[Experimental] Time Wharp – 1992

Subtle glitches in the time/space warp continuum From producer Time Wharp‘s EP ‘Helvetica‘.

Time Wharp – 1992

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[Review] Blackbird Blackbird – Summer Heart LP

During the continued rise of electronic music over the past several years, countless acts have attempted to take the basic facets of the genre and make it their own with little twists of psychedelia and the like. It’s a tricky endeavor, for sure, so we’re glad that bands like Blackbird Blackbird have joined in on the fun with songs that pick and choose the best styles to create something that is at once familiar and fresh. Though their debut doesn’t have any ceiling-shattering moments, it is unfailingly pleasant in its entirety because of its apparently innate carefree breeziness. The fact that most of the songs are two minutes or less in length only makes them sweeter in their apparent simplicity. Though it’s most often low-key, the music on here is memorable for its wistful, layered hooks and simple but affecting lyrics and instrumentation. Check it out! You can purchase the LP on their bandcamp page here. Read full review at inyourspeakers.com

Blackbird Blackbird – Sunspray

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Blackbird Blackbird – Heartbeat

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[Video] Ratatat – “Drugs” [WTF!]

Ratatat – DRUGS

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I love Ratatat. This video is weird as hell. Am I surprised? No. Humanity would cease to exists if David Lynch Ever directed one of their videos.

You can stream the entire album here

[Folk/Experimental] Radical Face – Doorways

Doorways, one of the new songs from Radical Face’s new EP Touch The Sky, seems so soft that it reminds the listener of a time when the economy only affected how many toys their parents could buy. This new song is only part of Ben Cooper’s masterful storytelling. If this is a sign of things to come, then the rest of the EP should not disappoint.

Radical Face – Doorways

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Previously:
Radical Face – Welcome Home, Son

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[Event/Photos] 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival Recap

This past weekend marked my third consecutive year at the Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park in Chicago. Maybe it was the more than stellar lineup or the beautiful (if not overly steamy) weather or just a couple of well-timed days off work, but when we arrived at our friend’s place in Logan Square Friday afternoon, I had a feeling this weekend would top the rest.

It’s nearly impossible for me to provide anything written that will give you a sense of the atmosphere of the fest, so I thought I would talk about a few personal highlights of the weekend. And while the typically obsessively on-time festival did seem to run into a few snags this year, none of it detracted from the unbelievable lineup of what seemed to be all of my favorite musical acts of every genre in one small park in Chicago. (more…)

[Event Preview] 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival

This weekend marks the annual Pitchfork Music Festival, taking place as usual in Union Park in the great city of Chicago. We’re happy to say that we will be at the fest and will be bringing you pictures and higlights next week. But in the meantime, what better way to prepare than to highlight some of the always great artists that will be performing?

Friday

Brooklyn band Liars should be a great act to catch. Mostly because their albums span so many different moods and styles that you never know what you’re going to get on stage. Case in point, these two great tracks below.

Liars – The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack

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Liars-Scissor

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Swedish pop star Robyn had some major US hits back in the 90s but most Americans haven’t heard much from her until this year with the release of her latest album Body Talk.

Royksopp – The Girl and the Robot

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Robyn – Dancing On My Own

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It’s tough to believe that suburban Seattle indie rockers Modest Mouse have been around since 1993, but in the past few years they’re arguably bigger than ever before and still cranking out album after album of great tunes, giving them the Friday night headlining spot.

Modest Mouse – Gravity Rides Everything

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Modest Mouse – Dashboard

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Saturday

Saturday will kick off with Philly via rockers Free Energy who’ve just released their debut album Stuck on Nothing and have been getting lots of positive attention from all kinds of music fans with their old school sound. Check out our review of their album here.

Free Energy – Something In Common

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Free Energy – Cmon Let’s Dance

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Saturday afternoon is sure to turn into a dance party when Spain’s Delorean hits the stage with their unique brand of bright and summery electronic dance tunes. They’re also playing Friday night at The Empty Bottle in Chicago before their fest appearance.

