Memory keeper. Mostly music, some movies, series, video games. Obscure darkness meets pop culture glow.
After Kruder & Dorfmeister’s new release here’s a new album by dZihan & Kamien. Alright, so what’s going on? Is nu jazz making a comeback or what? In any case this is a totally fine album, as good as any Couch Records release from back in the day. I’ll be instered to see whether this series continues or even someone tries something new with the future jazz angle. Maybe even Jazzanova produces something new AND worth listening to?
This became my go-to album lately, I listen to this literally every day. It is so calming and helps me focus like close to nothing. The interesting bit is that exactly that same recently I started to formulate this idea that I don’t like experimental music that much anymore. Whenever I listen to that noizy-glitchy IDM kind of experimental electronics from the more elitist kinds I feel only annoyance and impatiance. Although all the while I’ve been listening to more ambient than ever before, which often comes with drone and weird sounds. So I’m not sure what makes me stick or bounce. I think I appreciate harmonies now. Nice ambient soundscapes and well balanced patterns both give me that. Harsh noize and non-rhythmic sounds don’t. This record is one of the most sophisticated and masterfully crafted rhythmic noize sets out there. Also, this is one of the leading definitions of literal Intelligent Dance Music.
I’ve been listening to a lot of ambient music lately. The days are quite busy, focus is needed for extended periods, and music that gives me peace and mental padding helps me keep up the drill longer. When I need to grind through a night of work I usually go for something harsh and fast, like hardcore metal or jungle, but I cannot run the sprint for several days in a row, so that’s when ambient kicks in and helps.
This is a very drone-like modern composition record, cinematic at certain places. The title track is the slowest form of catarsis I know—the soundtrack of a super slow motion capture of someone bursting into tears, or having an orgasm.
Breaks and house, focus changing from track to track, or within a track itself. It’s like a little kaleidoscope. (While tagging this post I’m amazed I haven’t had any Octo Octa releases here so far. I’m listening to basically all new releases from her.)
Bass-heavy mid-tempo broken beat. The track Honda Civic is a dubstep candy.
Drum and bass, ambient, and (oddly) rave sounds in a blender. Kind of a strange mix but great for work.
This is the case when I find it hard to believe that this is a debut album. If this was the new Fever Ray record I’d be 100% satisfied and rank it among the best of the year. And this one’s a first long player by someone? Come. On. One part mid-tempo club beats with neon synths, other part slow moody songs, and a cold wave atmosphere maintained. Not the sorrow kind of cold wave though, but this introvert little wondering headspace—think Röyksopp or Ladytron.
After listening to Heilung I started to catch up with scandinavian neofolk and found some great artists. This album is another one that comes with goosebumps.
I’ve just watched the All My Homies Hate Skrillex video essay (pretty good, btw) and got in the mood to listen to some oldschool classics. That’s when I stumbled upon this Skream collection of some unreleased goodies from back in the day. This is also pretty good, btw. Dubstep like I remember.
Cinematic ambient with neo-classical instrumentation, dreamy electronics, and the occasional rain.