Category Archives: Adventures In Modern Music
In Search Of Hanni El Khatib
Garage-rock revivalism holds a certain amount of sway over me, especially the type Hanni El Khatib has assembled on Will The Guns Come Out (Innovative Leisure). Most likely my interest has something to do with an adolescence steeped in power-chord worship.
Tim Hecker: “Dropped Pianos” (2011)
Recommended listening from ambient sound master Tim Hecker, the man responsible for last year’s Ravedeath, 1972 (Kranky) album. Dropped Pianos, a collection of what Hecker refers to as “piano-based sketches,” were written during the recording process for Ravedeath.
As a press release points out: “This is not a new Tim Hecker album, but rather a peek behind the curtains into…
Ray Cappo’s Moment Of Clarity
In this essay from October of 2002, Ray Cappo (Youth of Today, Shelter) rails against the holier than thou mindset of a hardcore scene he helped create. He calls himself out while addressing the judgmental nature of straight edge and the rigidly conservative movement it evolved into.
El-P: “Drones Over BKLYN (Uncensored)”
Yesterday El-P, godfather of all things grimy in hip-hop, released “Drones Over BKLYN (Uncensored),” one of the tracks from Cancer For Cure, his forthcoming LP due out on Fat Possum Records early next year. The original version of the track was released through the 2011 Adult Swim Singles Program, which has become a strange and increasingly reliable place to hear…
Das Racist: “Michael Jackson”
Brooklyn’s Das Racist have a new track called “Michael Jackson.” It’s the first single from Relax, the group’s debut album due out September 13th on Greedhead Music. Listen if you’d like.
Pusha T ft. Tyler, The Creator: “Trouble On My Mind”
Pusha T collaborates with Odd Future’s Tyler, The Creator for “Trouble On My Mind,” from Pusha’s upcoming Fear Of God Part 2: Let Us Pray EP on G.O.O.D. Music/Decon/Re-Up Gang. Behind-the-scenes look at the making of the video here.
Wugazi: “Sleep Rules Everything Around Me”
Everything about Wugazi makes me want to roll my eyes. The winking acknowledgment of how clever the name is. A Tumblr website primed for “Likes.” The fact that it seems to have been created with the sole intent to go viral. The seemingly nonsensical mashing of two things unlike the other. All these factors incited my inner curmudgeon. But then…
Derek Allen: “Spirits In The Material World”
Derek Allen, longtime in-house producer at Mad Decent, is releasing a five-song EP next week titled DJA EP. Included on the release is a dubstep version of the Police’s “Spirits In The Material World,” from the album Ghost In The Machine (1981). Listen to the track below, full preview of the EP here.
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]…
Company Flow: “N2N Burners Lost Mix”
In rap nostalgia news, Company Flow (i.e., El-P, Bigg Jus, and Mr. Len) are reuniting for a show next month, their first in over a decade. According to the press release, it’s already sold out. So, no tickets for you (or me). Today, as a lead-in to the reunion, El-P released this lost mix of “N2N Burners” from 1998.
R. Stevie Moore: Godfather of Home Recording
According to The Wire, “Lo-fi musician R. Stevie Moore is to embark on a tour for the first time in his 40-year career. His decision to tour has been propelled by the support of his fans for his new album Advanced. The 59 year old, well known for self producing over 400 lo-fi releases on his label R Stevie…
The Jealous Guys: “Brainwashed By London”
I want rap to surprise me, like the first time I heard Run D.M.C. in the mid-1980s or Wu-Tang Clan during high school. Or that time my friend had a Jeru the Damaja tape in the deck of the Cadillac he inherited from his grandfather and it was all I could listen to for weeks straight; or that stretch…
Premiere: Grails ‘Deep Politics’ Album Teaser
Portland post-rock band Grails have released a teaser for their new album, Deep Politics, scheduled to come out in March 2011. As always, the imagery is weird/hypnotic, handled by drummer/multi-instrumentalist Emil Amos, who recently released his own solo album as Holy Sons called Survivalist Tales!
Southern Lord: In Search of Big K.R.I.T.
It’s been a weird few days. I got a call last week to write a profile of Mississippi rapper/producer Big K.R.I.T. All I knew about K.R.I.T. at the time was his track “Hometown Hero” and that he was friendly with Hazelwood‘s own Wiz Khalifa, the two having toured together. After looking through his catalog though, it turns out K.R.I.T. may…
Die Antwoord: Straight From The Horses Piel
Admittedly, I’ve mostly ignored Die Antwoord and the obsession many have had with the South African hip-hop trio the last year and a half. So when Kobus Holnaaier’s short film Straight From The Horses Piel (video below) made its rounds a few weeks back, I paid little attention. I finally took in the film this morning however, and holy shit.…
Isao Tomita’s ‘Firebird Suite’
Isao Tomita is a pioneer in the field of experimental electronic music. In the 1960s, he was an early adopter of synthesizers (specifically the Moog III) after being inspired by the work of composer/electronic musician Wendy Carlos. This past Saturday, I stumbled across a copy of Tomita’s Firebird Suite (1975) on vinyl and had to pick it up. Included below…
Clipse debut “Freedom” from Til The Casket Drops
The new Clipse single/video for “Freedom” picks up where Hell Hath No Fury left off. Malice and Pusha-T’s execution in craft remains, as it has for over a decade, some of the best in hip-hop. The Virginia Beach duo consistently releases powerful, resonant hip-hop. They unapologetically rap about women, cars, clothes, and jewelry. But they then counterbalance their swagger…
