Sounds Beyond.

What Really Happened: The she.is.electric Project. Remember how...

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:36:01 -0700

What Really Happened: The she.is.electric Project.

Remember how I talked about being away, and how much work was involved in all of that? This video is why. This is what I spent the last sixteen weeks of my life working on; my first documentary piece. I had an awesome team, an amazing instructor, and some really incredible interview subjects (not all of whom I was able to include, given we had a seven-minute time limit).

But it turned out well. So I’m sharing it with you.

Music Lovers on Loving Music: The Release of the John Peel...

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:48:00 -0700

Music Lovers on Loving Music: The Release of the John Peel Archives

It’s not every day that news of the release of a radio disk jockey’s music collection makes serious waves, but in this case, all bets are off. Late last week, the family of the late John Peel announced that they, in conjunction with with the John Peel Centre for the Creative Arts and Eye Film and TV will begin the publicly releasing material from the musical archives of the beloved BBC Radio host and trailblazer extraordinaire, beginning tomorrow, May 1, at The Space. Each installment will contain one hundred albums (beginning with the first hundred A’s), and is set to include John’s copious notes as well as various associated personal materials. Beyond that, a new hundred albums will be added to the archives every week, for the next six months; something well worth looking forward to on new music Tuesdays.

John’s contribution to music as a whole was immeasurable, and so to be given the gift of being able to sift through his personal collection is to be able to see just how far his reach truly was. For me and my part, I can say were it not for him, so many artists whose work changed my life forever would not have seen the light of day, and as an artist, musician, curator, and fan, I am forever in his debt.

For more information on just what will be included in this incredible living archive, check out this article over at the Guardian. Meanwhile, if you want to keep up-to-date as the details emerge, their team is releasing announcements and updates over at their Twitter (and you can find them on Facebook, too).

And finally, happy music nerding!

An Admission.

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:33:14 -0700

It sure has been quiet around here, hasn’t it? Yes, I know.

It’s not that there hasn’t been plenty of great music worth throwing your way during this, the year of acid (more on that when there’s a moment to spare). It’s that I’ve stepped away from the helm for a bit to tackle an audio engineering degree out here in Oakland, CA, and summarily lost the time to actively continue sharing here. I still post updates over at the Facebook page and on Twitter, but my more lengthy submissions have slowed to a trickle, as I’m sure you all have noticed.

That being said, the blog is not dead. It’s just on a different schedule, for now. We’re keepin’ on keepin’ on, promise.

Your faithful editor-in-chief,

Erin Pauley

This new one from Redshape is absolute fire. Coming out on...

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:35:06 -0800

This new one from Redshape is absolute fire. Coming out on Martyn’s label, 3024, “Throw in Dirt” is pretty much the shamelessly dark and brooding epic this year needs. Equally industrial-fuelled and solid, elemental techno, this cements it. Welcome to the year of acid. Just you wait.

Shows to Love: As You Like It Presents | Ghostly Meets...

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:56:45 -0800

Shows to Love: As You Like It Presents | Ghostly Meets Spectral

SAN FRANCISCO TONIGHT: There are shows that are not to be missed, and then there are shows that you can be certain are never EVER going to happen again. Tonight, our friends with As You Like It are bringing out one of THOSE kinds of lineups, with a full room of Ghostly International and Spectral Sound artists for your dome. Featuring Ryan Crosson (Spectral/ Visionquest), (the almost NEVER seen) Osborne (Ghostly/ Spectral), and Solvent (Ghostly), all of which adds up to—well, it’s just all a bit too exciting to put into words, really.

And yes, though this is very last minute, discounted presale tickets are STILL available here (until 6pm PST), and more will be available at the door.

Still need convincing? Plug in to the sets below, and prepare for awesome. See you at Public Works!

Ryan Crosson is one of the four gents who make up powerhouse collaboration Visionquest, and as far as fast-rising artists are concerned, this one comes with a bullet.

