Max Ventura Posted January 9, 2001 Share Posted January 9, 2001 Hi guys, I'm back from ski vacation safe & sound. Here's a list of what's out now by extremely cutting edge musicans/producers worldwide that display NEW sounds and NEW production techniques, both with classic and new instrumentation. Being the US mostly a guitar rock country, there isn't much of this music available over there, but, take it as a piece of advice from a colleague, you owe it to yourself to find out what's being done at the moment in the high circles of musical avantgarde, because these very sounds and production techniques will spill over to the mainstream in a year or so anyway, and you'll likely find them in Shania Twain or Sheryl Crow next albums. These recordings are not necessarily my favourites, nor they all belong to the same type of music; actually, two of them quite get on my nerves. But given the complexity and depth of the production, the respect they get from specialized music mags and fellow hipsters, they are the yardstick in winter 2001. On the other hand, if you are from the "Get yer guitar and play a no-bullshit tune" party, kindly skip this post altogether. -Goldfrapp, "Felt Mountain" (UK; Morricone-like atmospheres with great depth, from friends of drum'n'bass stalwart Tricky) -Peace Orchestra, same title (Austria; from Peter Kruder of house/acid jazz duo Kruder & Dorfmeister) -Jaffa, "Elevator" (Germany; jazz-a-nova noodlings with solid beats that never miss the point and a late '60 brazilian vacation atmosphere) -Aerodynamics, "Courmayeur" (Italy; Austin Powers meets Trent Reznor and they have a fistfight) -Bent, same title (UK; slow-beat pop merging into pure artistic freedom) -Air, "The Virgin Suicides Soundtrack" (France/U.S.; the soundtrack to Sofia Coppola's latest movie. A bit grim, but majestic). -Towa Tei, same title (Japan; swinging' vintage-sounding pop monuments with loops coming from everywhere, from former Dee-Lites DJ) Some of you might have noticed the total absence of American productions in this list, and also there's no guitar rock or hip hop. The reason being that in my opinion those genres are too hyped and way too commercialized already, or they offer at the moment no particular innovation or excitement. Also to be noted that a few of the abovementioned recordings are mostly instrumentals, with the odd vocals here and there. There is in fact a resurgence of the instrumental ambient music with a beat and a purpose, lately. Nothing to do with new age or the sparse ambient of yesteryear. This message has been edited by argomax on 01-09-2001 at 06:06 AM Max Ventura, Italy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miroslav Posted January 9, 2001 Share Posted January 9, 2001 Any online audition/purchase sources? miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo-eberhardbluewin.ch Posted January 9, 2001 Share Posted January 9, 2001 Hi argomax isn't this Bent stuff a band from Switzerland? Jo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curve Dominant Posted January 10, 2001 Share Posted January 10, 2001 >>-Peace Orchestra, same title (Austria; from Peter Kruder of house/acid jazz duo Kruder & Dorfmeister)<< Ciao Massimo, come stai? I'm definitely gonna look for that one. I have several CDs by K&D, including "Conversions," "The K & D Sessions," and the K7 DJKicks compilation they did. Those two are a favorite in this household. Towa Tei sounds interesting (he had a funky animated video out a couple of years ago) so I'll look out for that, and I know the Goldfrapp release has GOT to be good. Yo Massimo, have you checked out Theivery Corporation? They're from D.C., an international acid-bossa sound. You would dig it. Welcome back, compadre! It's been kinda lame around here lately - we need more classy muthaf*ckas like you. Chi centiammo presto... Eric Vincent (ASCAP) www.curvedominant.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Ventura Posted January 10, 2001 Author Share Posted January 10, 2001 Ciao Curve, come stai? Si', conosco Thievery Corp., e' molto buono; in fact, the Jaffa record I mentioned is somewhat similar, although a little more keyboard-oriented and less vocal. But get the Goldfrapp first, which is the best of the lot, starting with the title track. Hi Miroslav: I'm sorry, I don't really know the website but I'm sure they're easy to find. I hope you aren't upset with me about the Elvis post... http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif Hi JoEberhard: I don't know if Bent are Swiss, I was lookin' at the back of the CD and it seemed the production was english, which amounts to the same in the end... Max Ventura, Italy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooreman.marcskynet.be Posted January 10, 2001 Share Posted January 10, 2001 Max, like those things you mention, it's more my taste