Tag Archive for Current

12th November 2012

Todd Terje* – Inspector Norse (Helen Chandler guest post)

This is my favourite song at the moment. I’ve been listening to it intensely for about a month now, and when I say ‘intensely’, I mean at least twice a day.

I moved to London 3 weeks ago. It’s been exciting and frustrating and tiring and challenging. On the tube in the mornings, when my hair is stuck to my face with sweat and I’m trying to avoid eye contact with the person I’m almost nose to nose with, Inspector Norse’s tireless disco-esque beat still makes me smile. Properly smile. Like a crazy person on the tube.

The video is brilliant too. I love dancing, completely, so I look at the guy in the video (Inspector Norse himself) and I think ‘Yes, man. I know what you mean.’
/HC
*Artist #552

10th November 2012

Rhye* – Open

Rhye are a fairly recent discovery for me. I really like their sound, “quietly fabulous” as The Guardian reviewer puts it and I buy that. The vocalist reminds me a little of Sade, which would be a very flattering comparison for anyone.

In general, some smooth and relaxing Saturday listening.

I am off to the Aviva Stadium today for Ireland against South Africa. Fingers crossed for a good game!

/RjK

*Artist #551

8th November 2012

LA Vampires and Maria Minerva* – A lover and a friend (NAT)

This is another in a long list of Lo-Fi, washed out songs that I have featured recently. It is a sound that seems to have grabbed me more and more as my blogging journey has progressed. Also a song in English two Thursday’s in a row!

This is from LA Vampires recently release collaboration with Maria Minerva on the well named Not Not Fun records.

Also, I can believe this puts me up to 550 artists! I still remember posting the first (Curtis Mayfield of course) like it was yesterday.

/RjK

*Artist #550

4th November 2012

Benoit and Sergio – New Ships

This is a little more up tempo than the usual tracks I post on Sundays. However, this has infected my brain over recent days. Berlin/Washington, DC duo Benoit and Sergio make accessible house music, including the utterly hypnotic Walk and Talk which was a big blog favourite in 2012. Or in the words of Resident Advisor:

…a sense of place and narrative infuse their rhythms and melodies, transcending the confines of “tech-house” or “electronic pop” and entering a genre-free realm of cinematic imagery and visceral pleasures…

Not sure I would go that far! Solid track though.

/RjK

1st November 2012

Altar Eagle* – Breakdown (NAT)

Tulsa, Oklahoma band Altar Eagle are new to me this week, having stumbled across them while meandering about the expanses of the internet, specifically in this case on Soundcloud.

They pull off the neat trick of sounding both modern and retro at the same time (I have spoken about this before). They are a little like Beach House meets Cocteau Twins.

/RjK

*Artist 546

Solange* – Losing you

l

I am aware that this isn’t the type of thing that usually grabs my attention. It is a little too poppy for my pretentious sensibilities. I am probably also a bit late to the party.

What caught my eye was the video, which is quite kitschy but also sort of great at the same time. I was also struck by how it was like an very polished, stylised version of the Sorie Kondie video I posted last week, even down to the somewhat stiff dance they both perform. I must confess that the song has grown on me too.

Solange is Beyoncé’s kid sister and if genes are anything to go by I imagine she will be ubiquitious before too long (if this hasn’t happened already).

/RjK

*Artist #542

13th October 2012

Burial and Four Tet – Ego featuring Thom Yorke

It has been a rather mellow week on the music front for me (Salt-n-Pepa excluded). This is another minimal track, which I think uses Radiohead front man Thom Yorke’s voice to excellent effect. I really like the quiet, hypnotic sound.

Burial is a south London DJ who was a pioneer of Dub Step music. This is the second track I have posted in recent months that features Four Tet’s input after his remix of the Malian song from a few weeks ago.

/RjK

11th October 2012

Tame Impala* – Feels like we only go backwards (NAT)

Tame Impala are band hailing from Western Australia. They make Lo-fi, washed out pop that reminds me a little of blog favourites Best Coast. The somewhat trippy video here is rather fitting too I thought.

I also found out that an impala is a medium size antelope. You learn something new every day…

/RjK

*Artist #531

20th September 2012

LV* – Work featuring Spoek Mathambo (NAT)

This is just cool. It’s so smooth it and hypnotic I find it simply irresistible.
The other reason this caught my attention is the fact that it features Johannesburg’s Spoek Mathambo, who is lauded by Rupture and Lamin on WFMU. When I did some research into him I found some pretty interesting (not to mention off the wall) stuff. His record label (sub pop) Biography begins “Spoek Mathambo makes the Afro-futurists look old school.” All I can say it wow! He also presents a unique style, hip hop meats hipster. Some days I will be 1% as modish as this:
Spoek Mathambo:

/RjK
*Artist #521

10th september 2012

Shlohmo – Rained the whole time

LA DJ Shlohmo has been a fairly recent discovery for me but I certainly like what I have heard. His washed out sound is a perfect, mellow way to end a hectic Monday. Also, the title of this track is particularly apt given the downpour of biblical proportions earlier today in Dublin.

/RjK