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Dead Voices on Air – From Afar All Stars Spark and Glee

Mar28
2011 Leave a Comment Written by J-Sin

Phil Western and Mark Spybey together again! Well at least for two tracks that is. Dead Voices on Air, one of Spybey’s many projects, once again takes us to new and exotic locations. Amid their album photography on the digipak we’re whisked to far-off Argentina amid the beautiful landscape of Patagonia taken by Argentinean artist Marco Roberti. In addition to his collaboration with Western, Spybey enlists American-Serbian singer Ivana Salipur to assist on the title track, a track that is inspired by the Serbian poet Desanka Maksimovic, a poet perhaps most famous for poems regarding the atrocities committed by German soldiers during World War II. The album is Dead Voice on Air’s 14th and their 2nd collection released on seminal Lens Records. Songs range from ethnic world ambience to experimental to pure relaxing ambient. I’m constantly amazed at how Spybey and likeminded audiences are able to create such intense ambient pieces that just ooze attention-grabbing passion. Yet another notch on the proverbial belt of essential for DVOA.

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Balmorhea – Constellations

Jan16
2010 Leave a Comment Written by J-Sin

Balmorhea is an acoustic quartet from Austin (where else?) releases yet another brilliant and stunning array of surreal music. Their ’09 album “All is Wild, All is Silent” received rave reviews and “Constellations” won’t settle to just ride on its coattails; instead the group reinvigorates itself with meditations on cosmos and the metaphysical worlds beyond our mental grasp. Beautiful piano tinkling that tickles the ear drum and serenades you with a wild array of emotions.

Balmorhea – Constellations

Obviously the album title tilts the subject matter on its collective axis, wondering what is out there amid the chaos. Colorful melodies harmonize with a core of musical accolades that easily put Balmorhea among some of today’s biggest rising stars. At times you’ll find yourself almost worn thin because each track is that daunting but once you deconstruct it, your mind and ears find yourself reinvigorated to the Nth degree. It boggles my mind that this group is still somewhat of an unheard of entity in the music world. They are clearly one of most inventive, talented, and cerebral groups to come out of the Austin, Texas scene, which is like saying someone is the best Rhodes scholar.

Sometimes cinematic soundscapes can seem elemental, almost dire and borderline snoozing – this is absolutely never the case with “Constellations” which constantly engages the listener in a new fashion as each tune progresses. Daunting, brilliant, and stirring – oh and did I mention, acoustic? Jaw dropping to say the least. Just watch their live performance on KEXP during SXSW for further proof:

KEXP live @ SXSW: Balmorhea – Coahuila from KEXP RADIO on Vimeo.

Or watch a short film…I mean is there anything Balmorhea can’t do? Dodge bullets comes to mind, but I think they could lull violent acts into submission!

Posted in experimental, indie, music reviews - Tagged , , , ,

Slow Six – Tomorrow Becomes You

Jan03
2010 Leave a Comment Written by J-Sin

Slow Six

When people mutter the word “crossover” in regards to music, I find it usually is a reference to two possibilities – one being that it’s a “nu-metal” type band from the ‘90s in the vein of Korn or Deftones or hell even Limp Bizkit, and the second being even worse, an excuse for not being able to write music that’s good, thus using a genre crutch to get by the simple fact that your band can’t write anything cohesive or imaginative. Slow Six has convinced me that there’s a third; a genuine crossover that crosses the genres of classical in the traditional sense with electronic music in the semi-traditional sense – and I’ve found that more and more bands in this hybrid genre are being self-referential when saying the ‘c’ word. Interesting how music and the verbiage to describe it constantly is evolving, huh?

Slow Sick - Tomorrow Becomes You

Slow Six – Tomorrow Becomes You

The music of this breed is one that is both a stripped down and raw acoustic-electro experiment that refuses to abandon the structures that classical music has eschewed for a handful of centuries now. “Tomorrow Becomes You” is somewhat prophetic in this sense, offering a new style of minimalism that darts and dashes through high-brow melodies harmonious with slow-building cacophonies of sound that simply overwhelm the senses. Crafting soundscapes this rich and surrounding, almost to the point of sonic suffocation is no doubt a challenge, but one that Slow Six has raised the bar in creating. Even more elating that the timeless pieces of music that the group has composed is the fact that Christopher Tignor, who is both the band’s violinist and resident software engineer, has released his custom written music software to the general public available for free on their website. Stunning people, stunning. This is a must-have for 2010 – they’re touring in support of “Tomorrow Becomes You” and if you are lucky enough to see one of their shows, please leave comments, I’d be fascinated to know what that experience is like.

