Astrobotnia
Part 00
[Aleksi Perälä :: 2011]
Astrobotnia's Big Bang on Bandcamp
Just 2 weeks after releasing a bunch of unheard Ovuca material, the prolific Aleksi Perala has put a new Astrobotnia album up for sale on Bandcamp titled Part 00. All of the music included in this album was produced in 2001, taking us back in time not only to some of the earliest Astrobotnia material ever recorded, but also to a high point of the IDM era.
Aleksi tells us that Part 00 should be considered the definitive prequel, the earliest recordings pre-dating Parts 01-03 that served as the birth of the Astrobotnia project, a sonic exploration of space and time. Though composed entirely on a laptop with endless sound and style options, Astrobotnia demonstrates a disciplined focus from day one, choosing to create beautiful otherworldly atmospheres by combining ambient synths and strings with complex and sometimes harsh beats. Track 2 "New Earth" is a perfect example of this, wherein a fusion of electronic and acoustic hand drums smack out tribalesque toe-tapping rhythms while floaty, spatial chords shimmer and swirl all around you, making you feel as though you are somewhere that gravity nor time are of any importance. Soundscapes like that of "Rainforest" also contain hints of world percussion and concrete sounds giving them a grounding familiarity, but the injected electro alien beats and strange, unsettling non-melodies spark the realization that you're in an alternate dimension.
Though focused, Part 00 delivers a fine showing of dynamic range from the beatless to the beat-down. "Hydrocortisone Saga", "Unknown Variable", and "Space Camp" all exude a warm and relaxed nostalgia within the artist's original framework, perhaps what Boards of Canada would have sounded like had they been from another galaxy. On the other end of the spectrum we have tracks like "The Message" and "Fever" that both crush you and make you want to dance with a caustic, ear-shattering force. Part 00 is absolutely gorgeous and an obvious must-have for any Astrobotnia fan or classic IDM loyalist. My only regret is that it's not available on vinyl (yet). What else does Mr. Perala have up his sleeve?
Buy Astrobotnia - Part 00 :: Bandcamp
Connect with Aleksi Perala / Astrobotnia :: Official Site | Facebook
Astrobotnia - Part 00 (2011) :: Review
Ovuca - Short Attention Span (2011) :: Review
Ovuca
Short Attention Span
[Aleksi Perälä :: 2011]
Bandcamp Release
If you thought you'd never get another Ovuca release, you're in for a nice surprise. Aleksi Perala has pulled out a slew of Ovuca tracks from deep within his musical archive, circa 1998 in fact, and set them free in a self-released LP called Short Attention Span, the first Ovuca release in 10 years.
In a news post on his website Aleksi tells us these tracks are a continuation of the experimental sounds heard in Lactavent and Onclements, and if you're familiar with these first two albums, it should come as no surprise that many of the 31 tracks included in Short Attention Span are between 30 seconds to a minute and a half long. Though all the tracks were made on his simple 1998 setup mainly consisting of a Roland XP-80 and Akai MPC-2000 without the use of a computer, the album spans a pretty wide variety of beat styles and sounds. It begins fast with atmospheric jungley IDM, moves into harder acidic dance floor ideas, veers into some oddball stuff and then begins to slow down with a few reverbed out jazzy interludes, eventually dwindling into beautiful ambience. A few of the shorter clips such as "Hey Bob" (0:11) and "Beta Force" (0:21) end a bit too abruptly, jarring the listener out of the "zone", but for the most part the whole thing flows surprisingly well like a purposefully constructed album should from start to finish.
The longer tracks, even when only something like a minute-thirty, are really the meat and potatoes here. "Focus" is a gorgeous piece featuring fast, repetitive oil drum rhythms juxtaposed with gentle glass flute meanderings, achieving a classic early IDM feel that I wish would go on longer. I'm really digging his use of acoustic drum kit samples like in "Jazzy 107", "Jazz Hop" and especially "Off We Go" where he cranks up the hall reverb and pairs them with some eerie pads. Aleksi closes out with two ambient pieces, the first being "Personal Digital Sound" experimenting with what sounds like a recording in reverse overlayed by his own voice singing out a somber hymn. Final track "Luostro", which also happens to be the longest at a whopping 8:08, is a gorgeous new-agey meditation full of swelling synths, trailing sustains and dream-like atmosphere, with the tiniest synthesized rhythm chugging along quietly somewhere in the mix. If you were jumping around in the track list while sampling the album, you might not understand how a gorgeous piece like this could exist on the same release as a goofy, fun track like "Vicky Doesn't Eat Fish", but when you hear the whole thing in sequential order, it all makes sense.
