Tag Archive for Electronica

Russ Chimes* – Midnight Club EP (Part 2: Tertre Rouge)

Guest Blogger Dom Ayliffe has his finger on the pulse of the dance scene…

Russ Chimes is one of my favourite music producers. I’ve seen him bring his brand of 80’s inspired up-tempo electro dance to grateful club revellers on dance floors large and small, from London to Ibiza. He’s a guy who really knows how to use the tools in his belt to work a beat under your skin and get you moving. A master craftsman of the remix and second to none, in my opinion, at working up to a multi-layered, high-energy ‘drop’ that makes you feel as if you’re dancing on the wings of an aircraft taking off.

I also think this video has a really cinematic and creative vibe about it. ‘Memento’ meets ‘Drive’. This is part 2 of 3 – check out 1 and 3 if you like what you see and hear.

Russ Chimes:

Russ Chimes

/DA

*Artist #618

High Contrast (featuring Tiësto and Underworld) – The First Note Is Silent

Guest blogger Dom Ayliffe on Drum’n’Bass collaboration

This is not my favourite Drum’n’Bass track, or even my favourite High Contrast track – not by a long way; BUT, what it prompts me to think about is how inspiration from the different corners of the dance music spectrum can be pulled together and spawn something beautiful, something more than the sum of their parts.

Many fans of the Hospital Records label hollered in disgust at a collaboration with House/Trance mega DJ –  Tiesto. However I like the idea of moving beyond musical tribalism – this is my music, this is your music – I stay here, you stay there…  Says who?! I also love the storytelling and observation in the video, directed by Mr High Contrast (Lincoln Barrett) himself – hope you enjoy!

/DA

Toro Y Moi* – Say that

It seems that I am in a rather ambient mood so far this week. It must be the weather.

This track is from South Carolina singer Toro Y Moi’s recently released album Anything in Return is a breezy slice of electro-pop (“Chillwave” according to Wikipedia – erm…). It reminds me a little of Roosevelt who I posted a couple of weeks back.

I rather like the video here too. Simple but effective.

/RjK

*Artist #606

How to dress well – Lover’s Start

This track, from Brooklyn artist Tom Krell who is better known as How to dress well, is real Monday morning listening. It’s smooth almost haunting sound is just the job to calm a racing mind.

It is taken off his 2010 debut album Love Remains which I posted the equally excellent Decisions back in 2011 (how time flies!).

How to dress well:

How to dress well/RjK

CHVRCHES* – The Mother We Share

That ‘V’ in their name is stylised, not pronounced. You just say ‘Churches.’

With that tiresome piece of administration out of the way, the real work of listening to the song can begin. Thought it’s not work at all, it’s easy peasy lemon squeezy.  Like a lot of the music that’s appealed to me lately, it’s a saccharine mix of melodies and synthesised beats.  It reminds me of Grimes and Purity Ring and a little of Haim. Grimes is really the only one out of those 3 whose music has had any staying power in my regular listening. It remains to be seen if CHVRCHES are going to stick as they have yet to release an LP.

The Scottish trio are ‘hotly tipped’ for 2013 and were featured on the BBC Sound of 2013 list, but don’t let that put you off.  Their other single, ‘Lies’ is also highly listenable so it’s looking likely that they’ll be able to pull off a solid album.

/HC

*Artist #602

Roni Size – New Forms

I’ll admit it – I’m completely bottling artist number 600. I just can’t pick one that represents the journey so far. Something new or old, obscure or cheesy. It’s too hard. Probably I should just man up and stop over thinking it!

I chose this track today for a couple of reasons (on top of the fact it’s a great song). Roni Size is a DJ from Bristol and that’s where I will be spending the weekend. I’m very much looking forward to watching Ireland play at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.

Secondly, my host for the weekend and old university housemate managed to fall asleep while watching Roni play live many moons ago, which was quite a feat! In his defence it had been a very long couple of days. At the same gig another buddy (who will also be in Bristol at the weekend) asked two songs into his set “why is the warm up act playing Roni Size songs?” All in all, it was a fun and very memorable night.

It’s taken from the 1997 album of the same name, which when I first came across it was just about the freshest thing I had ever heard. Heroes, a track which I have already posted would be in my top handful of tracks of the 90’s.

Roni Size – New Forms:

Roni Size - Heroes/RjK

New Order – Regret

As 365 days nears the milestone of reaching the 600th artist to be featured (599 and counting…) we have been taking stock of  what has been posted so far.

As part of this process I realised I had only posted one New Order track so far. Their legacy and lasting impact on the new music I hear today merits more than that.

Look out for artist number 600 in the coming days. Let me know if you have any suggestions…

/RjK

Darkstar* – Timeaway | (NAT)


One of the very best things about writing for this blog is getting sent music. This is sometimes bands or DJ’s sending me their own tracks but more often just my friends sharing music that they are excited by. Whist I don’t always share it, I never tire of feeling the warm glow of people’s enthusiasm. Also, I’m frequently introduced to artists I wouldn’t otherwise have encountered.

Darkstar are one such band. A friend (thanks Maggie) sent them along this week and I have been listening to them repeatedly since. Its dreamy and fragile and has rather hypnotised me.

Their album News From Nowhere is out on Warp Records on February 4th. Check it out

/RjK

*Artist #598

Jessie Ware* – Running

I know that I am late on Jessie Ware as she has received significant publicity over the past 18 months. Frankly, I had somewhat dismissed her as being a little too “pop” for my taste.

However, I heard this track over the weekend while out and about and I haven’t been able to shake it from my mind since. Also, once I got home and checked out this video that I realised she reminds me more than a little of Sade, especially stylistically here.

Jessie Ware:

Sade:

/RjK

*Artist #597