RxRy – Snwmltr / RxRy

Mysterious electronica producers are ten a penny so without further a do here comes RxRy, maybe pronounced ‘RexRay’ if I’m reading the myspace page clues correctly came to my attention the other day and the bright and mellow vibes suited the Sunday well. RxRy has a restrained, reflective electronica meets techno thing going on, you can imagine it either on Kompakt or as the soundtrack to the start of a hazy day. There isn’t anything glitchy about it, yet it’s not quite straight forward either. Loops and atmosphere, woozy soundscapes that remind me of the coming spring. Currently unsigned RxRy has released a debut eight-track s/t album and an EP entitled ‘Snwmltr’ as free downloads via the myspace (links bellow too).

Lightly bit crushed crackles, floating pads and strings along with heart pulse drums and subtle yet funky basslines are the mainstay of the RxRy sound and the two releases reflect this. Usually I like my electronica a little rawer or addled with glitches but there is something here that keeps bringing me back. The highlights include: ‘Sw Crstl Mlts’ an uplifting arpegiated almost trance like number from Snwmltr, it just cycles through its melody until some heartbeat drum kicks filter in half way through. The digital beach-scapes of ‘Hlljh Snds’ filter bird song and breeze through zeros and ones until you’re hypnotised by a droning bass tone. ‘Bld Drft’ takes bass guitar loops and keeps them fast and urgent but with that omnipresent dreamy atmosphere still in tact.

The s/t album is where things come into there own though, maybe it’s the added vowels in the titles that did it… The ultra smooth and woozy opener ‘Baulkn Slhts’ gently bubbles under with subtle loops and pads over a kick pulse. There is a melancholy yet hopeful emotional ambiance around RxRy’s music here maybe it’s the sound pallet or the gentle melodies. The electro drum hits on ‘Eaurowi’ play off the melodic pads and shifting subtly digitally distorted guitar loops, there is something a bit post-rock about it. The choppy pads on ‘Prajhil Ryhtm’ feel like a gentle morning light has just crept through your curtains, RxRy even gets a bit funky with the synth bass line here. Maybe the most upbeat track yet ‘Convrtbl Bvbes’ has a house kick and warm, bright looping pads but with a subtly hypnotic layer of guitar floating over it all. RxRy even gets a little evil on ‘Edvrd Rvrfy Guitr’ where he sounds like an outtake to a disturbing cyber chase dream sequence from a long lost SNES game. ‘Cartuulo Ashtry’, the final track eases you out into the calm…

If you’re a fan of gentle bedroom electronica of the likes of Gold Panda or The Field then you’re sure to find something in RxRy, you can get lost in these productions. The tracks seem simple as they progress, there are no wild twists or out there sounds. You just get some blissful slices of bedroom electronica to ease your day.

Edvrd Rvrfy Guitr - RxRy - RxRy 2010 from Rx Ry on Vimeo.

RxRy - "RxRy" 8 song LP

Download here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?mdtccs2myd9

RxRy - "SNWMLTR" 4 song EP

Download here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?mpj4mngtyjl

http://www.myspace.com/rxry

Golau Glau

The dreamy electronic duo Golau Glau haven’t been around to long and like to keep themselves to themselves making music when they can, in fact they only started making music together in June and dropped a free single called ‘Soft Silver Young’ in July this year. They describe their music as Silver Pop as it seems to come from a different place they bring together off-kilter electronics and beautiful vocals to create something that’s truly theirs. There music hasn’t gone un-noticed in their short time either they’ve already had props from the Guardian’s new music Wednesday slection, Mr Beatnick and Blue Daisy not to mention an impressive selection of others like Shortstuff and Numan commenting on their myspace page.

The links to download the debut net single can be found bellow and if that’s not enough they put up tracks they finish on Last FM for your downloading pleasure. There are ten tracks there under the ‘Arrianna’ section. These Silver Pop nuggets range from all out dreamy numbers to more beat fuelled dance orientated tracks and they all have this otherworldly mellow vibe that’s both strange and wonderful all at once. It’s brought on by the beautiful juxtaposition of vocals and electronics, which can be hard to come by at times but here its done so well and gives Golau Glau an instantly accessible appeal.

Some of my Silver Pop highlights so far are… the rolling sunshine tinted ‘Summer Games’ the percussion and woozy organ sounds do it for me. The glitchy beats on ‘Virtual Boy’ sound like a Gameboy playing breakbeat while rolling down a hill but this is all done under hazy vocals it’s a brilliant wonk-fuelled 8-bit meets Portishead variation of some kind, brilliant. Something about ‘Le Dame Blanche’ and ‘The Moon Illusion’ reminds me of the italo disco stylings of Sally Shapiro but a lot more dreamy. ‘A Better Drinker’ has an almost dubstep beat to it with a heatbeat vibe to it that suits the laid back lyrical delivery and spaced out soundscapes really well. The catchy little number ‘Snap’ with the line “boys boys records, crazy noise records” makes me smile over a 80s infused almost Postal Service backing works really well. ‘Placer Hush’ is another highlight again it’s the mad electronics that make it for me.