Buy Ovuca - Short Attention Span :: Bandcamp
Connect with Aleksi Perala / Ovuca :: Official Site | Facebook
Orbital Video Diary Documents Making Of New Album (2011) :: Video
Orbital
P&P share making of new album through video diary, updates on Facebook and Twitter
The brothers Hartnoll are back in the lab working on a new album, and this time they're sharing their progress with fans through periodic YouTube video diary uploads, Facebook posts and Twitter updates. In their first charmingly sheepish video posted back in mid-February, we are introduced to "the map", a large scribbly thing looking something like a synthesizer schematic that is said to be a visual representation of their plans for the album. The Map hangs on the wall above their workstation, and though we can't decipher much on it, it shows us how much further along the guys are in their process. My favorite bit in this video however is the brief live performance of one of their new tracks - it's sounding great! Though they just put out the banging double-single Don't Stop Me / The Gun Is Good
Orbital - Video Diary Part 1 (16 Feb 2011):
Orbital - Video Diary Part 2 (18 Feb 2011):
Orbital - Video Diary Part 3 (4 Mar 2011):
Orbital - Video Diary Part 4 (14 Mar 2011) at Valencia gig:
Orbital - Video Diary Part 5 (25 Mar 2011):
To be notified of future video diary entries:
Connect with Orbital :: YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | Official Site
Ceephax Acid Crew - Electric Independence Video Interview (2011)
Ceephax Acid Crew
Electric Independence Video Interview
[Motherboard.tv :: 2011]
Jordan Redaelli of Electric Independence sat down with Ceephax in his east London studio to talk about his love for classic video game sounds, vintage synths, how he got his start, his jumper collection and a bunch more. We even get a bit of a gear demo. A fun and inspiring overview of Andy's musical approach and light-hearted philosophy.
(via Motherboard.tv)
Golden Girls - Kinetic (Lone Remix) :: Review
LONE.
Golden Girls - Kinetic (Lone Remix)
[R&S Records :: 2011]
Free Download
I love LONE. His lush and sparkling EDM gives me the same happy, carefree feeling I get from listening to multi-layered '90s ravey house from artists like Orbital and FSOL without the guilt of being stuck in an era long gone. The UK artist has decided to give out a remix to prep everyone for his first R&S Records release Echolocations EP (due out April 11, 2011) and Lone-and-behold, it's an updated rework of the classic early-nineties warehouse techno single "Kinetic" by Golden Girls, a Paul Hartnoll (of Orbital) side project from the R&S archives. It retains the emotional loveliness of the original while giving us everything we love about a LONE. track including upbeat dancey drum machine rhythms and warm, warbley synths. Just beautiful. Listen / download below.
Download Golden Girls - Kinetic (Lone Remix) :: .MP3
Pre-Order Lone - Echolocations EP (2011) :: R&S Records | Boomkat
Buy Lone - Emerald Fantasy Tracks (2010) :: Amazon | Boomkat
Connect with LONE. :: MySpace | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud
Roy of the Ravers - Oriental X-Press :: Video
Roy Of The Ravers
Oriental X-Press
[The Centrifuge :: 2011]
Video
Roy Of The Ravers has a new album coming out soon called Green Irish Tweed, and judging by the first 2 tracks he's given us in the form of artistic music videos, it seems as though he is taking his sound, typically of the squelchy acid house dance floor variety, in a slower more meditative direction inspired by the pentatonic scales of the Far East. Has Roy found enlightenment? We won't know until more information about these tracks and his new album emerge, but I certainly feel enlightened every time I watch this captivating video for Oriental X-Press. The animation (the source of which is still a mystery) looks vintage but unlike anything I've ever seen. It's a sparkly journey of spiritual transformation in the style of ancient folk lore, and Roy's soundtrack is nothing short of perfection. It's unexpected, it's gorgeous, it's from another dimension and it makes me wonder what the rest of the album sounds like and what the connection might be to the Emerald Isle. The beat kicks in around 1:55, but patience is a virtue my friend.
Here is the 2nd and only other video so far, even more downtempo than the first with a minimal intro beat reminiscent of Kraftwerk's Geiger Counter.
Global Goon - Quonesha EP (2011) :: Review + Interview + Exclusive Track
Global Goon
Quonesha EP
[J-HOK :: 2011]
Review + Free Download + Interview + Exclusive Track
If Global Goon's recent free album Quones left you wanting more then you'll be happy to know he has released a follow-up titled Quonesha EP, also available for free download. In this 6-track encore, Goon extends the fun for another 22 minutes by revisiting some of the themes in Quones and pushing them even further. Vocals are back more prominent than ever in poppy track 'Squanity Twix' as a lonely robot sings, "touch me in the morning and touch me at night, touch me in the evening in the pale moonlight..." while more instrumental numbers like 'Techelec Know' and 'Wob and Cob II' are only lightly embellished with layers of the artist's unaltered voice. That's not to say all the vocals are 100% perfect as they can be a tad pitchy at times, but never so much as to detract from a certain humble charm conveyed in this particular group of songs. At the EP's halfway point, we enter into an entirely different vibe altogether with 'Melomimeees' combining warm low-end tb-303, kick drum 16ths, and various arcade game style sounds (think 'Bust-a-Move') with female vocal samples taken from what sounds like a late-'70s boogie vinyl grab. Though this may sound like a crazy mish-mash of styles on paper, the result is a sexy acid-electro-funk dance floor groover in the same vein as his Quones title track, but faster and more kick-ass. Despite the fact that he seems to be exploring new musical avenues, it just wouldn't be a Global Goon production without his signature expressive synths and bouncy electronic beats which are, much to the delight of long-time fans, very present throughout.
