2018 – Page 3

February 20, 2019April 30, 2020

FJAAK – Havel

Lot of stuff from the past few decades mashed together and it is a blast. In a way it’s like watching Stranger Things: it draws pretty direct inspiration from certain sources but still creates something for the now that I can interpret as the product of today. This music is many things from leftfield through techno to breakbeat, but it couldn’t have been written in those past eras because we needed to take that journey and get to the now with all these stuff in our heads to have this mash-up today. I am probably over-explaining this for the RA review that I’ve just read which lacks originality. Anyway, I don’t. I think FJAAK is unique in the blend it creates. It sounds like the soundtrack of me growing up. And I would absolutely love to listen to their selection in a party setting.

February 20, 2019April 30, 2020

Against All Logic – 2012-2017

House music for the day and night. Mostly carefree soulful cruising for when the sun is high, but some tracks are for the night time outdoors dance field with torches burning. This is pretty good, many flavors but all great vibes.

January 31, 2019April 30, 2020

Modeselektor – Wealth

Just like recently going through everything Booka Shade in 2018, I did now the same with Modeselektor. They were not that productive, but the 4th Modeselektion is still not bad, and my favorite of the year was Wealth. Reminds me of the heavy-hitting flow that took me by surprise when The Dark Side of the Sun appeared.

January 28, 2019April 30, 2020

CUTS – A Gradual Decline

Melancholic, part wondering, part sharp and penetrating, electronic with a shoegaze attitude. And a powerful concept: “addresses the planet’s current fragility using actual field recordings of ice collapsing from glaciers.”

January 19, 2019April 30, 2020

Estrons – You Say I’m Too Much, I Say You’re Not Enough

They say alternative, NME says punk, and this is my idea of good indie rock. And a blast first record.

January 9, 2019April 30, 2020

Booka Shade – Cut The Strings

I listened to all Booka Shade releases of 2018 just recently in the year after and there was quite a bit of output to dig through. Cut The Strings was the long player of the year, and a brilliant and beatiful album at that. But there was a long list of EPs, too, with mixed feelings but definitely more pros than cons. I can totally vouch for all the remix EPs from the LP, and the Quantum Leap and Rosebud EPs.