Album Playlist - 5 July 2009

In an attempt to catch up with the fast-changing world of music after a few months in the wilderness, this week I will mostly be listening to:



Florence and the Machine - Lungs (Thanks Elaine)





Sunn 0))) - Monoliths & Dimensions






Dinosaur Jr - Farms






The Low Anthem - Oh My God, Charlie Darwin





Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca






Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer






Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue

Passion Pit - Chunk of Change EP

Destined for big things this year, Passion Pit have been hotly tipped by just about everyone. Featuring on the longlist for the Sound of 2009, the Boston natives will not surprise many if they are named as the BBC critics choice. Their breakthrough track 'Sleepyhead' has dominated dancefloors and playlists worldwide. A catchy electro track with a punchy vocal from frontman Michael Angelakos, it was apparently written for his girlfriend as a gift. Their Chunk of Change EP offers more of an insight into what these guys can offer. Check it out for yourself at the download link below.

Tracklisting:
1. I've Got Your Number
2. Smile Upon Me
3. Cuddle Fuddle
4. Live to Tell the Tale
5. Better Things
6. Sleepyhead

http://rapidshare.com/files/172249168/PPCOF.rar

http://www.myspace.com/passionpitjams

Album Playlist - 21/12/2008

The Plastic Constellations We Appreciate You






Gang Gang Dance Saint Dymphna







Deerhunter Microcastles/Weird Era Continued






Late of the Pier Fantasy Black Channel

BSITWT #47

Pivot - 'Fool in Rain'


Taken from the Sydney based trio's first international album on the seminal Warp Records imprint. I could have picked any number of tracks off the album to be today's BSITW. 'Fool in Rain' is a simply arranged piece with a warm bassline that delights through headphones but would have a body-shanking ability in a live show.

Their recent album O Soundtrack My Heart is available to purchase from WarpMart*. Download at Bleep.

There are a number of podcasts to download on their homepage. You may recognise these guys from their impressive mix for State magazine a couple of weeks back.


Since the season of goodwill is upon us, I also uploaded the title track from their album for your listening pleasure. Listing their influences as ranging from Jean Michael Jarre to Talking heads, Villalobos to Brian Eno and Arcade Fire to Aphex Twin you know this is going to be a treat before you press play.

http://www.myspace.com/pivotpivot

http://pivotpivot.net/

*Gotta love that.

Fabriclive 36 - James Murphy & Pat Mahoney

Judging by the amount if time I spend writing about Fabric releases you could be excused for thinking that I work for the London imprint. No such luck unfortunately. It can only, therefore, be explained by the diverse and consistently high standard of their regular Fabric & Fabriclive series. With John Tejada set to release Fabric 44 on 12 January 2009 and the recent delivery of Fabric 43 by Metro Area, the respected compilation series continues to command the attention and reverence of all those electronically inclined.

Today, I'm hoping to cast your attention into the series back catalogue, Fabriclive 36 in particular. Compiled by James Murphy and Pat Mahoney, the compilation is not something you would expect to hear on an average night in the London superclub. It is, however, a joy to listen to. The tracks move between disco and house with a very fun, authentic and old-school vibe prominent throughout. It really is a collection of sounds that will transport you to a different world. The at-times rough mixing only seem to add to what has been described as an "off-the-cuff" mix. It evokes similar emotions to those experienced on spending just a tad over three-quarters of an hour listening (running?) to 45:33; peaks, troughs and an over-whelming sense of feel good.

Fabriclive 36 - James Murphy & Pat Mahoney is avaialble to purchase here.


P.S. There were some rumours circulating the interweb this past week that LCD Soundsystem had been put on hold by James Murphy, with some declaring the end of the Murphy-led collective. It was soon clarified as being rubbish with the happy conclusion that new material could be expected in the new year. Delighted.