Listen and watch a live rendition of “Echolalic Transitions” as performed on WFMU:

Slow Six – “The Pulse of This Skyline with Lightning Like Nerves” with video art by Shimpei Takeda:

Recommended If You Like: Philip Glass, Brian Eno, Tortoise, and The Dirty Three

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Seth Augustus – To the Pouring Rain

Jan02
2010 Leave a Comment Written by J-Sin

Seth Augustus - To the Pouring Rain

Blues-laden vocals retch out primitive emotions and observations of the art-punk world and its vibrant personalities on “To the Pouring Rain”, yet another superb addition to an already overwhelming catalog to small indie label Porto Franco Records. Seth Augustus sounds like a late career Tom Waits or even Leonard Cohen, straining to convey the imaginative thoughts streaming from his cortex into something even a drug-addled subconscious could piece together. The album sounds like the inspiration to half-a-dozen David Lynch flicks, sexy Americana folk with notes of early jazz and a more blues experimental Captain Beefheart. For you more modern music fans, look to a comparison of Ike Reilly with a more gravelly voiced narrative. Seth’s friendship, apprenticeship, and eventually his caretaking for the gravelly ill blind blues-man Paul Pena, noted for his superb “Big Old Jet Airliner” and the figure of an Oscar-nominated documentary, “Genghis Blues
”, is certainly felt throughout this excellent disc of fertile blues and art-pop landscape dubbed simply “To the Pouring Rain”. Outstanding and an essential pick for those looking for the next modern-day blues prophet.

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KMFDM to release “Krieg”, a Remix Album

Dec21
2009 Leave a Comment Written by J-Sin

KMFDM announces the release of the remix companion
album to “Blitz”, “Krieg”. “Krieg” features 12 tracks, over 55 minutes, of
new, diverse and exciting remixes from some top names across the musical
spectrum.

“Krieg” contains 12 remixes of select somgs from Blitz, KMFDM’s new studio
album from early 2009. The remixers include current and past member of
such groups as Nine Inch Nails, White Zombie, Danzig, Static-X,
Ministry, Skinny Puppy, Prong, Combichrist, Apollo 440, tweaker, Icon Of
Coil, Pop Will Eat Itself, Die Warzau, Gay Bikers On Acid, Stabbing
Westward, Zombie Girl, Assemblage 23, Jackalope, Vile Evils, Metl,
Salvo, Healer, Revolve, Seismologist, Girder as well as present and
ex-members of KMFDM itself!

In addition to a CD filled with mixes from an impressive list of heavy
hitters, the accompanying booklet features striking new artwork from
longtime KMFDM cohort Brute! and liner notes that tell the story of the
album’s creation and fully detailed credits.

KMFDM warns their fans, prepare yourself for Krieg as lightning strikes
again!

‘Krieg’ Track Listing:

1. Bait & Switch (All 4 One Mix) by Combichrist
2. Strut (Disco Balls Mix) by Andy Selway of KMFDM
3. Potz Blitz! (Harmonic Tremors Mix) by Seismologist
4. Bait & Switch (Sacred Cow Mix) by Prong
5. Never Say Never (Naughty Habit Mix) by Ivan de Prume of White Zombie
6. People of The Lie (Requiem Mix) by Koichi Fukuda of Static-X
7. Bitches (Pop Will Eat This Mix) by Vile Evils
8. Never Say Never (Confessional Mix) by Komar Kommando
9. People of The Lie (Crooked Illusion Mix) by Mary Byker of Apollo 440
10. Davai (Cyrillic Mix) by tweaker
11. Never Say Never (Candy Apple Mix) by Dave “Rave” Ogilvie
12. Davai (Bloody Fog Mix) by Assemblage 23

Krieg is exclusive to KMFDM Records and available only at The KMFDM Store in both CD and high quality MP3 digital formats. Hear some previews here.

