Deep-tech house with an ambient vibe. Soothing and conveying energy at the same time. Great for work.
Oliver Koletzki – The Arc Of Tension
Monolink - Amniotic
I find this record enchanting. That nice kind of electronic music in the footsteps of all the wonderful creations by Moderat or Kiasmos. It has a lot of emotions but I don’t feel any cheesyness about it, it’s well crafted music, nicely put words, feels authentic to me. And especially the track Sirens, that’s a massive head and heart trip with goosebumps.
Marie Davidson – Working Class Woman
This album is part hilarious and part fascinating. Work It is something I cannot not re-listen any number of times, it is like a caricature of a motivational speech but it actually does feel motivating. And The Tunnel is creepy like hell, it’s like an audio version of a horror movie and not in a sense that there are horroresque soundtrack elements in it but the atmosphere and words hit nails under my nails. Overall the whole record is that great kind of avantgarde with minimal wave synth sounds where the words deliver meaning even if they sound dadaist at times. It’s artsy but works.
Plaid – Polymer
This is a wonderful record. My love for Plaid was strong in the late ’90s and early ’00s, in the era of their classics and when everything was abount IDM. The journey they took after had interesting moments but it was different. And different is good, at least they didn’t try to repeat themselves and either fail or succeed but in a boring way. But now, this album is like the thing I’ve been waiting for: it has everything I love about them and still sounds new and fresh. This is my favorite kind of nostalgia experience: something that feels like what I remember but actually being a totally refurbished and improved version of that memory. Right now this is my favorite Plaid album, and it feels so great to think that. Random note: wrapping up this list of tracks with Praze gives me goosebumps.
Baasch - Grizzly Bear With A Million Eyes
The track Fall makes me feel like it’s a maculine version of a Björk song. Not just because there’s a male voice but in all other musical aspects, too. Otherwise nice and calm album, male vocal pop meets downtempo electro.
Aurora – A Different Kind Of Human – Step 2
Quality electronic pop music, classic nordic style.
Fujiya & Miyagi – Flashback
Just the usual. And I’m pretty sure that’s what I wrote of their last album, too.
(Edit: and checked, and yes. That still means good though.)
Fixmer/Mccarthy – Let It Begin EP
This sound is so recognizable. Intersting how this does not translate outside headphones for me. First listen of Let It Begin with headphones felt like my head exploding (in a good way). Re-listening it on loudspeakers of different kinds just didn’t give the same vibe back. I guess in a club it would be good again. Anyways, headphones it is. Sidenote: great album cover photo.
Yak – Termina EP
I could swear I heard at least half of these tracks in the past decade. In the crossroads of “nothing new” and “sounds classic”. Anyhow, Stampede is something that’s new and instantly recognizable – soundtrack to a car chase in an action movie.
C.L.A.W.S. - Splat City EP
First half is slow tempo electro, or as he says “cold-wave disco throb”. Great background for work or staring out of a window. Then the second half is more like an acid beast along the lines of Nid & Sancy, absolutely love it.