Monday, April 29, 2013

REVIEW: Ela Orleans - Tumult In Clouds

9 out of 10

Bands like Broadcast, Death And Vanilla, Die Jungen, and Dirty Beaches, and all of the (many more/not enough though) other "Phil Spector sounds meets Surf Pop/Vintage Psych-Rock meets Experimental Electronic" obsessed artists, have something my ears always crave; ingenuity through familiarity. Ela Orleans' sounds sway between that notion with a cinematic flair, + 50's/60's Contemporary Jangle/Surf Pop, "weird" Ambient-Noise, to honestly whatever shes in the mood for. In my humble opinion Ela is a bit of a genius.

Beginning with a catchy drum loop, dark drones, ominous strings and reverb drenched vocals Ela Orleans sets a very bizarre mood for 'Tumult In Clouds'. Expect to hear anything from white noises to odd tv/cinematic samples + lo-fi vintage/modern drum beats that flutter and bend between bizarre bass lines. Add some "slow-mystical" Folk music into the mix, a few video game samples, Experimental/Electronic Psych-type atmospheres, and a few other nuances I'm sure I'll notice the more and more I listen to this. It all adds up to be amazing. "In The Night" which is quite possibly one of the best homage Surf/Jangle Pop tracks I have ever heard, has been on repeat for me for a while now. "Rolling Waters" is one of the most gorgeous compositions I've ever laid ears on. 'Tumult In Clouds' is a very twisted listening adventure with lots of found treasures along the way. After one listen I think you'll know why I consider Ela Orleans to be such a masterful sound sculpting genius.

It's hard to say where to specifically start with Ms. Orleans enchanting body of work..(I like 'Lost' a lot, as well as 'Beko00', but I'm also a huge fan of 'Tumult.." now) ..just try em all;]! Highly Recommended.

Standout Tracks: All Men (this reminds me of Meat Beat Manifesto..kinda), In The Night (PERFECTION.), A Jealous Lover, Leopard, Light At Dawn (like Broadcast?), Longing, Nocturne (heart-wrenching), Risky Trip To The Underworld, Rolling Waters (PERFECTION.), This Is (PERFECTION.), Tumult In Clouds

EIC's 10Q's w/ Ela Orleans

"..ingenuity through familiarity..with a cinematic flair.." 


Ela Orleans
Philharmonic Phantasm

Ela Orleans Bio:
Ela Orleans invites us into a dreamily slow and cinematically evocative narrative world with her music. Ela Orleans is a Polish musician now based in Glasgow, Scotland, having arrived there by way of Brooklyn NY. She was a member of heavenly pop collagists Hassle Hound, has played with various luminaries of the New York experimental and noise scenes and is a composer for TV. Ela Orleans has a unique voice, gifting us fragile harmonies which are exquisite without being sentimental. She is Moondogmatic in her intransigent commitment to producing compositions of subtlety and incongruent beauty. She has a number of solo recordings and numerous collaborative releases on labels such as Clan Destine Records, La Station Radar, Night People, Twisted Nerve and Staubgold. She utilises electronics and her softly spun vocal to make some of the finest echo-drenched ’60s chamber pop around. Ela’s ability to flip her sound into more panoramic symphonic expanses is deeply uncanny and the perfect counterbalance for her breezy, baroque-flavored moments. During her career she released “High Moon Low Sun” CD, 2008 (Setola Di Maiale), “Lost” LP, 2009 “Mars Is Heaven”, 2011 (La Station Radar) and “NEO PI-R”, 2011 and 2LP “Tumult in Clouds”, 2012 (Clan Destine Records). She also released a split LP “Double Feature” with Dirty Beaches (Night People and La Station Radar) as well as contributed to the four way split LP “Statement” with Slim Twig, Dirty Beaches and U.S Girls (Clan Destine Records). Recently she released “80 Minutes of Funk” a split cassette with Curt Crackrach featuring 40 minutes of some of her composition work for TV and Radio reimagined and remixed (Clan Destine Records). She has played with Dirty Beaches, Lower Dens, The KVB, Jackie O Motherfucker, The Pheromoans, and many others.


Hello, how are you?
Hi! I am good... sorry this took me for ever. been recovering from major operation for last 12 weeks but I am making great progress every day.  Just went out for the first time this year, saw Pheromoans playing and had some wine...  getting ready for the show next week , it's going to be a challenge; physical and mental.

