London producer Jack Richie, aka Bearcubs, has dropped the infectious single ‘Do You Feel’ which accompanies the announcement of his debut album Ultraviolet. The single which follows his two brilliant EPs, Chroma and Underwaterfall, is a stunning exercise of his signature sound; velvety vocals, and some emotional experimentation with vibrato, atop an addicting beat that draws you in.
OUR BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBOURHOOD has officially (and sadly) become gentrified. It began with a mom & pop card shop that shut down about two years ago, run by literally a mom & pop, she who squeezed my shoulder affectionally while telling me that "card" is "tarjeta" in Spanish once. Soon after, an upscale French cookware boutique opened, followed by a well-known British home décor shop. But, the most telling event occurred when a quirky mom & pop home store that had been operating for 75 years moved out of the neighbourhood, and in its place ...
Grandbrothers‘ latest offering is very much in the vein of neo-classical compatriots and contemporaries Hauschka and Nils Frahm – dramatic piano flourishes and grand, sweeping sonic statements marry beneath minimalist-lite motifs. Where Grandbrothers take a leap to leftfield is further down in the mix, right at the bedrock: built on a foundation of thumping rhythms and clubby beats, this could easily find a home inside sweat-soaked warehouses as easily as the majestic symphony halls of continental Europe.
SUNDAY MAY HAVE BEEN our last summery day, and one that was spent in golden sunshine on still-leafy terraces. The very next day, it seemed to have turned autumn overnight, with crisp leaves falling and blustery winds creating mini duststorms filled with swirling leaves. The clocks have turned back and we’re ready. Tall leather boots and cashmere carves have replaced billowy dresses and espadrilles and the evenings have turned dark before we’ve even made it home. Autumn is a time for reflection, a time that leads to the end of another year, which always makes us a little wistful, that is, until the excitement of a brand new to begin again sets in.
Recorded in a working dairy farm in the backwoods of West Wales, ‘Reflection of Youth’ was written during a period of EERA’s life when, she says, Norwegian society expects everyone “to figure everything out.” It’s no surprise, then, that this record is investigative, as it thrives in its experimentation, moving seamlessly between styles from honey-sweet lo-fi to angry pulsating rock with soul-searching, introspective, electronic twists.
Scottish producer Makeness, aka Kyle Molleson, has released ‘Loud Patterns’, a thundering slice of electronica. Makeness has also signed to Secretly Canadian, the Indiana label home to Anohni and The War on Drugs. His music usually falls on the harsher, more industrial end of the musical spectrum. On ‘Loud Patterns’, however, he combines raw, organic drums and grating synth lines with ghost-like vocal melodies to create a track reminiscent of pop-laced EBM.
The New York City and Seoul-based producer Kathy Yaeji Lee makes house music and pop tunes, but her vocal delivery often sounds like rap. In past songs, like “Guap” or “Last Breath,” with hard 808s, she flashed a unique flow that showed precision in both English and Korean. For her new track, “Drink I’m Sippin On,” Yaeji embraces her inclination toward the style and trades in her usual four-on-the-floor for a trap beat.
IT IS A LONG WEEKEND here in Spain, as it is in Canada and some parts of the US. Here, there were fireworks last night and parades and marching bands this afternoon. As for us, well we had the most perfectly leisurely and lovely morning, coffee and autumn sunlight and the streets below all quiet. We’re in planning mode this week, for Friday’s early morning flight, as well as a few last-minute deadlines. This autumn has been one of reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances, a little taking stock of where we’ve been and where we’re going. It is unfathomable that there is little more than two months left of this year, that summertime has gone. The year drawing to a close with each faded pink sunset and our heads are filled with dreams.
THIS WAS A WEEKEND of highs and lows, the highs being cava and oysters on a Monday night and the lows being all of the things coming through the news lately: Puerto Rico, Las Vegas, the Independence Referendum, Tom Petty... we're still working through all of the sad news and finding ways to help, while still trying to remember the beauty in life as well. On Sunday night, P picked up tickets to a show by a Scottish singer-songwriter that he's a fan of and had wanted to see back in Scotland but we weren't able to make it; amazingly, the artist was just wrapping up a Spanish tour, finishing his last night here in the city.
FINALLY HAD THE chance to watch The Royal Tenenbaums (2001, Wes Anderson) this past weekend (yes, P is constantly astounded as well by the sheer number of films I haven’t seen) and we also made a little time on Sunday for lounging about in the park, perhaps for the last time this year, as it has been very much summer-like still, despite autumn’s official arrival.
