electronic
David Penna: Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device
David Penna’s album from late last summer is wonderfully refreshing, making it a perfect choice for the first day of spring. Penna crafts drum and bass beats, but keeps them from sounding dated with sweet, jazzy melodies.Mar 20, 2008 in Reviews: Electronica
Funckarma: Sploid
The IDM revival continues with a new record from Funckarma. While I wouldn’t characterize this EP as ground-breaking, it certainly is solid and enjoyable.Feb 16, 2008 in Reviews: Electronica
Rod Modell: Incense & Blacklight
In my opinion, Rod Modell has come a long way since his ambient days. Incense & Blacklight contains some of his best tracks to date, even as he explores cold, uneasy territory.Feb 8, 2008 in Reviews: Electronica
Autechre: Quaristice
Autechre's first album in nearly three years will probably take nearly that long to sink in, but my first impression is pure pleasure.Jan 30, 2008 in Reviews: Electronica
Small Sails: Similar Anniversaries
This record immediately brings to mind folk/rock/experimental electronic groups like Animal Collective and Mum with its driving beats, acoustic guitars, shimmering electronics, and whimsical, wordless vocals.Jan 23, 2008 in Reviews: Electronica
Formication: Agnosia
I had the misfortune of choosing to first listen to this mini-album by the UK duo known as Formication at about one o’clock in the morning, with powerful winds of 70km/h whirling at my window in the blackness. The ambience was creepy enough without the music, and when the first sounds of Agnosia began to fade in I feared it would be too much, but I listened, paralyzed.Jan 19, 2008 in Reviews: Electronica
Bvdub: Daydreams of Exile
Bvdub sprang on the dub techno scene last year with two excellent digital EPs courtesy of Night Drive Music/2600 Records and one 12-inch on Styax. Now he kicks off Quietus Recordings with a limited-edition CD-R. The EP is ambient, reminiscent of early Gas or of Rod Modell’s recent Silentes efforts.Jan 2, 2008 in Reviews: Electronica
Run_Return: Sum of an Abstract
Run_Return is the post-rock, almost jazzy output of duo Kevin Dineen and Tommy Fugelsang based out of Santa Cruz, California. Immediately bands like Tortoise and Four Tet come to mind when listening to this record, which is never bad company. The album consists of tunes recorded between 1999 and 2001, but it holds up really well as a re-release.Dec 25, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
D'arcangelo: Eksel
The album begins with a chopped hip-hop beat clunking along an ambient drone and some distant chords. This essentially goes on for 4 minutes—welcome to 1999. D’arcangelo have been mainstays in the realm of experimental electronic music ever since their first release on Rephlex back in 1996. Combining elements of electro hooks and ambient atmospheres into their experimental music, I have always anticipated their next release with excitement.Dec 23, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
Fortune8
Fortune8’s nearly simultaneous release of six limited-edition 12-inches (in three colors each, including the test pressings) may mark the beginning of the end of the colored vinyl collecting fad. The first rule of playing the supply and demand game is don’t flood the market. That said, there are some good tracks here, alongside a few that sound rather familiar.Dec 13, 2007 in Reviews: Techno
Various: Ikude
Somehow this CD got stuck at the bottom of my to-review pile. Upon re-listening, I discovered a nice collection of understated, melodic IDM.Nov 2, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
Freescha: Freeschaland
In the trinity of artists recording analogue synthesizers to wobbly tapes, Boards of Canada is the father and Christ. is obviously the sacrificial son. That would, appropriately, make Freescha a ghost. While Nick Huntington and Michael McGroart have been creating music since the late nineties, they are often overlooked, perhaps due to their California location. This retrospective of their first three EPs is evidence of just how essential they are.Oct 21, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
Various: One Five Zero
To celebrate their 50th release, n5MD have pulled out all the stops with a double-disc label overview. This collection shows how far the label has come from its MiniDisc-only days. Unfortunately, it also shows how much the IDM scene has been transformed into instrumental indie rock.Oct 11, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
Nikka: Isotopos
I’m glad there’s a record label where IDM hold-outs can still experiment.Oct 4, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
Lights Out Asia: Tanks and Recognizers
Beautiful ambient post-rock.Aug 27, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
The Ace of Clubs: Benefist
Purely fun music.Aug 25, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
Bola: Kroungrine
The Bola philosophy must be lack of gratification.Aug 4, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
Rephlex Retro Chic
The Tuss and Dopplereffekt.Jul 16, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
Sinner DC: Montage
More broken-heart analog abounds in Sinner DC’s remix EP.Jul 10, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
Ulrich Schnauss: Goodbye
A huge disappointment.Jul 2, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
Supersoul: Plastic Rap
Electronic hip-hop from Miami.Jun 29, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
Yard: Deciduous Flood Plains
