Indie Shuffle » Nicole Cifani

Bloc Party – Four

Nicole Cifani — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 23:08:03 +0000

Sounds like: Kele, Friendly Fires, Two Door Cinema Club, LCD Soundsystem, Gang of Four

Song: Bloc Party - We Are Not Good People [download here]

What's so good?

The critically acclaimed, indie rock quartet Bloc Party are back with an unexpected new sound on their first album in nearly seven years.

The debut Silent Alarm (2005) introduced the band’s punchy, shouty, “almost-dance-music-but-not-quite” style that was welcomed by the music community with open arms. In a post-millennial blur of UK bands like The Libertines, The Kooks, and Maximo Park, Bloc Party ran the pack of being just talented enough, just cheeky enough, and just unpretentious enough to suggest something new.

Their unpresumptuous and approachable style made it easy to connect with fans while solidifying relationships with young party promoters across the globe. This led the band to eventually finding — and owning — their righteous place in the burgeoning indie rock community. Whether it was lead-singer Kele Okereke’s unique vocals or “Matt the drummer” and his elevated drum technique, Bloc Party ran a cool factor that has always been completely unique and untouched by any other band.

As evident on each album in their discography, the band has always excelled at nailing and even forecasting particular trends in music. The first singles we heard all the way back in 2004 were simple melodies driven by staccato-laden lamentation – not dissimilar from bands like LCD Soundsystem, The Rapture, and other Gang of Four-inspired groups also gaining momentum at the time. Their second album, Weekend in the City, was a nod to indie disco that continued to speak to the dance music crowd and indie hipster alike.

Fast-forward to now.

Four, the band’s first album since 2008’s electronic-heavy Intimacy, retains the sentiment. We hear Kele plunge deeply into lyrics surrounding fame, society, and relationships. The band goes on a relentless rock spree, gently acknowledging the resurgence of alt 90s rock and post-hardcore – without allowing it to take over their sound entirely.

The title track of the album, “Day Four,” is signature Bloc Party material. The listener hears steady drums, lilting, melodic vocals paired with soaring guitar and trembling bass. Other tracks like “We Are Not Good People” have the same listener double-checking the iTunes playlist to see if they’ve stumbled across an old Nickelback song.

While there are no immediate standouts, Four is a good listen. It’s well-rounded, confident, and a complete body of work that supports their natural evolution as a band, and growth as individuals.

Fellas – welcome back.

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1. Original post: Bloc Party – Four

2. Posted in: indie rock, dance, rock, two door cinema club, lcd soundsystem

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Analogue Monsta – Boom

Nicole Cifani — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 16:09:50 +0000

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Sounds like: Flying Lotus, Teebs, Nosaj Thing, Tokimonsta, Suzi Analogue

Song: Analogue Monsta - Time To [download here]

What's so good?

The cultural scene in East Los Angeles has been exploding for quite some time, and in the electronic music community there’s one night commonly known as the place to be. It’s called the Low End Theory, and it goes down every Wednesday night at a unassuming location called The Airliner in L.A.’s Lincoln Heights.

Once a low-key local night attended by DJs and aspiring producers, art students and their significant others, the party has quickly grown to become a world-renowned launching pad for heavy-hitting electronic artists like Flying Lotus and Nosaj Thing.

Two of these talents have teamed up for a duo unlike any other. The group, aptly named Analogue Monsta, is comprised of Suzi Analogue and TOKiMONSTA. And together, they forge the perfect blend of emerging talent and nu-school artistry.

TOKiMONSTA is a producer at-large – a highly-sought after femme fatale whose textured electronic landscapes have just the right amount of deconstruction to elegantly cross genres while defying what we’ve traditionally come to define as mainstream appeal.

Like many of her peers in a similar genre (Flying Lotus for one), Toki has the flawless ability to deconstruct drum patterns, implement arresting bass lines, and keep the most cynical of listeners guessing at each turn. If the walls of the food truck begin rattling, it’s likely that Toki has just taken the stage.

Suzi, known for signature sultry vocals falling somewhere between Erykah Badu and the late Aaliyah, brings a new panache that is raw and defining of a new generation.

On “Boom,” Suzi Analogue’s vocals lend just the right amount of footing and upright persuasion to make each song on the full-length collaboration a thoughtful listen.

“Boom” is out now via Scion A/V.

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1. Original post: Analogue Monsta – Boom

2. Posted in: Electronic, female vocalist, Experimental electronic, Flying Lotus, glitch-hop

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Virtual Boy – Virtual Boy

Nicole Cifani — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 15:49:01 +0000

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Sounds like: Ratatat, Nosaj Thing, Caribou

Song: Virtual Boy - Empty Place [download here]

What's so good?

What happens when classically-trained musicians go head-to-head with electronic instrumentation? Answer: a place where theory clashes happily with informed chaos.

Meet Virtual Boy: the duo comprised of Preston Walker and Henry Allen, two former music students from Chapman University. Recent grads studying under the infamous talent and mad scientist Steve Nalepa, they’re part of the East L.A. scene that gave birth to the rise of other prominent electronic music artists like Flying Lotus, Nosaj Thing, and The Glitch Mob.

Regulars at Low End Theory and promoters in their own right for a new project called Team Supreme, Virtual Boy are part of a movement that shakes up electronic music in a big way.