In addition to the Quonesha EP (and preceding album Quones), check out the exclusive track below "Chopped Brains" given to us by Johnny himself to share with you, the readers, as well as a brief interview giving us a little "behind the scenes" of his latest output.
Download Global Goon - Quonesha EP :: .ZIP (320kbps) | Download Page
Stream Global Goon - Quonesha EP
Available exclusively at Brainchops.net
Download Global Goon - Chopped Brains :: MP3 (right click, save as)
A Quick Chat With Global Goon :: Interview
Bc: Hi there, thanks for taking some time to answer a few of my questions. So, it seems you have been releasing a generous amount of material lately. To what can you attribute this recent burst of productivity? Perhaps we can all learn from it.
GG: Several things coincided.
(1) I got rid of the internet at my house (I'm typing this in the library/leisure centre)
(2) I decided to be more spontaneous - this in turn sped up my music making process
(3) I wanted to release music on J-HOK again, this inspired me to be more active
Bc: What made you decide to release this new batch of tracks as a companion piece to Quones rather than say, giving it an independent identity?
GG: The tracks belong together, Quones and daughter of Quones. They can be mixed and matched by the listener (they've been mastered to work together)
Bc: Has gigging more frequently had an effect on your more recent songwriting or how you go about shaping a track?
GG: I still don't do very many gigs, maybe 4 or 5 a year. Usually I start making dance-oriented tracks when I get back from gigs. I love to dance. I'm pretty wonky, but since I took up running, I'm fit enough to dance all night (again!)
Bc: Vocals have been creeping into your music more and more. What has inspired this?
GG: I spent a month or so a while back just listening to the Smiths and Joy Division and realised that I would love to make a track that people could sing along to.
Bc: Got any music recommendations for us? What have you been listening to lately?
GG: Smiths and Joy Division! I have no idea what else is going on. Oh I did listen to those stolen Aphex Twin tracks. Brought back many memories of our North London house and screech scrawking sounds coming from Richard's atomic absorption lab! Non music: I've just finished watching Battlestar Galactica, the reimagined series. Now I'm watching Stargate SG-1 which is pretty cheesy in comparison. If anyone has any tips for something closer to BSG then I'd love to hear them. [johnnyhawk (at) gmail (dot) com]
 |
| Joey |
Bc: Any plans to tour outside the UK in the not too distant future?
GG: I'm playing in Malta this month, Croatia in a few months. No proper tours though - I have to look after my budgie.
-------------
Catch Global Goon tonight at Liquid Club in Malta - INFO
Ceephax Recent Remixes Side-by-Side with Originals from Patrick Wolf, Errors, May Ling
Ceephax Acid Crew
Recent Remix Round-up
Ceephax dealt out a few remixes in the past year or so and I just wanted to wrangle them up into one place and reflect on his subtle but effective hand. The reworks below gave each of their original counterparts a pretty conservative makeover considering how extreme Ceephax's style can be at most times, but I feel that it resulted in pieces that made fans of both artists happy. Let's face it though - wouldn't it be gratifying to hear Andy flip everyone's wigs by turning some poppy vocal track into a pixelated, technicolor acid banger?
"Time Of My Life" is probably the most drastic of the lot, replacing Patrick's string-pop with signature Ceephax electronics. The acid sounds a bit restricted though... like a gradeschool kid squirming in his desk chair waiting to bolt for the door as soon as the recess bell rings. But I have to admit that he converted a track I wouldn't normally listen to into a must-have. Audiophiles who want more than an MP3 can get a free download of the uncompressed .WAV by signing up for the Patrick Wolf e-newsletter on his website. You can also grab this track on the vinyl release at shops like this one.
Errors - Jolomo (Original)
Errors - Jolomo (Ceephax Acid Crew Paisley Nightdrive Mix)
The original is a cool track to begin with, but somehow Ceephax made it cooler giving it his own flavor and a touch of italo. But it's a win/win in this situation, and I personally own both versions. You can buy this track on the Error's remix album called 'Celebrity Come Down With Me'. Digital seems to only be available in certain regions via iTunes and Boomkat, but anyone should be able to pick up the vinyl here.