Yard manages to coax poetic, natural sounds out of hard electronics.Jun 28, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
Deadbeat: Journeyman's Annual
Fun from start to finish.Jun 26, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
The Return of B12
B12 are back with two 12-inches after a ten year absence.Jun 10, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
Yard: Northern Cedar EP
This digital-only EP is a teaser for Yard’s upcoming album.Apr 22, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
Pole: Steingarten
It’s as though each track was carefully constructed to lack soul.Mar 17, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
Lukid: Onandon
Lukid’s beats are nicely crafted out of bits and pieces.Mar 10, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
February Roundup
Hip-hop and IDM: DJ Cutler, Bukue One, 8yone, and Arc Lab.Feb 28, 2007 in Reviews
Christ.: Blue Shift Emissions
Analogue electronics and wistful melodies.Feb 25, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
Secede: Vega Libre
Icing on a delicious electronic cake.Feb 4, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
January Roundup
Yard, Compost, Lackluster, Boltfish, and Desperate Man Blues.Jan 31, 2007 in Reviews
Xela: For Frosty Mornings and Summer Nights
A glitchy, melodic classic.Jan 21, 2007 in Reviews: Electronica
Ultre: All The Darkness Has Gone To Details
Mature and engaging beyond his years.Nov 22, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Various: Jukebox Buddha
Unfortunately, not all of the mixes are in the spirit of the Buddha.Nov 15, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Cappablack: "Components & Variables" MP3
From Façades & Skeletons courtesy of ~scape.Nov 14, 2006 in MP3s
Cappablack: Facades & Skeletons
My favorite tracks are instrumentals.Nov 12, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Move D: Kunststoff
Out of print for way too long; it hasn’t aged a day.Nov 10, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Gescom: MiniDisc
I can see these sounds finding new life.Nov 5, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Robert Henke: Layering Buddha
A beautiful, thought-provoking experience.Oct 23, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Various: Shitkatapult Empfiehlt
The one common thread? Talent!Oct 15, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Blamstrain: Disfold
The most atmospheric techno I’ve heard since Chain Reaction was active.Oct 9, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Automotive: The Digil Parker Project
The Funckens experiment with acoustic instruments.Oct 1, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Bola: Shapes
This music was retro even when it was first released, but it holds up well.Sep 11, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Desert Drones
William Fowler Collins at Visual Mayhem in Santa Fe.Sep 10, 2006 in Features: Shows
Freescha: Head Warlock Double Stare
Just as the songs start to get going, they're cut off.Sep 8, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Quinoline Yellow: Colour Index 47005
His production is impeccable, but stylistically he hasn’t progressed very far.Sep 5, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Quench: Caipruss
Traditional IDM with lots of texture and nuance.Aug 18, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Yoko Solo: The Beeps
LaSan chucks everything at the laptop wall and it congeals into one massive Day-Glo bright funky mess.Aug 16, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Spinform: Bryter Tynstanden
An easily engaging concoction of abstract folktronica and fragmented atmospheres.Aug 15, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Leafcutter John: The Forest and The Sea
Acoustic and electronic elements gathered from Greece, Sweden, and the UK.Aug 13, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Kettel: "Prairieplant 2" MP3
Courtesy of Kracfive and Reimer!Aug 8, 2006 in MP3s
Tatamax: Crasis
Fireside glitch relocated through urbanity and extreme noise.Aug 1, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Various: From the Powerhouse
Graffiti legend Rammellzee and dubby electronic music from Berlin.Jul 30, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Ochre: Lemodie
Lush, melodic electronics. I’d love to hear him explore more unusual instrumentation.Jul 6, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Sharps: Infinite Love 666
Thick, lo-fi electronic funk.Jul 1, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Next Life: Electric Violence
Sparkling manic thrash-metal guitar stabs and simple but ultra-effective Casio beat programming....Jun 28, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Shadow Huntaz: Instrumentals
Both discs are great, with production courtesy of Funckarma and MCs Non, Breaf, and Dream.Jun 28, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Amen Andrews vs Spac Hand Luke
It seems I have a love-hate relationship with Vibert.Jun 26, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Kettel: My Dogan
As much as I love Kettel, this album’s not as good as last year’s.Jun 23, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Rekid: Made in Menorca
Detroit techno and Theo Parrish haunt these grooves.Jun 1, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Binray: Cederoth Bloodstopper
This is the perfect soundtrack for a trip through your own viscera.May 31, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Uusitalo: Tulenkantaja
If Vladislav Delay has ever made a poor record, I’ve yet to hear it.May 30, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Sinner DC: Mount Age
