Archive for the ‘Media’ Category

Review: Palmer’s Medic – In a House, Surrounded

Palmer’s MedicPalmer’s Medic, an electronic recording project of a certain Seth David-Andrew Hubbard from southern Utah — Cedar City, Utah, to be precise about things — produces young, fresh music vaguely encapsulatable under genre titles of ambient house, trance, trip hop — terms of that nature. Ambiguous, isn’t it? But that’s the beauty of electronic music, I suppose. At any rate, from the get-go, In a House, Surrounded is an adventurous album: It doesn’t much fit under most specific categorizations (though some would argue that about all music, I am not one of those), which is a bit of a refresher from what’s come to be expected. Of course, most specific genres and descriptions are applied post hoc, so it may be a bit early to consider things of such a nature.

Palmer’s Medic — “M-900″ | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/m-900.mp3]

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Spotlight: A Faulty Chromosome

A Faulty Chromosome / Courtesy of Fanatic PromotionA Faulty Chromosome produces fairly engaging music that, while pulling from a variety of influences, maintains a fairly distinct shoegaze tone. At times a little offsetting, the band doesn’t “pull any punches,” per se, with their usage of several slightly grating guitar tones. Still, the two tracks I’ve posted below, “Jackie O” and” Them Pleasures of the Flesh” are interesting and worthy of a listen, but if you’re looking for the melodic tendencies of Lush, it’s probably best to work elsewhere. This band isn’t going to be known for ethereal, beautiful vocalizations, but more a more-or-less gentle sort of repetitivity that, while not the high point of musical achievement, does provide something interesting and surprisingly listenable, considering. Two tracks are posted below for listening and downloading, and a video is posted after the jump.

A Faulty Chromosome — “Jackie O” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/afaultychromosome-jackieo.mp3]

A Faulty Chromosome — “Them Pleasures of the Flesh” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/afaultychromosome-thempleasuresoftheflesh.mp3]

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Spotlight: Cryv | Japanese shoegaze, huh.

Cryv / via MySpaceIt’s not often I come across something so compelling as this: Cryv is a Japanese shoegaze and electroclash group — they’re twin brothers — that, well, are far from bad. Yes, that’s really just a roundabout way of calling this band good, and they are deserving of more than such clumsy trepidation. Cryv isn’t well known outside Japan, it seems, as a cursory web search will reveal. It’s a pity, really, because this band is really very good. A video for “Lonliness” [sic] from their 2007 self-titled debut is posted below. Check out their MySpace for some tracks.

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Spotlight: Experimental Aircraft

Experimental Aircraft / Courtesy of Graveface RecordsExperimental Aircraft are an interesting group (there are plenty of those out there) that’s releasing their third album, Third Transmission: Meet Me On Echo Terrace on Feb. 26 on Graveface Records. Maintaining a healthy combination of psychedelic influence, dream pop, space rock, shoegaze, and indie seems a difficult feat to juggle, and I’m sure it is — but Experimental Aircraft seem to hold up just fine. Of the four tracks posted below, two are from Third Transmission and are likely to find a home in most playlists of engaged listeners. They’ve found that nice realm of sonic beauty between My Bloody Valentine and driven indie rock, of which there may not be some easily accessible example like MBV — and if there is, I apologize for not simply making something up. The Jesus and Mary Chain, on second thought, might be a nice fit, so let’s shove them in that square hole. Perfect.

At any rate, Experimental Aircraft provide more than a simple, fun listen, though they are undeniably enjoyable; Third Transmission looks to be a release that will be well accepted by the well-intentioned populous.

Experimental Aircraft — “Stellar,” from Third Transmission | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/stellar.mp3]

Experimental Aircraft — “Upper East Side,” from Third Transmission | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/upper-east-side.mp3]

Experimental Aircraft — “Symphony,” from Love For the Last Time | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/symphony.mp3]

Experimental Aircraft — “Electric Surgery,” from Thank You For That Perfect Day… | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/electric-surgery.mp3]

Music Geek #8: Love is… Spiritualized?

Matthew Montgomery wears funny glasses in a Cedar City, Utah park.Let’s get one thing straight: I don’t know what “love” actually means. It’s a terribly abstract thing, and we’ve been taught that it’s some mystical, valuable emotion we should all strive for. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t — but I think I have a vague (and when I say vague, I mean vague) idea of what it is. I’ve certainly felt strong connections before, and if that’s what this is, then perhaps I can affirm some things.

Whatever the case, I love music. Sure, I will confess to ignorance of what love really is (chemical reactions! but isn’t everything? We can break down everything to chemical reactions in mental workings, but it doesn’t bring us any closer to understanding or predicting human action,) but I will likewise profess to be a lover of music.

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Spotlight: Plastic Operator

Plastic Operator / Courtesy of Fine Day RecordsPlastic Operator are an electronic indie pop duo out of the U.K. made up of Mathieu Gendreau and Pieter Van Dessel. Their music is a refreshing change from the typical guitar-drums-bass combination that has dominated the music scene for so long. The beats are thumping and the vocal melodies entrancing throughout their entire debut album, Different Places, which was released on May 14th, 2007 in Europe. They focus mainly on upbeat and catchy songs with an ’80s synth feel, but show their diversity in the song Another Sound, which features a riff ridden guitar solo. In the end, Plastic Operator is one of those bands that’s just fun and enjoyable to listen to. You can check out more of their music and a new video for the song, “Home 0207,” at their myspace page, http://www.myspace.com/plasticoperator.

Plastic Operator — “Peppermint” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/02-peppermint.mp3]

Plastic Operator — “Another Sound” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/08-another-sound.mp3]

Spotlight: Haale

Haale / Courtesy of Planetary GroupHaale, from New York but of Iranian descent, crafts uniquely engaging music that combines progressive rock sensibilities (if there are such things) with traditional Persian style. Her debut, No Ceiling hits shelves March 18. The title track — an interesting juxtaposition of ethereal vocals, orchestral strings, and traditional percussion — and “Chenan Mastam” are posted below for listening and download.

Haale — “No Ceiling” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/haale_-_no_ceiling.mp3]

Haale — “Chenan Mastam” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/haale_-_chenan_mastam.mp3]

Music Geek #7: Chiptune — Is there anything better?

Matthew Montgomery wears funny glasses in a Cedar City, Utah park.

Editor’s Note: The track previously included in this post was not written or recorded by Brandon Harrod of Laromlab, who has recently come forward and admitted to having essentially stolen the tracks and called them his own. More information is available at www.mushpotrecords.com.

That’s a brave question, isn’t it? I thought so. So often my questions are lacking in, well, braveness, so I thought I might give it a try. Still, I’m not sure how brave it really is, though, as it is still a question and not a bold statement. After all, I’m willing to admit some wrong in this.

Anyhow, I’ve been venturing into electronic music lately, as it has been something I’m woefully under-educated in. My good friend Derek, a veteran (of sorts) of electronic music, has been instrumental in this, and perhaps we might call him the catalyst. At any rate, It’s happened.

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