Thursday, June 30, 2011

Good (free) music laying around the interwebs.. Pt. 2

Good (free) music laying around the interwebs.. Pt. 1

EIC'S10Q'S w/Jesse Ruins

"..gorgeous sweeping synths floating above and forming glorious melancholy/somewhat danceable landscapes mixed with tons of "airy" attributes and thick Electro accents.."


Jesse Ruins
Vivid Glow Gaze

Jesse Ruins Bio:
Jesse Ruins is a solo project by a girlguy (sorry multiple "non-fact checking" sites stated that he was a "she") from Tokyo, Japan, his real name is
Nobuyuki Sakuma. He produces Shoegaze/Dreamy-Electronic Pop over the internet but remains (obviously:) anonymous.


Hello, how are you?
Very good, thanks!

What are you currently listening to?
I often check some overseas music blogs, then download digital data from them. I basically love vinyl, though. I normally listen to vinyl, like Umberto, ARP, John Maus, CVLTS, and Harald Grosskopf, especially at the moment.

Is there a story behind the name?
I was looking for something that has two opposite sides, something has both light and dark if you like.

Is there a tentative title/theme/release date for your debut full length?
I haven't got any plans yet for the full length album, but I keep making tracks, so I'm thinking of releasing it hopefully someday soon.

Who will be releasing it?
It's not yet determined. As for in Japan, Cuz Me Pain supports me, but I haven't got any particular labels outside Japan. If there is somewhere that is right for me, I'd like to sign to.

Will you be touring the US for it?
I'd love to. If there is the tour, please come and see me.

What's the best concert you've ever been to?
Most of the time artists whom I want to see their gig won't come to Japan. My friends AAPS, Faron Square, and Hotel Mexico always do a nice performance, though.


If you could collaborate with any artist of your choosing whom would it be with?

I haven't met them in person, but I would go with Laurel Halo or Maria Minerva.

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?
So many. But I would say "Fulfilled: Complete" by Broken Spindles.

Are you living your dream?
Yes. It always has a risk and not fair sometimes, but I am, and I rather want to.

Thanx Jesse!

Jesse Ruins is currently working on putting together his debut LP, look for that sometime soon (hopefully, please?)

REVIEW: The Beauty / Jesse Ruins - Split Cassette

8.5 out of10

I'm gonna let you know this right now before you read too much of this review, I don't know anything about either of these bands, and I won't pretend to either. In-fact, I think it's safe to assume that most of us (assuming there is a small collective of people/fans out there) discovered Jesse Ruins through GvsB or 20JFG's, right? Either way, that's how I did and since then (you know the drill) became obsessed. Off the bat there were tons of comparisons to M83 when Mr. Ruins first surfaced. The comparisons seem fair, "cinematic & epic", synth-driven Shoegaze seems like the proper way to describe Jesse's sound. So far Jesse Ruins has only released about 4 singles (or so) and this split with "new comer" The Beauty. I'll admit I only looked into this for the JR tracks, but I ended up loving all of these songs (almost) equally.

Much like Jesse Ruins, The Beauty carry themselves in the same manner (see above for sound description). Their (His? Hers?) music can (also) easily be described as "M83-esque" (think between the self-titled debut release and "Dead Cities.." era). Gorgeous sweeping synths floating above and forming glorious melancholy/somewhat danceable landscapes mixed with tons of "airy" attributes and thick Electro accents. All of the tracks on this album are a standout, but my favorite Beauty track would have to be "Prelude To The Horror". After The Beauty comes the Jesse Ruins tracks, all of which of are gorgeous & glorious as well. As far as the main JR standout goes..All (My fav may be "..Bookshelf.."). Really though, they're all amazing, have you heard THESE? Any-who, this split is glowing from beginning to end and is sure to have any Shoegaze and/or Synth-driven Pop head in uproar. Nice job guys, now about those full lengths..?

Might be a bit tough to track one of these bad boys down, but if you can I recommend doing so before they're all gone (which they probably are by now is my guess.) Fans of M83, YOU NEED THIS NOW. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Standout Tracks: ALL... Prelude To The Horror, A Bookshelf Sinks Into The Sand

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Cool Video Funtime #256 - Sofija


Yes, I promise, the interview is on it's way too. Weird schedule this week, soorrrry:)

New Gem Club..

Gem Club - Breakers

Off of Gem Club's upcoming/debut Hardly Art album, "Breakers", which comes out September 27th. Seriously I wasn't kidding, there are A LOT of bands announcing Fall releases right now..

Check into Rad Manor..