What are you currently listening to?
Throbbing Gristle's latest  'Desertshore / The Final Report' 2xLP, Human League's 'Travelogue', a new EP by Golden Teacher - Glasgow based phenomenal band... and of course new releases on Clan Destine Records: Femminielli's 'Shanghai C'est Beau' LP, and new tapes by Apostille / DNBL, Party Trash and World Peace; Jazz, Dub and Soundtracks are spinning in between.

When did this project come about, whom/what were your biggest influences?
I started to work on my solo recordings around 2000; It was some sort of sound diary (I was in the Glasgow based band called Hassle Hound before that ) I started to work in this enormous  theatre in Warsaw which had some amazing recording facilities I had access to after hours. It was great... I did my first score for the national theatre production, total fiasco... but then I sent the tape with my experiments to this competition I read about in newspaper and I won it; It was a participation in the workshop called Sounds D with Markus Schmickler. He probably was the greatest influence on me; he encouraged me to treat music seriously, I felt like a favorite student for the first time, he took me for a pizza and had gave me the most inspiring pep talk. There has been quite a few great friends and labels who have been very motivating. My home - Clan Destine Records kicks my complacent ass very hard. As per inspiration for the music itself... all my best ideas come to me during a walk. Glasgow has some incredible, quiet parks... my favorite is Kelvin River Walkway in Kelvingrove Park... As per musical influence, I am enormously motivated by great productions of Dub, Hip Hop, Jazz and Soundtrack masters. I also love Ambient Noise, street noise and everything which is dynamic and heart-rending.

Care to tell us a little bit about your latest release 'Tumult In Clouds'?
It was released on 12.12.12. on Clan Destine Records. I was reading a lot of poetry at the time and before making it and have been spending some time in Glasgow library and second hand book stores. I had an idea of a musical journey in the style of a poetry book, or book of psalms. As much as I understand and appreciate concepts they are of little use to me. I just like to work. I worked very systematically for months and gathered over hundred minutes of music. Some of it ended on another project I was working on - the split tape with Curt Crackrach "80 Minutes of Funk" (on Clan Destine too). During the recording time there was a lot of technical experimentation and classical score reading. Madlib, ESG as DJ Shadow were my patrons during that whole time.

Will you be touring for said release?
I would like to. I have a few shows already planned in Europe for the spring and early summer. Definitely Sweden and France and  a few shows in UK. I do realize though that my music doesn't  benefit from live performance at just any venue so I rather be careful and not fall into the tour frenzy. I am not desperate and don't mind my career developing slowly.

Your music seems to be all over the place when it comes to placing a genre on it, do you have a specific style you prefer to write or does it just depend on your mood?
One of my musical mentors (not very famous one) told me during my final project assessment, that I need to get out of my box... another one (very famous) defended me then and said that he likes my box... So I don't know... All I know is that I do care about my fans who buy my records and I do not want to sell them crap. As simple as that. I make music I want to hear.

Got any other projects we should know about?
At the moment I am working on the noise project with SKITTER and dub project with Curt Crackrach. These are just key words... I also talk to Felicia Atkinson aka Je Suis Le Petit Chevalier about "Polish" project... Really looking forward to the collaboration with fantastic Letha Rodman Melchior.  And more solo work and TV work. A lot of work...

What movie would work best on mute while listening to you music?
'Man With The Movie Camera' by Dziga Vertov, Chris Marker's movie 'La Jetée', 'David Holzman's Diary' by Jim McBride, or movies by Kuchar Brothers or Bruce Conner... too many to list.

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?
That's impossible...  probably Bach's 'Chorales'.

Are you living your dream?
I have a very rational relation with my dreams so it is the other way round - I dream my life.

Thanx Ela!

Ela Orleans is currently touring Europe maybe the US shortly after? Til' then, make sure you listen to every thing she has to offer (it's all pretty spectacular)...

Sunday, April 28, 2013

EICV7" No. 42 - Two Modern Blokes ..coming soon!

EverythingIsChemical Virtual 7" No. 42 - Two Modern Blokes comes out May 5th! 
  
"The true method of knowledge is experiment." ~William Blake

 (hopefully you checked out the last v7"?)

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Cool Video Funtime #375 - Overdrive (+ Bonus Video)


+ Bonus Video;) ..because I think you need to hear this project..

REVIEW: Violetshaped - LP

8.75 out of 10

''Violet like winter twilights. Poison like raw madness.” This is how the enigmatic British producer Violet Poison explains the meaning behind his/her moniker. Pretentious as it may seem, evocations of nocturnal landscapes and psychic frenzy are remarkably apt when describing Violet Poison's music. Over the past two years (s)he has onslaught upon the underground electronic music community a manic hybrid of Harsh Noise, Industrial music, vintage Electronica, EBM, and Minimal Techno. The raw physicality, the unnerving ambience, the insanely intricate arrangements: Violet Poison's music is simply unmatched.