Check them out for your self on the links bellow…

Download: Golau Glau – Soft Silver Young

Download: Golau Glau – Arrianna

Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/golauglau

Blog:
http://golauglau.wordpress.com/

Legion of Two – Riffs [Planet Mu]

Mu are always pushing something out that’s a bit different and Legion of Two really are on a different tip they blend electronics and noise in an almost post-rock like fashion with live drumming that gives a more rock edge to the electronica stylings, this is the good shit. The group consist of electronic producer Alan O’Boyle who has had releases for Mu and Rotters Golf Club amongst others and stick man David Lacey who’s been at the drums for years working with many people. Riffs is full of slow brooding experimental rock music that’s full of power and energy.

There really is a menacing dark atmosphere to this album the opener ‘Starbound’ growls and twists into huge deranged shapes before ‘And Now We Wait’ takes off with a funkier edge; the live drums really add swing to the tracks. Droning electronics sounding like long lost and re-tweaked dark techno classics make blistering shapes of noise, full of distortion. There is a controlled feel to all of this though, sure it sounds evil but its not evil unleashed with no boundaries. The tempo keeps everything brooding and focused, imagine a zombie film as the creatures step to you at a shuffle getting closer and closer; the tension builds and just gets more terrifying as it goes on.

Along with the dark swagger, Legion Of Two show they have an unhealthy appetite for bass, ‘Palace (dub)’ and ‘Legion Of Two’ show this off as good as any tracks. Pulsing gnarly bass tones, trudge under some ear splitting rings and bleeps, as an unhealthy growl grows in-between. There are even riffs as you would expect from the album title, low slung dirty head banging riffs and all without the aid of a guitar… as far as I can hear anyway. The whole album may use old guitar pedals and reverb units but that’s just to filter the electronics into disturbing shapes.

It’s not all doom, sludge and dirge though; Riffs has a healthy slice of melody all the way through it. From oriental style twangs to ethereal pads that shine like something from out of space. There is a really mesmerising flow to the songs, like when ‘Turning Point’ breaks down into melody and high hats before the almighty bass and kick drop back in. Things can get really subtle as well like on the almost dreamy, ‘Handling Noise’.

Probibly the final string to Legion Of Two’s bow is the deep dubbed out sounds that can be found on the two closing tracks, ‘It Really Does Take Time’ and ‘Cast Out Your Demon’ the echo chambers and reverbs are out in full force here and they create some beastly walls of noise in the process.

The dark side of rock and electronics meet on Riffs to create a truly wonderful piece of work, Legion Of Two are a compelling group making a noise all of their own.

Clipse: Legion Of Two - Riffs [Planet Mu]

http://www.legionoftwo.com/

http://www.myspace.com/thelegionoftwo

10-20 [Highpoint Lowlife]

Original writen for the Sonic Router, but this is so good I had to post twice ;)

You know when something comes out of the blue from a brand new unheard name and it makes your jaw drop? Well this is what happened when I put on 10-20 who is a young producer from Devon just dropping his debut self-titled album for Highpoint Lowlife.

This is a deep one full of hypnotic soundscapes made of electronic glitches and what sounds like a mass re-wiring of a super computer channelling fragments of hip-hop, ambient electronica, a wide array of dance music from either end of the spectrum and even a hint of krautrock’s pulse. 10-20 melts all of this and more into one solid flowing album that is quite hard to pin down.

The organic glitches of opening track, ‘Milvus’ has a chiming chilly vibe to it like a walk in the snow near a distant industrial site. It sounds cold; crunchy yet also has an endearing warmth to it. This robo-esq theme runs through the album, its like 10-20 has been making a tiny mechanical army and recorded the whole process. I think this army are built for good mind, as there is a sublime ambiance to the whole project.

The madly titled, ‘Wdrtrhjvelgrad’ sounds like the ghost of 2-step pirate radio being picked up over the top of a old skool electro beat and layers of ambient loops. These different section fade in and out and create something that’s both jarring and kind of beautiful. This melts into the truly wonderful, ‘InB’ which echoes the smooth chords of ambiance found in Aphex Twin or even the looped out brilliance of GAS, maybe ‘Arcadeagle’ is a better example of that. ‘sA’ has some serious crackle glazed dub sensibilities.

10-20 has made a dark and brooding album that flows like a winding river through industrial landscapes.

Download: 10-20 - Arcadeagle

Buy: 10-20

Kontext – Convex Curved Mirror / Hometown Swamp 12” (Immerse Records)

Originally written for the Sonic Router but we went for MLR’s Resident Advisor version in the end.

