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: 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: sbtrkt, jessie ware, burial
genre samples: house, disco, electronica, dance, r&b, garage, pop
music: warm, rippling, sprightly, playful, emotive, fluid, high energy, sparkling, dance infused, charismatic, bright, bouncing, infectious, wavvy
favs: when a fire starts to burn, latch, white noise, stimulation, you & me, january, help me lose my mind
nb: this is very much a pop album (vocals, lyrics, song structure) as it is an electronic one
score: 8/10
year: 2013
tones of: george clinton, scissor sisters, the flaming lips, david bowie, elton john
genre samples: disco, house, progressive rock, funk, psychedelic rock, movie/show/stadium sounds
music: fun, meticulous, robotic, dreamy, danceable, retro, light, ernest, big, kaleidoscopic, fromage, diverse
favs: give life back to music, instant crush, lose yourself to dance (despite the cheese), get lucky*, beyond, fragments of time, doin' it right, contact
note: apparently this was produced using NOT one sample? - almost unbelievable, but definitely impressive.
bonus: *i like this get lucky version without pharrell much better
score: 8/10 (rounded up)
year: 2011
tones of: flying lotus, four tetgenre samples: house, r&b, glitch hop, techno, indie-electronicamusic: dark, simple, spacey, light, tinkering, warm, slow, building, jazzy, ambient, nostalgic, seriousfavs: places, anywhere but here, sink, i can't see you i'm dead, get out, your stupid face, seriously, same time
cover: the cover art comes off abstract at first, but it's really just the artist standing to the left of a kitchen sink (probably his own since he took the photo himself) with an image of leaves projected all over the background. pretty cool stuff.
score: 8.5/10
year: 2013
tones of: moby, four tet, scissor sisters, shlohmo
genre samples: house, brass, dance, theatre, r&b, dubstep
music: warm, playful, diverse, wondrous, colorful, fun, interesting, exciting, rich, surprising, energetic, complex, beautiful, weird, experimental, full, sonorous, cool, creative
instruments: recorders, seagulls, chimes, springs, vocals (by: caribou, matthew dear, ada, hildegard knef, marvin gaye), steel drums, sticks, claps, synthesizers, and some i can't even guess at!
favs: track id anyone?, royal asscher cut, magical boy, homesick, marilyn whirlwind, la duquesa, ich schreib' dir ein buch 2013, don't lose my mind, amygdala
score: 9/10
year: 2012
tones of: lcd soundsystem, lindstrom
genre samples: electro-pop, disco, sound-synth, house
music: robotic, shimmering, upbeat, danceable, trance-like, happy, fluttering, racing, layered, fun, spacey
favs: inspector norse, swing star pt1, swing star pt2, swing star pt1 + pt2
note: this entire album was made with an ARP 2600 synthesizer! cool.
score: 8.5/10
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
