James Blake Ft. Chance the Rapper – “Life Round Here” December 7, 2013
Posted by gwyoung in Music, Music Videos.Tags: chance the rapper, electronica, james blake
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So fly.
Glasser – “Design” September 20, 2013
Posted by gwyoung in Music, Music Videos.Tags: electronica, glasser
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Shabazz Palaces – “Free Press And Curl (Live At KEXP)” May 2, 2012
Posted by gwyoung in Music, Music Videos, Track Reviews.Tags: experimental, hip-hop, rap, record store day, shabazz palaces
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Though a live performance, this version of Shabazz Palaces’ excellent “Free Press And Curl” (the opening track off of their debut album from last year, Black Up) sounds much richer and more vibrant than the original did in its studio incarnation. The Seattle-based rap/hip-hop collective’s bizarre sonic constructions are fully fleshed out in this KEXP performance, from the pulsing mechanical padding that propels the first verses of the track to the ghostly wailing accompaniment behind frontman Ishmael Butler’s resounding exclamations of “I’m free” to the blissful, soothing afro-beat- and jaw harp- inspired cooldown that appears out of nowhere in the last minute. Like Shabazz Palaces’ best compositions, the track leaves you wondering where all of these sounds came from and how they can possibly sound so good together, while the precision and energy of the live show reveal the duo’s true talents as performers and musicians. Have a listen below:
The full performance consisted of this and three other songs, some from Shabazz Palaces’ previous releases and some new, and can be viewed here. The audio was released as a 12″ in honor of this year’s Record Store Day.
Bear In Heaven – “The Reflection Of You” April 3, 2012
Posted by gwyoung in Music, Music Videos, Track Reviews.Tags: bear in heaven, electronica, rock
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This single’s been out there for awhile, and by now it’s probably old news for today’s fast-paced music blog standards. But after listening to it for the umpteenth time today I felt a sudden urge to write a post it here, and I guess it’s good timing considering Bear In Heaven’s sophomore album I Love You, It’s Cool officially dropped today.
2010’s Beast Rest Forth Mouth had plenty of great tracks showcasing Bear In Heaven’s unique styles and talent, such as “Lovesick Teenagers” and “You Do You”, but nothing then or now compares with the sheer brilliance of “The Reflection Of You”. At first it may sound like any old Bear In Heaven track, as it keeps in step with the swirling psychedelic rock and dizzying synth textures of all the rest of their work, but after a few listens its surprising subtlety will break through the stylistic facade and bowl you over with the true greatness of this song. I can’t really place what’s so excellent about it, though I could cite the sentimentally sincere yet somehow estranged lyrics, the atypical danceability of the beats and hooks, or the dynamic textures and structures as prime examples, but it may be that the song’s charm lies in just that elusive allure. Its refusal to be pinned down is what intrigues further listens, and those further listens allow it to latch onto the listener and nestle its way in. We won’t soon be forgetting about this one, even if the rest of the album falls short.
Korallreven – “Sa Sa Samoa (Elite Gymnastics Remix)” March 26, 2012
Posted by gwyoung in Music, Music Videos, Track Reviews.Tags: electronica, elite gymnastics, julianna barwick, korallreven
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Now I’m not at all an expert on 90’s rave culture, but various track reviews and youtube comments have assured me that this Elite Gymnastics remix hearkens back to just that, capturing the euphoria and intense energy present at those drug-fueled all-night beach parties. It’s no coincidence that the album art shows blue pills and the word most commonly whispered throughout this brief masterpiece is “ecstasy”, and it’s definitely not just referring to the feeling. The propulsive drum’n’bass and soaring electronics perfectly encapsulate the essence of a roll: riding upwards until the Whitney Houston-sampling “with somebody who loves me” emotional peak, dropping off into a chaotic din, and finally smoothing over and relaxing through a profound and contented comedown, all in the span of just four minutes. Elite Gymnastics’ original tracks, though just as danceable, are a bit too dark and shadowy for my taste, but when coupled with Julianna Barwick’s angelic vocal sighs and Korallreven’s heavenly atmospherics, the result is pure bliss.
The unofficial video, combining psychedelic images with live footage and Elite Gymnastics’ signature Japanese characters, is right on target with its interpretation. Especially poignant are the text clippings from a pivotal scene in Final Fantasy VII that come at the achingly beautiful end:
DropDeadKxy – Blessa (Toro y Moi Cover) January 13, 2012
Posted by gwyoung in Music, Music Videos.Tags: dropdeadkxy, folk, toro y moi
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My friend showed me this video, and it was so beautiful I just had to share it with, uh, whoever reads this blog. It’s an acoustic cover of the first and only Toro y Moi song I’ve ever enjoyed, “Blessa” (off of the 2009 Causers of This album.) Her voice is stunning:
The Big Pink – “Stay Gold” & “Hit The Ground (Superman)” January 11, 2012
Posted by gwyoung in Music, Music Videos, Track Reviews.Tags: laurie anderson, rock, the big pink
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The Big Pink have a new album out in the near future, and though these first two singles may be old news by now, they deserve to mentioned here, especially because they’re pretty much the only good tracks on the album (though I guess “The Palace” and “1313” can hold their own.) I haven’t listened to their debut, but from what I’ve heard the band has eschewed a lot of the shoegazey production that blanketed A Brief History Of Love in favor of tighter, crisper, and more direct pop songs, and it works quite well for the band. Opener “Stay Gold” has an especially good hook:
And just when you think the fun has ended, they move right into the second track, another hit with a catchy, universal chorus that efficiently samples Laurie Anderson’s breakthrough single, “O Superman (For Massenet)”. I’m especially fond of the latter half of the video, where random people blow raspberries with their lips in slow motion:
Finally, just for good measure, I’ll throw in the original Laurie Anderson track. If you haven’t heard it, give it a listen. Her ground-breaking spoken word vocal experiments are definitely worth any music-lover’s time:
Braids – “Glass Deers” May 11, 2011
Posted by gwyoung in Music, Music Videos.Tags: braids, experimental, live
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Here’s a clip of cute-and-cuddly Braids playing “Glass Deers” live, followed by a video interview of the foursome. They become even more lovable as you get to know them, though it’s hard to put such earth-shattering and heartbreaking music in the context of four relatively normal young adults:
Cut Copy – “Need You Now” February 17, 2011
Posted by gwyoung in Music, Music Videos.Tags: cut copy, electronica
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Cut Copy’s “Need You Now” might end up being the best single of 2011, with its ethereal atmospheric dance beats building up over the course of its six minutes to one of the best climaxes the group has ever created. They could’ve done pretty much anything with the video and it would’ve been good just because of the strength of the song, but what they chose is especially appropriate: athletes from a multitude of different sports storm the stage where the band is performing, begin playing with each other’s equipment, and eventually start wielding axes in a grand melee right when the song reaches its tipping point. It’s light-hearted and comical yet also kind of inspiring, resulting in a perfect fit:
Gold Panda – “Marriage” February 17, 2011
Posted by gwyoung in Music, Music Videos.Tags: electronica, gold panda
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Gold Panda’s videos have always paired visually stunning and emotional footage with the equally beautiful melodies found on his melancholy electronic compositions, and his new one for “Marriage” is no exception. It follows several brightly-colored lantern balls as they pass from hand to hand, both keeping alive the light within and inspiring everyone with whom they cross paths. Though the song has an icy, wintry feel, the warm looks on the human faces and the gently flickering candle flames are enough to fight off that cold:
safer in the dark 