Liam Sullivan's Ideas and Reflections
Sofi Tukker is a New York City based dance pop duo consisting of Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern. You may have heard it before because apparently it’s being used in commercials, but since I don’t have tv I’ve come to it with no preconceptions. Anyhow, a song about friendship is ideal for Thanksgiving weekend, and it also has some nice beats.
The duo from Berlin, Germany, Africaine 808, mixes global music with dance beats. A simple concept but it works oh so well on tracks like “Ngoni.”
I’m adding to my stable of music criticism posts by introducing a new Albums of the Month feature. The basic gist is that on the second Wednesday of the month (or, as is the case when I procrastinate, on Friday), I will write reviews of 3-5 albums released within the past three months (in this case May, June, and July of 2016). If there’s an album you love that you’d like me to review, post a suggestion below. Similarly, if there’s an album you hate that you want me to pillory, also let me know. And if there’s an album you’re timid about listening to and want me to try first, I’m open to anything.
Ratings scale:
***** – An all-time classic album (highly recommended)
**** – Great album (recommended)
*** – Solid album (consider buying or streaming/downloading top tracks)
** – Weak album (only consider streaming/downloading top tracks)
* – Poor album (not recommended)
ARTIST: James Blake
ALBUM: The Colour in Anything
RELEASE DATE: 6 May 2016
RATING: ***
COMMENTS: Blake’s gospel-style voice is paired with electronic sounds or sometimes a piano in this mournful album of love lost and a directionless life. This is a headphone album to hear the textures deep in the sounds in the often spare arrangements. This is not something to put on when you’re already feeling blue. Despite the title, this is a colourless, muted recording.
OUTSTANDING TRACKS: “Points,” “Waves Know Shores,” “Always,” and “Meet You in the Maze.”
ARTIST: Tourist
ALBUM: U
RELEASE DATE: 6 May 2016
RATING: **1/2
COMMENTS: Reminiscent of Passion Pit and Jamie xx, this is electronic music that is danceable but introspective. The standout tracks are excellent but overall it sounds repetitive and dull.
OUTSTANDING TRACKS: “Run,” “To Have You Back,” and “Foolish.”
ARTIST: Radiohead
ALBUM: A Moon Shaped Pool
RELEASE DATE: 8 May 2016
RATING: ***
COMMENTS: Quiet and folky with orchestral flourishes, sometimes reminiscent of Sigur Ros and early 70’s folk pop, This is not as innovative as I’m accustomed from Radiohead and while a worthy addition to their catalog, it’s not a vital one.
OUTSTANDING TRACKS: “Burn the Witch” and “Desert Island Disk”
ARTIST: Flume
ALBUM: Skin
RELEASE DATE: 27 May 2016
RATING: **
COMMENTS:A downtempo electronic album feels the strains of anxiety and uncertainty, especially in the high register vocals of the many guest artists. A few songs stand out, but overall this is kind of a drag.
OUTSTANDING TRACKS: “Never Be Like You (featuring Kai)”, “Wall Fuck,” and “Tiny Cities (featuring Beck)”
ARTIST: Moon Hooch
ALBUM: Red Sky
RELEASE DATE: 10 June 2016
RATING: ****
COMMENTS: This is the latest collection of saxophone tunes with EDM arrangements. Mostly instrumental, but a few vocal tracks (with less sax because they’re singing – duh). A great party record.
OUTSTANDING TRACKS: “Sunken Ship,” “That’s What They Say,” “Something Else,” and “Alien Invasion”
ARTIST: Blood Orange
ALBUM: Freetown Sound
RELEASE DATE: 18 June 2016
RATING: ***
COMMENTS: This album bridges 80s r&b rhythms and sounds (a definite Michael Jackson influence) with socially conscious lyrics. I want to like it more than I do.
OUTSTANDING TRACKS: “By Ourselves,” “Augustine,” “But You,” and “Hands Up”
I believe A Tribe Called Red becomes my first third time Song of the Week honoree with this post. But I can’t resist the Ottawa, Ontario groups mix of electronic dance music with traditional First Nations chanting and drumming. And on “Stadium Pow Wow” they’ve somehow turned this unique blend into a jock jam! The video is spectacular as well.
This week I just feel like zoning out, and have found the relentless rhythms of “Aztec Chant” (Tessela Remix) by Pev to be the ideal soundtrack.
I learned of this through NPR Music’s Recommended Dose who have an excellent playlist of October’s top dance tracks.
Naxxos is an electronic music duo based in Vienna, and “New Orleans” is an electronic dance track enlivened by scorching saxophone solos. What can I say? I grew up in the 1980s.
What are you listening to this week?
My groove this week is “Proxy” by Dutch DJ/Producer Martin Garrix. I first heard this on the most recent Tiesto’s Club Life Podcast. This certainly makes me want to dance, or maybe just strut. Actually, with baseball season starting this week, I think this will be my walk-up music.
What’s making you move this week? Let me know in the comments!
A Tribe Called Red is a group of DJ’s working out of Ottawa, Canada – Shub, Bear Witness and NDN – who mix aboriginal Pow Wow music with electronic dance music with amazing results.
I learned of A Tribe Called Red from NPR’s All Songs Considered coverage of their performance at globalFEST 2013, which you may listen to in entirety at NPR Music.
You may also download their FREE debut album, which I highly recommend.