May Ling - Jamaican Panda (Original)
May Ling - Jamaican Panda (Ceephax Remix)
Sure I like Casio beats, but I like Ceephax beats better. Plus he tightened things up by slicing a minute off the end, which I didn't mind at all. This remix is given away as part of a free album of May Ling remixes. [.ZIP]
Global Goon - Quones (2011) :: Review
Global Goon
Quones
[J-HOK :: 2011]
Review + Free Download
Just 4 months after the release of his Earwhig LP featuring older unreleased tracks, Global Goon has snuck out yet another free long player called Quones, this time full of brand-spankin' new electronic tunes covering styles such as '70s electro funk, robot pop, chiptune and, of course, the quirky braindance we can always count on.
Classic Goon beats and bubbly sound synthesis akin to selections from his early Rephlex output are prevalent in tracks like "Wut", "Thindex" and "Borkend" while others such as "Tremulkane", "Fenikal", and "Bouncers of Gneygorg" venture into vocal territory, both heavily vocoded and non. Title track "Quones" has a sexy '70s vinyl sound that brings the album to its sensual funk climax with the priceless vocal line, "Sending vibrations through the Milky Wayyyy..." But it's not long before we are yanked out of our afro-topped stupors and zapped into "Super Noodles", a plodding 8-bit style video game soundtrack full of bleeps and thonks. The understated "Duopoly" is a highlight for me with its subtle but hum-along-able melody and a beat made up of farty lasers, anvil strikes and a persistent kick. Exploring such a wide variety of vibes leaves this album feeling just short of disjointed, but certainly keeps the listener entertained with a potpourri of fun and unpredictable sounds.
A "quone", according to the Urban Dictionary, is a "non word" played in the game of Scrabble. There are a few other definitions listed but taking these wacky track titles into account, I think it's safe to say "non word" is the theme.
UPDATE FEB-05-2011 :: Added new album cover artwork created by Global Goon. When this review was originally written, Mr. J-Hok hadn't included any album artwork in the album's download .zip, so Brainchops created one to fill the space. The temporary cover will remain archived here for posterity. Extra points if you recognize the pattern.
01) Wut
02) Tremulkane
03) Duopoly
04) Thindex
05) Quones
06) Super Noodles
07) Fenikal
08) Borkend
09) Crone Phone
10) Gonweh
11) Bouncers of Gneygorg
Download Global Goon - Quones :: .ZIP (MP3, 320kbps) | Download Page
Connect with Global Goon :: Official Site | MySpace | Booking
Yimino - Selected Works (2010) :: Review
Yimino
Selected Works
[Kahvi Collective :: 2010]
Review + Free Download
The Kahvi Collective, a netlabel known for giving away gigs and gigs of beautiful, downtempo IDM, just announced their especially generous Christmas exclusive Selected Works from London-based duo Yimino. In this free download we get 7 tracks spanning a variety of their previously released Albums and EPs available to purchase on the band's own label Ominim, including their latest album Breaker just out in September of this year. It would have been extra nice if they had included an unreleased track or two for those who already have Yimino's back catalog of work, but this little sampler is a great way to let potential new fans know what they're all about without any monetary risk.
Being heavily inspired by known favorites such as Boards of Canada and Autechre, Yimino's work can create a divide among fans of this particular electronic music sub-genre. Some stubborn devouts could be put off by the striking similarities, but though the essentials of their music are haunting tape-compressed pads, nostalgic samples, and textured beat patterns arranged in a style pioneered by those that came before them, the lads venture a bit further out to the fringes with tracks like the funkier, vocal-heavy "No Gamet" and the more straightforward Dido-ish "Bintliptick". My favorite track from the lot is "Apone Fenex" which starts out by pinning glitched out vocals over a creepy organ playing wayyyy in the distance, and evolves into a really cool beat-driven piece that might have felt at home on Tri Repetae. From the dreamy vocal cutups in "Firen" to the eerie ambiance of "Moflek", it's all gorgeous electronics and good vibes, so if you simply love the niche and crave more, you'll be happy to hear Yimino carrying the torch to light up both new and familiar territory.
"With a past that includes support from the legendary John Peel, performances at the South Bank and electronica festival Bloc 2010 this London based duo continue to innovate and diversify both in their musical output and label development."
Yimino - "Piper" (from Breaker, 2010)
Selected works consists of the following tracks from the named albums:
1. Firen (reading edit) - Bulbuss
2. Apone Fenex - Qeh 2004
3. No Gamet - Autonoe Vora
4. Squeeze me - Autonoe Vora
5. Piper - Breaker
6. Bintliptick - Breaker
7. Moflek - Doe EP
Download Yimino - Selected Works :: MP3 (.zip) | OGG (.zip) | Label Page
Connect with Yimino :: Official Site | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter
AFX "Seaside Specials" Video NOT New Aphex Twin Music
AFX Seaside Specials Video Features Music By dgoHn
Video + Free Download
Aphex Twin fan boys and girls were all aflutter today when they discovered UK promo agency Hyponik had posted a music video snippet on their website titled AFX Seaside Specials from Aphex Twin in a marketing effort to procure email addresses from parties interested in downloading the .mov file. Though the video features the same type of visuals Aphex Twin has been using for recent live gigs (a face-detection technology that virtually pastes his infamous evil grin over the visages of random people on screen), the soundtrack to this video is a drum 'n' bass track called "Vase" by an artist named dgoHn. The track was released November 14th, 2005 via netlabel Exegene Records as part of an EP and is available as a Free Download HERE.
