electronic posts

J.Viewz

Thursday, July 24th, 2008 by Julija

freestyle chill // downtempo // breakbeat

The alternative scene of groovy, funky and stylish music in Israel is probably more colourful and lively than ever. In his solo project J.Viewz, Tel Aviv-based musician, turntablist and producer Jonathan Dagan seamlessly merges his passion for jazz and electronic music. The cool and quirky electronic textures of J.Viewz’ track “Muse Breaks” evolve from the soft yet dancefloor-friendly breaks to the moving rhythms and hypnotic downtempo, bringing to mind the early work of Kosheen. Jonathan’s superb production skills, the beautiful female vocals and a hint of subtle tension render Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” into a delightfully mellow treat.

Tightly woven beats and soulful vibes.
J.Viewz – Muse Breaks
J.Viewz – Smooth Criminal (stream only)
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Klima

Monday, June 30th, 2008 by Julija

vocal electronica // electro-pop

Although Klima is the first solo effort of Angèle David-Guillou, the London-based French musician has already gained recognition as a part of Piano Magic. Recorded with Piano Magic’s Jerome Tcherneyan, Klima’s eponymous debut album delivers the sound of sincere spontaneity, quiet melancholy and a new wave-tinged style. The slow evolving melodic lines of “The City” float with an eerie grace and the reminiscence of the 80’s synthpop, while the haunting strings and electronic programming of “The Lady of the Lake” create a beautifully dark, hypnotic atmosphere.

Dreamlike ambient quality.
Klima – The City
Klima – The Lady Of The Lake
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Sporto Kantes

Thursday, June 19th, 2008 by Julija

funky trip-hop // eclectic retro

From immediately catchy numbers to the laid back grooves, the duo of Nicolas Kantorowicz and Benjamin Sportes boasts a unique sonic palette. While packed with energy, colourful rhythms and peculiar sampling “Whistle” recalls the cheery, jolly retro kitsch pastiche, “Mundo”, taken from Paris Lounge (2001) double CD compilation, carries electronic nuances, seductive quality and a relaxed, downtempo feel.

Gloriously energetic, fun and entertaining.
Sporto Kantes – Whistle
Sporto Kantes – Mundo
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Tycho

Sunday, April 6th, 2008 by Kyle

electronic // ambient

Scott Hansen fosters an ambiance causing me to envision a chilled-out, trippy escapade through Fraggle Rock; perhaps after eating too many Doozer buildings. Like the complex, symbiotic relationships and events intertwined in their colorful, simply-presented world, there are many elements combined in Tycho to nurture a magic, enveloping presence.

Blissfully soothing and energizing.
Tycho – From Home
Tycho – Past Is Prologue
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Eddy Meets Yannah

Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 by Julija

brazilian broken beat // soul-jazz // dance

There are a lot of things happening in the Balkans’ music scene: in most cases unheard and unknown widely. While there’s an obvious lack of coverage on Eddy Meets Yannah in the blogosphere, the Zagreb-based duo was praised by Gilles Peterson of BBC’s Radio 1 and has remixed musical pieces of such artists as Elisabeth Shepherd and Bobby Caldwell. With Eddy at the decks and Yannah’s vocal and arrangement talents, the two experiment in mixing sweaty broken beats, nu-jazz and soulful house. Unless you listen closely to the lyrics, you might not even recognize “Can’t Hide Love” is a futuristically-retro version of the classic Earth, Wind and Fire track.

Blending energetic fusion and the seductive quality of sound.
Eddy Meets Yannah – Can’t Hide Love
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Minimatic

Friday, March 7th, 2008 by Julija

lounge dance // chill-out

Legendary Serge Gainsbourg’s works have been interpreted, sampled, re-recorded and used as inspiration by countless talented artists. Focusing on the dance floor enjoyment, French producer, musician and DJ, Minimatic a.k.a. Pascal Houpert remixes “Chez Les Yé-Yé’s”, celebrating his fatal love for stylish tunes and retro soul-funk. Reworking the 80′s music, Minimatic’s cover of successful A-ha’s synth-pop hit “Take On Me” is more about finesse: laid-back grooves of the beach and the sunny coast, smooth arrangements, sleazy hints and romance. [via]

Efficiently and excellently produced.
Serge Gainsbourg – Chez Les Yé-Yé’s (Minimatic Remix)
Minimatic – Take On Me (With A Martini)
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Label Spotlight: Exponential Records

Tuesday, February 19th, 2008 by Kyle

idm // trip-hop

Sampling the catalogue of Texas-based Exponential Records reminds me of savory Ninja Tune, Chocolate Industries, M3rck, and Eastern Developments labels. Started by Ernest Gonzales in 2000, he aimed to establish an art-and-music collaboration; hosting shows where both coincide. Every artist has a unique, well-developed style; backgrounds range from globe-traveling DJs, graffiti artists to designers, heavy thinkers, phreakers and family men. The beats initially drew me in, yet I surprisingly enjoyed the 8-bit Caviar of a genre which usually entices me less than Gyromite. Further exciting that vein is the repose melody of a Lullaby EP crafted for Ernest’s newborn baby to fall asleep to.

Deep-fried and delicious!
A.M. Architect – Unspoken
Ernest Gonzales – Caviar, Cigarettes, Dynamite, & Laserbeams
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Urbs

Monday, January 21st, 2008 by Paul Irish

nujazz // downtempo

I promised myself I’d listen to 2005′s Toujours le meme film whenever I wanted to recall the accomplishments of the downtempo movement. The album, (over)produced by Paul Nawrata aka Urbs, is so complicated that it evokes emotions far beyond where current downtempo can reach. His aesthetic sophistication is impressive, creating a new motto that less is, actually, never more. And because his effortless groove never sounds congested, we are left with not mere beats, but life stories, spanning more than one time frame.

Vienna chanteuse, whisper me a new tune.
Urbs – So Weit
Urbs – Tu Moi Aussi?

Words contributed by Angad Raj Singh
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Smolik

Sunday, January 20th, 2008 by Julija

electronic // downtempo

Downtempo styled, subtle orchestral arrangements of Polish pianist and producer Andrzej Smolik conjure a sonic universe of smooth and dreamy modern pop gems. With delicate electronic whiffs of Zero 7, the beautifully crafted and sensual synthlines of “Cye” and “A Million Cheap Tricks” carry warm female vocals, a bouncy comforting feel and melodic appeal.

Relaxed tempo, unwinding at the end of the day.
Smolik – Cye (feat. Kasia Kurzawska)
Smolik – A Million Cheap Tricks (feat. Maya Singh)
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Kreidler

Tuesday, January 15th, 2008 by Andrew Ladd

electronic // experimental

Kreidler has one of those sounds that teeters on the edge of being irritatingly experimental, but is pulled back by some solid acoustic instrumentation and a good sense of beat and build. Their debut, Weekend showcases an odd mix of chirps and clicks, along with some more conventional driving bass and lightly rocky drums. Some of it’s a bit Four Tet-ish, but it’s a little meaner with its melodies than the English artist, and the overall effect is something slightly darker.

German innovation.
Kreidler – La Capital
Kreidler – Sand Colour Classic
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