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Showing posts with label Dream Pop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dream Pop. Show all posts

Monday, 26 April 2010

Slack


Easily the most pleasant post i have done in a while - here is a collection of smooth grooves that shouldn't get your pulse racing, but should be enjoyed in the small morning hours, lock the doors, close the curtains, lie back, close your eyes and let the soothing music envelop you...

You know the feeling when you put your hand in your pocket and feel a note (and then you go through the inner prayer - please be £20, please please please) - i get the same feeling when i stumble across amazing old songs, this is one of those songs - with its rolling lounge beat, carefully placed piano melody and shimmering episodes of plucked guitar, 'The Real Deal' is mesmerizing. However, its the inclusion of stunning chanted vocals which really makes this track shine, transporting you across continents, and giving you a taste of Africa. The electronica duo Goldfish (the 'Fishies' to their fans) hail from SA and are just ludicrously talented, buy their latest album here

The Real Deal - Goldfish.mp3
 
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I love getting the excuse to post Kalkbrenner, so here we go, a really laid back remix released in 2009, the original 'Closed Eyes' - Chordian was a classic piece of Detroit Techno, Kalkbrenner has retained the soulful vibe of the original, but injected his own juice into the mix - with the integration of a really sharp synth and a fattened bassline, you would think this pumped up version would have you hitting the dancefloor, however the repetitive beat and muted piano makes it delightfully soporific - earning it a spot here

Closed Eyes (Paul Kalkbrenner Remix) - Chordian.mp3
 
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Hypnotic, dreamy, heavenly - all of the above, the drumbeat is so light its almost insubstantial and the strummed backing guitar is strangely uplifting amidst the melancholic instrumentals (a little ivory tinkling is also thrown in for good measure at the end) - all nicely wrapped up with Erlend Øye's soft, sombre vocals - a very pleasant track that i am sure is well known to most of you!

As an added bonus Röyksopp have released another track in 320 completely free and its very, very nice - 'Electric Counterpoint: III. Fast (RYXP True To Original Edit)' - Steve Reich.mp3

I Don't Know What I Can Save You From (Röyksopp Remix) - Kings of Convenience
 
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Ok, i don't really like Indie music, however i do like Au Revoir Simone and i really like Max Cooper (as i am sure you will have guessed from previous posts) - so i jumped on the release back in 2009, when it was posted for free in 192kbps here. However i have been in the process of updating my entire music collection into 320, so i was recently reacquainted with this fantastical remix - the familiar Cooper clicks and static hiss prickle throughout, a muted kick breaks through the cold whispering synth. Out of the depths slowly climb the tinkling piano chimes and the dampened vocals of the original... which eventually break into warm liquid sub bass, its awesome. Over 6 minutes of spiritual enlightenment...get it here

Take Me As I Am (Max Cooper Remix) - Au Revoir Simone.mp3
 
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First of thanks to BLeigh for persuading me to get my hands this one - talk about pleasant D&B, seriously deep, no known release date for this tingly bad boy, although it should be coming out on the highly anticiapted Commix album 'Recall To Mind,' - get your atmospheric fill-up here, ya beauty:

Japanese Electronics (Instra:mental Rework) - Commix.mp3
 

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Saturday, 13 March 2010

Pick of the Weeks


Here are a few tracks that have been keeping me entertained over the last couple of weeks -

You will all know Caribou from the track 'Odessa' that was floating around earlier this year, this new track is taken from their upcoming album 'Swim' (Release date: April 20th) - it's twangy indie electro that evolves constantly - i shouldn't like it...but i really do - this is the 20th time i have listened to it in 3 days...be sure to buy the album, already 5 of its 9 tracks are in my most played!

Hannibal - Caribou.mp3
 
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I am sure i don't have to introduce Bonobo - he has been around since 1999, producing amazing tracks tailored for the post party scene - the best of chill-out... his latest album 'Black Sands' is superb (purchase here) its a constant delight of Downtempo...  some of the tracks are beautifully complemented by the sweet soul vocals of Andreya Triana - i have chosen one of these tracks - its already been snatched and remixed by several artists including Floating Points & Appleblim - it's very hypnotic & quite lovely!

Eyesdown feat. Andreya Triana - Bonobo.mp3
   
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Once again i find myself congratulating Hospital Records - they really do have some of the freshest talent around - this is my first post featuring D&B veteran Sonic...and as long as he sticks with liquid, i am sure it wont be the last. Hospital were debating whether to include this on the forthcoming Sick Music 2 (sneak peak here)- however lucky for us - they decided to release Sonic as a single, so here it is, a soaring dance floor anthem - pure liquid euphoria!

Piano Anthem (feat Diane Charlemagne) - Sonic.mp3
 
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Apathesis is the latest signing to Bristol's Urban Scrumping Records (the label whose roster includes my choice artist of the moment - Phaeleh) - Apathesis EP - Begin was released in June 09 and is available here) it is a great album, crammed full of of the laid back Dubstep, synonymous with Scrumping. However in contrast, is 'Wake Up.' With its deep bass and awesome use of sampling, (effortlessly interweaving dark beats with smatterings of dialogue and theme music from cult classic 'Donnie Darko,') this track is tailored for the dancefloor...very tasty

Wake Up - Apathesis.mp3
 
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Sascha Ring a.k.a Apparat, one half of Moderat and producer extrordinaire - i haven't posted him enough, so i decided to start with a track i have taken from his fantastic album 'Walls' - available for download here. 'Arcadia' is a triumph of dream-pop, with the soaring falsetto vocals provided by Ring himself - a truly stunning production. It is one of my desert island tracks!

Arcadia - Apparat.mp3
 
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Here is some more liquid d&b for your listening pleasure, in my humble opinion it is one of the greatest d&b productions of the year, its chock full of subtle gems, including a great little guitar riff at 04:02 - perfect summer listening - 'Back In Time' - Stunna (available here)

Back In Time - Stunna.mp3
 
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Enjoy!