Album Playlist - 25/10/2008

Format:B - Steam Circuit (Highgrade)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. The groove flowing through is just incredible. This is club-orientated electronica built on minimal foundations with a heavy impact that never runs out of, eh, steam.





Flying Lotus - Los Angelus (Warp)
Influenced by jazz, electronic and Brazilian sounds this collection of ambient tracks is cited by Sasha to be one of his main influences in compiling his recent Involver compilation. The atmospherics and off-beat percussion echo Burial's highly regarded output Untrue.




Gaiser - Blank Fade (M_nus)
Not due for release until November 17th, Gaiser's eagerly awaited debut is, as promised; "a soundtrack to some hidden nocturnal habitat, full of weird and wonderful creatures that stalk the darkness." The newest addition to the M_nus crew, he joins Hawtin on the line-up for the label showcase in Dublin's Tripod next month.

Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires

The debut self-titled album from Friendly Fires has really surprised me. At first, I wasn't too keen, but it slowly got the better of me and is currently a daily fixture in my music world. It reminds of Foals with a synthy/disco element à la Hercules & Love Affair and MGMT. I was interested to see that the Hertfordshire group consider German label Kompakt, techno pioneer Carl Craig and Prince to be among their greatest influences.
The influence of electronic music is everywhere on this album. The sound is fresh but also feels distinctly familiar. Stand-out track 'Jump In The Pool' is feel-good funk, layered but not choking and with a very airy feeling througout.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable, catchy pop album that does not take itself too seriously. It is an easy listen with a dance groove to keep the listener involved.

Friendly Fires - 'Jump In The Pool'

As far as I can see there are no up-coming Irish dates schuduled but that is likely to change soon. Friendly Fires are currently on tour with Lykke Li in the U.S. and will tour Europe with Foals starting mid-November.

The brilliant Jape recently toured the U.K. with the St. Alban lads and the track below has been circulating as a result. Well worth a listen.

Jape - 'Strike Me Down'(Friendly Fires Remix)

Friendly Fires by the Friendly Fires is availalbe to purchase here.

www.myspace.com/friendlyfires

Matthew Dear - Body Language Vol. 7

We love Matthew Dear. His newest compilation was released a few days ago on the seminal Get Physical Music label. Featuring tracks from Koze, Johnny D and Martinez this is the perfect soundtrack to, well, everything really.

Download here.

Tracklist
1. Dinamoe - The Green fresh One (Original Mix)
2. Kalabrese - Cityblues
3. Sascha Dive - Street Life (Samuel Davis Dark Groove Remix)
4. Kid Sublime - Basement Works Vol. 1
5. Johnny D - Orbitalife
6. Martinez - Retrospective
7. Diz - No Way
8. Johnny D - Tramodyssee
9. Mlle Caro & Franck Garcia - Dead Souls (Radio Slave Long Distance Kiss Mix)
10. Prompt - Ambee
11. DJ Koze - Zou Zou
12. I:Cube - Gtnup
13. SoulPhiction - Traffic Lights
14. Two Armadillos - Hamlin (Sascha Dive's Secret Dub)
15. Seth Troxler & Patrick Russell - Doctor of Romance
16. Even Tuell - Untitled B1
17. DJ Koze - I Want To Sleep
18. Basti Grub - Baaa Niii
19. Matthew Dear - Free To Ask (Body Language Exclusive Track)
20. Lorenzo - Get Deep

You can download software to split the file into individual tracks here.