Rad Manor - Extravagance

Rad Manor is Jacob Wright of California. His latest release "Extravagance", off of the terrific net label Pandafuzz, touches on dusty Electronics & Hazy samples. Basically if memorabilia had a 4-kick soundtrack it may sound something like this. Fans of the earlier Ambient leanings of Aphex Twin and/or Boards Of Canada and/or Caretaker's recent release should eat this one up.

New Zola Jesus..

Zola Jesus - Vessel

Off of her upcoming (yes another new) album "Conatus" which comes out October 4th via Sacred Bones. Although I love her "Lo-Fi" beginnings, I think her voice is much better utilized with all this great production she's been adding. Man I love this time of the year! Weather/general attitude is getting nicer & a lot of great bands are announcing their fall releases (which tend to be my favorites).

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

New M83!!!



(Hopefully) Off of the upcoming double album..

Check into Aux Out..

Aux Out - Other Months

An "accidental" find on the net. Reminiscent of Epic45, only slightly more "Lo-Fi" & "Electronic/Dream Poppy" (think Atlas Sound). Get more (for free) HERE.

New Bjork..!!



It's Bjork doing what Bjork does best, the Electronics in this track are TOP notch. The "Crystalline" single comes out June 30th. In the meantime, check out her (recently updated) awesome new site.

Cool Video Funtime #255 - Luv Deluxe

New Rebecca Peake..!

Rebecca Peake - Dalmatian II

More (somewhat unclassifiable/genius) Dream Pop from the prolific (3 albums (so far) this year!) Rebecca Peake. With every album my loveobsession for this band grows..

Check into HTRK..

HTRK - Eat Yr Heart

HTRK is the newest signing to Ghostly, their debut full length "Work (Work, Work)" comes out September 6th. Their sound (in my opinion) is comparable to Zola Jesus meets Suicide, also..they're on Ghostly, so really what've ya got to lose?

Throbbing Gristle news..!

From TG's site:

Sleazy' Peter Martin Christopherson (27/02/1955 - 24/11/2010) - We miss him dearly...

To eliminate any further speculation, rumours or disinformation: Throbbing Gristle (through these, the very saddest of circumstances) concur with Sleazy's comments of 10th November 2010:

"About the future of TG live. I do not regard it as possible for any changed band or variation of personnel to perform live as Throbbing Gristle without all the original four of us on stage.”

Industrial Records
hereby announces it's official re-activation. IR is the sole representative of, and ONLY official label representing and releasing records by Throbbing Gristle.

TG’s contract with Mute/EMI expired in June 2010, and despite a number of other offers and proposals, all four members of TG elected to re-start Industrial Records to re-release the IR/TG catalogue and the final TG studio album "Desertshore" along with other archival recordings.

IR has purchased ALL the remaining warehouse stock of the Mute Records editions of TG recordings. The first batch for sale comprises of the last remaining copies of the original editions of "TGV" DVD boxed-set, "Part Two - Endless Not" CD and double vinyl LP along with bargain priced 'end-of-line' titles including; "The Second Annual Report", "D.O.A. The Third & Final Report", "Heathen Earth", & "20 Jazz Funk Greats".

To reiterate, TG will be re-releasing their best efforts on both vinyl(!) and CD/digital. Those come out in September. Also (sometime in 2012) Throbbing Gristle will (FINALLY) be releasing their version of Nico's classic/masterpiece "Desertshore", this will be their last full length as the core group. This news should make any experimental music fan's day (and then some).

If only I lived here..

Swans + Silver Mt. Zion TOGETHER?? Oh gawd pleeeease.

Monday, June 20, 2011

EIC'S10Q'S w/Mount Pleasant

"..dabbles in styles that span (almost) the entire musical globe. Really, most of their sounds clash in their ideals, but somehow he pulls them together and makes it work.."


Mount Pleasant
Aggrandized Vanguard Sonancy

Mount Pleasant Bio:
"Mount Pleasant" is the musical solo project of Jonathan Phillips, although he has used the name to represent his music since he was a child. He had access to a cassette recorder, which he used to layer guitar and his own voice. Such recordings are used as source material and as textures in many of Phillips' songs.

There have been six full-length releases by Phillips as Mount Pleasant: Claw Friends and Horseshoe Lake in 2008, Rio Joy in 2009, The Flood in 2010, and The Cold War and The Aztecs in 2011. The lyrics are often autobiographical in nature, introspective and mixed quietly.



Hello, how are you?
I am okay I guess. Things have been better/worse. Just making my house presentable.

What are you currently listening to?
Currently as in generally; guitar tone on Dire Straits "Sultans Of Swing", Dub jams, and my girlfriend Madeleine has the Madonna Immaculate Compilation on in the car most of the time which is okay by me. But currently, as in specifically, The Knit Separates.