If you’re on a minimal infused future garage tip with plenty of glitch and deep vibes then the forthcoming Immerse Records 12” by Russian resident Kontext is the one for you. Techno arpeggio riffs glide over a 2-step riddim and big bass on ‘Convex Curved Mirror’ while the flipside, ‘Hometown Swamp’ dubs it out real deep; it’s a perfect blend of ambient electronica, minimal and dubstep.

Kontext has a sound somewhere between Pole’s electronic yet organic glitches and 2562’s punchy and skippy dubstep techno, with a hint of the more subtle end of minimal maestro Gabriel Ananda’s flowing grooves via the prevalent Basic Channel spaced out dub techno. The bass weight is sold too, with a kind of rhythmic punch to it. He really makes it his own style though with a hypnotic feel and melancholic warmth that oozes quality.

His last EP for Immerse was a killer and this is no exception. Both tracks are subtle builders for the more discerning dance head; let the drums move your feet as the synths take you into a meditative headspace. Sublime.

http://www.immerserecords.com/public/

http://www.myspace.com/kontextkontext

Lukid – Forma

Werk Discs come up with the goods again with a sublime little album from label mainstay Lukid. He brings a sublime and dreamy edge to this thing called wonk, If you’ve been playing Los Angeles by Flying Lotus just a little bit to much for about a year now and your in need of some more of the good stuff, then look no further than Forma.

Where FlyLo brought the crackle and breaks, Lukid does things a little more subtle with a similar lilt and big synths but more emphasis on dreamy loops and soundscapes.

The whole album is beautiful and has an effortless flow to it all the way through, but if I had to pick one highlight it would be the track slap bang in the middle, ‘Chord’. It teases you in with the aforementioned chord looped and looped and looped… before dropping some quality off centre beats and a bassline that really tops things off in sublime style. The bass drones and hits all the sweet spots that vibrate you to your core, all while sticking to the beat and making your feet move. I can’t stop rewinding it, most wheeled track of 09 for me so far.

Forma is full of little chilled gems, it’s a real joy to listen to. Its like someone turned up the heat to make the aqua in aquacrunk a nice temperature to sink into and let wash over you. Lukid’s bass is the best kind of bubble bath. It’s a bit like finding yourself in the scene in the matrix where he wakes up in the goo, but in a good way…

Lukid has soul in his beats a warm, deep soul that really shines. When he uses samples they are subtle and woven deep into the beats and bass to make some beautiful inventive hip-hop, ‘Ski Fly’ is a brilliant example of this. There are many more within Forma though from the delicate opener, ‘Ice Nine’ through the dubbed out block party jam of, ‘Veto’.

If you have ever found yourself up late at night listening to Gangstarr or The Pharcyde in a bit of a haze and really got into the groove and forgot the MC’s existed for a moment, or as I said played a bit to much FlyLo then Forma By Lukid is a step in the right direction.

http://www.myspace.com/lukid

Murcof – Death of a Forest

I just remembered I had this little nugget in my in box from the lovely label Leaf I was kind of sleeping on it a little while so that I could put it up with a more substantial review of Murcof’s work, but I haven’t got round to grabbing any yet…

So here it is a sublime slice of orchestral beauty from The Versailles Sessions album, which was recorded a while ago with a baroque orchestra and then shaped into some deeply dark soundscapes by the man Murcof.

I really love his stuff; the deeply spacey album Cosmos is still one of my favourite late night sound tracks. He uses organic orchestral sounds in such a brilliant way by melting them seamlessly to warm electronics to give the whole thing a really beautiful contemporary classical feel.

If you’re a fan of deeply dark and wonderful soundscapes Murcof is the man for you.

Download: Murcof – Death of a Forest

I’m also really digging this video mainly for the sinister roller skate shots in the opening scenes you don’t get that very often.



http://www.murcof.com/

Vessels – Descent (Remix)

Vessels are one of my local bands, I say local they are based in Leeds and I’m a bit out of the way but I just count Leeds as a bit of a musical home town for me as it’s so damn vibrant.

This is a remix of Descent by guitarist and electronics wizard from the band Lee Malcolm. And I think he does an excellent job, I’ve not heard much else from the band but this track is just so sublime. I’m glad it dropped into my inbox for me to share with you guys.

The track has a beautiful mellow kind of electronica meets post-rock feel to it not unlike the wonderful Leeds band Worriedaboutsatan who do a similar mixture with great success and who are also fond of a remix. More about them another time though this is Vessels time.

Descent is an addictive track that makes me feel a little bit warm and fuzzy on the inside. The subtle builds grow into sweeping soundscapes before dropping into a mellow acoustic breakdown with beautiful plucking and mesmerising electronics. This loops and loops to make the second half of the track a true gem. Check it for your self bellow…

Thank you Cuckundoo Records for hooking me up so I could share some Vessels.

