bvdub - A Prayer to False Gods

2009
Shoreless Recordings
Buy

6.5/10

At its most banal, A Prayer to False Gods sounds like the jarring hum of unshielded stereo wire. But when bvdub (San Francisco disc jockey Brock Van Wey's nom de guerre) hits his stride, the result is nothing short of sublime...(Read more at the Silent Ballet)

Ricardo Villalobos - Enfants

I guess I missed the boat that everybody else in the DJ world got on a year ago, and that is Ricardo Villalobos. Holy shit, this guy's awesome.

Here's a quick offering of what he's got. Enjoy!

***

Michael Jackson: 1958-2009

Farrah Fawcett, eat your heart out. So ends one of the most tragic sagas in American pop culture. Rest in peace, the King of Pop.

***
Thriller - Michael Jackson (The song by the man that changed everything)

Nicker Hill Orchestra - All the Different Deaths...and Rebirths

2009
Self Released
Buy

7/10
All the Different Deaths...and Rebirths does not break very much new ground as standard genre fare. But Nicker Hill Orchestra, given the confines in which they work, provide enough embellishment to - however incrementally - advance the post rock sound a few steps into the future...(Read more at the Silent Ballet)

Boxcutter - Arecibo Message

A few months ago, as I was travelling the world of breakbeat music in search of fun tracks, I stumbled upon a neat drum and bass outfit called Boxcutter.

So this morning, as I was perusing that other website I write for, I was very pleasantly surprised to see that name, "Boxcutter", under the list album reviews posted this morning. Lo and behold, it was the same DJ as I had heard previously!

Christa Macnaughton has written a very nice review of his newest album, Arecibo Message, so be sure to check it out.

Songs of the week: 6/16/09

Ah. Summer, while not "officially", is officially here. Hazy, hot, and humid - with the reliable afternoon thundershower. Don't you love Florida summers?

***songs of the week #25

1. At Least I'm Not As Sad As I Used To Be - fun. (This is an awesome track from the after-project of the Format and Anathallo)
2. Nothing Pure Can Stay (Live) - Audrye Sessions (Hell yeah)
3. Kids (MGMT Cover) - The Kooks (I'd hope that, unlike with the original, people make actually take heed of the chorus: control yourself, and don't overplay this track. Take only what you need!)
4. Autumn Beds - Modest Mouse (Another new Modest Mouse song! Off of their upcoming 7")

The Prodigy - Warrior's Dance (South Central Remix)

Nothing vital today, just riding a wave of elation from last night's victory over the Orlando Magic. Congratulations to my favorite Los Angeles Lakers on Phil's 10th, the franchise's 15th, and Kobe's first championship without Shaq.

Here's a pretty killer remix to what was already a stand-out track from The Prodigy's Invaders Must Die. Enjoy!

***

aMute - Infernal Heights For a Drama

2009
Still Records
Buy

3/10

To hear it told by many, the Belgian experimentalists aMute have crafted a desolate, nuanced aural landscape in Infernal Heights for a Drama. And while I acknowledge that it is not fair to fault aMute for delivering something which deviated from my expectations, it is fair to fault them for a meandering, directionless array of noise...(Read more at the Silent Ballet)

Riding Alone For Thousands Of Miles Interview

So, uh remember Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles? You know? That one band? Released the best album of 2008? Ringing any bells? No? Come onnn!

Well, regardless, there is an interview with them over on a somewhat mysterious website called "Five Questions" that might be of interest to all you fans of obscure, up-and-coming post-rock.

Nothing really revealing in the interview though: no news of the album that they've been working on, no new tracks - just a little bit of insight into the thought process behind their work thus far. Either way, enjoy.

Songs of the week: 6/9/09

It's been a hot minute since the last Songs of the Week, and I felt like it was high time for a return. Only two tracks this week, both of them hot and fresh out the proverbial oven.

I'm still in search of this year's summer song, but the second track certainly carries potential. Be sure to tell me what you think.

Happy listening!

***songs of the week #24

1. D.O.A. (Death of Autotune) - Jay Z (I'm not yet sure where I stand on this track - the production is killer, but Jay's verses might leave something to be desired. Time will tell)
2. Jeffer - Boys Noize (Hell to the yeah; I can't wait to see him spin at Summer Stage in August!)