The self-titled album, released earlier this year, is a thoughtful and meticulously constructed blend of the old informing the new. Each song flows into the next, sequenced and with a particular movement in mind – not dissimilar from material of the classical variety. The album remains varied yet consistent. Songs like “Empty Place” are arresting from the start, grabbing one’s attention with a deep bass line; while other tracks like “Memory of a Ghost” are haunting and slightly more textured.

The informed present of a musical past – the future is here.

You can grab a download of the first single from the album, “Memory of a Ghost,” in addition to remixes of Grimes and more at their SoundCloud page.

“Virtual Boy” is out now on Alpha Pup Records.

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1. Original post: Virtual Boy – Virtual Boy

2. Posted in: Electronic, dubstep, glitch, caribou, ratatat

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Mount Pleasant Sympathy Orchestra – Can I Convince You

Nicole Cifani — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:03:44 +0000

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Sounds like: Memoryhouse, Sparklehorse, Brian Eno, Slowdive, Foxes in Fiction

Song: MPSO - Can I Convince You [download here]

What's so good?

MPSO, or Mount Pleasant Sympathy Orchestra, is the side project of Toronto-based Daniel Gray of the dream pop band Memoryhouse.

Self-described as “atmospheric, indie electronic, folk, minimalist-maximalist doom,” Gray’s work ranges from gentle musings to a smart cover of indie singer à la mode Lana Del Rey. In this, he demonstrates not only a diverse range but a certain niche-defining panache.

His talent doesn’t immediately make clear his expertise in Memoryhouse as first and foremost a drummer. What it does bring to mind is the broader function of the backbone of any group – the relationship of a rhythm section to the band that begins with a beat parlaying into bass rippling outward, leadership qualities often sprouting behind the scenes. In MPSO, Gray makes his craft loud and clear as producer at-large with great things on the horizon.

A Tumblr blog serves as home to each song alongside personal and mostly casual notes from the author. It serves as his public sketchpad – a place for musings and revelations, new demos and fresh reworks. Each post is a gem in which we discover the backstory behind each new bit of music as it’s published. Even if you’re not looking for music, the blog is an excellent example of the 1:1 connection every musician should have with his or her audience.

The first MPSO album, Wisdom Teeth, is coming as a free download this month. See the announcement along with tracklist here.

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1. Original post: Mount Pleasant Sympathy Orchestra – Can I Convince You

2. Posted in: Electronic, dream pop, dreamwave, memoryhouse, foxes in fiction

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Live in Los Angeles: Tycho

Nicole Cifani — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:11:42 +0000

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Sounds like: Ulrich Schnauss, Caribou

Song: Tycho - Dive (Radio Edit) [download here]

What's so good?

As I exited Hollywood’s Music Box last Tuesday night after being blown away by Girls, a smiley dude approached with a handful of flyers for an upcoming show. “Tycho, at the Echo?” he said with a grin, half-expecting me to blow him off on the unusually chilly evening as show goers quickly walked by. “What?! Yes. I’ll take one!” I tucked the flyer neatly into my handbag, gingerly placing it on my desk the next morning like a newborn baby owl. Not only in a semi-reverent state of my recently neglected lifeline for live music, but to also serve as a reminder to buy tickets, dammit!

I was eager to get lost in the live setting that only Tycho’s signature stylings can provide. Tycho is an artist in every sense of the word: a musician, a virtuoso, a creator, and an artistic treasure of our generation. A thoughtful sea of his gentle and expansive electronic beats can heal even the crustiest of curmudgeons from the inside out!

And I also had two drink tokens burning a hole in my pocket, leftover from a speaking engagement at The Echo a few weeks back!

Tycho, known in the design world as ISO50, is the one-person prodigy of Scott Hansen. Hailing from San Francisco, the West Coast inspiration is absolutely evident in his work. His sound matches to pictures through his video installation work and invokes visuals of endless coastlines, waves moving in a rhythmic slow motion, and the warm feeling of sunshine on the back of your neck. The soaring ambient rhythms are beautiful in any setting. Paired alongside a backing band and live video projections, his dreamlike landscape truly comes to life.

As I listen to it now while nursing coffee and avoiding doing “real world things,” I can’t help but notice how the album sounds somewhat bottled in comparison to the full, sonic soundscapes appropriate to music of the electronic genre, particularly when a full band is involved. Not only a treat but circumstanced evidence that the live music experience will never die.

Tycho’s new album Dive is out now on Ghostly International.

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1. Original post: Live in Los Angeles: Tycho

2. Posted in: Electronic, ambient, downtempo, chillout, tycho

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Alaska In Winter – Suicide Prevention Hotline

Nicole Cifani — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:00:20 +0000

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Sounds like: Beirut, Fredrik, Perfume Genius

Song: Alaska In Winter - Demons [download here]

What's so good?

Suicide Prevention Hotline is a deeply moving EP from a young artist who has been through hell and back very early on in his career. After experiencing a rough patch during a financial dispute with his former record label, he went into a downward spiral that led to a struggle with substance abuse, an eating disorder, and suicidal contemplations that eventually took him to a mental institution.

Bethancourt has channelled this story into his latest body of work — a collection of deeply personal songs that exhilarate and provoke as he dives deep into an emotional state while remaining confident and close to the ear of the listener. We’re allowed entry to his world and experience what it means to be down and out — in the deep recesses of questioning everything we know, who we are, and who we’d like to be.