For those of you not yet familiar with dgoHn's work, he has also released music on Aphex Twin's Rephlex record label.
Much like with the recent Boards of Canada - Chameleon incident, perceptive fans were instantly skeptical about the music's origins as it goes in a much different direction stylistically than the latest AFX output. But why not use actual AFX music in the promo? Was it to intentionally confuse and excite the masses, or was the MP3 labeled wrong? Perhaps the tune was chosen simply because it was a good fit for the teaser, and no one took into consideration that the AFX-starved public would instantly assume it was an announcement of new material. In any case, the unexplained date of "12 March 2011" at the end of the clip is likely a hint that Aphex Twin will be performing at Bloc Weekend festival, which takes place March 11-13, 2011.
Stream dgoHn EP including featured track "Vase":
Download the dgoHn EP :: Download Page
Connect with dgoHn :: MySpace
Download Video :: .MOV
Monarch - Aesthetic Anesthetic (2010) :: Review
Monarch
Aesthetic Anesthetic
[Broken Records :: 2010]
Who is The Monarch?
We all know what an amazing tool the internet can be for unknown artists to get their music heard by more than just their mates, and with the help of netlabels, social networks, and blogs, everyone has a fair chance at being discovered by the right set of ears. But sometimes all it takes is 1 simple link. Case-in-point: The Monarch.
I don't even know how I ended up there, but while browsing the interwebz I stumbled upon an odd, one-off, semi-serious article in the form of a Wordpress blog on the topic of "a&d" music, an umbrella term being used to identify electronic music made with actual analogue and digital hardware, versus entirely within a DAW (digital audio workstation) on a computer. The article cites artists Aphex Twin and Ceephax as prime examples of a&d, but it is within the article's comments that someone posted a link in perfect context to an album on iTunes accompanied by a simple message:
"check this guy out
monarch
funky mono-synth acid"
Monarch - Aesthetic Anesthetic is exactly that; funky, synth soaked acid composed with vintage hardware including classic Roland drum machines and keyboards. "Melo Velocet" kicks the album off with funk for sure, and right off the bat displays excellent pattern progression, build ups, break downs, and smooth production that would get any braindancer up out of their seat. Surely this can't be the work of a newcomer? As track 2 "45" kicks in I'm starting to realize Monarch is using a Roland TR-727 drum machine, the 707's less popular Latin cousin, and it's totally grooving. Suddenly the synthy bassline in "Siamese" sounds really familiar and I can't help feeling a small suspicion creeping in that perhaps Monarch is a side project of someone we already know and love. This of course is pure speculation and the album is great fun regardless of who the artist actually is, but I can't help but notice a similarity of styles as well as a few clues left behind in the comments of the above mentioned a&d article. Monarch appears to want to remain anonymous as there is no official site, Facebook page, Twitter account, blog mentions or even a search result to be found, so I'll refrain from saying who I think it is. As an aside, the album's metadata lists the artist as "The Monarch", perhaps to avoid confusion with a few other bands and musicians going by the same name. You be the judge.
Excluding the horribly generic album art, Aesthetic Anesthetic is a solid album chock full of quality tangible "a&d", and if funky basslines, clever melodies, upbeat tempos and attentively programmed percussion is your thing, I recommend you grab it. Highlights for me include the modulated bassline in "Quest To The Off Start End", the Plaid-esque bells in "Tea", the drum machine solo at the end of "Network Cycle How" and the eerie, dissonant feel of "Tricaclaic". Despite have no internet presence whatsoever, Monarch is now in my collection and on my radar, all thanks to one simple link in the comments section of a random article on the internet.
Buy Monarch - Aesthetic Anesthetic :: Amazon | iTunes
Connect with Monarch? :: MySpace?
Global Goon - Earwhig (2010) :: Review
Global Goon
Earwhig
[Myuzyk :: 2010]
Free Download
9.5/10
After popping up on a few recent compilations including the Balkan Vinyl Colours series and the Acid Futures 2-volume compendium from The Centrifuge, Global Goon marks his official return with an absolutely bonkers new long-player. Earwhig, out today and available for free download, meshes Goon's earlier displays of emotional ambient electro, bouncy beats and quirky voices with his latest forays into hard hitting acid house and disco funk. All 9 of the album's melodic braindance tracks feature unique personality and wicked effortless style that only a seasoned IDM veteran like Global Goon could achieve.