When did you begin writing music?
Writing actual songs when I was about fourteen, mostly onto a cassette and then recording over it by playing it loud in one cassette player with another cassette going. But probably wrote songs when I was younger on the piano, but not memorable songs.

Was there something in particular that prompted you to begin a musical career?
I don't know if I have a musical career, that seems sort of grandiose. I feel it's a career when you are living off it. But probably just narcissism I guess.

What is the theme on "The Aztecs"?

I liked the idea of The Aztecs as an album title, so I just sort of ran with writing and compiling songs that would work on the album and had about forty that fit the theme. Some of the songs have vague lyrical associations, but essentially I really enjoy the whole end of the Aztec civilization; this sort of idealization of apocalypse, and more sort of general interest in Aztec society so I let all of that kind of inform the album, but only in as much as watching television or the earthquake or getting dumped influenced the album as well; it works as a signifier for me personally, as a point in time. Musically I wanted to make more sort of focused songs structurally, and sort of outsider pop gesturing.

Do you have any side projects we should know about?
I have been working with Jon Lemmon on this project called Paradise, which sort of sounds like 1982 Prince. Other than that, have a band on hiatus called Canterbury Rams with Sam Ellis and we were pretty good. But yeah, the earthquake sort of ruined that option and now the drummer is in Italy or something, and Sam is living in a different city from me.

Is there another genre/sound you would like to explore that you haven't?

I really like Sade "Smooth Operator" at the moment, it used to be on all the time growing up and I have developed a kind of fondness for it. I wouldn't mind making a sincere attempt at it, but I think it would sound sort of ironic. But genuinely love it; it's got to a point where I am sincerely listening to "One More Night" by Phil Collins and George Michael records and really appreciating them. This sort of relativist stance with music, where "When The Morning Comes" by Hall and Oates is something real valuable and pure; but I don't know. I feel kind of constrained by lack of desire to really commit to recording precise songs and lack of actual ability to ever really attempt to making anything other than what I have already made.

The best time to listen to Mount Pleasant is?
I used to like walking around Sutton Coldfield in Birmingham on frosty mornings listening to it. It seems real bad to listen to your own music, but that's probably the only time I would listen to it.

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?
That is a pretty bleak concept, probably "Bach Cello Suites".

Are you living your dream?
Sure.

Thanx Jonathan!

Mount Pleasant is always recording and releasing, I suggest you take a moment and get caught up...

REVIEW: Mount Pleasant - The Aztecs

8.75 out of 10

If you blink your eyes you may just miss the music scene that is burrowing it's way up from down under. I'll be honest I hadn't heard that much about Mount Pleasant until Jon Lemmon (whom actually has a hand in producing part of this album) spoke of them. But, upon discovering them more, I found it (MP) harder and harder to walk away from.

Mount Pleasant have been around for a little bit now. In-fact, "The Aztecs" is the band's sixth proper release. I believe it to be their most mature/well rounded album (thus far). The album begins with an ominous drone covered by a psychedelic/breezy guitar sound, slowly warped electronics, and what sounds like "CB radio" distorted vocals. This intro serves as a nice appetizer dish for what's about to come (variety). Track two, probably the most downbeat/bleak track of the bunch, utilizes morose found sounds, dreamy reverb-drenched organ tones, and organic beings living, dwelling & growing. Once the vocals kick in you may be reminded of Labradford or one of those "earlier" Kranky artists. Then the squealy-psychedelic guitar comes in (VERY "Psych-y") followed by the (minimal, yet impactful) KICK (1,2,3.........1,2,3--so good), I LOVE this track. From then on Jonathan Philips (MP) dabbles in styles that span (almost) the entire musical globe. Really, most of Mount Pleasant's sound clash in their ideals, but somehow Jonathan Philips (MP) pulls them together and makes it work. His unique "meshing of styles" range from Psychedelic to Slow Core to Indie Pop to Surf Pop to Experimental/Minimal Electro to Post Rock to Ambient music. All polar opposites (for the most part) of each other, but it works--it REALLY WORKS. There should be at least one or two tracks on "The Aztecs" that should appeal to anyone into music. There are so many genres involved how could it not? This album definitely has it's special niche amongst the right pair of headphones (mine).

I have a feeling Kranky and/or Kompakt fans would eat this one up, I also think Animal Collective, Pink Floyd, and/or Wavves fans would like this one. See what I mean by "unique style range"? Mount Pleasant has something for everyone. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Standout Tracks: A Projector Ceremonial Burial (REPEAT THIS ONE), Safer II (so addictive), Florida (so catchy), II Tough II Dance (yummy), II Tough II Cry (oh man, you need to hear this song NOW), Slipped Era II (LOVE the bass/kick in this one), Blitzkrieg Summer, Slipped Era (the prequel may be better than the first one)