Month: August 2015

Y Dydd Olaf by Gwenno

Justin Anastasio, Leave a comment

Gwenno - Y Dydd Olaf

The sky is grey, and your surroundings are in shambles. You walk through the human quarter of the city, and you see the glistening towers of the robot quarter in the distance. The streets are barren, and there’s a smell of smoke in the air. You turn down a dark alley and see a tiny glimmer of light coming from under a door. You knock on the door, and it opens. Vibrant colors, loud music, and lively patrons abound. You’ve stumbled on something special . . .

The Welsh language is one that’s struggled to gain a grasp on music audiences outside of Wales, but this record is a prime example of why we should be paying attention. Y Dydd Olaf is the newest full-length by Cardiff-born Gwenno Saunders, who you may recognize as the former front-woman of the Pipettes. Saunders brilliantly reps her home country by establishing herself as a uniquely formidable voice in the synth pop realm.

The release’s title is derived from Welsh author Owain Owain’s 1976 sci-fi novel, in which robots assert their power over humans by turning them into clones. Saunders utilizes this subject matter as a foundation upon which to construct an album encompassing the importance of maintaining cultural identity in the face of corporate tyranny. Unless you understand the language, a translation is recommended, but not absolutely necessary.

The reason I say this is because all of these songs can be enjoyed for their musicality alone. It’s evident that Saunders knows how to pen outstanding hooks, and she nestles them within beds of reflective synths and hazy guitars. Buoyant drums make a good portion of these tracks danceable. This is a wonderful sounding record, and it has something to say, as well. If you’re seeking catchy Welsh synth-pop, this album is for you.

– stasi (@stasisphere)

Y Dydd Olaf by Gwenno

Euclid by Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith

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Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith - Euclid

You stand before a mirror, your reflection returning your gaze. You lightly touch the surface, and a ripple swells from your finger and expands to the edges of the glass. Suddenly, you feel a forceful push from behind you, and you fall into the reflective liquid. You awake and find yourself in a labyrinth within a vast forest. Mirrors are at the end of every corridor, and each one is a door leading somewhere new in the maze. Listen to the sounds of the labyrinth . . .

When the elements of composed orchestration and improvised experimentation come together and harmonize in the music creation process, few things are more beautiful. Euclid is the newest full-length from Bay Area composer Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith. This highly imaginative artist has crafted a glistening record split into two juxtaposed sides: one filled with lightly rhythmic, joyously organic songs; the other, deeply ambient.

There’s a distinct kaleidoscopic feel to the first batch of tracks. The lively synths and buoyant percussion dance in front of the listener, constantly shape-shifting in pattern without the weight of cumbersome foundations. It’s worthy to note that Smith recorded the album primarily with a Buchla Music Easel, a synthesizer as vibrantly colorful as the sounds it emits. Her ethereally shapeshifted vocals embellish with a finishing touch.

The other portion, the collection of “Labyrinth” pieces, resides in another headspace entirely. These are wandering clouds of murky ambience and trickling melodies that gradually fall into orbit with one another, only to drift apart as gently as they came together. Both of these halves are wonderfully captivating experiences. If you’re seeking vibrantly colorful experimental/ambient electronics, this album is for you.

– stasi (@stasisphere)

Euclid by Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith

Earth by Sweet Cobra

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Sweet Cobra - Earth

It’s pitch dark, and you’re contorted to fit in a tiny, cramped space. You feel a waft of humidity, and you hear the steady drip of liquid falling from above you. It’s only been a few minutes, or maybe an eternity has elapsed. Despair has all but consumed you when a flash of light blinds you and you’re thrust forward. You’re hurdling down a cliff face in a mine cart at a dangerous speed, sparks are flying, and the foot of the mountain is nowhere in site . . .

It’s time for some hard-hitting, in-your-face, no-holds-barred rock ‘n’ roll. Earth is the newest full-length from Chicago natives Sweet Cobra. This madcap trio of hard-hitting musicians have spent over a decade honing their distinct flavor of heavy rock; a little bit grunge, a taste of sludge, and a fair helping of New York hardcore. On this record, the group venture further and tinge their melodies with something surprising: pop.