Violet Poison's most recent release –  a collaboration with Berlin's Shapednoise under the name Violetshaped – might just be the artist's most powerful material to date. The album begins with a simple rippling beat and droning feedback. No rhythm is established; we are simply left submerged in a dark and unsettling atmosphere. Then, within the first seconds of “The Lord Won't Forget,” the total assault begins. Machine-blast beats, amorphous rhythms, and half-formed melodies flow in and out for eight minutes, leaving us overwhelmed yet yearning for more. This relentless barrage continues for the next six tracks. “Out Of Any Symmetry” recalls the Industrial-Tribalism of late Whitehouse, hammering out an almost Tropical beat alongside a deep, nauseating bassline. “Spectral Nightdrive” retains the expansive feeling of the opener, but injects an even more sickly ominous sensation as panning glitches and asymmetrical spasms of beats immolate any central guiding pattern. By the closing bars of the final track, you will be gasping for breath.

Comparisons to artists like Demdike Stare and Raime may seem obvious when listening to this album, but none are adequate. There is no sense of the alienating distance or restraint present in most Minimal Techno here. This album is simply no-holes-barred, face-eating electronic music. I swear every time I hear one of these songs a new layer of sound becomes perceptible to me. They all have their own internal architectures, full of nuanced complexities and unyielding strangeness, that lead to an endlessly rewarding listening experience. Prepare for sensory overload.

Standout Tracks: The Lord Won't Forget, Out Of Any Symmetry, Spectral Nightdrive

The new Loscil release..



This may be my new favorite Loscil piece. As you and the weather defrost, let 'Intervalo' guide you through this transition.. Seriously though, you need this album.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Check into ZENИTH..



ZENИTH is two friends from Toulouse who are making music to put Liz Harris to sleep. Try not to get swept away by their sonic rapture (you'll fail). ..Yet another winner from BLWBCK.

..watch this too..

Cool Video Funtime #374 - Happiness (+ Bonus Video)


+ Bonus Video;) ..because the new James Blake album is astonishing as well as  completely addicting..

New (FREE) Wintercoats release..



Stunning.
#Wintercoatsalwaysdelivers.

Monday, April 22, 2013

REVIEW: Gliss - Langsom Dans

8.75 out of 10

Gliss have returned (again) and are in top notch form (yet again), even more triumphant & breathtaking sounding than before. The sad thing is.. I have this oddly familiar feeling that this will be one of those albums that goes highly overlooked (truly is your loss for not seeking this out). Pretending it doesn't though (fingers crossed) I imagine this album being on many year-end lists (all the good ones anyways).

On 'Langsom Dans' Gliss meld equal parts "cinematic ominous" with "subconscious alter-reality". It's like a nightmare drenched in bliss if you can imagine that. The gloomy to bright guitars sway between Dark Psych Rock and Post Pop Surf. The drums (both sampled and real) are pounding a purely satisfying rhythm that you desire in every truly great Pop song. The vocals, oh my the vocals..beautiful as always. Mostly female driven on this release, but with just enough counterpart thrown into the mix every once in a while when needed. The whole thing comes with nearly flawless productiosn and really well written jams, damn catchy jams. I dare you to listen to this album just once and not find at least 2-3 tracks that you are now obsessed with. Gawd, I can only imagine how amazing this album would sound live..

If Beach House wanted to release a dark album it might sound something like this, I would also strongly recommend 'Langsom Dans' to Spc Eco (and/or the like) fans as well if that helps you connect the dots.. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Standout Tracks: A To B, Blur, Hunting (on repeat [see. 91]), Waves, Through The Mist, In Heaven

EIC's 10Q's w/ Gliss

".."cinematic ominous" with "subconscious alter-reality".."


Gliss
Disconsolated Empryrean Elation

Gliss Bio:
Danish/American band Gliss makes a huge departure from their old sound on the new record Langsom Dans which is gathering comparisons to Beach House, Crystal Castles and Lower Dens. The LA based trio, consisting of Victoria Cecilia, Martin Klingman and David Reiss, pour their collective musical imaginations into recording timeless art pop with a precise Scandinavian texture that steps away from their previous work. The 12-track LP features heavy synths and electronic beats with Danish expatriate, Victoria Cecilia, stepping into the role as lead singer. The passionate vocal harmonies dictate the recordings with stories of coming out of the darkness into a new life, bringing to mind The XX, Portishead and Depeche Mode.