then rock or hip hop . But as far concerning guitars in 2000 :check Dead Man Ray "Trap" (yeah ,they're also from Belgium- cut my arm off for this chauvinism) It gave me the same feeling as the early WIRE records ,late 70's/early 80's especially Chair's Missing . (& maybe i just cut my nails) Also loved the 3rd Amon Tobin "Supermodified" , more & more organic & the feel of Dj Shadow , at least that's what i sense . And the last of David Holmes ," Bow down to the exit sign" , although not as essential as his second ("Let's get killed") . And oh yeah, Stereo MC's made a nice DJ Kicks on K7 - still waiting on new things from them ... and from Nicolette .. A little question , Max , do you have any idea how K&D get that misty sound ? Marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Ventura Posted January 10, 2001 Author Share Posted January 10, 2001 Misty sound...misty sound... I can't get the figure, Marc... que'st que tu voulez dire? Max Ventura, Italy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooreman.marcskynet.be Posted January 10, 2001 Share Posted January 10, 2001 Errrr, Max, you see misty like in...fog... What i mean , it' not sharp , more etheric (whataword) as if it is coming from some Spacey*Bilitis*Saturn kinda planet... As on their K&D Sessions, the beginning of "Bug Powder Dust" on the 1st cd, or even more on the 2nd cd: the sound as on the beginning of their own Boogie Woogie : now ain't that fog........? They even fogged Madonna on her Nothing really matters It has that grainy sphere , or is it just an old Tape Echo ? I thought some kind of compressor , but it's hard to ask to someone who doesn't know the kind of music . So i'm askin' you BTW still in doubt between the pod & the Zoom GM200 Marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miroslav Posted January 10, 2001 Share Posted January 10, 2001 Originally posted by argomax: C...Hi Miroslav: I'm sorry, I don't really know the website but I'm sure they're easy to find. I hope you aren't upset with me about the Elvis post... http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif No way...never get upset over that kind of stuff, and I'm always looking for new non-middle-of-the-road music. I alwasy felt that European music was more on the cutting edge, but man, don't knock the American guitar-chunka-twang stuff either. It is very primal, and goes great with a couple of beers, know what I mean? Ciao miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Ventura Posted January 10, 2001 Author Share Posted January 10, 2001 Marc, they do use a lot of analog tape-echo kinda stuff, and I think they even master down to two-track half inch, like Air, like Fatboy. Ciao Miroslav. Max Ventura, Italy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curve Dominant Posted January 11, 2001 Share Posted January 11, 2001 Marc had a good point about K&D, their mixes do sound smokey, like a plush dark groove lounge where folks are smoking hashish. It's a sound character that permeates their mixes, a kind of trademark style that they seem to aspire to. The tape echo is definitely a factor, and they seem to darken the samples EQ-wise. They also mix some samples in behind the beat a little to create a languid atmosphere. There's never a sense of urgency in K&D, it's always laid back. Very chill. Good stuff to put on when yer in the sack gettin' some jiggy-jiggy. Ya'll should check out an outfit from the west coast US called Mephisto Odyssey, their new CD is called "The Deep Red Connection." Very funky, trippy, upbeat. Slammin'. Eric Vincent (ASCAP) www.curvedominant.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Ventura Posted January 11, 2001 Author Share Posted January 11, 2001 Curve, you said you were gonna mail me something? Max Ventura, Italy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooreman.marcskynet.be Posted January 11, 2001 Share Posted January 11, 2001 Smokey, thats the word ,thanks Curve ! And i dont think it is that simple to acchieve . Although it's always laid back ,theres a lot going on in their mixes . But then again i guess they learned by doing it .They got smokier all the way, if you compare their early stuff to their current output . Great artists/mixers IMO . Oh and another good 2000 one was -as always- THETHE - or was NakedSelf 1999 ? Anyway, MattJohnsons always good at least You guys let us know what your kicks were in 2000 - musically i mean Marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curve Dominant Posted January 12, 2001 Share Posted January 12, 2001 >>Curve, you said you were gonna mail me something?<< I'm gonna email you about that Massimo. I wanted to finish a few new jams first, but it's coming. Eric Vincent (ASCAP) www.curvedominant.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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