Now when I say pop, I do not mean that these guys have lost their colossal, feedback-infused energy. Jason Gagovski’s drums are just as pummeling as ever, Robert Lanham Jr. shreds with an astonishing level of firepower, and it’s all held together by the deep, undulating bass of Botchy Vasquez, who also fronts the band. It’s the supple, soaring vocals of Vasquez that have received the most pop-infused upgrade.

There are some seriously catchy moments strewn across this meteor of a record, and that’s all thanks to the skilled level of restraint that this band possesses. Rather than battering the listener with crushing aggression, these artists have crafted song layouts with breathing room for the most melodic aspects to shine through. If you’re seeking sludgy, grungy post-hardcore with soaring melodies, this album is for you.

– stasi (@stasisphere)

Earth by Sweet Cobra

Piteous Gate by M.E.S.H.

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M.E.S.H. - Piteous Gate

You wake up on a cold, metallic surface. You stand up, look around, and see that you are surrounded by compact corridors formed by unknown pieces of machinery forged together. Star-less blackness. As you navigate the cramped passageways, cogs turn, engines exhale, and pistons roar with life. Is that the someone’s shadow at the end of the hallway? It disappears, so you sprint to attempt to catch up with it, but there is nothing. Are you alone in this place?

Things are about to get a bit darker, a little more eerie, and lot more interesting. Piteous Gate is the newest full-length from sonic explorer James Whipple, also known as M.E.S.H. At the surface level, this record is a jarring expedition through the far-off capabilities of experimental electronics. However, when one fixates their attention on the sounds dwelling within the seemingly-collapsing mechanics, something beautiful emerges.

The “songs” contained in this baffling record are discordant at times, but they never cross the threshold into abrasive territory. When it comes to Whipple’s production approach, no timbre or sample is off-limits. Robotic tones lurk within cavernous atmospheres and arise from the cloudy murk in varying degrees with diverse results. Sublime melodies are hinted at, only to be immersed in bombastic rhythm.

The fact that these pieces of music are so difficult to pin down happens to be their most captivating trait. Experiencing this record is more akin to examining a developing alien world than listening to a collection of composed songs. Perhaps the thing that Whipple does best is encompassing the perplexing, overwhelming experience of living in a digital age. If you’re seeking mind-expanding experimental electronics, this album is for you.

– stasi (@stasisphere)

Piteous Gate by M.E.S.H.

Body Complex by Heathered Pearls

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Heathered Pearls - Body Complex

Splash. Turbulent water surrounds you. You’re pulled deeper beneath the surface as you thrash about and struggle to propel yourself upward. Just when you feel the last bit of precious air slip between your lips, all it still. A sense of comfort engulfs you, and you slowly descend further into the abyss. Below you is a glimmer of light that grows until it stretches as far as the eye can see. It’s a city. What is this place? You listen as you sink further . . .

The differences between visual, static art and aural art in motion aren’t as numerous as one might assume, and this picturesque record does a wonderful job of further bridging that gap. Body Complex is the newest full-length from Polish-born Brooklyn native Jakub Alexander, also known as Heathered Pearls. Experiencing this album elicits the feeling of strolling (and at times, dancing) through a gallery of gorgeously illustrated landscapes.

The allure of Alexander’s sound is centered in his ability to craft synthesized tones that glow with the subtle fervor of a sunset, or shimmer like a star-filled sky reflecting in untouched waters. The melodies are artfully composed, but unfold just as naturally as the passing of day. Six of these sonic “paintings” are framed with tastefully simplistic house drums that anchor the haze and help delineate all the beauty contained.

It’s only when featured vocalist Outerbridge steps into the scenery on “Warm Air Estate,” the album’s penultimate song, that Alexander and the talented singer tear back the canvas and reveal the lush, rhythmic world behind. It’s a dazzling peak to reach after an ascent through magnificent terrains, and it could set dance floors ablaze. If you’re seeking picturesque ambience navigated by deep grooves, this album is for you.