Can you imagine receiving a disc in the mail packed to the brim with unreleased Global Goon tracks from the past 2 years, and having to select your favorites for an album release? Well that's exactly the task the chaps at Myuzyk faced, and despite the weight of this responsibility, I can't imagine they could have plucked a better bunch. The album kicks off with the sunniest of the lot - "Septagonaloblonged" - a funky, roller disco acid ditty reminiscent of something we might have heard from Kerrier District or Metro Area in the year 2025. But just when you've donned your polyester jumpsuit and laced up your skates, track 2 "Clatterly" starts and the roller rink transforms into a dark, empty warehouse haunted by the ghosts of dead ravers and broken synthesizers lurking about and laughing at you from the 303rd dimension. Though each track surrounds the listener with a new and different atmosphere, you can bank on being met with booming kick drums, buzzy basslines, and playfully tweaked sinewaves at every turn.
Global Goon - Earwhig :: Preview Promo Mix:
But the real magic of this album lies within Global Goon's mind-blowing creativity. Most of the tempos are at somewhat of a walker's pace, but his unexpected sound pallets, deliberate use of effects, vocal samples, and his ability to weave melody in and out of complex rhythm keep you intrigued the whole way through. These qualities are what drew me to this genre in the first place, and the release of Earwhig has further ensconced Global Goon within my own personal braindance wall of fame.
Download Global Goon - Earwhig :: 320kbps .MP3 | FLAC | Label Page
Connect with Global Goon :: MySpace | Booking
To coincide with the album release, Myuzyk conducted a fun interview with Mr. Goon in which he reminisces about playing Mario Kart with the Rephlex gang and tells us his favorite joke. Click Here for "Ten Questions For Global Goon". Also, rumor has it there will be another Global Goon album coming out on Balkan Vinyl on 2x12" + digital before the year is up, and if you're in the UK, you can catch Global Goon live in London on October 13th and in Newcastle on November 12th.
Monolog X - Didn't They Know Me? EP (2010) :: Review & Interview
Monolog X
Didn't They Know Me? EP
[envmod :: 2010]
Free Download + Interview
7.5/10
We all know that the facial hair / good IDM ratio is pretty high, and Monolog X is helping keep it that way. His latest EP Didn't They Know Me? packs an interesting variety of technique and style into 4 quality tracks, and he sports a most excellent mustache.
This EP has been in my regular listening rotation since it was released a few weeks ago, and it always gets me seriously grooving. Track 1 "I Ain't Playing" gives me a similar feeling to when I'm listening to a really good, jazzy Squarepusher track from one of his earlier albums, but even warmer and fresher. "Can They Hear My Hunger?" begins with an alarm clock wake-up call and develops a mad scientist feel, during which I can almost imagine Monolog X in a white labcoat, hair all awry, pounding away at his electric piano in a maniacal moment of musical eureka. MIDI-phorically speaking.
All of the tracks contained here are quality, but I think my favorite is the title track "Didn't They Know Me?". From the get go, this bouncy, schizo acid tune will have you looking over your shoulder while you pogo uncontrollably, as its bass hits and stabs infect you with a questionable dance virus.
Listen:
Download Monolog X - Didn't They Know Me? :: .ZIP of MP3s | Release Page (Current .ZIP contains .aiff master files!)
Want to hear more? Monolog X has a ton of previous releases worth your bandwidth, my personal favorites being "I Will Bite Your Style" and "Zoo Humans". So who is this mysterious Mr. X? Eager to pick the brain of the man behind the music, I telegrammed over a few questions and below are his replies.
Bc: So how did you get hooked up with the envmod guys?
M-X: Internet.
Bc: The tracks on the EP cover quite a variety of styles. Is there a full-length in the works or perhaps more EPs?
M-X: I really enjoy the EP format, because in this day and age people don't really have time to listen through an entire full length unless you're a big name already. So when banging out plenty of EPs I feel I get a larger audience. The variety of styles is a reflection of my musical background as a guitarist, straight edge hardcore guy, rapper and a classical composer. I think there's challenge to giving a track a "Monolog X Sound" regardless of style.
Bc: What is your go-to piece of hardware? Which do you start a track with the most?
M-X: Probably the SH-101. Or simply my brain.
Bc: Who have you been listening to a lot of lately?
M-X: The Chariot and Masshysteri. My mate Trackermatte and Eminem's latest album. That was pretty fat.
Bc: Any plans for playing live soon?
M-X: Would love to play the UK but no planned gigs at the moment.
Bc: If you were cremated and had your ashes pressed into vinyl, what 24 minutes of audio would you choose to have cut into your "death record"?
M-X: Jesus, I don't know. Maybe tracks by Frank Zappa, Eminem, Piazzolla, John Cage, Bach, AFX, Billy Bragg and other shit played at the same time.