Osborne is Todd Osborn is Soundmurderer is Superstructure is one half of TNT … and the list goes on, really. For more on him and his varied career, check out this interview he did with the Red Bull Music Academy here. Also, check out his mix for the XLR8R Podcast here.

Solvent has been making beautiful, “genre-defying” electronic music for a decade and a half, and his most recent album, Subject to Shift was released in 2010 on Ghostly International. You can also find his releases on Morr Music as well as his own label, Suction Records.

Battles | 'Dross Glop 1'

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:49:00 -0800

Today, Battles announced the first installment of their four-part 12” remix series Dross Glop, due out on February 6. Featuring stellar remixes from Gui Boratto and The Field, Dross Glop 1 sets the bar high, and given that no announcements have yet been made regarding who might yet be on the roster for the remaining three releases, it’s pretty fair to expect some surprises. You can preview both tracks below, and find out more about the series itself here. In the meantime, the folks with Bleep are already doing preorders, and you can even subscribe to the entire series there.

Check out the new video for WhoMadeWho’s incredible...

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:31:11 -0800

Check out the new video for WhoMadeWho’s incredible “Inside World”. This one’s not so work safe, but one hell of a good jab at human sexuality in all its weirdness. You can find the “Inside World” single here.

P.S. They’ve also released an EXCELLENT remix by Digitalism. Listen below.

If you haven’t already been doing so, keep your eyes...

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 17:47:05 -0800

If you haven’t already been doing so, keep your eyes peeled for pretty much any and all things Blawan. There’s little to be said that can’t be better explained than actually listening to him, so check out his mix for Fact below, and you can find his mix for Boiler Room over here.

FACT Mix 230: Blawan by Fact Mix Archive on Mixcloud

The Clone Basement Series has really been tearing things up for...

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 13:03:00 -0800

The Clone Basement Series has really been tearing things up for who knows how long; it kills me not to be hearing more of this stuff played out, but this Untold track, “Little Things Like That” really needs about as much time on the floor as you can stand to give it. Get. This. One.

Tracks on the Radar: October to November

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:41:00 -0800

Aaaaaand, we’re back, our coffers are full of all kinds of treats culled from that unexpected hiatus. There have been quite a lot of recent releases worth squawking about in this last month (plus or minus), so to get things rolling, here’s our round-up of the little somethings we’ve been listening to during the transition into Autumn. Consider this a first pass at what’s been on rotation here during this recent lapse in communication—there’s quite a lot more to come.

1.) Mark E | “Oranges (Jacques Renault Edit)”

2.) The Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble f/ Emika | Pretend (Soul Clap Remix)

3.) Dauwd | “Whats There”

4.) Gold Panda | “Through Clouds”

5.) Washed Out | “Call It Off”

6.) M83 | “Midnight City (Trentemøller Remix”

7.) Tracey Thorn | “Night Time”

8.) 214 | “Flush”

Future Islands | 'On The Water'

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:40:06 -0700

If there’s one thing that’s always deeply satisfying to stumble across, it’s the fabled sleeper album; the one that slips past listener radar and across the reviews without perking up ears attuned to seeking that which deserves second and third listens, landing in your lap like it was gold wrapped in tinfoil. Open the wrapper, and you’ll see that what you’ve got is precious, but often that process itself can be time consuming, at best.

This is where we find the latest release from Future Islands, titled On The Water (Thrill Jockey). It’s one of the few truly solid indie rock albums to come out this year (Destroyer’s Kaputt and PJ Harvey’s Let England Shake being the two best examples of this year’s output thus far), and yet somehow, despite decent reviews across the board, failed to make any substantial waves. Perhaps this is due to the fact that their sound seems to fall into the greater realm of music derivative of 80’s post-punk and no wave that lately has been growing exponentially in quantity—though this album is far better in its approach, it’s easy to imagine how easily it might get lost in the din of similar imitators. The thing is, Future Islands appear to have nailed a deeply satisfying-to-hear subtlety to their composition structure that doesn’t beat you over the head, but sounds refreshing in its authenticity and unpretentiousness. Style-wise—since this is most definitely derivative in style—these guys sound like The The meets Roxy Music meets New Order (those basslines are especially reminiscent of Peter Hook’s unmistakeable style), and they toe the line between past and present like champs. In other words, if you spent a great deal of your youth listening to Morrissey, or you like Destroyer, the Radio Dept., or Metronomy, this is definitely an album worth grabbing.

