Tours – Tough Lately
I don’t know much about Philadelphia-based artist, Tours, but “Tough Lately” has been on repeat. It makes me feel the same way I do when I actually get a rejuvenating night of sleep and am finally waking up, but still somewhere between full awareness and dreaming. You know, the same way watching Barton Fink or Catch 22 makes you...
Ryan Solomon: The smartest Dude in the room
This is by far the most satisfying interview I have ever done. I had the privilege to correspond with Ryan Solomon of San Diego’s DUDES. Trying to label his work at all is pointless. At times it reminds me of Air France, or Animal Collective, or Neon Indian, or even Wise Blood. And then it’s nothing like...
Gremlins – Maim my bitch
Gremlins is a side project for a lot of people, some from respected acts like Ricky Eat Acid and Toro Y Moi. It’s reliant on a single, funky, loop; but has creepy hints of the rapegaze genre. Just imagine Wise Blood having to use his inside voice. You can name your price for their EP on their bandcamp. Just...
Dudes – Somethin’ 2 Say
“Somethin’ 2 Say” has somethin’ 4 errybody. It’s got the tender, nasal voice of Robert Schneider intertwining with the subdued growl of Avey Tare. DUDES even adds an applause track at the intro, anticipating your praise. All of this against a lush pseudo-tropical background of soft bells and a lead synth with a broken pitchwheel. It sounds like Air France...
Aimes – Somewhere In Space We Hang Suspended
Thank you Mr. Nonsense, I have a new love. AIMES is the moniker used by Brooklyn-based artist, Aman Ellis. Yes there is synth du jour, but the more magnetizing element is the ability to balance such a delicate air and so many rich, gorgeous layers. His Facebook page places his sound into a Space Hype genre, describing a forthcoming EP...
Slow Magic – Sorry Safari
Slow Magic is “an imaginary friend” according to his/her/their Facebook page, possibly from Iceland. There is little else to be divulged. This is from a collection of sun-warped tracks that I stumbled upon a few months ago while scouring YouTube for tracks that were above the radar. With a soft piano riff and grinding rhythm, “Sorry Safari” is neither...
Bobby Tank – Zaxxon
Have you heard Bobby Tank? His stuff is like real solid beats with a million tiny arpeggios and vocal snippets. It’s almost like a lot of dance music, but the resolution has been increased to a molecular level. What could be a single beat is like three or four. I don’t know what the scene is like when he plays out...
Navigateur – Ghost of Xi Xi
Yes, it’s ever so self serving to make a Navigateur song our song of the day. But the shit of the matter, is that we are fans. Ian and I started a record label BECAUSE we heard Navigateur’s demo and wanted to be a part of circulating it to a larger audience. Fast forward to now and Navigateur has just...
Police Academy 6 – Run
There is very little information on Police Academy 6. I checked their bandcamp tags and all it says is “Iraq” and “hot ‘n fresh out the kitchen”. Not terribly helpful. Apparently this is one of many alter-egos of Joseph Volmer, a producer out of Nashville. I am convinced that we are in fact soulmates though. For one, it’s...
Teams – Based Love
Listening to “Based Love” by Teams is like watching a good skater try the same trick over and over and never landing it. Somehow it’s really enthralling. I got pretty obsessed with this song a few weeks ago and it turns out, everyone in my office hates it. “Based Love” is off of Teams’ debut LP, Dxys Xff....
Navigateur – We Need The Beat
This is a new-ish track from our very own Navigateur. I think there’s a Madonna sample in there or something. It’s pretty damn catchy. All of this is a ploy to tell you to go to the Navigateur show on Friday the 27th at Crow Bar in Tampa. He’ll be performing with Tycho and Beacon. Come out of if...
Baths – Plea
Baths is the name of American electronic bedroom producer Will Wisenfeld. This track is my favorite off of his 2010 album Cerulean. Within the first few seconds, my thoughts seem to diminish and I’m taken away by the extraordinary beauty of the layered, synthesized sound. Though the lyrics may appear simplistic, there’s something profound about...