Bc: How does such a dapper man-about-town have time to cultivate such a stunning mustache AND record excellent chunes? What's your secret?
M-X: My secret is simple: avoiding meat, dairy and alcohol whilst running ultra long distances with my dog on a daily basis. That inspires me to be the best that I can musically.
Connect with Monolog X :: Official Site | MySpace
Moth Conk Midi - Amazing Stories (2010) :: Review
Moth Conk Midi
Amazing Stories
[CAOUTCHOU Records :: 2010]
Free Download
7.5/10
A true example of "you can't judge an album by its cover", Moth Conk Midi's "Amazing Stories" debut is not an acid house party mix nor is it a stoney study of analog experiments as the artwork might suggest. Moth Conk Midi is the new collaboration project between Oxynucid of London and Berlin's own Vertical67, and if you're familiar with each of these talented artists' respective work, you're sure to be surprised by this genre-melding collection of well-produced electronic tracks. Ambient Soundscape, Electro, D'n'B, Psyachadelic, Breakbeat, Leftfield, Downtempo, Experimental, and a smidge of Acid are all encapsulated in this release, making it widely varied and a great listen time and time again.
When firing up the opening track "Cohort I", I was met with a pleasant and unexpected array of traditional eastern percussion and string sounds that instantly piqued my interest, and had me doing a double take to make sure I'd pressed "play" on the right album. Indeed I did and moments later a sweet, melodic synth washed its way over the beat in a perfect blend of acoustic and electronic. Enter drum machine about halfway through and we've got some excellent mellow IDM. "Overpowered (featuring iAM9)" is a chilled out piece with sexy vocals by iAM9 and for me peaks around the 4:38 mark when that warm buzzy synth comes in and plays over the main melody. "Autumnbreaks" and "Summerbreaks" give us some classic braindance while maintaining the laid back vibe that resonates throughout the entire album. "Audiofiletourism" is a twinkly, but borderline elevator music track, (and I could swear I hear "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" somewhere in there) but it doesn't stray too far from the rest of the pack. Overall this album is something Moth Conk Midi should be proud of and I recommend it to anyone into early Future Sound of London, The Orb, Plaid, and Squarepusher.
Listen / Preview:
Tracklisting:
1. Cohort I
2. Inhale/Exhale
3. Autumnbreaks
4. Overpowered (featuring iAM9)
5. Falkenfelser
6. Welcome To Rapture
7. Summerbreaks
8. Audiofiletourism
9. Cohort II
Download Amazing Stories :: Direct Download (.ZIP) | Label Page | Archive.org Page
Connect w/ Moth Conk Midi :: Facebook | Soundcloud | MySpace | Last.fm
Acidburp - About Turn EP (2010) :: Review
Acidburp
About Turn EP
[Complex Sound Sagacity :: 2010]
Free Download
7.5/10
Melodic, emotional, and optimistic are all words I'd use to describe Acidburp's latest release "About Turn EP" out today on the relatively new Maltese netlabel Complex Sound Sagacity. As stated in a previous Brainchops article about Acidburp back in April, his sound conjures up the same feelings we got from IDM in the early '90s while also staying updated and freshly inspired.
Title track "About Turn" starts the 4-tracker right off with some bouncy, resonant patterns, a quick acid bassline, and an uptempo beat that makes you want to dance. Though the artist sometimes incorporates acidic sounds in his music, labeling it as acid would be grossly incorrect. The intro to track 2 "Shark Delivery" features a lovely piano delay that reminds me a bit of his older track "Acidsnore" from The End or "On" by Aphex Twin, but then one of those signature Acidburp science lab synth sounds comes in and leads you down a melodic road away from any pre-conceived notions. The EP climaxes with track 3 "How Now Brown Stout", where he slices and intertwines some really cool textural percussion with a DnB style beat, and surrounds it with layers of schizophrenic synth and bassline bursts. "Wasp Incident" is a beautiful come-down with warm, dreamily filtered sound waves and a fun Moog-ish Flight Of The Bumblebee moment that may have something to do with an actual "wasp incident". A little more low-end throughout could have given these tracks bit more "umph" but the lack-of provides a light, happy feel we've come to know from Acidburp that keeps us coming back for more. Hopefully "About Turn EP" is a sign that there IS more on the way, and you can bet we'll be all over it if and when it happens.
Download Acidburp - About Turn EP :: Direct Download (.RAR) | Release Page
Listen Here:
Acidburp :: MySpace | Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud
Plone - Unreleased 2nd Album :: Review
Plone
2nd Album
[Unreleased :: ????]
Free Download
9/10
The perfect soundtrack for this hot summer afternoon is Plone's unreleased 2nd album which is currently echoing throughout the house as I go about my daily chores and get ready to head out to a party later this evening. I don't know much about this album other than it was finished sometime in 2001 just before the group split, and my guess is that it was let loose on the interwebs so as to be heard and appreciated.
