Midori (ミドリ) are a Japanese four-piece that bounce between spastic-punk freakouts and playful jazz numbers, complete with unique and intense female vocals.
'あらためまして、はじめまして、ミドリです。(Hello everyone. Nice to meet you. We are Midori)' is the band's major-label debut from 2008.
Go get satisfied.
All India Radio are an Australian electronic/down-tempo group active since 2000. The band generally operates as a chilled out, lo-fi unit with accompanying female vocals.
I've been listening to 'Fall' (2008) and 'A Low High' (2009) lately -- the former being more trip-hop influenced. Dreamy beats, ambient synths, nice vocals, and enough edge to keep it from being stagnant.
Good stuff.
Catfish J. Rivers, esq. III is a prolific young musician from New Jersey.
He released a solo output in 2006 for free-streaming called 'The Afterbirth of Cool'; his intention for the album was to blur the line between organic instruments and sampled instruments/computer manipulation. With strong influence from the likes of Boards of Canada, Black Dice, and Tortoise, Rivers created an impressive solo-work that reflects his influences as much as it expands/detracts from them.
Pretty neat stuff, whether his occasional melding of post-rock'd glitch or fusion electronica, you'll likely enjoy the surprise.
Band of Skulls are a rock trio from England consisting of two vocalists (Russel Marsden: guitar/vox, Emma Richardson: bass/vox, & drummer Matt Hayward).
The band was founded in 2008, with their debut album 'Baby Darling Doll Face Honey' released earlier this year.
Marsden and Richardson alternate the writing process, but often come together to meld their penchant for blues-rock; think a sort of meeting point between The White Stripes and Supergrass.
Some tracks could be argued filler, but for the most part the better bests the worse -- especially on standouts like "Death By Diamonds & Pearls" and "Patterns".
Also recommend checking Brooklyn's The Big Sleep for another quality rock-variant.
Itta
Marqido
Ras G & the Afrikan Space Program is all about the future, but not necessarily the glossy hi-tech future with flying cars and robots...
'Ghetto Sci-Fi' pretty much speaks for itself -- Ras G showcases an ode of respect to the past while moving the guidelines into the future, creating a fresh meeting ground of new & old. The electronic fabric of the album weaves between the grimey, funk-filled rhythms, like a lively slum in the realm of Blade Runner.
Or something like that. You might not know where exactly, but Ras & the Space Program is def launching you somewhere, and hopefully before the ship breaks down.
Again.
Soon after my previous post, a friend of mine returned from his visit to Japan..
As we caught up, I decided to play 'Ki-Oku' for some downtime -- moments later he explains seeing DJ Krush live just days before in the land of Godzilla(s).
He said it was a great experience, so of course I was jealous, just a little -- but he hooked me up proper and shared most his entire discog that he bought at the show.
Among these was 1997's 'MiLight', another quick-favorite following 'Ki-Oku' & 'Jaku'.
The track lengths are relatively short and it keeps the album fresh, moving at a steady pace..
Just a tight mix of guest-spots/straight instrumentals.
Japanese collaboration between longtime godfather of trip-hop DJ Krush and respected avant-garde trumpeter Toshinori Kondo.
DJ Krush lays down his usual dark, downtempo atmospheres for Kondo to accentuate and brighten into a nice contrast..
Perfect kick-back/rainy day material.
Eb.F
Encre is the musical project of kora-player/multi-instrumentalist Yann Tambour, prior to his Thee, Stranded Horse output.
'Flux' is a bit more free-form than his work in T,SH -- with layers dissecting/building through the tracks by means of cello, violin, kora, piano, xylophone, and Tambour's hurried vocals.
Fans of T,SH will probably enjoy, but it def stands as an independent outlet for the unfamiliar alike.
-1999.jpg)