Hailing from New Mexico, the name Alaska In Winter is derived from a time when he spent half a year in Alaska recording remotely in a cabin. The result was his debut album Dance Party in the Balkans released in 2007 to critical acclaim and featuring vocals from a young Zach Condon (Beirut).

Since then, he’s gone on to release several singles, 2008′s full-length Holiday, and a limited-edition cassette-only release called Space Eagle [the motion picture soundtrack].

And now, Suicide Prevention Hotline. The featured track “Demons” is both sublime and cathartic, venturing into his signature polish that gently steers us in a direction that demonstrates how art is not only vulnerable, but absolutely true.

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1. Original post: Alaska In Winter – Suicide Prevention Hotline

2. Posted in: Electronic, electro pop, electro dance, beirut, alaska in winter

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Emika – Emika

Nicole Cifani — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:00:29 +0000

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Sounds like: Burial, James Blake, Portishead

Song: Emika - 3 Hours [download here]

What's so good?

Poignant yet fierce, striking and soft, the UK-born and Berlin-based Emika is a much needed beacon in electronic music, a space seemingly laden with emo-ridden dudes sporting thoughtful beards with a five o’clock silhouette for any given niche.

Emika shakes things up by bringing some serious skin to the game. She’s a force to be reckoned with — the anti-Ellie Goulding — leaving behind anything sugar-coated and sweet that offers a gently affected tonality for remixers to deepen. Emika singularly achieves depth by speaking through her superb technical and artistic prowess. Her style is unique with a tonality that’s consistent. And this is just her first album.

The standout track “3 Hours” drives a steady beat with a riding bass line that allows plenty of room to get lost on the dance floor. Tunes like “Professional Loving” cut to the chase with a waltzing piano line that meanders and terrifies all at the same time.

Cooler than cool, Emika worked as a sound designer for Native Instruments, the tech company that brought us music production & DJ tools like Maschine and Traktor. She began making field recordings from the legendary Berghain nightclub just last year and records in her bedroom.

She’s the other girl — the one we outwardly shutter yet identify with deep down on the inside. She’s full of emotion and truth, and while not always overt in her messaging, will always call it like it is. Emika is the girl we want to be (or be with) in the end, but never will because we’re too chicken shit to go there.

She’s the one who describes what it’s like to feel dark and twisted, on the opposite end of everything shiny and bright because let’s face it, you know you’ll always be the kind of other girl.

Emika’s self-titled album is out now from Ninja Tune.

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1. Original post: Emika – Emika

2. Posted in: Electronic, dubstep, trip hop, Burial, portishead

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Eleanor Friedberger – Last Summer

Nicole Cifani — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:00:30 +0000

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Sounds like: Feist, Cat Power, Joan as Police Woman

Song: Eleanor Friedberger - My Mistakes [download here]

What's so good?

I saw avant-pop duo The Fiery Furnaces perform an acoustic set a few months back at the Largo in L.A. and was immediately captivated. The first thing I thought about was the remarkable result of the brother and sisters’ stripped-down set paired to their signature poetic lyrics.

“The cool affectation of Matt and Eleanor is gripping – they’re clearly favoring their art over any commercial notion of entertaining that coerces objectification.”

The second thing I thought was: ”God I’m starving! What’s for dinner?”

I had listened to albums by The Fiery Furnaces in the past. And like many artists, it took going to a live performance before I really understood what they’re all about. I expressed interest on Twitter that night for a book of their lyrics to read. Like a changing green light at just the right moment before pause, I was thrilled to learn that there was in fact such a book.

Arty? Refreshingly so. Entertaining? You betcha. Spoken word tends to validate itself well, particularly so on paper.

I felt the same serendipitous happiness the moment I learned a debut album from Eleanor (who’s part of The Fiery Furnaces) was well on it’s way. I think I actually squealed when I saw the link, and squeaked something the opposite of arty as I waited for it to download.

And the debut doesn’t disappoint. Last Summer is a brilliant piece of work that veers in a pop direction, perfectly fitting for a mid-summer release.

The overall mood is bright, while Eleanor reminisces on past experiences on songs like the opening track “My Mistakes” and “Inn of the Seventh Ray.” The mood continues to stay melodic as each song ventures from one moment in time to the next.

The album is full of witty, subversive, and reworked lyrics, with occasional interplay of stepping chords and steady tempos we’ve come to know from her work in The Fiery Furnaces.

It’s an enjoyable album from start to finish — an excellent debut from an artist who lives up to the very meaning of the word.

Last Summer is out on Tuesday July 12.

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1. Original post: Eleanor Friedberger – Last Summer

2. Posted in: indie rock, indie pop, pop, feist, cat power

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

SBTRKT – SBTRKT

Nicole Cifani — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:30:14 +0000

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Sounds like: James Blake, Jaime xx, Burial

Song: SBTRKT - Ready Set Loop [download here]

What's so good?

There’s something to be said about the anonymous producer, the artist who chooses to hide behind a mask and forgo all marks of physical identity. Greats like MF Doom, Deadmau5, and the gents from Daft Punk all perform in disguise. Why do they present themselves this way? In a culture where the creator can play the part of celebrity, is it a noble effort to force the hand of the art itself? Is it an attempt to retain personal privacy while in the public eye? Or is the artist simply… shy? What’s going on behind the mask?