Download: Vessels – Descent (Remix)

Check this video out to see what they sound like in none-remixed form it’s a super slow-mo relaxing trip until they get all brutal on our asses and whip out the post-rock guitars, good stuff.



http://www.myspace.com/vesselsband

Man is Slapped

The one man indie electronica fella from York dropped me his demo and he won’t be getting a slap from me for it. He brings together some synthy computer elements with a bit of instrumentation to make a lo-fi yet truly compelling listen.

The tracks are a nice mixture of blissful elctronic soundscapes with bleeps and accessible indie pop hooks with nice lyrics about girls and airports.

Opener The Crash is a quirky number about just waking up in a hospital and not really knowing what’s going on. This turns out to be a pretty up beat number considering the lyrical content. The way he harmonises with himself is excellent and the hooks are damn good too.

The Air of Budapest has some really beautiful understated instrumentation but the vocals make me cringe a little at times. I love the use of duh duh dum dum’s in a cheerful yet subtle way. The epic strings really make this track for me.

Running to the Airport has some almost junglist drums under some digital voice harmonies. For some reason the vocals remind me of early Flaming Lips but I’m not sure why.

Closer Unnecessary Fuss has some very nice what sounds like looped acoustic guitar samples and some vocals that all make it sound a bit like Alfie crossed with The Field. The bleeps and more loops build with harmonies to make a cracking little track.

Go and check out Man is Slapped on myspace

http://www.myspace.com/manisslapped

Download the demo here

http://rapidshare.com/files/156208893/Man_is_Slapped.zip

Dessktop – Kirpi EP

Dessktop has been at it again for Rack & Ruin Records one of my favourite purveyors of sounds on the Internet. This is catalogue number rrr054 and can be downloaded for free over at R&R. What more could you want?

Dessktop has made a very nice five track EP of ambient electronica that is full of loops and field recordings. It makes for a wonderful listen; track one valea lunga river (simisna) is an aquatic little number, with water dripping just like the name would suggest, a riverside ambiance. Then the clatter of what sounds like an implement being sharpened and bashed around, while a voice sings about water every now and again. A looped up string instrument of some kind brings some more rhythm and melody to the proceedings. The thing being sharpened could well be that of the knife on the front cover… A thunderclap draws this track to an end and starts the next.

Adonis vernalis is the second track it’s full of more beautiful field recordings and an amazing almost child like pots and pan percussion section chiming away, like part music box and part campsite found drum kit. This tune is taken into the next by knocking on a door and us being let in at the beginning of the next, I do love the way this works.

Calceolariaceae has a warmer feel I guess that’s because we are inside now, there is a beautiful drone that is used as the backdrop to some more chiming found percussion and strumming. These songs are beautiful ambient electronica with a happy little vibe to them.

Trakhtemyrivskyi monastery has a thumping start and tribalistic drumming, with some wind instrumentation that sounds not unlike some kind of bagpipe, but not quite. This feeds into the final track…

Autonomously replicating sequence, which is a lovely drone induced synth and found sound ambient pad followed by what is almost a funky as hell percussive loop, but then the EP ends and you are left wanting more. Dessktop has done it again and made another fascinating EP full of beauty and originality. I love this dude keep it up man.

Links:

Rack & Ruin Records

Dessktop R&R Page

Dessktop Space

Robby Massey Dot Com

Kontext – Falling To Weightlessness / Aeromonarchs Attacks / Plumes / Blinkende Stjerne 2x12” EP

This is a fantasitic EP spread over 2 12” on Immerse Records and their little moto is, ‘breakbeat and sub culture’ this sums up the sound quite nicely. The first 12” is a high tempo yet laid back dubstep beauty but with the most minimal influenced sound I have heard yet. The drum sounds, bloops and crackles are right out of the minimal techno cannon of sounds. This is mixed with some deep bass and tech driven sounds to make an irresistible dubstep/minimal crossover. Aeromonarchs Attacks showcases this sound brilliantly on the AA side of 12” 1. As does it’s flip side Falling To Weightlessness with huge bass ringing through it and a kind of 2-step minimal sound to the drums.

The second 12” of the two is an even more laid back affair with slowed down tempo’s to about 90 bpm so around half that of dubstep and lots less than minimal, into ambient dubtronica territory here. Plumes starts with some epic tech dub sounds and builds with some clicky bongo loops and a kick drum in 4x4. Blinkende Stjerne has a fantastic sounding bass sound that moves up and down in a hypnotic fashion while the beats boogie along like some kind of minimal monster and even whips out a four to the floor kick.

Each 12” is brilliant and brings a nice sound to the table the first will get some huge spins in dubstep sets and the second will get played in minimal sections or maybe even pitched to fit dubstep. MinimalDubTekronica…