brother, college age, the CD already knowing that this disc best plays to the ears of those that aren't still hearing "Poker Face" on a weekly basis (my brother doesn't subriscribe to the GaGa but its party music and hears it nonetheless) I thumbnailed a few tracks for him, noting my infatuation with "Brother Sport" and that it is a "song that grows on you." A month later when we met up at Coachella, I asked him what he thought of MPP. He liked it...nothing special,but, he liked it. Perhaps he didn't get it. I asked about "Brother Sport." He claimed it was the song he liked the least. This couldn't be true. "Brother Sport," in a panicked spurt of description, is fire, it is revolutionary, it is my favorite. He needed another listen. I countered with simply playing it on the way to the festival. I can't remember his exact words, but, I do remember him realizing what made the song so special. Its magic lying within the prolonged build up of electronic twinkle to then drop off into resonate vocals and light tribal percussion. This traditional song structure plays like that of a great realization and is the most potent way to arouse emotion. Perhaps my brother didn't understand it to this degree, but, he absolutely felt the wonder.
Merriweather Post Pavilion is full of these moments. So it is no surprise, that Animal Collective orchestrated an album that was talked about, mulled over, understood, and misunderstood. Amidst the pumping bass, Beach-Boy-like vocal harmony, and electronic sampling, Animal Collective calmly says, "all you need is your mind and a few simple tools to be something special."
To the blank page.
Animal Collective:: Brother Sport
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
WU LYF/"Heavy Pop"
The mysterious group/artist WU LYF is something to get excited about. I have never heard anything like it and wouldn't know what genre to compare it to. "Heavy Pop" is a piece of work that shows the potential of music as a way to paint an environment. Listen to it and decide where you think the singer is. Is he on an island, at the beach, in a studio, in a club... Where you are coming from is equally, if not more, important than what you have to say.
I saw him singing in a prison-like 4x4 cement room. Crying out madly for attention and despite his isolation. While, there is a bed of instrumentation, the singer feels utterly alone and a times you often loose sound of the guitar and drums. What has been called "Heavy Pop" is cathartic, love-deprived, tortured, and a well executed musical emotion.
Alex Bleeker and the Freaks/"Oh Boy" (girls cover) ft. Molly Sarle
Alex Bleeker and the Freaks along with Molly Sarle of Mountain Man covered an unreleased Girls' song "Oh Boy." As posted by Chocolate Bobka, Bleeker and Sarle give a truly emotional and heartfelt rendition of the song. The song is mournful while trying to be hopeful. You could hear a pin drop at this live show hinting that this is undeniably a gripping piece of music.
J. Tillman/Townes Van Zandt Cover
The fine tastemakers over at Aquarium Drunkard first introduced me to J. Tillman with a a post of a live performance in Sacramento. J. Tillman channels southern rock that leans more towards country, but, bares more soul than your popular country station. Great earthy rock music that makes you want to sell everything you got, hit the road, and live free. Check out the Drunkard's newest Tillman post here.
Mos Def/"Supermagic"
"Supermagic" is one of the best lead-off tracks for an album I have heard in sometime. Unfortunately, it sets a tone for Mos Def's 2009 Ecstatic that is never maintained and you crave the duration of the record. Perhaps that is the magic of the track. Whether it is for his own album (Ehtiopium/sampling Ehtiopian music) or for Mos (sampling Turkish psych Sleda), Oh No takes ethnic/world music and produces another monster in "Supermagic." Ecstatic was good, not stellar or mind blowing, but good. "Supermagic" is mind blowing.
Million Young/"Hammock"
Florida's Million Young sounds like everything you associate with the south eastern state. Upbeat, sunny, but always sort of tacky like when you spill soda on the ground and its not properly wiped up. Million Young's "Hammock" is just that, with bright acoustic guitar and a club baseline. Its both Miami and the Keys, but, never Orlando (the Anaheim of the east).
Futurebirds/EP
Aquarium Drunkard pans the spotlight to the Futurebirds EP. It being the Holiday season, the two selected Futurebirds tracks are fit to warm the frigid with exceptional harmonies and soul. Put this on while your huddled next to your space heater.
Moon Duo/"Stumbling 22nd St."
Moon Duo is Erik Johnson of Wooden Shjips and Sanae Yamada. The two show what is in store with the first single, Stumbling 22nd St," from their upcoming 2010 release b/w Woodsist. Moon Duo is lo-fi spook, perfect for any Halloween mix, with "Stumbling 22nd St." playing like a soundtrack for a horror film set in 19th Century London (cobblestone streets and all). The victim, drugged and vulnerable, tries to get to safety while his Jack the Ripper-type killer stalks calm and patient. A fly trying to shake free of the web.
Po Po/"Knife Iz Yung"
We could all point and laugh like kids on the playground at Po Po's (Poh Poh or Pu Pu) name, but, from the sounds of it they would in turn probably just kick your ass with their Bollywood lo-fi garage rock. Chant worthy and fist pumping, "Knife Iz Yung" is a great live interlude track with amazing recorded distortion. Their 2010 debut is out via Mad Decent and is due for some production love from Diplo and Ariel Rechtshaid. Who's laughing now. Po Po!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Lunatic Mix 5: Light Years
*disclaimer: The songs in this mix are songs that I enjoy and figure people should hear. If you own the copyright and want them taken down, please contact and I will do so.
Here's the 5th Lunatic Mix : Light Years. 5th?? Where are the other 4? It just so happens, I've been making mixes long before I started blogging...so the other 4 are on their way...in time.
Light Years is a mix that I created to put the world on hold, even if just for an hour...or six. I've always been envious of an astronauts perspective. How insignificant all must feel when finally back on Earth. These are songs that, if for a moment, help me get the right perspective.
Take a trip to my outer space:
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