Whatever the reason, SBTRKT is a producer who clearly puts his musicianship first by eschewing all norms and expectations for a mostly — in the traditional sense of the genre — electronic record. That’s not to say it’s not an innovative album. In fact, the opposite is true. SBTRKT incorporates the wobbly, arrhythmic sensibilities of fellow electronic and R&B line-toers like James Blake, Com Truise, and Jaime xx while infusing his own point of view.

We hear hints of dubstep paired with a similarly clean production sound, developed with the finessed ear of maybe a daylight-driven Burial or simplified Clubroot. The silent upbeats we hear are filled with meaning, just as the vowels omitted from his name.

SBTRKT’s live performance decidedly retains all drops of quality, a shrewd move in breaking the US market. Self-aware of his roots as a DJ/remixer, he reassuringly replaces the stereotypical laptop/lava lamp combo with a swift and sure inclusion of organic rhythms alongside lush electronic beats.

Right now is an exciting time for re-invention in electronic music. Much of this is happening in London with SBTRKT at the forefront of the DIY scene. And it’s hard to ignore him stateside when big artists like Drake are lining up to contribute a verse or two (listen to his remix of “Wildfire“).

SBTRKT has confirmed a few NY area shows with more to come. See the tour dates, watch video, and more: http://www.sbtrkt.com

The self-titled album is out this week.

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1. Original post: SBTRKT – SBTRKT

2. Posted in: Electronic, dance, dubstep, James Blake, Jamie xx

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Other Lives – Tamer Animals

Nicole Cifani — Sun, 29 May 2011 16:19:38 +0000

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Sounds like: Wolf Parade, Shearwater, The Decemberists

Song: Other Lives - Tamer Animals [download here]

What's so good?

Whether you’re a serious music aficionado or someone simply workin’ the biz, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by all the great new material out there. And with the amount of great stuff coming at us from seemingly every angle, it becomes difficult to tune in to everything that piques our interest — let alone find time to connect with that one great album.

That personal connection is at the root of what makes music great. Somehow, we need to get back to that crazy-good feeling of wanderlust. You know, the emotional part of the music experience that’s all about getting lost and descending deep within those arresting waves of sound.

The sophomore album from the Oklahoma-based band Other Lives makes that kind of connection. Tamer Animals is a homegrown effort, yet perfectly polished. It’s unassuming, lush, and extraordinarily layered.

This album is a rare listen, perfectly suited for getting completely absorbed in alone at home, and at the same time it’s seems exclusively created for the mere purpose of levitating alongside hundreds of others in a live performance setting.

The album isn’t overtly trying to get to this place, which is exactly why it works. It’s devoid of the hype-delivering force majeure, lending itself to discovery as great music often does. Ultimately, it’s a well-produced, thoughtfully crafted album that’s inviting to connect with on each and every listen.

Download “For 12″ for free, stream the album, watch videos and more at http://otherlives.com.

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1. Original post: Other Lives – Tamer Animals

2. Posted in: indie rock, folk-rock, wye oak, wolf parade, the decemberists

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Atmosphere – The Family Sign

Nicole Cifani — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:00:32 +0000

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Sounds like: El-P, The Roots, 7L & Esoteric, Murs, Aesop Rock

Song: Atmosphere - She's Enough [download here]

What's so good?

Atmosphere returns with their seventh official studio album, The Family Sign, perhaps their most personal album to date.

As one of the most powerful storytellers in hip-hop today, MC Slug tackles issues close to the heart using past experiences to weave rhymes that are anything but superficial. Slug’s unmistakable voice describes losing friends, gaining new ones, and celebrating the people you love. The album reflects on larger concepts like life and death, love and loss, friendship, and knowing when to let go. Songs like “Bad Bad Daddy” take a dark turn, while singles like “She’s Enough” are upbeat and celebratory.

For those new to Atmosphere, the indie Minneapolis hip-hop group is comprised of Rhymesayers founding member MC Slug and producer Ant. On this record, they team up with keyboardist Erick Anderson and guitarist Nate Collis to give the album an edgy rock hybrid sound that’s definitely worth a listen. The album came out last week, so definitely be sure to check it out!

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1. Original post: Atmosphere – The Family Sign

2. Posted in: hip-hop, rap, underground hip hop, the roots, atmosphere

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Dirty Vegas – Electric Love

Nicole Cifani — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:02:58 +0000

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Sounds like: Groove Armada, Way Out West

Song: Dirty Vegas - Emma [download here]

What's so good?

When changing gears for an upcoming album, it’s not unusual for an electronic artist to succumb to a particular metamorphis tending to be slightly more in tune with popular contemporaries across all genres. What? Wait a minute, is that a nice way of saying “selling out?”

Thankfully, one of the best things about the new album from the Dirty Vegas fellas is that Electric Love does the complete and utter opposite. The record picks up right where things left off seven years ago with their last full-length, One. No easy task! They’re not having an identity crisis. They’re not trying to go the way of electro, rave, rock, or heaven forbid, anything “wave.” Dirty Vegas has written a brilliant album that’s current, relevant to the dance music community, and catchy as hell.

