Berkeley Place » Electronica http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com A little bit of BK in VA Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:56:37 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 JAD FAIR+HIFIKLUB+KPTMICHIGAN-Bird House http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2012/02/01/jad-fairhifiklubkptmichigan-bird-house/ http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2012/02/01/jad-fairhifiklubkptmichigan-bird-house/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:47:09 +0000 ekko http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/?p=10509 This is just weird shit.  It’s frickin great, but it’s weird.  The artist:  Jad Fair + Hifiklub + kptmichigan, one thing will become universally true: good plus good plus good plus good plus good does indeed equal “great”.  The album: “Bird House.”  According to the press, Jad Fair was  a “founding member of Half Japanese, and collaborator with a slew of artists including Teenage Fanclub, Yo La Tengo, Sonic Youth, and Daniel Johnston.”  The other two folks are French and German, respectfully.

Bird House is limited to a one-time pressing of just 300 hand-numbered 12″ records. This single-sided LP features original Jad Fair artwork which is screen-printed directly on Side B of the record, and is packaged in a picture-disc sleeve. The first 45 copies are pressed on translucent gold vinyl with black ink (pictured at left), and 255 copies are pressed on translucent yellow vinyl with red ink.

Let’s Win

]]> http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2012/02/01/jad-fairhifiklubkptmichigan-bird-house/feed/ 0 RAE SPOON-I Can’t Keep All Of Our Secrets http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2011/12/21/rae-spoon-i-cant-keep-all-of-our-secrets/ http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2011/12/21/rae-spoon-i-cant-keep-all-of-our-secrets/#comments Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:23:53 +0000 ekko http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/?p=10250 Here’s one that almost made my best of 2011 lists.  In fact, I think I’ll tag it accordingly, even though it just didn’t edge out the competition.

Rae Spoon, formerly of Saved By Radio, operates out of Montreal and makes mellow indie electronica that recalls the best non-dance Sinead O’Connor tracks.  I guess I’ll mention taht Rae is transgendered because all the press releases say that–but I don’t see how it matters.  The music is what matters.  And it’s tremendously deep and soulful–something rare for electronic music, frankly.


Rae Spoon Ghost Of A Boy


Rae Spoon Are You Jealous Of The Dead?

Here’s Rae covering “All the Single Ladies.”

]]> http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2011/12/21/rae-spoon-i-cant-keep-all-of-our-secrets/feed/ 0 BATTANT-As I Ride With No Horse http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2011/12/15/battant-as-i-ride-with-no-horse/ http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2011/12/15/battant-as-i-ride-with-no-horse/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:47:55 +0000 ekko http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/?p=10207

“Garage electronica.”  That’s what Battant is.  Coming out of London, the “band” Battant make electroclash with a distinct indie/rock and roll edge.  I dug this record, but I’m having trouble finding much out about the band. Perhaps that’s because Joel Dever, the main creative force behind the band, passed away a few weeks before this album was completed.  Damn shame.

Buy/Stream here.

]]> http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2011/12/15/battant-as-i-ride-with-no-horse/feed/ 0 BIKINI-R.I.P.J.D.S. Remixed + THOR HARRIS http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2011/12/06/bikini-r-i-p-j-d-s-remixed-thor-harris/ http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2011/12/06/bikini-r-i-p-j-d-s-remixed-thor-harris/#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:32:24 +0000 ekko http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/?p=10126 Two for today!  First, a wild electronic album from Thor Harris, “A Post Apocolyptic Tale of Friendship.”

Truly astounding soundscapes and collages.  It’s the soundtrack to a book or something, but it’s amazing.  Get it here.

Sample track three.

Thor Harris Track 03

Bikini‘s latest EP is, for some reason, in memory of JD Salinger.    I don’t know much about the electronica “band,” (other than that it’s two dudes), but I like what I hear.

Get it here.

Here’s the video for “ACheerlaeder.”  Be careful.  It’s wild.  And it’s got naked boobies in it!

]]> http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2011/12/06/bikini-r-i-p-j-d-s-remixed-thor-harris/feed/ 0 HOLMES-Covers http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2011/11/18/holmes-covers/ http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2011/11/18/holmes-covers/#comments Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:23:43 +0000 ekko http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/?p=10067 2011 is definitely the year of the cover. And Holmes‘ project is “another one of those.” But it’s also one of the more unusual of the lot. Ice Cube’s “It Was a Good Day” becomes a sunny single.  “You Dropped a Bomb on Me” becomes a 1970s AM single.  My favorite Jacksons tune is still funky, but now sounds white and nerdy.  “Don’t Be Cruel” sounds like electronica Beatles.  My second favorite Genesis song is a straightforward pop.  (My favorite one is “Man on the Corner,” in case you were wondering.)  Musically, it’s tight and fun, with gues appearances by Joel Shearer (Damien Rice, Alanis Morissette), Chris Bruce (M’chelle Ndegeocello, Sheryl Crow) Lawrence Katz (Bosstones), and Michael Jerome Moore (Blind Boys of Alabama, Better Than Ezra).

Wild, wild stuff.  And make sure you don’t leave before the end, or you’ll miss the a capella ELO cover.

