year: 2018
tones of: huerco s., gas
genre samples: electronica, ambient, experimental
music: simple, pleasant, plodding, subtle, quiet, foggy, ominous, vast, professional, heavy, soothing, dark, spacey, weird, static-y, tense, ambiguous
favs: bbn-uwz, aae-kzt, vvq-ssj, kvl-lwq
notes: pendant is one of the alter egos of music producer, huerco s. electronic artists hiding in plain sight seem to be one of my listening themes lately or perhaps just a feature of the genre. disappointingly enough you can't find this album on spotify or soundcloud but thankfully it is available on youtube along with links to support the artist by buying the record (only $10 bucks!).
score: 7.5/10
year: 2018
tones of: dj koze, moby, nico jaar, darkside, fuck buttons
genre samples: house, disco, soul, electronica, dance, funk
music: fun, danceable, glitchy, joyous, tricky, exhilarating, scratchy, warm, kinetic, technical, funky, energetic, precise, soulful, wild
favs: i never dream, you are going to love me and scream, now u got me hooked, flash in the pan, cityfade
notes: a.a.l. stands for against all logic which is apparently one of a handful of pseudonyms nicolas jaar operates under (he also does work as a member of darkside, just friends, bladerunner, and daftside). this seems to be a collection of his work under that moniker from 2012 to 2017.
score: 8/10
year: 2017 (broader release)
tones of: floating points, todd terje, LNRDCROY, skee mask, shlohmoh
genre samples: jazz, techno, house, electronica, drum'n'bass, ambient
music: sonic, chaotic, impromptu, encircling, busy, layered, improvised, echoing, ecstatic, reverberating, drum saturated, off beat, lively, high frequency, colorful, crowded, energetic
favs: untitled a1, untitled b3, untitled d3, untitled a2, untitled c1, untitled d2
notes: apparently SW. never names anything, hence all the generics - from the album name, its tracks, and cover, down to his own moniker. i consider this just an unconventional but principled way of letting the music speak for itself.
score: 8/10
year: 2017
tones of: caribou, four tet (from the "rounds" era), massive attack (on "planet")
genre samples: electronica, ambient techno, jazz, indian classical, downtempo
music: spacious, frenetic, light, simple, charming, circling, fresh, sparse, bright, quirky, airy, amorphous, expanding, clean, happy, dainty, soothing, textured
favs: lush, two thousand and seventeen, daughter, planet, memories, you are loved, LA trance, the scientist
notes: beautiful enough at first listen but the intricacies really start to reveal themselves over time. keep listening until you get there. it's worth it.
score: 7.5/10
year: 2016
tones of: james blake, kanye, anohni
genre samples: electronica, country, folk, pop, jazz
music: experimental, soft, layered, misty, beautiful, multifaceted, wispy, quiet, melodic, robotic, artistic
favs: 22 (over s∞∞n), 8 (circle), 666 ʇ, 33 "god"
notes: yet another album this year that just does so much in only about half an hour. amazing.
score: 8.5/10
year: 2014 (#latebutgreat)
tones of: shlohmoh, four tet, floating points
genre samples: electronica, house, ambient, 80s glam pop, techno
music: detailed, hopeful, intricate, scattered, light, slow, satisfying, airy, elaborate
favs: slam city jam, i met you on bc ferries, if sylvia built a house, telegraph my love
score: 8.5/10
year: 2013
tones of: crystal castles, death grips, kid cudi
genre samples: glitch hop, minimal techno, indie electronica, gary glitter (on black skinhead), hip hop
music: jarring, spacious, moody, stark, minimalist, ominous, forward, pounding, dark, soulful, rhythmic
lyrics: scattered, unfiltered, careless, frustrated, honest, disrespectful, defiant, poignant, nostalgic, self centered, weak, blunt, flippant, exhausted
favs: i am a god (minus the croissants), new slaves, hold my liquor, blood on the leaves, bound 2
note: yeezy had another classic on his hands here. RIDICULOUS production, but the overall lyrical content is underwhelming. still a very solid album though.
score: 8/10
year: 2011
genre samples: jazz, house, funk, synth piano
music: gorgeous, hypnotic, up tempo, chill, danceable, elegant, in step, building, muted, minimalist
favs: myrtle avenue, ARP3, sais
interesting: dj FP's (sam shepard) main gig is getting a PHD in molecular neuroscience. cool stuff.
score: 8/10