The album goes in different directions but remains contant to their dance music roots. We hear big, club-ready dance tunes (“Little White Doves,” “Electric Love”) and more downtempo tracks tinged with hints of disco (“Emma”).

It’s a well-produced album that is definitely worth a listen.

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1. Original post: Dirty Vegas – Electric Love

2. Posted in: Electronic, dance, house, bag raiders, dirty vegas

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Fujiya & Miyagi – Ventriloquizzing

Nicole Cifani — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:46:53 +0000

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Sounds like: Hot Chip, Playgroup, Maximum Balloon

Song: Fujiya & Miyagi - Sixteen Shades Of Black & Blue [download here]

What's so good?

Are you someone who needs several listens to an album before knowing whether or not it’s a keeper? And not just because you’re drinking whiskey at 1am while texting your significant other and watching Tech News Today with the volume way down? This is what they’d call a hypothetical situation. I digress.

Ventriloquizzing is the fourth studio album from the electronic trio Fujiya & Miyagi (note: they are not a duo, nor are they Japanese).

The first time I spun it, I didn’t understand the album at all (effects of aforementioned whiskey aside). It didn’t sound like the same Fujya & Miyagi who brought us the sly and snappy beats on tracks like “Collarbone,” or the rhythmic and somewhat quizzical lyrics about ice cream on “Knickerbocker Glory.”

On the second listen, I began to realize that, yes, the album is different, but in a good way. It’s much more layered in production and lyrically darker than to be expected. It’s clearly still F&M, but transmitting directly from a deeper and darker universe.

On Ventriloquizzing, expect more clever word play (“Taiwanese Boots,” “Minestrone”). You’ll also hear a unique marriage of the elegant with the just as equally disturbing. The track “OK” features a warm, beautiful keyboard melody with the chorus repeating “Let me whisper in your ear, tell you it will be okay.” The song “Pills” and “Sixteen Shades of Black & Blue” feature dark subjects while keeping the tone steadfastly upright.

On the fifth listen, I felt privy to someone else’s personal exploration. It was almost like I was listening to something I shouldn’t be — the feeling I’d imagine (again, hypothetically) if I happened to stumble across someone else’s private (or…Live?) journal.

Anyway, expect an album that’s darker, deeper, and more advanced than anything Fujiya & Miyagi has ever written. It’s a body of work that leaves you wondering what, exactly, came from the shattering side, the aftermath, and the wonderful wreckage that inspired it.

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1. Original post: Fujiya & Miyagi – Ventriloquizzing

2. Posted in: Electronic, indie rock, synth-pop, hot chip, caribou

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Gang of Four – Content

Nicole Cifani — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:01:58 +0000

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Sounds like: The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Joy Division

Song: Gang of Four - You Don't Have To Be Mad [download here]

What's so good?

The latest album from Gang of Four, the iconic English post-punk group from Leeds, has been in the making for a while — Content is their first album of all-new material in sixteen years.

Known for their punchy, funked-up bass lines, distorted guitar, and hooky, shouty vocals lamenting social and political ills, 1979’s classic release Entertainment! has been cited as a trailblazer by many — a must-have recording that inspired bands from Fugazi to Rage Against the Machine to Nirvana.

While many groups have attempted to replicate Gang of Four’s exceptionally distinct sound, few have come close. As one of the leading bands of the late 70s and early 80s post-punk movement in Britain, they’ve been referenced recently in the emergence of the dance punk, synth-sprinkled crossover genre that birthed the likes of The Rapture, !!!, Bloc Party, and Radio 4.

Content is a groovy, kinetic piece of work that takes the listener on a journey from the arresting (“Who Am I?”) to the sublime. It calls to mind the original influence derived by the bands’ many imitators (evident in the drum and bass interplay on the downbeat track “A Fruitfly in the Beehive”). Diverse and brilliantly produced, the album opens with the powerful track “She Said” — a jump-starter that invokes fire in what’s to come.

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1. Original post: Gang of Four – Content

2. Posted in: 80s, post-punk, post-rock, new-wave, joy division

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Com Truise – Cyanide Sisters EP

Nicole Cifani — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 18:13:23 +0000

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Sounds like: Baths, Chad Valley

Song: Com Truise - Cyanide Sisters [download here]

What's so good?

A highly anticipated debut for the electronic space in 2011 comes courtesy of bedroom producer Com Truise.

While pioneering at the time, the traditional forms of IDM, glitch, and synth-pop have become seemingly derivative as an overwhelming amount of producers use the form as a template for their sound. A new chapter has been long overdue, and part of the story continues in 2011 with a new breed of artists who incorporate the sounds we grew up on – alongside inspirations of styles from other genres we’ve seen since.

Com Truise moves the needle forward with raw, beat-driven drum machine grooves underlying a thick layer of ambiance; controlled, tight-rope walking synths topped with a sprinkling of warm italo discotheque. His Facebook page describes the sound as “electronic, slow-motion funk, synthwave, tape,” calling to mind an algorithm-based Chromeo or lo-fi, slowed-down version of Dam Funk.

The Princeton, NJ producer has a string of remixes under his belt for the likes of Neon Indian and Twin Shadow. The single “Cyanide Sisters” is available now on the compilation We’ll Never Stop Living This Way: A Ghostly Primer.