It Was a Good Day (Ice Cube cover)

A few other versions…

It Was A Good Day-The Ride

Quagmire Swim Team’s version

And here’s my second favorite Genesis song, but not the Holmes version.  You’ll have to buy the album to get that.

That’s All-Claire and the Reasons

And here’s the vid, which I highly recommend.

]]> http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2011/11/18/holmes-covers/feed/ 1 JAVELIN-Canyon Candy http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2011/04/05/javelin-canyon-candy/ http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2011/04/05/javelin-canyon-candy/#comments Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:28:17 +0000 ekko http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/?p=8363

David Byrne digs Javelin so much he had to put them on his label. And yes, they are that good.  More producers than performers, the Brooklyn duo have self-released a 2009 album (Jamz N Jemz) that got some blog love, a few singles, and one proper album (No Mas).  Now, they’ve taken their odd computery sensibilities to the music of the way out west.  Yeah, digital cowboy music.  Like the soundtrack to a David Lynch western or what you hear in the background of an Austin, Texas slaughterhouse, this is some of the coolest, spookiest, whacked out weirdness you’ll ever be lucky enough to hear.

Each “song” is short–they’re more bits and pieces than songs–and fun as hell.

Love this album!

Cowpoke

Love Gulch

 

If Javelin’s new album is an inspiration to you maybe you should think about cutting an album yourself.  You could visit http://www.nationalpayday.com to take out enough money to buy some instruments or to get some time in a recording studio.

]]> http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2011/04/05/javelin-canyon-candy/feed/ 2 40 WATT HYPE; BRITISH SEA POWER http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2010/10/18/40-watt-hype-british-sea-power/ http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2010/10/18/40-watt-hype-british-sea-power/#comments Mon, 18 Oct 2010 09:27:44 +0000 ekko http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/?p=7393

A few shots from the mailbag that you might want to hear . . .

40 Watt Hype

Soulful, experimental live-band hip hop, with that Central Mexicali flavor.

Echoes (Art Hodge Remix)

British Sea Power

You guys probably know all about BSP.  They’ve been around forever, and this is their most listenable album yet.  Which is to say, I really dig all their work–I just don’t find it very accessible.  This one seems to be an effort to broaden their audience, and it’s much appreciated.  Great stuff.

Zeus

GASLAMP KILLER

I’ve heard about this guy for a while now, so I was happy to get this promo.  From his “Death Gate” EP on Brainfeeder Records, it’s 15 minutes of wild electronic-based music.

When I’m In Awe (ft. Gonjasufi)

]]> http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2010/10/18/40-watt-hype-british-sea-power/feed/ 1 MOCK AND TOOF-Tuning Echoes http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2010/07/29/mock-and-toof-tuning-echoes/ http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2010/07/29/mock-and-toof-tuning-echoes/#comments Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:38:25 +0000 ekko http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/?p=6725

I know nothing about UK producers Duncan Stump (Mock) and Nick Woolfson (Toof).  I’ve read that “Tuning Echoes” is their debut full-length.  And electronica, producer-driven music isn’t really my thing, so I’m not claiming to be an expert, but I’m pretty sure this is a good album.  Yeah, it is.  I know it.  It’s pretty low-key and mellow, gentle and rhythmic, with shades of Junior Boys and Laurie Anderson.

For fans of: Junior Boys, Little Boots, Hot Chip, DFA, LCD Soundsystem.

Suppress Your Feelings

]]> http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2010/07/29/mock-and-toof-tuning-echoes/feed/ 0 MOBILE WASH UNIT http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2010/07/12/mobile-wash-unit/ http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2010/07/12/mobile-wash-unit/#comments Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:07:57 +0000 ekko http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/?p=6793

Tent is the debut album by Mobile Wash Unit.  Sunny New York Electronica.  I don’t have a lot to say about the record, but I did enjoy it and wanted to throw some love their way.

Hybrid Killers

]]> http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2010/07/12/mobile-wash-unit/feed/ 0 ROBERT SVENSSON-The Beat (EP) http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2010/05/10/robert-svensson-the-beat-ep/ http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2010/05/10/robert-svensson-the-beat-ep/#comments Mon, 10 May 2010 23:28:13 +0000 ekko http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/?p=6402 Like a hyperactive Postal Service, Robert Svensson‘s “Beat (EP)” whispers a few warm up electronic clicks then kicks in with a rapid, nonthreatening beat, a quick electronic piano line, and fevered, gentle urging: “When the night comes to dress you in the blackest of blues, be sure to remember the sound of feet against cold ground.”  The words are images–their purpose isn’t clear, they’re there for mood over meaning.  Hit the chorus: “Let the wind do the crying for you, for the fever in your heart, it grows and grows.”  The second track on the three-song EP has lead vocals by a female, and whoever she is, her sound is too shoegaze, too light, too breathy for Svensson’s intricate, borderline techno beats.  It just doesn’t work.  Fortunately, Svensson returns on the Cars-meet-Moby track “Unpredictable.”  All in all, it’s a whole lot better than I expected it to be.  Especially that first track.

Best of all: If you sign up for his newsletter, you can get the whole EP for free!  Go here for details.

Robert Svensson is from Sweden, and already has a full album (“Young punks are on the never-never”) behind him.

Beat

Older Svensson:

Robert Svensson – 1987 (feat. Adam Olenius)

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