Album Playlist - 30/09/2008

Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires










Ame - Fabric 42









Luciano - Fabric 41









Bloc Party - Intimacy








Ladyhawke - Ladyhawke

Kings of Leon - Only By The Night

Not due to be released until next week. After a few listens 'Crawl' is my initial stand out track. There are a few growers in there too.

http://rapidshare.com/files/143929017/K-O-L-OBTN.rar.html

1. Closer
2. Crawl
3. Sex On Fire
4. Use Somebody
5. Manhattan
6. Revelry
7. Seventeen
8. Notion
9. I Want You
10. Be Somebody
11. Cold Desert

An Taobh Tuathail Volume II - Cian Ó Cíobhain

"Much like the first volume", says compiler Cian Ó Cíobháin, "I decided to go down the quieter laneways of modern music. Therefore, once more it's tunes for the head & heart more than the feet, drawing on electronica, modern folk, a touch of Balearic & tunes influenced by classical music. Ó Cíobháin is encouraging listeners to play the album in it's entirety from start to finish rather than dip in and out of tracks. The way albums are meant to be.

Cian has presented An Taobh Tuathail (The Other Side) on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta/Anocht FM since May 1999. The west Kerry native is also one half of the Galway based dj/production/promoting machine that is SiSi.

This release follows on from the succesful inaugural installment in the series which featured Galway based artist Beatpoet amongst others.

Tracklisting:

1. Susanna & The Magical Orchestra – Believer
2. Colleen – Sun Against My Eyes
3. Ranger 3 – Sense Of Direction
4. Chequerboard - Skating Couple
5. Mad Theory - Numbers
6. Mice Parade – Double Dophins On The Nickel
7. Cane 141 – Disco Toys (Heftord Remix)
8. Somadrone – Our Ears Were Like Canyons
9. Boxcutter – Bloscid
10. Sarsparsilla – Gigi Go Deas
11. Murcof – Rios
12. Hannu – Sumu
13. L. Pierre – Weirs Way
14. Songs Of Green Pheasant – Fires PGR
15. Enrico Coniglio & Elisa Marzorati - Foliage

Available to stream at: Psychonavigation Records

An Taobh Tuathail Volume II can be ordered directly from Psychonavigation Records here.

If you would prefer to get some exercise, you can pick up a copy at the following record shops: Dublin (Road, City Discs, Spin Dizzy, HMV, Tower), Galway (HMV) & Cork (Plug'd).

It is also available widely on the internet in digital format at the following:

Road Records

Juno

Play


Past An Taobh Tuathail radio shows are available to stream with tracklistings here.

http://www.rte.ie/rnag/antaobhtuathail.html
http://www.myspace.com/antaobhtuathail
www.sisi.tv

Playlist - 12/08/2008

No Age - Nouns









Neon Neon - Stainless Steel









Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes






Reviews to follow shortly. Listening to too much samba at the moment to focus.

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (4AD - UK, Jagjaguwar - USA, 2008)

Taking a break from the Caucasus for a minute, Vlad and the lads could all do worse than listen to Bon Iver's recently released debut record, For Emma, Forever Ago - a beautifully intimate collection of carefully crafted folk works, suitably written in solitude over a Wisconsin winter (Bon Hiver, tu vois). That, on the face of it, such a simple arrangement could cause such a stir is quite a feat, given the moribund state of the genre - isolated artists, bleak winters and mournful guitars have been dreary bedfellows for generations. But this is a chillingly intense record, thick with atmosphere and guided by layers of stunning falsetto that could stop even the most austere of Siberian power-brokers in their wonky vodka tracks.

Album Playlist - 01/08/08

M83 - Saturdays = Youth (Mute, 2008)

This is what would happen if My Bloody Valentine, Fleetwood Mac, New Order and Top Gun had a child. In a good way.





Max Richter - The Blue Notebooks (Fat Cat Records, 2004)

The German composer's second recorded album is still one of the most elegantly haunting pieces I've ever heard. Nods to Arvo Part and Brian Eno feature frequently, the works of whom he once commissioned and performed in his Piano Circus days. His newly released micro-music project, 24 Postcards in Full Colour, should make for interesting listening.




Efterklang - Parades (The Leaf Label, 2007)

Denmark's answer to The Arcade Fire, once lazily described as "Denmark's answer to The Arcade Fire".




www.myspace.com/m83
www.myspace.com/maxrichtermusic
www.myspace.com/efterklang