The EP Cyanide Sisters is available for free download on Com Truise’s website.

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1. Original post: Com Truise – Cyanide Sisters EP

2. Posted in: Electronic, synth-pop, ambient, chillwave, lo-fi

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Interview: Evan Voytas – Tomorrow Night We’ll Go Anywhere

Nicole Cifani — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 20:13:22 +0000

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Sounds like: Selebrities, Chad Valley

Song: Evan Voytas - Tomorrow Night We'll Go Anywhere [download here]

What's so good?

Evan Voytas effortlessly traverses the atmosphere with his music — and it may or may not be related to his traveling past. Born and raised in rural Pennsylvania, he moved to Harlem at 18 and on to the California desert before deciding to hang his hat in the fair city of Los Angeles.

Along the way, he’s released a series of EPs and singles that retain a steady and sure undercurrent of dreamy, synth-infused pop. The sound feels timeless in nature and reflects a deep-seated spirit of easygoing travel, dream, and wonder.

Below, read an interview with Evan about his current collaborations (Gonjasufi, to name a few), mysticism serving as inspiration, and his decision to move to Los Angeles.

Who are some of your early musical influences? How do you think they shaped the creative process of your craft, in particular, Tomorrow Night We’ll Go Anywhere?
One of the first concerts I saw was Elton John and Billy Joel on their “Face to Face” tour. I still really love both of them. I like how each of their albums is a presentation of where this person is at right now, and it somehow fits in with the times. Maybe that’s not true for them now, but they both had a good run. Tomorrow Night We’ll Go Anywhere is just a document of a certain time in my life, and now I’ll do something different.

When creating the EP did anything unexpected happen? Did some things come more easily, or more difficult than as planned?
I guess when I set out to write music I hope everything that happens is unexpected. When you’re open to that sort of thing, the music usually has more life to it. But nothing tangibly unexpected happened. Like Bow Wow didn’t show up at the studio or anything.

Being from Pennsylvania originally, what brought you to L.A.?
I had already lived in New York and out in the desert, and a lot of my friends were heading to L.A., so that’s where I ended up too. Also, I felt that the type of music I was creating was well suited for L.A., that the aesthetic was a nice match.

What inspires you?
I don’t listen to a lot of music. Mostly I’m inspired by writers, usually writing about mysticism, dudes like Ram Dass, Stephen Levine, Thomas Merton, Alan Watts, and I really like Hermann Hesse and Henry Miller.

Who would you love to collaborate with?
Right now I’m starting some collaborations with Mainframe, Danny Brown, and Gonjasufi. I’m really excited about all of those, we’ll see what comes of it.

Tomorrow Night We’ll Go Anywhere is out now courtesy of experimental pop label Cascine.

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1. Original post: Interview: Evan Voytas – Tomorrow Night We’ll Go Anywhere

2. Posted in: electro pop, chillwave, dream pop, dreamwave, dreamy

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Aeroplane – We Can’t Fly

Nicole Cifani — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 22:28:42 +0000

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Sounds like: Daft Punk, Acid Washed

Song: Aeroplane - Superstar [download here]

What's so good?

The first full-length from Belgian-Italian act Aeroplane is a genre-bending journey of groovy cosmic disco rock. The album, produced and written by Vito Deluca, is one-half of the duo known for their party-starting DJ sets and stellar remixes of artists like Friendly Fires, Sebastien Tellier, and Grace Jones.

Influenced by the recently revived nu-disco and Balearica scenes, there’s no restraint of exploration to be found on We Can’t Fly. The overall vibe of the record is varied and not at all limited to the dance music space. The MySpace page for Aeroplane page cites Giorgio Moroder, Abba, and Pink Floyd as inspirations, and while influences from across the musical spectrum are normally a good thing, this time around the journey becomes difficult to follow. The songs go from atmospheric rock (like on the opening track “Mountains of Moscow”), to hints of disco (“We Can’t Fly), to electro (“Superstar”), rendering the album somewhat identity-less.

The guest vocalists reflect the same sentiment, going from grandiose diva on one track to a quiet whisper on the next. While mixing it up is usually a good thing, a steady underpinning of context is always good to anchor the record – and it’s somewhat difficult to find one here.

Overall, the album is a venture into the electro galaxy with no clear destination. It begins to pick up towards the end of the LP with the song “Fish in the Sky,” but still sounds like a first trip into space.

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1. Original post: Aeroplane – We Can’t Fly

2. Posted in: Electronic, house, psychedelic, nu disco, disco

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Glasser – Ring

Nicole Cifani — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 21:53:52 +0000

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Sounds like: Warpaint, oOoOO, Teengirl Fantasy

Song: Glasser - Mirrorage [download here]

What's so good?

Glasser, a.k.a. Cameron Mesirow, is relatively new to the scene — her debut EP Apply came out only last year — but her music sounds much more developed than most artists typically do at this point in their career. Her album, a piece of music way larger than the sum of its parts, incorporates intricate arrangements, brooding synths, and sophisticated vocals, weaving a story larger than any individual single can tell.

For a taste, visit the opening track “Apply.” You’ll hear an echoing, percussive stomp juxtaposed against floating and ethereal vocals. At many moments, like on the tune “Mirrorage,” all the layers become stripped away and slowly build, with the emphasis placed on her voice as she sings about love and lost trust.

