Ambient
Four Tet - There Is Love In You (Domino Records)
Monday, February 15th, 2010 | Sounds | No Comments
It’s been a while since I’ve paid much attention to Four Tet, the artist first heralded in the early 2000s for kickstarting the so-called “folktronica” scene because he combined samples of folk instrumentation with electronic sounds. Nearly five years have passed since the British producer released a proper full-length (“Everything Ecstatic” in 2005) under the Four Tet moniker. Instead, he opted for a foray into the improvisational jazz world, collaborating with drummer Steve Reid for four albums(!) and releasing them under his real name, Kieran Hebden. The 2006 two-disc compilation “Remixes” showcased some of his remix work of tracks by disparate artists like Boom Bip, The Notwist, Andrew Bird, Radiohead, Badly Drawn Boy, Beth Orton and many others. Interesting, yes, but “Remixes” simply didn’t have much staying power for me.
It was the 4-song EP “Ringer” in 2008 that caught my attention again. Sparse, minimal and more rooted in techno than anything else Read more and listen…
Pop Ambient 2010 (Kompakt)
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 | Sounds | No Comments
The 10th anniversary entry for Kompakt ‘s annual “Pop Ambient” compilation is yet another example of the consistently solid at-home listening series, proving that not all electronic music needs a dancefloor to resonate.
“Pop Ambient 2010” features a slew of top-tier artists from the German label exploring their more blissed-out, ambient sensibilities, including co-founder Wolfgang Voigt, San Francisco’s bvdub (Brock Van Wey), The Orb, Orb collaborator Thomas Fehlmann, Popnoname, Jorg Burger and DJ Koze and the long-awaited return of Dettinger.
The often otherworldly vibe begins with an ever-so-slight jarring opening via German producer Marsen Jules’ “The Sound of One Lip Kissing,” Read More and listen…
Music I’m Feeling
Sunday, September 13th, 2009 | Sounds | 2 Comments
There’s been a tonne of great music released recently that I’ve been feeling - here’s just a few. First up is the latest offering from Omar S, “Still Serious Nic”. 2009 has been the year that Omar S has finally got the wider attention that his music deserves. The new 12″ doesn’t deviate too far from the raw, analogue, jacking sound that Omar is known for; “Flying Blind” reminds me of “Psychotic Photosynthesis” and “Still Serious Nic” a lot like the Omar S produced “Space Station” by Theo Parrish. Speaking of Theo Parrish, his remix of LCD Soundsystem’s “45:33″ is finally being released - completely dope. Also, forthcoming on Sound Signature is a new double 12″ from Leron Carson, “Red Lightbulb Theory” - 5 tracks of raw techno on a similar tip to his “China Trax” from 2001. Fellow Detroiter Reggie Dokes, also seems to be set for another year of stellar releases. The “Chicago Pimp” 12″ was a fine way to kick-off Clone’s Loft Supreme Series. Treading a similar path is Reggie’s latest, the “Spectacle of Deepness” on We Play House; both releases build on the distinctive sound that Reggie has crafted over the years. Quality stuff from some of Detroit’s most consistent producers.
Interview - Brock Van Wey aka Bvdub
Wednesday, August 5th, 2009 | Sounds, Vision | 4 Comments
Brock Van Wey recently came by the KUSF studio for an interview on the radio show I co-host, The Friday Night Session. Brock gave great insight into his influences, his label Quietus Recordings and current album on Echospace, ‘White Clouds Drift On And On‘, as well as his forthcoming releases. Big thanks to Brock for taking the time to come into the studio and to my co-host Mike Bee.
Brock Van Wey - White Clouds Drift On And On (Echospace Detroit)
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 | Sounds | 1 Comment
San Francisco’s Brock Van Wey crafts a poignant, deeply textured maelstrom of ambient sounds, giving the listener a lofty lift upward toward the heavens in his gorgeous work “White Clouds Drift On And On.”
Van Wey, who also records under the name Bvdub, is the first non-Echospace related artist to release new material on the Detroit imprint – a vehicle for various projects from Rod Modell and Stephen Hitchell. Yet, it should be no surprise as to why Van Wey was added to the label roster, as layer upon layer of rich, fluid waves ooze over you as the record slowly progresses, a rich mixture of looped strings, echoey vocals and electronic textures ebb and flow as if breathing extra slowly.
Interview - Stephen Hitchell (Echospace)
Friday, June 26th, 2009 | Sounds | 6 Comments
Chicago based Stephen Hitchell dons many guises, producing as Soultek, Phase90 and Variant, as well as collaborating with Rod Modell as echospace and cv313. Hitchell (along with Modell) also runs the echospace [detroit] label, which earlier this year released his first solo album ‘The Seduction Of Silence’ under the Intrusion moniker. In this interview, Stephen tells us about the finer details of running a label, as well as what’s coming up for him and echospace [detroit].
Pop Ambient 2009 (Kompakt)
Wednesday, April 8th, 2009 | Sounds | No Comments
The delightfully blissful Pop Ambient series from Germany’s Kompakt returns for its ninth incarnation, bringing together a wide variety of talent for the 2009 version. Featured artists include celebrated experimental producer Tim Hecker, Jurgen Paape, Sylvain Chauveau, Jorg Burger and collaborator Wolfgang Voigt – Kompakt’s cofounder – Klimek and The Fun Years. Like many of its predecessors, Pop Ambient 2009 steers the listener through a series of meditative works, such as the horn loops present in Klimek’s “True Enemies & False Friends (Yesteryears Suite),” Chauveau’s “Nuage III” and the acoustic guitar-based “Fly Like A Horse,” and the haunting piano and strings of “Hindsmith” by Voigt, recording under the guise Mint. The mood shifts a bit with the stunning “Nightliner” by Poponame, a slow-moving kaleidoscope of elegant soundscapes shifting and building upon each other. Paape’s “Ausklang,” remixed by Burger and Voigt, also veers into twinkly land with its frittering audio tinsel and deep emotional moans, followed up by the equally glistening “It’s Only Castles Burning” by Marsen Jules. The brightest spots of the album appear in the latter half, first Hecker’s understated “Ghosts In Silver” via layers of effervescent keyboards and sweeping textural loops, then Andrew Thomas’ gorgeous “A Dream Of A Spider,” characterized by crackly bits, tightly controlled beat loops and somber chords. While some tracks come off more like a fragment from a much larger instrumental piece, the bulk of the album’s tracks work well with one another, providing a silky smooth ambient joyride that will assuredly keep you calm, cool and collected.
Tim Pratt
JGM 36 - Written In Our Nature
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 | Podcast | No Comments
Artist - Track (Label)
1. Discreet Unit - Written In Our Nature (Prime Numbers) Info
2. Roberto Q Ingram / Stephan Riedel - Transend (Exun) Info
3. Hercules And Love Affair - You Belong (DFA) Info
4. Reese & Santonio - The Sound (KMS) Info
5. Linkwood - Lost Experiment (Prime Numbers) Info
7. Ricardo Villalobos - Enfants (Sei Es Drum) Info
8. Maurizio - MO4A (Maurizio) Info
9. The Utopia Project - File #1 (Nu Groove) Info
10. Japanese Syncho System - Check It, Spread It (Life Line) Info
11. Koss - Earth / S Point (Mule Electronic) Info
12. L.B. Bad - The New Age Of Faith (Nu Groove) Info
Direct download: JGM_36_-_Written_In_Our_Nature.mp3