Hello, how are you?
Hello! I am feeling pretty good today. Made a huge vegetable juice about an hour ago. That stuff wakes me up!

What are you currently listening to?
Diamond Rings, Bat for Lashes, Twin Shadow, and no matter what Howlin’ Wolf is always there.

Why the name "Gliss", and do you still feel that this title/name is as relevant now as it may have been in the beginning?
It had to be called something, Gliss still fits the vibe.

Care to tell us a little bit about your latest release 'Langsom Dans'; theme, favorite track(s), snags in recording, etc.?
'Langsom Dan's is a huge departure from our old sound, so it took us a couple of years weeding through tracks, and settle on the direction we wanted to take. In the past the 3 of us would write the songs at the rehearsal space, jamming. But this time around it was so un-inspiring. Nothing interesting or new happened that way. So Martin and I (Victoria) started writing individually, and then meeting up and working on those songs. We would record a basic demo, and then experiment with different chord changes, and different instruments on the track. We spent a lot of time on the drums. We would program a beat, and then try every single effect on it. We would isolate the snare and find an effect we liked, then only keep the echo of the effected snare, and completely delete the snare hit. ..Things like that…Days..months..of finding sounds we liked. Another big change is that I took on the role as lead-singer. Martin is still singing a couple of songs, but most of them I sing now.That was all Martin’s idea. I think he enjoys being a drummer again. Lucky us, ‘cos he is great! We got some good advice from Gareth Jones, who mixed our 2nd album. We used to always switch instruments, and he suggested we each just stick to what we do best. So now Martin plays drums-and sings, David plays guitar, and I sing and play keys.

Will you extensively touring the US for said release?
We are leaving on Wednesday actually for some US dates*, and then we will continue to Europe from there.
*band has returned from the US, and is now onto Europe. 

Speaking of touring, in a dream world whom would you choose to tour with if you could pick anybody (dead or alive)?
Depeche Mode, Bat for Lashes, The Knife, Bjork, Ramones, The Birthday Party

Got any other projects we should know about?
Martin has his own solo project,it’s just called “Martin Klingman”. It’s very beautiful acoustic songs. I have a project as well called Night Belles. Very dark stuff. I have put out a couple of tracks here and there, mainly for movies, but will make an album available some time this year. David’s thing is photography, he has this sick camera he brings with him everywhere.

What movie would work best on mute while listening to you music?
Any David Lynch movie.

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?

Are you living your dream?
I always want more. But I am pretty satisfied at the moment. I spend as much time as I can doing things that are exciting to me. Obviously music takes up most of my time, but I also take acting classes, which I love. I have always loved the theater. And living in Los Angeles you have access to some great teachers.

Thanx Gliss!

Gliss are currently touring Europe, and then (hopefully) revisiting the US shortly after...

Sunday, April 21, 2013

EICV7" No. 41 - The Walking Ghost Phase


   
"An idea, like a ghost, must be spoken to a little before it will explain itself.." ~Charles Dickens

Next release comes out May 5th.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

[[EIC Mixtape: № 12 - May '13]]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Logan & Mikey - You're Going To Die, It's Okay
FIND IT HERE.
2. Gacha - Open Chords
FIND IT HERE.
3. Knxwledge. - Yesterdai[Ikeakruk]
FIND IT HERE.
4. Deadbeat Synesthete - Cubic Zirconias
FIND IT HERE.
5. Bruks Production - Blind Love
FIND IT HERE.
6. Noir. - Monopoly (Prod. Charlyle Brown, Zwe)
FIND IT HERE.
7. Birocratic - Stay Gold
FIND IT HERE.
8. Yolke - Tough Times
FIND IT HERE.
9. Main Attrakionz - Green World (Ft. Dope G & Shady Blaze) [Prod. By Friendzone]
FIND IT HERE.
10. 666L17C#88817C# - Saint-Petersburg
FIND IT HERE.
11. Clipping - Bout.That (Ft. Baseck)
FIND IT HERE.
12. Mallow - Glass [Slip]Per
FIND IT HERE.
13. Unkwon - 08
FIND IT HERE.
14. Yohuna - Westerlies
FIND IT HERE.
15. Mensa Group International - Encounters
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Thanx for listenin';]

Seize the day..

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Happy hunting..

Cool Video Funtime #373 - A Shiny Thing (Tomorrow's Child) Feat. Radical Elsewhere