– stasi (@stasisphere)

Body Complex by Heathered Pearls

Another One by Mac Demarco

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Mac Demarco - Another One

Firecrackers ignite in the grass, and the smell of BBQ is heavy in the crisp air. You are in a park next to the water of the Atlantic, and your neighbors surround you. The cause for festivity is unknown to you, but you sense that the reasoning is unknown to everyone. All of a sudden, time stops, and only you can move. Smiles are frozen, frisbees are suspended in the air, and all is quiet. Why? Suddenly, everything is normal again. Did it really happen?

If an artist can elicit a distinct yearning in a listener that makes them want to become that artist’s friend, in addition to creating music that sounds wonderful, there’s something special that deserves to be closely examined. Another One is the newest release from Mac Demarco, a brilliant songwriter with an already-impressive discography, and a charmer that invokes the feeling described above more than anyone.

During the course of this compact eight-song mini album, you’ll absorb well over a full-length album’s share of deliciously memorable hooks. Demarco’s voice possesses a lackadaisical charisma that exudes confidence and worldly experience. Never has his lyrical content dwelled so deeply in the entanglements of romance as it does here, making this the ideal record for the hopeless romantics and the heartbroken alike.

Demarco’s calling card has always been his virtuosic abilities with guitar in hand, and this record is no different. His tone is unmistakable at this point, and his solos dance circles around the the tight rhythmic foundations established by his in-the-pocket backing band. These songs are effortless to consume, and you’ll want to keep coming back for more. If you’re seeking charming songwriting and guitar mastery, this album is for you.

– stasi (@stasisphere)

Another One by Mac Demarco

Human Interface by Citizenn

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Citizenn - Human Interface

You walk along the street under the vast night sky when it starts to rain, so you raise your arm to call for a cab. A couple seconds pass before one pulls up and opens its door. “Hop in! Where’s your destination?” a robotic, disembodied voice asks. You respond and get in. Glistening vehicles of all sizes and shapes surround you on the road, and the blur of highway lights illuminate your window. “Music?” the voice inquires, and the volume raises . . .

Sometimes all you need is a record that will set the dance floors ablaze, and if this record isn’t that, then I don’t know what is. Human Interface is the debut full-length from London-based producer/DJ Laurence Blake, also known as Citizenn. Blake utilizes this album as an opportunity to put on a dance music clinic. He melds the components of deep house, garage, and tech house to craft a unique strain of hip-shaking sounds.

Although Blake possesses a distinct fascination with the trailblazing mentality, he would be nothing without his keen ability to attune himself to the past and summon iconic influences. The spirits of garage are alive and well in his exquisitely chopped vocal samples, skittery hi-hats, and crisp drums, while the deep/tech house ghosts can be heard in the twinkly ornamentations and subtle, evolving progressions.

Blake’s fresh influence is displayed most clearly in his pulsing bass lines, because they succeed in fluidly carry each song from start to finish in some incredibly captivating ways, and the featured vocals from singers Aisha and Py are wonderfully lustrous. These are the kind of tracks you hope to hear deep into the night, within the core of a DJ’s set. If you’re seeking grooving deep, garage, and tech house, this album is for you.

– stasi (@stasiphere)

Human Interface by Citizenn

Our Toast by The Sandwitches

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The Sandwitches - Our Toast

The hotel bar emptied itself years ago, and you’ve been left to haunt the place ever since. Cobwebs adorn the rafters, and the wood paneling creaks with a banshee’s tone. You can still hear the reverberation from the last song performed here, and the smell of a dancer’s sweat clings to the air. It’s dark, but the house lights steadily grow brighter. A ghostly trio drift onto the stage from behind a curtain. Their ethereal sounds take hold of your mind . . .

Bittersweetness is invoked when a marvelous band releases an album after making the decision to break up, but I’m so glad that this group left us a gem to remember them by. Our Toast is the third and final full-length from The Sandwitches, three singers from San Francisco with seraphic voices. This trio specialize in embodying the universal, melancholic feelings of loss and heartbreak, but with breathtaking grace and poise.

