Experimental popster Absofacto is back with another unique remix. This time he has chosen to work on a tune from the ever-so-introcate math-rock group, Maps & Atlases. This combination is a music nerd’s dream come true.

Absofacto has taken the song, The Charm, and created something entirely different. The original track, which can be found on Maps & Atlases full length cd Perch Patchwork, is a minimalist track that focuses on the voice of Davison, and tribal style drums.

This remix still focuses on Davison’s vocals, only Absofacto has added a repeating guitar sample that mimics the technical style of guitar work from some of Maps & Atlases other work. It’s delicately produced, and absolutely fantastic.

Maps & Atlases – The Charm (Absofacto Remix)Download audio file (Maps and Atlases – The Charm (Absofacto Remix).mp3)

Chances are you probably haven’t heard much about Bye Bye Blackbird, the solo project of San Fran’s Mikey Sanders, but I’ve got a hunch that’s about to change. Coming seemingly out of nowhere, Sanders takes the whateveryouwanttocallit genre by the horns and really makes it his own. In “Pure”, it definitely takes a couple of seconds before you can even catch your bearings, but as soon as you do, there’s nothing left to do but sit back, close your eyes and enjoy the ride. I think this song title might be an abbreviation for what the original title may have been, perhaps “Pure Sonic Bliss”. If you are digging these tunes and want a little bit more Bye Bye Blackbird action, you can download Sanders’ free EP entitled Happy High which was released quasi-recently through Arcade Sound Ltd.

Bye Bye Blackbird – PureDownload audio file (byebyeblackbirdpure.mp3)

Bye Bye Blackbird – Happy HighDownload audio file (byebyeblackbirdhappyhigh.mp3)

Article was written by Guest Blogger Chris from dailybeatz.com

Prepare yourself because on June 8th, New York City electro due, Ratatat will finally be releasing their full-lenth LP4. They recorded the album at the same Old Soul Studios in Catskill, N.Y., where, as Paste describes it, is where they found the wealth of old synths, harpsichords, grand pianos, and other keyboard instruments evident throughout the last effort.

Ratatat – Grape Juicy City

The duo consisting of guitarist Mike Stroud and synthesizer, bass player, and producer Evan Mast, were my first introduction to the experimental genre with their synthesized /electronic/ experimental/ trip/hop style. They are able to produce multi-instrumental beats that are not only non-intrusive but incredibly organic. No matter how synthesized some of the melodies may appear, their music stays grounded to a genuine acoustic feel that makes the entire experience feel very natural. Ratatat caters to everyone, using enough rhythmic bass lines to please hip/hop fans of the like of Kid Cudi, while still creating provocative and melodic psychedelic guitar solos for the hardcore experimental junkies.

Ratatat – BARE FEAST
Ratatat – MAHALO

There is something wholly nostalgic about outdated video technology; the colors feel a certain way, wrapping the image in a staticy, visual warmness. Working under the Pantha du Prince moniker, Hendrick Weber has dedicated his latest album, by name at the least, to the randomness and ambiguity in those images. Black Noise takes on a limited tonal range, nothing fluctuating too far beyond the muted tones of microhouse’s 4-4 beat and a minimalist affinity for found/oddball percussion. Instead, he allows synth lines, organic percussion, unusual samples, and monolithic beats to cross over into each other’s auditory space, creating a blurred line between elements that make up an electronic composition. The result is eleven hypnotic tracks, each one a little masterpiece in its own right, that blend together to equal the inherent, random beauty of television static. Read full review at inyourspeakers.com

Pantha Du Prince – The SplendourDownload audio file (The-Splendour.mp3)

Four Tet – She Just Likes To FightDownload audio file (Four_Tet_-_She_Just_Likes_to_Fight.mp3)

Four Tet – SingDownload audio file (05-sing-1.mp3)

Four Tet – Plastic PeopleDownload audio file (08-plastic-people.mp3)

Bonus:
Thom Yorke – Atoms For Peace (Four Tet Remix)Download audio file (Atoms For Peace (Four Tet Remix).mp3)

I hhhaaateee this video! I find it soo boring!.. but.. the song is SOOO GOOOOD that it makes the entire thing a little bit more interesting. I find it fascinating how a completely random blurry video can become mysterious with just the right melodies. This is the main reason I have a soundtrack section on the blog, music has a way of changing our mood almost perhaps more immediate than what we can perceive with our eyes.

