Lately, my taste in electronic music is changing. For a long time I've confined my ears to, for lack of a better word, 'serious' electronic music. What I mean by that is deep, thought-provoking, personal music where it would feel more appropriate to sit and listen through headphones than pump it up and dance throughout the house. I'm not really a fan of this tag '
idm' as 'Intelligent Dance Music' would suggest that other genres are not intelligent. I'd prefer to think of it as my friend once described; electronic music you can't dance to.
But now, I'm starting to find the 'fun' in music that I've subconsciously neglected. I've came to a realisation that not all music has to sound 'intelligent' to be good, and sometimes obviousness can be even more powerful in music than unexpected twists or creative embellishments.
I may be saying nothing new to you, and I know I've certainly heard similar words spoken before, but as it's a new development for me I thought I'd voice it (after all, that's what these journals are REALLY for, aren't they?!).
So I'd like to share with you just some of the artists and albums that have converted my way of listening, and I'd welcome any recommendations you may have for me in response.
The Knife - Deep Cuts (2003)
Best to start from the start.
Deep Cuts has been in my collection for a while now and it was pretty much the beginning of my branching out to more vocal based music. Karin Dreijer's voice and style is so unique that she immediately caught my attention. Everyone should know
Heartbeats but my favourite track after that would be
We Share Our Mother's Health off their intensely engaging album
Silent Shout.
Other superb tracks :
We Share Our Mothers' Health (Ratatat Remix) |
What Else Is There? by
Röyksopp, featuring
Karin Dreijer.
Rex the Dog - The Rex The Dog Show (2008)
I heard the
Heartbeats Remix off this album sometime in 2007 (a while before the albums release) and having not heard of
Rex the Dog, I foolishly thought it would be the highlight of the album. Oh, how I was wrong! Nearly every track has now crept into my favourite iTunes playlists and I strongly regard it as one of the best electro albums of 2008. It's such a favourite of mine that I could write a whole journal about it, so I'll leave it at this: If you check out only one thing from here, make it this album!
What's Good?
Gecko |
Prototype |
The Knife: Heartbeats (rex the dog remix) |
I Can See You, Can You See Me? |
Itchy Scratchy - Fucking ALL of it!
Chromeo - Fancy Footwork (2008)
I've always had a soft spot for the 80s and these guys get it so right. I remember first hearing
Needy Girl off
She's In Control in a club and I mistakenly thought it was a track from the 80s that I overlooked! They've masterfully reinvented the spirit of that era and keep it incredibly melodic with simple textures that often remind me of
Prince's arrangements. Seriously, every track on this album has a hook, and oh yes, it will catch you.
My choice tracks are :
Fancy Footwork |
Bonafied Lovin' (Tough Guys) |
Call Me Up
Various Artists - This Is Not the 80s (2002)
Keeping with the 80s theme, 'This Is Not the 80s' is a
Nu-Wave Electro compilation that I've discovered quite late (released 2002), but it sounds so fresh that I can't see it ageing for many years. The lengthy 2 disc album features some amazing remixes of 80s classics like
Sweet Dreams (originally
Eurythmics, remix by
Miss Kittin & The Hacker) and also some great contemporary originals, with a full throttle 80s vibe of course. I'm not normally a fan of compilations, but the driving motivation throughout makes for a more than worthy exception.
One to check out :
17 Ways To Break My Heart by
DMX Krew
also :
Sweet Dreams Remix
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (2007)
Now, this may seem like a strange album to be featured alongside all this electro, but there are two tracks in particular that I like, well actually, LOVE. They are
Kids and
Electric Feel. The rest I don't really bother listening to.
Kids was the first
MGMT song I heard and it's always disappointed me that none of their other tracks sound anything like it. It's quite an important track for me as well; listening to It obsessively made me realise how unnecessarily serious my listening habits were. It's such a happy tune! <3
Lo-Fi-Fnk - Boylife (2006)
'Happy' just isn't a strong enough word for this album. This is
electropop at it's gayest, and I'm loving it. The highlights are so high that the
Kitsuné synths and junior vocals have me smiling almost instantly, and the lows are the type of sing-along that 4 AM was made for. It feels like genuine naïveté, undergirded by a healthy dose of enthusiasm, and comes out sounding like Daft Punk with hearts.
Love it.
Pick me up's :
Adore |
What's on Your Mind |
Change Channel |
Steppin' Out |
Heartache |
The End - That's almost all of it!
Evil Nine - They Live! (2008)
Three words to describe this album :
Stomping electro horror!
They Live! has to be one of the most uniquely driven conceptual albums I've heard in a while. Some tracks feel like they could have easily fallen into an electro house vibe if it wasn't for the unquestionable and creepy undertones of a pounding rock menace. A surprising like for me, but something this fascinating should not go unheard.
Get these freaks on :
All The Cash feat. El-P |
They Live! |
Dead Man Coming feat. Toastie Taylor
The Presets - Apocalypso (2008)
From stomp to pump,
Apocalypso is one of those albums that will get you and your mates up and ready for a night out on the rinse. It's fist-pumping, bassline throbbing, hip-grinding output is all compiled into a perfect flowing album that seems to be one classic after another. This kind of piston-charged electro is surely meant for the dancefloor, but I find myself shaking my arse uncontrollably everytime I stick it on in the house. For me, this is also one of the best electro albums of 2008.
Get these pumpin' :
Kicking and Screaming |
My People |
Talk Like That
Telefon Tel Aviv - Immolate Yourself (2009)
To finish off this journal entry, I'll leave you with my most recent indulgence. For many,
Telefon Tel Aviv's newly released album
Immolate Yourself has been a shock. Their previous releases are considered to be high quality examples of 'I.D.M.', yet their newest instalment has more elements of
new wave and
synthpop than any T.T.A. album. In fact, many liken it to a mixture of
Apparat and
M83. While some dislike the new direction, I absolutely love it. It compliments perfectly my new found listening habits and I'm sure I'll be listening to this album a lot more in 2009.
The Goods :
The Birds |
Helen Of Troy |
Stay Away From Being Maybe
The End
For those who read all that, thanks for reading! If you have any recommendations I would love to hear them, or even just your opinions on the music.
Thanks!
-
Carl
Lo-Fi-Fnk