You can purchase (and hear) the album over at Thrill Jockey, or check out the samples below of the stunning The The throwback “Before the Bridge” (think “This Is The Day”) and the happy-go-lucky “Balance” (which sounds too similar to Rod Stewart’s lone synth pop hit “Young Turks” not to be mentioned).

Future Islands - Before the Bridge by thrilljockey

Future Islands - Balance by thrilljockey

Out Today/ Tomorrow: Martyn | 'Ghost People'

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:23:06 -0700

You can now hear an an exclusive stream of the new album from Martyn, Ghost People, via the good folks with Mixmag. This is Martyn’s first full-length foray out of the world of his own label, 3024, finding the producer on Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder imprint.

As is to be expected, these tracks pretty clearly straddle that ever-dissolving line between the worlds of dubstep and techno (and even house, in this case), and sound like someone’s been listening to a lot of old school Detroit techno in the last year. As it is, there’s very little Martyn makes that doesn’t sound clearly derivative, but he does so with such skill that it would be hard to fault him for making his influences plain. This isn’t a stale-out-of-the-box throwback, but rather an incredibly refreshing rehashing of some crowd favorites that are very dancefloor-friendly.

The album is out today and tomorrow, October 10/11, depending on where you live, and is already available via Bleep (who’ve written a particularly interesting review of the album). Meanwhile, you can preview the entire release below.

Martyn - ‘Ghost People’ LP Exclusive Stream by Mixmag

Gotan Project | 'La Revancha En Cumbia'

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:56:41 -0700

For lovers of Latin-infused electronic music of any variety, Gotan Project’s seminal La Revancha Del Tango was a landmark album. The effortless fusion of tango with downtempo was infectious to the ear, and easily made the body move. There’s been little else like it since, and though Gotan have released quite a lot of material in the interim years, nothing has had quite the very same impact as that first album. So it is that, in La Revancha En Cumbia, we find a bevy of emerging artists from the next wave of Latinized electronic music—the makers of what has come to be called Digital Cumbia—returning to the original material, and bringing their new approach to the Gotan sound. The resulting remixes are startlingly good, and breathe new life into the original works in ways that sound effortlessly timely; this is a remix album that truly could not have happened until now, and though there is very little that might improve on the brilliance of the original, the new take is incredibly refreshing, indeed. Check out the samples below, featuring remixes from Chancha Via Circuito, King Koya, and El Hijo De La Cumbia. This one hits stores October 17/18.

Adult Swim | ‘[Unclassified]’ It’s been three...

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 21:20:36 -0700

Adult Swim | ‘[Unclassified]’

It’s been three years since Adult Swim dropped the Ghostly Swim compilation in conjunction with Ghostly International, so it’s been only a matter of time before they would bless us with another comp of stellar tunes. Earlier this week, they released the free-to-download [Unclassified], which features tracks from most of the more long-standing movers in bass music (is that the least contentious name at this point?—ed). As is to be expected, there are works from Burial, Zomby, Kode 9, Ikonika, SBTRKT, and, the list goes on, really. Standing at the top of a pile of familiar names, however, is relative unknown Dauwd with the dubby and bright “Ikopol”, built for lovers of a properly-executed slow jam at house tempo with a footwork-style beat. In other words, hot. Check it out below.

Meanwhile, you can grab the entirety of [Unclassified]—for free—directly from Adult Swim.

Deepchord | “Sheremetyevo Airport (Moscow)” Dub...

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:22:48 -0700

Deepchord | “Sheremetyevo Airport (Moscow)”

Dub techno pioneer and the man behind Deepchord, Rod Modell, gives a rare interview with Inverted Audio, and where he discusses his musical development, how growing up in Detroit has informed his compositions, his studio setup, and the evolution of his Deepchord project. In addition, he shares an exclusive track (above), in which the primary element a field recording made at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow, and which merges the aesthetic of Music for Airports into actual airport noise quite neatly.

