Private Life (2018)

My fandom for Paul Giamatti just keeps rolling, I’m on target for the full filmography. This movie felt like one of those “a day in the life of” flicks where we just happen to follow these people along for a bit, taking a sneak peek into their lives. Very well directed and shot, feels lived in.

Polyphia – New Levels New Devils

When I think of math metal, I think Converge and Dillinger, which besides being very technical are also harsh and chaotic. This is also math but it’s also extremely approachable, much closer to, say, jazz than metal. It’s a very unique record, I love this sound.

Djrum – Portrait With Firewood

Nice to mention this record right after Tides as this is a great example for the same vibe but with originality that I felt lacking there. Nice atmospheres on the slow-to-mid tempo electronic axis with lots of live-sounding orchestration, even more Floex vibes, but the more complex drum patterns and the post-dubstep bassline aesthetics package it into something fresh and exciting. I really like that this is a moody record without the sadness aspect—it’s like watching rain through the window but with inspiration and wondering. Actually it’s also like a new take on nu jazz.

Alva Noto ‎– Unieqav

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.

Riton + Kah-Lo – Foreign Ororo

I recently got a batch of suggestions spread along the interesting-weird axis, and this one stuck with me. British dance beats (mostly house) with Nigerian hiphop female vocals. I have this strong feeling that I’m totally late to this party and hits like Fake ID and Ginger must have spinned their fair share in certain parties and radio shows that I totally missed apparently.