Caribou is Canadian Dan Snaith, who formerly recorded under the moniker Manitoba. Known for altering his sound with each subsequent release, he incorporates electronic psychedelia, krautrock rhythms, and breakbeat drums and creates a swirling, lush, musical panorama.

Caribou – OdessaDownload audio file (caribou.mp3)

Coil, originally formed by John Balance and Peter Christopherson encompasses a carefully balance of instruments, vocals, soft synths, and a subtle various noises.

Coil – Batwings (A Limnal Hymn)Download audio file (coil – 07 – batwings (a limnal hymn).mp3)

Coil – Tattooed manDownload audio file (coil – tattooed man.mp3)

Electric President -S/T

Representing Jacksonville, Florida Ben Cooper and Alex Kane are creators of the softly electric indie pop duo Electric President. Their first album S/T is considered one of the greatest collections of electronica songs from this decade with amazing playful soft songs like Insomnia and Ten Thousand Lines. There music sounds like The Postal Service, Styrofoam and Anticon’s cLOUDDEAD.

Electric President – Insomnia
Download audio file (02 Insomnia.mp3)

Electric President – Ten Thousand LinesDownload audio file ((0310) Ten Thousand Lines.mp3)

B. Fleischmann.

There is something very calming about Austrian musician Bernhard Fleischmann‘s “Buzz” from the solo album A Choir of Empty Beds. Although the percussions have a fast pace, the over extended synthesized melodies soften the over all tempo of the song. His drumming background is transparent in his music, creating a fusion of percussion and electronics.
B Fleischmann – Buzz Download audio file (B Fleischmann buzz.mp3)

The Never

I do not think many people have heard of these guys, a shame really. The Never is made up of Noah Smith and brothers Jonny and Joah Tunnell. Based in Chapel Hill, NC on Trekky Records Label, The Never make melodic rock and pop music. In 2006, the band released “Antarctica: A Storybook Record,” a concept album accompanied by a fully illustrated 50-page storybook written and painted by Noah Smith – last.fm

The Never – CavityDownload audio file (cavity.mp3)

Hot Hot Heat

While they are not remotely obscure anymore, I remember listening to Goodnight Goodnight for the first time and be blown away by how different they sounded to anything that was playing on the radio in 2005. Songs like these were the reasons for me to start The Music Ninja. Like I have said before I was not into the whole “music blog/music discover” up until a 2 year ago and I am using the site and posts like these to show people amazing songs that are not being talked about anymore just because its not the latest and greatest. Hot Hot Heat is an indie rock band from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and plan to release their next album in 2010.

Hot Hot Heat – Goodnight Goodnight
Download audio file (GoodnightGoodnight.mp3)

Firekites

The Xx remind me a lot of Firekites, without being too minimalists. A good combination of dim guitar notes, keyboard, percussion and layers of voices make “Same Suburb Different Park” a such ‘feel-good’ song. A couple of glitches sprinkled here and there just barely make it into the electronica category, other wise it will just be considered acoustic folk pop.

Firekites – Same Suburb Different ParkDownload audio file (fireki-sam.mp3)

Missed Non-2009 Experimental/Pop/Indie Songs Playlist Volume 1? Check it out!

Its here! The 2009 Music Playlist for Christmas! Now I wish I could take credit for this awesome compilation of chill songs but it was really the guys from Indiecater Records that made this possible!

After their success with their first Christmas album last year, they decided to step it up a notch and improve their selection for 2009. Most of the songs on this collection were written especially for the occasion and even includes bands we had previously covered like Adam and Darcie

You can stream the songs or buy it off their website.

And what is Christmas without giving presents!? We Love each an every one of our readers! and to show how much we care we will be having a lot of contests & giveaways throughout December. If you like these songs and would like to recieve a FREE copy heres what you have to do!

FREE CONTEST DETAILS!
Very Simple.
1) Comment below with your real name and email address (just so we can contact you!)
2) Join our Facebook page and wish us a Happy Christmas! on our Wall
AND (optional if you want to be counted twice, increasing your winning chances)
3) Follow us on Twitter and tweet “Hook me up with The Perfect Album for a Mellow Christmas in 2009 @themusicninja http://bit.ly/7Ep7LB”

And thats it! We will select 3 people at RANDOM this Friday 11th and you will recieve your free digital copy by email!