This collection of 16 perfectly laid-back electronic tracks are full of their cute and simple xylophonic melodies, analog portamento, plinky rhythms, twinkling synths and smooth organ vibrato, but a new style direction can be heard. Many of the songs do sound like they were written around the same time or shortly after their first album "For Beginner Piano
Plone - Unreleased 2nd Album [Download]
Footnote: Plone is gone [for now?] but not forgotten. Their song "On A Bus" was covered by Plaid and released in 2009 on Warp20 (Recreated)
New Orbital Single Due Out June 20th, 2010 :: Video
Direct from Loopz.co.uk (Official Orbital Website):
Legendary grandmasters of electronica, Orbital have just confirmed they will be releasing their first new material since 2004. ‘Don’t Stop Me’ and ‘The Gun is Good’ will be released on 20th June through iTunes and through all other digital retailers and as a Limited edition 12” on 27th June.
These tracks represent the signature Orbital sound, with hints of new elements, and definitely a few surprises, signifying a band still at their creative peak, 20 years since the release of their breakthrough debut single, ‘Chime’.
Release Date : 20TH JUNE 2010
DIGITAL / LIMITED EDITION 12”
Label: ACP Recordings
This is great news for all Orbital fans as we were lead to believe that the Blue Album (2004) would be their final bow-out. I suppose it would be difficult to keep playing live shows without writing anything new.
You can definitely hear the signature Orbital sound in the the track "Don't Stop Me" (video) but with newer elements as well. Though I'm on the fence regarding the vocals, I know how much P&P love the female voice so it's nothing out of the ordinary, and the rest of the production more than makes up for it. Anxious to hear the other "A-Side".
EOD Live - A Rarity (And Happening Again Friday May 21st, 2010 in London)
Friday, May 21, 2010
The Sonic Lab @ Cable
Bermondsey St. Tunnel
London SE1 3JW
Event Announcement
YouTube Videos of Past Performance
EOD is a talented and prolific acid composer from Norway that tends to be a bit mysterious. The majority of his back catalog is difficult to get ahold of and his web presence is quite brief as well, yet his ability to make some of the most beautiful music ever to emanate from electronic drum machines should have had him rich and famous long ago.
Friday night, May 21st, 2010, EOD will be among the massive lineup performing at The Sonic Lab live event in London. Electronic music heavies like Venetian Snares, Luke Vibert, Ceephax Acid Crew need no introduction, but we'd like you to pay special attention to the amazing artists presented by The Centrifuge collective. EOD, Mrs Jynx, Gareth Clarke, Oxynucid and more will be taking the stage at some point during the night and are sure to blow your minds. EOD's MySpace page shows a performance time of 1:30am-3:00am. Tickets will be £15 @ the door before midnight and £18 after. Event webpage: http://www.thecentrifuge.co.uk/_wp/2010/04/ldn-2105-the-sonic-lab-cable/
As this post is about EOD, I'd like to share with you a live set he performed at the end of last year. If you don't mind the low bustle and hum of club goers having a great time, this 5-part video playlist is a great listen.
VIDEO: EOD Live @ 030303 Party - Ekko, Utrecht
EOD :: Official Website | MySpace | Twitter
Volitune - C EP (2010) :: Review
C EP
[The Centrifuge :: 2010]
Free Download
9/10
There were a few awesome new releases over the weekend but the one that really stands out and satisfies my braindance bug is Volitune's "C" EP. Along with his 5 new tracks come 3 excellent remixes by fellow electronic artists that are so varied, the whole collection feels like 8 unique tunes. Volitune's sound is reminiscent of early IDM and oldskool-ish Detroit house but he waves his magic acid wand and whips up a new blend of sonically pleasing braindance laced with live bass guitar, creative riffs, and vintage gear. Opening track "Exotica" is a fast-paced, jazzy, drill 'n bassy number that makes me wonder if Volitune's last name is secretly Jenkinson. The 3 remixes of this track by Oxynucid, Mrs Jynx, and Scrubber Fox respectively take it into 3 entirely different directions, all of them good. As the album moves on, the mood shifts to a bit of a funkier, head-nodding, foot stomping, acid house frame of mind with some tricky beat programming and a dash of sinister downtempo mixed in for good measure. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this release other than it's over too soon.
[The Centrifuge :: 2010]
8 Tracks
FREE DOWNLOAD
Tracklist:
1. Exotica (Fast Mix)
2. Flunk
3. Mellowave
4. The Whip
5. Dead Street
6. Exotica (Oxynucid Remix)
7. Exotica (Mrs Jynx Remix)
8. Exotica (Scrubber Fox Remix)
If you like this, you should also check out Volitune's first EP "Binary Waves" available for free download as well. Volitune - Binary Waves :: FREE DOWNLOAD
Connect with Volitune :: MySpace | Facebook | Soundcloud
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