What I have been listening to (March - April) 2022
Labyrinthitis – Destroyer (2022)
This album is another offering of Dan Bejar. It feels like his last couple of outputs and that is not a bad thing. He is in the prime of his music auteurship. The well filled frequency spectrum has to be mentioned with this album. He certainly knows how to fill a space and move sounds with interesting panning. His meandering vocals are just as authentic as always. I love these shorter albums that tell a few ideas and then leave. Top tracks include:
It’s In Your Heart Now – Do many wonderful moments of this track: A repeated phrase that is powerful and mantra like that invokes trance: the end guitar riff that pulsates through the center of the b section: the improvised guitars in the left ear that sits at the back, like a ghost. So very considered.
June – A great collection of diverse textures here. A funny set of lyrics also. The use of space and differing non-standard sections is great. The song has a moving groove even with the change up in layers and sections throughout.
Tintoretto, It’s For You – The bass and the drums create a groove that puts you on edge. The narrative plays around this space and grove. The breakdown-chorus is as powerful as the drop in LCD Soundsystem’s “Dance Urself Clean”. The sections come back with new focus layers in every instance. An Incredible work.
Labyrinthis – So many great experimental ambient ideas: Electro-acoustic sampling, long held pads, beautiful piano to add structure and gorgeous layers. Couldn’t ask for a better kind album break.
Fool – Mk.gee (2018)
This album has a very chill vibe. The production is complex, shimmery and full. This all adds to the artist’s dream like quality. The variety of electronic textures are beautiful, and they mix with the lovely acoustic sounds like the vocals and the guitars. My favourite tracks are:
Come On (You Know I’m a Fool) – What a great hook this song has. It sticks around in your mind for days. The more indie reggae feel of this track is almost beachy and something I haven’t heard in while. A wonderful pad steel drum sound fills the gaps between the guitars and the vocals.
Num – It takes a back seat and has a slow build up to the main riff of the track. A great little number that doesn’t overstay its welcome. The phaser laden guitars are lovely.
Brick – The simple chords with the arpeggiated line in the background, lay the groundwork for a magnificent climax to the piece. It is mystical and cloudy in all the best ways.
Once Twice Melody – Beach House (2021-2022)
An interesting concept, that goes through four discs in four staggered releases. A lot of Beach House’s previous works have been considered in their track order, and through single record sides. This follows the usual Beach house sound with arpeggiated guitars, organs and beautiful, luscious vocals. This does not detract from its beauty. Seems like this album has a more unified experience in mind compared to their last couple of offerings. It is a good move in terms of the modern streaming need for fans to listen to their works over and over, plus the marketing of so many releases keep them relevant. This album is clever and engaging. My favourites off each offering is:
Superstar – A great chugging guitar chord part that keeps the song moving along. The rigid vocal melody is quality here. The sustained, wonderous organ pads are glistening and gorgeous. There are some nice effects that promote the sonic context at the end.
New Romance – What a beautiful organ part in this song. The vocals are haunting in this track. It is full and overwhelming at times. Gorgeous.
Sunset – The chord progressing is moving. The mix between electric and acoustic guitar is beautiful. The call and response vocals with the light mixing are melancholy and unforgettable. The strings, pad sounds and reversed samples all add to this wonderful tune. Probably my favourite from the album.
The Bells – This track changes things up. The country vibes are strong, with slide and acoustic guitar. The organ takes a back seat as a mid-range bass line. A cute little story.
Temple – Thao & Thao & The Get Down Stay Down (2021)
Some standard pop production seen here. Clean and organised. It gets the work done, and fits the style. The vocals are a type of melodic rap that is intriguing. The multiple harmonic layers are a nice touch in many tracks. Listening to the deluxe version of this, I get some cool strings focussed mixes of tracks on disc 2. Some of which are better than the originals in my opinion. This album has more character than it lets on. Top tracks include:
Lion and The Hunt – A great descending chord progression, messy middle section, and sonic narrative; all culminate to create a groovy vibe this track.
Pure Cinema – Clean and thick textures in this song. The drums have a great large sound, and there are interesting breaks in this song. The vocals have an angular melody at times, which is also nice.
How Could I – The addition of the high frequency triangle wave synths is nice. It features a cute little narrative, and the tune generally is very catchy.
Disclaim – The start of this track is a nice alternative shift. The general use of space and rhythm makes for a strange beat generally. A great time in the album to shake things up! The bass line, the scratching and the left field vocals give it real character.
Rhinestones – HTRK (2021)
Nothing on this album is trite or inauthentic, it just fits how it should. There is some beautiful simple production: some reverb, delay and chorus - it is necessary and (I can’t believe) not overdone. The acoustic guitars are clean but folky. Her vocals are dreamlike and inspiring. It doesn’t overstay it’s welcome (something I have been saying a lot of recently) and makes the one not feeling a lot more palatable. Top songs:
Sunlight Feels Like Bee Stings – Beautifully haunting processed guitars in the back give it character.
Fast Friends – A lovely narrative, it feels so authentic. A great beat out at the end.
Real Headfuck – The electric drums are a nice change at this point in the album, so is the more Nico style deeper melancholic vocals.
Reverse Dejavu – Wow, what an intriguing opening, such a luscious tune.
Antidawn EP – Burial (2022)
Burial is back with another sample driven, moody album. This album encompasses ideas of electro-acoustic genres, soul, electronica, DnB and more. There is some serious variety that leads to an overall surprisingly consistent sound. The range of samples and filters, lead me sown a journey that is poignant. There is a short track count here that goes for the longer than standard electronic track length.
Shadow Paradise – The samples in this track range from vinyl hiss, pads chords timbres that invoke wonder, acoustic guitar, wholesome vocals, tape inserts, white noise and so, so much more. It has a beautiful narrative and tone, that develops over the length of the track.
New Love – The vocal samples are rich. The pad sounds move across the work and shimmer out to the very end. It is a bit of a “wow” moment of the record.
Upstairs Flat – This has a great end to the album. The opening synthesized swell drones, the melodic droplet pads, the strange electro-acoustic samples that play once or twice. It just ends in such a strong place.