Ring, out now on True Panther Sounds, is right up there with other must-haves of the season in that dark, witchy vein like oOoOO, Deerhunter, Warpaint, and Salem. She’s is on tour now, playing a few dates at CMJ before heading west.

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1. Original post: Glasser – Ring

2. Posted in: female vocalist, dreamwave, deerhunter, glasser, witch house

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Live in Los Angeles: Zowie

Nicole Cifani — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 20:02:22 +0000

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Sounds like: La Roux, Lady Gaga, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Song: Zowie - Love Demolition [download here]

What's so good?

Some artists have that creative force that sucks you in right away. The type of energy that, when the artist is on stage, you can’t help but be totally and utterly fixated in their presence. This was the case with New Zealand-based Zowie (pronounced zo-ee) at her U.S. debut held at L.A.’s Viper Room on Friday, October 15.

A younger, bubblier, and punk-poppier version of Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the 22-year old Zoe Fleury jump-started the crowd with her heavy, electro-laden songs backed by a guitarist, drummer, and synths. Her petite frame bounced across the stage in hot pink Doc Martens, singing, yelping and occasionally chatting with the crowd from behind thick black bangs and a low-slinging angular bob.

Despite the sparse crowd in attendance (it was the first show of the evening at 8pm), everyone was immediately hooked. As I looked around, folks were bobbing their heads, snapping photos, and cheering the newcomer on.

Sharing management with The Presets, Zowie’s signed to Sony Music overseas and her debut is due out sometime next year. Her single “Broken Machine” debuted within the top five on the singles charts in Australia and New Zealand. She’s now off to NYC, where she’s scheduled to play six shows at the CMJ Music Festival.

In the exclusive Indie Shuffle interview below, Zowie talks about the origins of the band, her inspirations and dream collaborators. Check it out!

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1. Original post: Live in Los Angeles: Zowie

2. Posted in: female vocalist, electro pop, dance, la roux, zowie

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

The 88 – The 88

Nicole Cifani — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 22:05:24 +0000

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Sounds like: Pavement, The Flaming Lips, The Solids

Song: The 88 - Center of the Sun [download here]

What's so good?

The 88 are a four-piece rock band hailing from Los Angeles, CA. They’re known for unexpected and powerful live shows and even have some songs that have garnered various licenses in films, TV shows, and television commercials. Band members Keith Slettedahl (vocals and guitar), Adam Merrin (keys), Todd O’Keefe (bass guitar), and Anthony Zimmitti (on drums) have been together in a band since 2002 and were originally friends since high school.

Over the years, the band has opened for acts like The Flaming Lips, Elliot Smith, The Thrills, and Matt Costa, among others. The guys seem to have a blast playing together — and it definitely comes through both live and on record.

Their self-titled sixth studio album signifies a momentous return to their signature hooky and hi-energy sound. The album is a great listen – it’s a swaggering, strutting romp mixed with a few slow-slung ballads for good measure. Stand-out tracks include “They Ought to See You Know,” “As Far As I Can See,” and “Center of the Sun.”

If you happen to be in the Southern California area, the record release party is Tuesday, October 12 at the Troubadour in Los Angeles.

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1. Original post: The 88 – The 88

2. Posted in: indie rock, rock, alternative, the 88

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Interview: Nite Jewel – Am I Real?

Nicole Cifani — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 20:57:40 +0000

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Sounds like: The Chromatics, Supreme Beings of Leisure

Song: Nite Jewel - Am I Real? [download here]

What's so good?

The debut EP from L.A. native Ramona Gonzalez, a.k.a. Nite Jewel, is a listen reminiscent of the time – 20 years ago, give or take – when electronic music was all about experimentation. Back before it splintered into dozens of sub-genres, before mainstream was quick to name (and music fans were quick to hate on) the term “electronica,” the mood seemed more about self-exploration and creating art.

Going back to that place of invention, the self-released Am I Real? is a uniquely personal and intellectual take on that time. Her live show, well-assembled and concise, adds to the dreamy, cosmic, lo-fi and somewhat retro aspects of the record – certainly the beginning of something great.

I had the opportunity to ask Ramona a few questions about her inspiration, production process and more:

I loved your live show the other night at the Troubadour. How did the band come together?
Cole who plays keys and guitar is my long time collaborator. I stole him (back) from Ariel Pink back in spring 2010. I asked Corey Lee on bass to be a part of the band about a year ago. I met him when I first moved to L.A. It was ’07 I think; I was jamming in the early hours with some friends near his bungalow and that’s when we met. Gavin, the drummer, I met through Andrew and Daniel Aged of Teen Inc. Julia Holter is an old friend from early L.A. days like Corey. I’ve been a fan of her music for years now and we have always liked singing together.

Who would you love to collaborate with?
I’ve done a number of collaborations recently with the likes Dam-Funk, Teen Inc, and Heart Shaped Rock. These have been truly rewarding, but right now I’m really trying to focus on the new Nite Jewel full-length, and with instrumentalists and vocalists who are working directly on my recordings with me (e.g. my band). Ideally, I would like to do a remix for Autechre, but I don’t think they do that sort of thing.