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Converge – Axe to Fall

Dec14
2009 1 Comment Written by J-Sin

converge_axe-to-fall

Okay so I admit this review is well over due. But just because I’ve been slacking off, doesn’t deride any of the importance of how truly epic and essential Converge’s seventh record release is. Jacob Bannon (singer) and Kurt Ballou (guitarist) are two of the most influential people in metal/hardcore/heavy music today, with Kurt Ballou having established himself as one of music’s most revered producers/engineers with his God City Studio a well-sought after destination. Ballou’s resume in the production, recording, and engineering realm is as impressive as his own musical one with a long resume that includes The Hope Conspiracy, pg. 99, Cave In, Modern Life is War, Blacklisted, Champion, Scars of Tomorrow, Orchid, and Paint it Black among many others. Indeed the group as a whole is a visceral auteur of heavy music, paving the way for many other experimental and chaotic bands to land into a scene that is welcoming, always moving, and rarely if ever stagnant. On “Axe to Fall”, Converge yet again expands their horizons with wavering and sober moments like “Cruel Bloom” featuring bluesy gravelly vocals sung by Steve Von Till (Neurosis) amid moist piano and ambient acoustic guitars. “Wretched Bloom” also features a guest vocalist in Genghis Tron’s Mookie Singerman who smoothly pours out a velvet of clean vocals that oddly complement the typical raging storm of Bannon’s ferocity. The album pours out buckets of emotion into a room that was once soaked with blood but is now drying, peeling off red-flecked paint chips like a million past childhoods wrought with self-destructive actions, something a song like the punk-fueled “Cutter” seems to cry out on. Converge are champions of everything heavy and prove their worthiness of the crown by dipping their quill into an inkwell of heavy rock, visceral chaotic metal, churning hardcore, and melodic heavy alternative art. “Axe to Fall” will fell an entire forest before it’s through rockin’ you out.

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The Seedy Seeds – Count the Days

Nov07
2009 1 Comment Written by J-Sin

the-seedy-seeds_count-the-days

Joyous indie pop by The Seedy Seeds that is mixtape quality – you must share songs like “Winter 04” and the title track, you simply  must – The Seedy Seeds boast a fantastically clever songwriting crew that knows that sometimes less is more. “Count the Days” isn’t an extraordinary engineering effort, but it seamlessly fits a myriad of moods, perfectly capturing emotions and thought with efficiency and effectiveness. Jangly pop nuances percolate throughout the album and did I mention that the songwriting is absolutely astounding? Loops of electronica and samples add a subtle urban flavor to the female vocals and Rustbelt rootsy indie folk backdrop. Close your eyes for a minute and you can easily see how comparisons to Mates of State could be made. Truly impressive and one that you will adoringly share with your favorite music geeks to impress them and show what kind of wicked cool music knowledge skills you truly have…

By the way, it’s totally rad that The Seedy Seeds allow you to stream the entire album on Bandcamp!

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Weezer – Raditude

Nov05
2009 Leave a Comment Written by J-Sin

weezer-raditude

Fresh off their “Hootenannies” tour in support of their third self-titled album, often referred to as “The Red Album”, Weezer kept that spirit strong by quickly putting pen to paper and releasing “Raditude”. What the band captured best was the spirit and drive discovered on that tour, a tour that often had the band inviting fans (sometimes hundreds) on stage to learn and play Weezer songs similar in vein to old folksy sing-a-longs made famous in the simpler and more open age of the ‘60s. That became the inspiration for the entire “Raditude” album, and indeed became their new “attitude” if you will. Cuomo himself has dubbed “Raditude” as feeling  “like the greatest realization of my musical goals”. And if that’s what it is, holy cow what a goal it was. Finding the true standard of Weezer’s gift of infectious melody song after song while keeping things loose and unwittingly surprising, “Raditude” features such surprise gems as “Can’t Stop Partying” with rappers Lil’ Wayne and Jermaine Dupri and “I’m Your Daddy”’s intriguing electro glides. Sleekly produced, the album is once again rich in Cuomo’s intelligent but playful songwriting; Rivers himself knows he can’t take himself nearly as serious as some of his critics and cult-like fans insist he is. It is funny to see to what degree Weezer is willing to bend towards, just to tease everyone that thinks this group is only capable of writing a simple harmonious pop song that you’ll forget as soon as the next one hits rotation. The first single and beginning of the album is the illustrious and gigantic “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To” (watch the video here). Featuring a MoTown glitzy rhythm, handclaps, three-part harmonies, and lyrics like “The Slayer t-shirt fit the scene just right”, it tells the tale of young love growing old together – interestingly perfectly befitting an old original Weezer fan following the group since “The Blue Album” was the first installment of the mighty self-titled Weezer muses.