Delorean – Stay Close

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Delorean – Grow

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Brooklyn via Southern US group Bear in Heaven is another that’s been around for a while and is just now reaching mass popularity. Their futuristic electronic sound that they’ve created is all their own.

Bear In Heaven – Lovesick Teenagers

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Bear In Heaven – Casual Goodbye

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Sunday

Bethany Cosentino, aka Best Coast, is a true California girl, apparent in her music and her looks. Her catchy beach rock tunes should be the perfect way to get things going on a Sunday afternoon in Chicago.

Best Coast – Boyfriend

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Best Coast – Sun Was High (So Was I)

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Baltimore duo Beach House has been touring almost non-stop since winter, but we’re glad they’ve got enough juice left for some summer festivals. Lead singer Victoria Legrand’s deep and husky voice is even more powerful live in the flesh.

Beach House – Lover of Mine

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Beach House – Zebra (Ring Trick Remix)

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Last but certainly not least, this year’s Pitchfork fest will be closed out by Pavement, one of THE original indie rock bands. Their highly anticipated reunion continues this summer much to the amusement of us indie rock lovers everywhere. Check out our review of Quarantine The Past: The Best Of.

Pavement – In The Mouth A Desert

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Pavement – Gold Soundz

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[Album Review] Fol Chen: Part II: The New December

Understanding the ever strange and mysterious Fol Chen is a lot like solving a Rubix Cube without first studying the algorithms. Either you’re a genius, or you’re full of it, and just pulled the stickers off. Signed to the prestigious Asthmatic Kitty label, which was founded by none other than Sufjan Stevens and his stepfather Lowell Brams, Fol Chen’s previous releases have been met with high praise, not to mention anticipation for the next album from these new hit-makers with their bitingly intelligent, if whimsical, musical tendencies. Part II: The New December starts off strong with “The Holograms”, showcasing the glitchy electro-instrumentation and dissonant, polyphonic percussion that will soon emerge as hallmarks of the album. In this song, more than those that follow, Fol Chen succeed completely in creating a song that, by way of its myriad melodies and other minor avant-noise qualities, evokes a sense of pleasant confusion. Read full review at inyourspeakers.com.

Fol Chen – The Holograms

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[Mixtape] The Glitch Mob 2010 XLR8R Podcast

The lords of all things glitched and saviours of infectious beats with aggressive stretched out melodies, The Glitch Mob, have once again risen to the challenge. Along-side xlr8r, they have released a mixtape that not only begs to be listened but also moans and screams in the process. While the entire collection features tracks from artists of different genres, it wouldn’t truly be a Glitch Mob mix if there wasnt a clear common detonator: incredibly seductive beats.

Tracklist

01 Harold Faltermeyer “Top Gun Anthem (Edit)”
02 Health “Die Slow (Tobacco Remix)” (Lovepump United)
03 Bear In Heaven “Deafening Love (Deru Remix)” (Hometapes)
Bonus: Deafening Love. (Original)

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04 Free The Robots “Turkish Voodoo” (Alpha Pup)
05 Jamie Lidell “Completely Exposed” (Warp)
06 The Very Best “Julia” (Green Owl)

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07 Ratatat “Bilar” (XL)
08 Aesop Rock “Big Bang” (Mush)
09 Yeasayer “The Children” (Secretly Canadian)
10 Lorn “Cherry Moon” (Brainfeeder)

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11 Janelle Monae “Neon Gumbo” (Bad Boy)
12 Autechre “known(1)” (Warp)
13 Matty G “My 808″ (Dub Police)
14 The Dead Weather “Blue Blood Blues” (Third Man)
15 Bibio “Dwrcan (Eskmo Remix)” (Warp)
16 EPROM “Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy”
17 School of Seven Bells “iamundernodisguise” (Ghostly)

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18 Alex B “Talk it Out” (Elm and Oak)
19 Yacht “So Post All ‘Em (Ooah edit)” (Marriage)
20 Warpaint “Billie Holliday” (Manimal Vinyl)

Bonus Track:
edIT – Pound 4 Pound

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