I read somewhere that your musical inspiration includes everything from Kraut Rock to New Age. In general, who are some of your artistic influences, music or other?
Ah the inevitable question. For some reason, I think perhaps because I’m really tired, I will answer this question directly for the genres just mentioned. In Krautrock, I’d say I’m very influenced by Kraftwerk’s early Ralf & Florian records, CAN’s Future Days, Amon Duul II’s Wolf City and Only Human, Neu! 75, Cluster’s Curiosum, Zuckerzeit, Sowiesoso, and Grosses Wasser, and the many solo recordings and collaborations manifested therein. For New Age, to name a few: Iasos, Ojas, Constance Demby, Collie Ryan, Larkin, and Michael Stearns (esp. Planetary Unfolding).

When creating the EP, was there anything about the creative process that was more challenging than you thought it would be? On the other hand, was there anything that came easily?
I’d say the most difficult thing was writing to Logic for the first time. Writing to a computer took getting used to and I’ll never like it as much as tape. There was too much ease that came with it and it definitely was like putting up a fight with my conscience. On the other hand, it does allow for minute editing, which allows for more “sheen.” But being deep in the sheen is never good. All the songs came naturally. They always do, otherwise I scrap them.

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1. Original post: Interview: Nite Jewel – Am I Real?

2. Posted in: Electronic, female vocalist, experimental, dreamwave

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Interview: Baths – Cerulean

Nicole Cifani — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 01:01:26 +0000

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Sounds like: Dosh, Daedelus, Bibio

Song: Baths - Aminals [download here]

What's so good?

Baths is 21-year old Will Wiesenfeld, a So-Cal native who grew up in the San Fernando Valley. Playing various instruments since the age of 4, he began to produce electronic music at 13. Recording under the monikers [Post-Foetus] and Geotic, both projects combined sound design, ambient soundscapes and live instrumentation, laying the groundwork for what was to come.

Baths, the next installment of Will’s musical evolution, takes his artistry to another level in all aspects of being a self-taught musician, songwriter and producer. The much-anticipated and multi-dimensional album is where his influences collide, merging musically-trained sensibilities with the nuances of electronic music – fittingly par for the course in a time when the boundaries between the two are becoming increasingly blurred.

Below, Will speaks to his process, inspirations, and more:

What was the writing process like for this record? As your first LP under the name Baths, were there any new discoveries?

I made sure that nothing was premeditated. Most of my material under the name [Post-foetus] had very specific ideas before i ever sat down and started recording, but (at least for this first album) I wanted a departure from that sort of writing process. I made sure to just immediately start recording and having fun before I thought too deeply about anything.

Who would you love to collaborate with?

Björk! The ultimate for me. But in truth, never been much of a good collaborator… I’m learning.

As a musician, how do you think classical songwriting affects the way electronic music is produced? Do the two go hand-in-hand?

Classical training goes well with composing in any genre of music, let alone electronic music. There are ideas and processes that bleed through that I can’t think of off the top of my head, but I know that it has helped me tremendously. I can translate the things happening in my head much faster than I’d otherwise be able.

Finally, what inspires you?

Everything?! Romance, animation, Japanese everythinggggg, men, water… I can’t keep track. Don’t know at any one moment what will become an inspiration.

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1. Original post: Interview: Baths – Cerulean

2. Posted in: Electronic, dreamwave, baths

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Restless People – Restless People

Nicole Cifani — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:58:58 +0000

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Sounds like: Delorean, Vampire Weekend, Delphic

Song: Restless People - Don't Back Down [download here]

What's so good?

You’ve got to hand it to a band who, when asked to describe their own music, will tell it like it is. On their website, Brooklyn-based Restless People describe their first single, Victimless Crime, as the following: “Finger point/boogie/windmill/2-step/ lie on bed and stare at ceiling/head bob/strut.”

The band certainly doesn’t come up short in the creative department. Comprised of four friends from the groups Tanlines, Professor Murder, and Family Edition, they formed Restless People by melding varied influences from punk to pop and from global to adult contemporary. Their self-titled debut album is catchy, multi-dimensional, and a great listen for summertime. It totally nails the au courant sound of that tropical, percussion-driven, big breezy feel of the season.

Restless People is out September 14th on IAMSOUND.

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1. Original post: Restless People – Restless People

2. Posted in: indie rock, indie pop, experimental, dance

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Andreya Triana – Lost Where I Belong

Nicole Cifani — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:37:58 +0000

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Sounds like: Erykah Badu, Sade

Song: Andreya Triana - A Town Called Obsolete (Mount Kimbie Remix) [download here]

What's so good?

It’s rare to come across a talented and successful singer with mainstream appeal – let alone one who also happens to be entirely self-taught. Andreya Triana is just that. She’s a singer/songwriter from Brighton with a soulful, hauntingly beautiful voice developed after years of working on her passion. Growing up, she spent her years writing, developing her voice and teaching herself how to loop samples – eventually turning her talents into a one-woman act.

She lent her vocals to glitch-hop producer Flying Lotus on the track “Tea Leaf Dancers,” which in turn caught the attention of both music tastemakers and label heads alike. Finding a home at the British Ninja Tune label, her debut album Lost Where I Belong was produced by Bonobo with several songs written courtesy of Fink.

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1. Original post: Andreya Triana – Lost Where I Belong

2. Posted in: female vocalist, ambient, soul, trip hop, glitch-hop

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.