Well, this is just superb—like My Bloody Valentine sharing a bath with Gas.May 24, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Miles Tilmann: Yes & No
Tilmann has a knack for presenting retro sounds in a new light.May 11, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Miles Tilmann: "Split the Middle" MP3
From Yes and No courtesy of Consumers Research and Development.May 9, 2006 in MP3s
Point B: A Previous Version of Myself
Point B's style is somewhat indistinct, but there are some nice moments here.May 9, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Emulsion: Blue Sky Objective
Emulsion surrenders to melodic electronics for his debut album.May 7, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Machine Drum: Mergerz & Acquisitionz
This two-disc remix project is so big, it’s taken me a while to form an opinion of it.Apr 30, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Christ.: Vernor Vinge
This 12-inch is likely to tug at the heartstrings of listeners who grew up in the ’70s and ’80s.Apr 6, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Innerstance.Beatbox: "Tekniques"
IBB shows his skill as a producer on this new CD/vinyl single. The centerpiece is a funky, clubby tune.Apr 2, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
AFX: Chosen Lords
Aphex Twin’s first new material since 2001 is a series of eleven 12-inches released last year. Now Rephlex is reissuing about a quarter of those tracks on CD.Mar 27, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Various: Idol Tryouts Two
This substantial two-disc overview of Ghostly’s diverse roster serves as an excellent introduction to the slick, hyped world of Mr. Valenti.Mar 20, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Modeselektor: Hello Mom! The Remixes
This superb 12-inch features an epic ten-minute techno mix on one side, and dub and grime on the flip.Mar 19, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Miles Tilmann: "Xenon"
This single from Tilmann’s upcoming Yes and No album features three mixes of the title track plus two other cuts.Mar 15, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
No Movement No Sound No Memories: Removed/Acetate
Mixes by Arovane, Claro Intelecto, Modeselektor, and Pole, among others.Mar 8, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Various: Futurism Ain't Shit to Me 2
The sequel to Kyo’s 2004 compilation offers an even wider variety of strange hip-hop. This time there are even excursions into grime and nerdcore.Feb 13, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Prefuse 73: Security Screenings
Prolific Prefuse 73’s latest mini-album sees him veering even further from hip-hop influences.Feb 4, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
SubtractiveLAD: Suture
SubtractiveLAD (née Stephen Hummel) is a Vancouver-based musician with a background in jazz.Feb 3, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Various: Sampler 06
Eight newly signed Ai artists.Feb 2, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Jimmy Edgar: Color Strip
Egyptian Lover this man is not.Jan 31, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Funckarma: Elaztiq Bourbon 5
Carefully constructed and complexly detailed.Jan 24, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Mariel Ito: My Cyborg Depths
Electro with an IDM sensibility.Jan 21, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Depth Affect: Arche-Lymb
Combines hip-hop beats with unusual sounds.Jan 19, 2006 in Reviews: Electronica
Malcom Kipe: Lit
Interesting hip-hop breaks.Dec 29, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
Gescom: The Sounds of Machines Our Parents Used
Now available in MP3 or FLAC format.Dec 26, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
Various: Tsunbosajiki
“Out there” compilation of the year.Dec 22, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
Mr. Projectile: "Momentary Lapse Of Sensitivity"
Reminds me why I started listening to electronic music...Dec 14, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
Dabrye: Additional Productions Vol. 1
A few tasty tracks.Dec 13, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
Bogdan Raczynski & Bjork: "Who Is It?"
Bogdan Raczynski and Björk.Nov 15, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
AZ-Rotator: Science of Chance
The missing link between IDM and breakcore.Nov 13, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
Innerstance.Beatbox: "Astor Street"
Courtesy of Consumers Research and Development.Nov 10, 2005 in MP3s
Thomas Brinkmann: Lucky Hands
One of my favorite prolific artists.Nov 8, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
Kone-R: "Knob"/"I'm Dubious"
Sugary electronics, percussion distorted into static.Nov 6, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
Funckarma: Refurbished One
Rare remixes.Nov 2, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
Innerstance.Beatbox: Your Eyes Are Like UFOs, My Darling
A real treat.Oct 31, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
Kero: Kerologistics
Interesting for its complexity.Oct 30, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
Signaldrift: Set Design
I wanted to like this album.Oct 26, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
Venetian Snares: Meathole
Venetian Snares junkies should rejoice.Oct 21, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
Lackluster: What You Want Isn't What You Need
For fans of melodic electronics.Oct 20, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
Various: I Like It Vol. 2
An interesting concept.Oct 10, 2005 in Reviews: Electronica
