Continuing from yesterday, here are the first five tracks that pop up on my iPod:
1. The Church - "Night Friends"
Gorgeous and atmospheric track from 80s legends The Church off their wonderful 2002 LP After Everything Now This.
2. John Roberts - "Untitled IV"
Of his Paper Frames EP, producer John Roberts offers up this delicate piece for treated piano.
3. Gauntlet Hair - "My Christ"
Swirling and echoey guitar track from the now defunct duo.
4. Tanlines - "Green Grass"
Catchy indietronica from the Brooklyn duo.
5. Jeff Buckley - "So Real"
I had heard of him but had never actually heard his music before. Buckley opened for some band I was seeing and this first song he played was "So Real," and what was so endearing about it was that he completely fucked up the beginning of the song and made his band start over again. From that moment, Buckley got back into his groove and slashed through a brilliant 30 minute set. He was going to be such a huge star, sorry he was taken from us so soon.
After the debacle that was their sophomore release, Temporary Pleasures, which showed them trying to put far too many guests into the mix, Simian Mobile Disco return to form with the lengthy Delicacies. Each song is named after a bizarre gastronomical delicacy, which seems appropriate given the tracks are meant for a decidedly discerning crowd; most tracks push the 8+ minute mark, and are mostly deep house or tech house bangers. Luckily, this suits them far greater than their attempt to appeal to everyone on the last album.
Teengirl Fantasy 7AM
Rating: Grrrr
Another in a long line of bands that are basically unclassifiable. You would be right if you put them in with the chillwavers, deep housers, dream poppers, or even the Animal Collective-like experimenters, and you would be right, and also very wrong. They mix a variety of influences together into their own sound, basically making whatever kind of track they like at the moment, from the R&B sampling "Cheaters," the video game 8-bit ping pong of "Floor to Floor," or the deep house of "Koi Pond." 7AM is a stunning debut.
PVT Church With No Magic
Rating: Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It
Although they used to be known as Pivot, the Australian band ditched the vowels and now are known simply as PVT. Apparently, they also streamlined their sound from the dense post-punk with electronic flourishes of their previous albums and have almost fully embraced their electronic side. Most of the songs on Church With No Magic are instrumentally based, and based on their video for single "Window," the songs are intricately arranged such that one piece missing would destroy the entire effect. The dense soundscapes lack the playfulness of similar band Battles, instead choosing to lean towards a more alienating and anxious feeling. For this reason, the album is difficult to love but very easy to appreciate. With a little more variety of sounds, it will make for a more enjoyable listen.
John Roberts Glass Eights
Rating: Grrrr
Gorgeous and stark, John Robert's Glass Eights could be the direction that Talk Talk eventually merged into, taking free form organic textures and melting them with electronic sounds. Similar to James Blake, Roberts takes the base of house music and dubstep and introduces ghostly piano, acoustic bass, shards of R&B vocal samples and creates an amazing fusion. Built more for contemplation and headphones than a busy night on the dancefloor, Glass Eights signals the debut of a fascinating new talent.
Rating Guide
Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.
Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.
Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top albums of the year.
Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.
Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been trimmed or polished.
Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.
Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.