Patience is something that these ladies have mastered on this gorgeous record. These breezy songs travel at a leisurely pace, with loose drumming and pristinely delicate guitar. Some tracks will have you questioning whether they’re entirely improvised or not, and that distinct element of airiness is what makes these languorous pieces of music such a delight to experience. They’re intense without being heavy or imposing.

If you can picture yourself drifting to sleep on a porch during a warm day, or unwinding in a desolate bar while absorbing the musical agony of an unknown talent, you will find something about this record to adore. This band has gifted to us the ideal soundtrack for heartache that also reminds us that moments are fleeting, and nothing is permanent. If you’re seeking patient, ethereal laments, this album is for you.

– stasi (@stasisphere)

Our Toast by The Sandwitches

Risveglio by Alessandro Cortini

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Alessandro Cortini - Risveglio

It’s pitch black, and you cannot open your eyes. Your body is propelled through thick liquid at a constant, rapid speed. You know that you have a function and purpose, but you aren’t sure what it is. You are a blood cell, one of trillions within a vast bodily cage, and you have just experienced your first moment of self-awareness. You are surrounded by life, but you can’t escape the heavy feeling that you are terribly alone. Listen to the sounds of the organs . . .

I recommend that you close your eyes while listening to this one. Risveglio is the newest full-length by modular synth virtuoso and longtime Nine Inch Nails member Alessandro Cortini. A grand total of two instruments were utilized during the recording of this release: the Roland MC-202 (a monophonic synth/sequencer), and the Roland TB-303 (a bass synth/sequencer). The two iconic elements wonderfully entrance on this album.

These tracks are more akin to aural landscapes than traditional songs. The fact that only two sonic components inhabit these worlds is a true testament to Cortini’s indisputable talent and boundless imagination, because it’s captivating throughout the entire journey. Each song possesses a unique duality; one moment the tones are dragging you into the abyss, and the next they’re lifting you skyward. “Epic” is an understatement.

Much of this record invokes an eerie sense of claustrophobia, but don’t let that deter you from fully submitting to the experience. The most ideal way to meet this album is to sit or recline in a dark room with no distractions; each track conjures its own imagery, but this one begs to be listened to in one sitting. Good luck, ambitious explorer of sounds! If you’re seeking expansive modular synth adventures, this album is for you.

– stasi (@stasisphere)

Risveglio by Alessandro Cortini

Constant Bop by Bop English

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Bop English - Constant Bop

You walk across a grass field alongside many others, basket and blanket in hand. Today is the annual Interplanetary Picnic, where visitors from all over the galaxy gather to celebrate the long peace time. There will be music, and everyone will carouse until they eventually collapse under the stars. You find the perfect spot, and stretch out before laying your belongings on the grass. It’s a sunny day, a good day for good things. You hear the swell of a keyboard . . .

Just when I was certain my top album of year was secure, a new gem finds its way to my earholes. Constant Bop is the newest full-length by Bop English, a pseudonym donned by White Denim frontman and studio mastermind James Petralli. This record is jam-packed with what would be considered instrumental chaos in the hands of a less adept owner, but Petralli treats each sound as a cherished puzzle piece, deserving of its own space.

The extraordinary level of songwriting is reason enough for anyone to give this a spin, as it’s rare to find something this catchy and innovative at the same time. These are captivating songs dressed in a slew of genres, including southern rock, glam, psyche, and soul. The skilled members of White Denim contribute their refined talents on most of these tracks, and they succeed in bringing brilliance and life to each one.

It’s incredibly refreshing to hear something this inventive, something that so artfully combines elements of modernity and past influences. It also possesses a distinct aura of effortlessness, which makes it easy for anyone to enjoy. There truly isn’t one lull in quality throughout the duration of the record. I only wish it was a tad longer. If you’re seeking catchy, innovative songwriting, this album is for you.

– stasi (@stasisphere)

 

Constant Bop by Bop English