Posted in modern rock, music reviews, pop music - Tagged , ,

Tiesto – Kaleidoscope

Nov05
2009 Leave a Comment Written by J-Sin

tiesto_kaleidoscope

Tiesto has played all across the globe. He has played the Olympics. The DJ has been nominated for a Grammy for his last artist album, “Elements of Life”. He has also been recognized among his peers as the world’s most renowned DJ with some of DJ’s most coveted awards. And still he does not rest on his laurels. Stick another feather in his crowded cap with the launch of his new gem, “Kaleidoscope”; a full-fledged journey of sound produced and written by this magnificent electronic wizard. Proving he is not just another vinyl slinger, his production, engineering, mixing, and writing is peerless. While often rooting himself in the melodic trance and dance styles, he builds off of it, collaborating with other renowned artists and singer/songwriters from various groups representing some of the best of pop and rock, all along the way to forge perfect odes of electronic joy. This adventure kicks off with a guest spot featuring Sigur Ros’s singer Jonsi Jónsi Birgisson from Sigur Rós – as you may expect, it’s otherworldly and an intriguing listen. Other guests include Bloc Party, Nelly Furtado, CC Sheffield, Cary Brothers, and Tegan & Sara among many others. The big singles are “Escape Me” with CC Sheffield, “ I Will Be Here”, featuring Sneaky Sound System, “Here on Earth” with the Cary Brothers, and “Louder Than Boom” is rumored to big another smash single. Things get really intense around “Fresh Fruit”, a wall to wall banger, that straps you in proper for the rest of the ride of the last half of the album. Tiesto provides a steady rhythm and beat to go along with his smooth melodies and beautifully sung harmonies. It always amazes me how much Tiesto is ahead of the curve in dance music, and “Kaleidoscope” once again provides the framework for the next several years of dance music to build off of.

Follow Tiesto on Twitter.

Watch “Escape Me” w/CC Sheffield:

Watch a great behind the scenes video on making the video for “Escape Me”:

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Dead Voices on Air – Fast Falls the Eventide

Sep05
2009 Leave a Comment Written by J-Sin

dvoa_coveronly

Mark Spybey is one of the biggest geniuses in the post-industrial music scene. His 11th album under the Dead Voices on Air moniker is yet another giant leap forward for mankind’s adventures in sound. “Fast Falls the Eventide” is a meticulous carving out of aural inspirations dotted with spectral soundscapes, huge rhythms, and masterful experimentations. The 2nd disc is actually a re-release of the long out of print 1994 cassette-only release “Abrader” that was launched on Japanese label G.R.O.S.S. The second disc also features two previously unreleased tracks collaborating with cEvin Key (Skinny Puppy, Download, Doubting Thomas) with Key’s interesting melting of a moog synthesizer and banging on a barrel drum with Mark’s odd backdrop of noise and musical alliteration. Spybey’s music has long been a personal inspiration for me, whether it was his forays with Download, the atmospheric intrigue of :Zoviet France:, or his collaboration with Robin Storey (Rapoon) in his side project Reformed Faction. Ranging from caustic missionaries of mania to nightmarish dream soundtracks or sparsely woven ambient tapestries, Spybey always seems to hit on all cylinders. Catchy it is not, absolutely essential it for sure is. The main disc of the release is a lengthy node of winded and sweeping synthesizers, aural ambience, manipulated samples, and nested noise. Truly a caricature of perfected post-industrial compositions, “Fast Falls the Eventide” may very well be one of the most interesting releases of 2009.

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