Mix of the Moment: Objekt | Leisure System Radio Mix

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:42:05 -0700

Mystery producer of the moment TJ Hertz, aka Objekt, brings us a promo mix in advance of his scheduled performance for Leisure System at Berghain on September 16 (and by the way, that lineup looks ridiculous). In keeping with the vagueness of his persona, he states at the very beginning of the recording, “Here’s some music I won’t be playing,” and for what you can expect not to hear, it’s definitely quite the gamut of listening, ranging from Jaco Pastorius to Emptyset to Rhythm & Sound and even some Radiohead. You can listen to the mix in its entirety below, or you can download it here.

Leisure System Radio mix (see comments for d/l link) by Objekt

Gold Panda to Release DJ-KiCKS Mix Sought-after producer Gold...

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:26:00 -0700

Gold Panda to Release DJ-KiCKS Mix

Sought-after producer Gold Panda is set to drop a mix at the end of this year in !K7’s renowned series that has seen contributions from an ever-expanding range of producers, musicians, and DJs alike, and though there isn’t too much new material to be found in the track listing (below), it’s fair to say the overall selection here is impeccable. There is, however, some new material from Mr. Panda himself, which of course comes with some degree of high expectation, and should be interesting to hear mixed in with his chosen eclectic range of house, techno, bass music, and elemental electronic pieces. You can find this one out on October 31/ November 1.

Tracklisting:

1. Gold Panda: An Iceberg Hurtled Northward Through Clouds
2. Melchior & Pronsato: Puerto Rican Girls
3. Bok Bok: Charisma Theme
4. Drexciya: Andreaen Sand Dunes
5. Muslimgauze: Uzi Mahmood 8
6. Pawel: Coke
7. Ramadanman: Revenue (Untold Remix)
8. SND: Palo Alto
9. Zomby: Godzilla
10. Closer Musik: Maria
11. Gold Panda: Back Home
12. Christopher Rau: Do Little
13. Jan Jelinek: If’s, And’s And But’s
14. Nao Tokui: Monolith
15. Sigha: Shake
16. Opiate: Amstel
17. 2562: Dinosaur
18. Matthewdavid: Like You Mean It
19. Brainiac: The Turnover
20. LV & Untold: Beacon
21: Autistici: Heated Dust On A Sunlit Window
22. Giuseppe Ielasi: 2

Toro y Moi | ‘Freaking Out’ EP The new EP from Toro...

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:21:52 -0700

Toro y Moi | ‘Freaking Out’ EP

The new EP from Toro y Moi, titled Freaking Out, is finally out this week on Carpark Records, and sees the vehicle for songwriter Chaz Bundick reaching into much more upbeat, funky territory than ever before. (Think indie rock meets Jamiroquai, here.) The first single, “Saturday Love” (a cover of the Alexander O’Neal & Cherelle tune from 1985) pulls in a great deal of dream pop influence, but retains the original’s infectious, happy bounce, while the title track, “Freaking Out”, is one hell of a daytime in the sunshine jam. Expect this one to give you a spring in your step, for sure. You can check out those two tracks below, and be sure to peep the free download link for the EP’s first track, “All Alone”, which is arguably the most danceable jam on this release. Finally, you can grab it now at Insound, where they’ve currently got a limited supply of Toro y Moi keychains, too.

Saturday Love by Carpark Records

Happening in San Francisco at Public Works tonight. I...

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 14:08:40 -0700

Happening in San Francisco at Public Works tonight. I don’t think we need to tell you this one’s unmissable, but just in case you needed the reminder, tickets are still on sale.

Just a brief follow-up on that Terence Fixmer EP out on Electric...

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 09:53:13 -0700

Just a brief follow-up on that Terence Fixmer EP out on Electric Deluxe. Here’s the official video for the title track, “Le Terrible”. This one’s got excellent quality audio, so turn it up!