Tracklist
1) The Garlands – Christmas Song (Carving Ice Sculptures In Stockholm)
2) Candy Claws – Snowdrift Wish (Writing Gift Lists In Fort Collins)
3) Loxsly – Mrs. Kris Kringle (Overdoing The Outdoor Lights In Austin)
4) Adam and Darcie – It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (Calling Round To Neighbours In Provo)
5) Allo Darlin’ – Baby, It’s Cold Outside (Buying More Stamps In London)
6) Woodpigeon – Little Nemo (Winter Lullabye) (Making Festive Mixtapes In Calgary)
7) Boca Chica – Snow Angels (Humming Stop The Cavalry In Pittsburgh)
8 ) Oldfolks Home – We Don’t Cry At Christmas (Suffering Indigestion In Winnipeg)
9) Betty & The Cavaleros – Hey! I’m Your Gift Today (Googling Eggnog In Fredrikstad)
10) Standard Fare – Tinsel Politics (Taping Good TV In Sheffield)
Download audio file (Standard Fare – Tinsel Politics.mp3)
11) Sunset – New York Love (Making Snow Angels In Austin)
12) I Hate You Just Kidding – It’s Fun To Do Bad Things (Cleaning The Chimney In Costa Mesa)
13) Sweet Jane – Silent Night (Downing Hot Toddy’s In Dublin)

UPDATE! THE WINNERS ARE:

I made a list of all the people that participated in the contest (and added your name twice if you tweeted ) and thanks to RANDOM.ORG, it randomized the order of my original list. I simply chose the TOP 3! If you are gonna blame anyone blame the random website!! lol The winners are Michelle Dillman, Gustavo Bernal and Lydia Simmons and should be receiving their digital copies via email. Thanks to everyone that participated and be sure to check back with us soon as we have another GIVEAWAY/CONTEST planned for next week.

Revisiting some of the classics 5-star songs from my iPod. It was the discover of these songs that really got me into experimental, indie music. With so many music blogs doing 2009 lists.. thought the opposite would be more entertaining and maybe give light to a few overlooked songs in the past.

French indie outfit Hey Hey My My is Julien Garnier and Julien Gaulier. Forming in early 2005, the duo both write and compose folk/country glossed pop songs similar to Nick Drake, Frank Black, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash or Brian Wilson.
Hey Hey My My – MerrylandDownload audio file (hhmm_merryland.mp3)

Melvern Taylor writes songs and plays the ukulele. He is backed up by his Fabulous Meltones. Together they make records and play shows.Once upon a time, people like the Everly Brothers, Carole King and Sam Cooke made pop songs—timeless, accessible and instantly familiar music.
Melvern Taylor – Angel On My Shoulder Download audio file (mel-ang.mp3)

Si Schroeder is a six-foot hairy male who makes ‘music’. This ‘music’ has generally sounded like the combined contents of his record collection (mostly classic sixties pop, scratchy old ethnic recordings and the odd bleep or two), on top of which he layers ruminative, whispered vocals about the tough times we all live in and go through. – lastfm
Si Schroeder – LavendermistDownload audio file (02 Si Schroeder – Lavendermist.mp3)

Experimentally electronic indie glitch pop is just a few labels to describe the music behind Amsterdams Rutger Hoedemaekers and his project About. And while About’s composed style of singing has you sitting down to think things over, the overpowering arrangement will hurt you if you do. Imagine tasting a stew that smells so good and ending up burning your tongue.
About – Think Niles DrinkDownload audio file (ABOUT_ThinkNilesDrink.mp3)

BC Camplight is Brian Christinzio, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the track Office Down is from his second album Blink of a Nihilist. A very orchestrated song with accompanying choruses and electronic melodies.
B.C. Camplight – Officer DownDownload audio file (bccamp-off.mp3)

Dntel is the solo project of Jimmy Tamborello, an electronic musician/producer thats collaborated for Figurine and The Postal Service. ntel released his full-length album Life Is Full Of Possibilities in 2001. The sound of Dumb Luck is a less glitch-oriented and more electroacoustic sound than more of his earlier work, with tracks like “To a Fault” and “Dreams,” although electronics are the primary source for such songs as “Dumb Luck” and “Natural Resources”. The songs recorded on this album were recorded between the years 2002-07.
Dntel – dumb luckDownload audio file (dntel – dumb luck.mp3)
Dntel – Roll OnDownload audio file (AU57831.mp3)

El Perro del Mar is the solo project of singer/songwriter Sarah Assbring from Gothenburg, Sweden. Her music could be described as melancholic lo-fi pop.
El Perro del Mar – God Knows (You Gotta Give To Get)
Download audio file (elperrodelmar-godknows.mp3)