Mr. Oizo released his junior album this week entitled,
Lambs Anger. It's his most developed and mature work to date and while his general aesthetic has remained the same over the course of his career, he realizes it in a much more accessible way with this release.
Overall, it seems that Oizo has been greatly influenced by his label-mates on Ed Banger. He has created a much more dance party friendly album without losing the style that makes him so unique. The glitchyness that defines his style is evident throughout this album, but he remains much truer to the beat than in his previous albums. He lightens his tone with disco and soul samples in "Two Takes It", returning shortly thereafter to his patented spacey experimental sounds in "Rank" and "Bruce Willis is Dead."
Uffie makes a notable guest appearance with a more mature and reserved performance in "Steroids."
He closes the album with a classic Mr. Oizo experimental glitch-fest that rivals his most cut up track from the past. The introduction poses that,
"Some [songs] are good. Some are bad. Some are just OK." I would argue that, while some songs may be just OK, the rest are good if not great.
Pick up
Lambs Anger on
iTunes or
Beatport now.
Mr. Oizo - Two Takes It (feat. Carmen Castro)Labels: Album Review, Lamb's Anger, Mr. Oizo, review
Review/Rate Us on iTunes!
So it's been a while since we've heard from folks about how we're doing. We've gotten e-mails here and there and word of mouth. But we definitely want to hear what you all think of our podcast.
If you've got some time, jump on over to
our review page on iTunes and give us a score. 1 star means really crappy and 5 stars means amazing. Share your thoughts, praise, criticisms with us and if you think we need improvement, let us know and we'll do it.
Labels: comments, review, subdrive
Ed Banger's "Ed Rec. Vol III" Bangs Hard
The third Ed Banger Records Compilation, "Ed Rec, Vol. III" has finally arrived, and it has been worth the wait. This is the most consistent of the three albums in this series. Overall, every artist on the label has contributed a track that shows a marked progression in their style or at least an improvement of their previously established skills.
After an introduction by Mr. Oizo, the album kicks off with the most hip hop influenced track from Busy P yet. It is a narrative featuring Murs, in which Busy P introduces the guest rapper to the L.A. dance club scene. Mr. Flash follows with an over the top ballad only fit for the most intense training montage from an 80's film. Sebastian's track, "Dog", comes next and may be one of the only low points in the album. This progressive DJ has pushed his rock-based sampling so far that this track sounds a lot like a thrashing metal song. It is the most hardcore track to come out of Ed Banger Records thus far. Uffie follows with a track in which she not only doesn't talk trash the whole time, but goes as far as to sing for the first third of the song. Justice provides a live version of "Stress" in which they deconstruct the song into its elements and build it back up for a dramatic finale. This is followed by Mr. Oizo's "Minuteman's Pulse." It is the smoothest and most club appropriate track to come from this highly experimental DJ. It may allow him to emerge to a more mainstream audience.
DJ Mehdi's "Pocket Piano" sounds very similar to his previous work, and is frankly a little repetitive and could use a bigger build up over the course of the track. This is followed by the best Krazy Baldhead track I've ever heard. His skills have progressed a lot over the last year or two, and he shows it off with crazy cut-up beats and vocals. Ed Banger newcomers, D.S.L. provide a French hip hop track with an English refrain that is extremely poppy and catchy. Feadz teams up with Spank Rock for his fastest and most hip hop oriented track to date. The compilation concludes with a track from new artist, So Me. With a head-banging beat and distorted synth, these newcomers provide a track in the classic style of Ed Banger records.
Overall this new compilation is amazing, and it really shows that Ed Banger Records is growing, changing, and innovating. Almost all of the artists on the label have picked up new influences including hip hop and metal and have improved both their musical skill as well as song writing capabilities. This is a must have album for electronic music fans.
4 1/2 Stars (Out of 5)
Labels: ed banger records, ed rec, review, vol. iii
This Tuesday, Ellen Allien relased her fourth album,
"Sool". Although it is an electronic album, it is not exactly what you would expect from this German Goddess of DJing. It is an extremely dark and minimalist journey ranging from songs consisting of street and diner background sounds with barely any beat or instrumental music (
"Einsteigen"), to songs with disparate vocals and weird whistling tones (
"Elphine"), to tracks with pulsating bass and space noises (
"Its"). This is by no means a dance album. You won't be hearing this in a club any time soon. For those fans of her earlier work and her collaboration with Apparat, this will be a huge disappointment.
It seems that she is trying to create an album of soundscapes. Although each track does transport the listener to a unique atmosphere of sound and, I hesitate to say it, music, I'm not sure that it accomplishes anything. Truly successful albums of this kind carry listeners to another world and manipulate their emotional state.
"Sool" fails to affect the listeners emotions in any way other than perhaps, at best, slight boredom and, at worst, minor irritation.
Although there is nothing outright bad about this album, it is certainly more of an acquired taste even for veterans of the electronic music scene.
2 Stars (Out of 5)Hear
Ellen Allien - Itstaken from
"Sool". Buy it on
iTunes or
Amazon.
Labels: ellen allien, review, sool
Hercules & Love Affair - "Blind"
Although this single has been available in the UK since March 3
rd of this year, Hercules & Love Affair’s debut single, “Blind” was finally released in the US on Monday, May 26
th.Their full-length album will be available in the US on June 24
th.
This single is an exciting preview of what is to come from Hercules.
The title track, “Blind” is an infectious poppy disco hit. With a funky bass line and a crisp and catchy trumpet refrain, this song makes you dance from the first note. Antony’s vocals create a nice contrast to the pop with a detached but rich quality. The second track, “Shadows” is a bit darker with more of a synthesizer drive. The vocals in this track have an almost “Like a Virgin” era Madonna quality to them. The four additional remixes don’t stray far from the original and are frankly forgettable.
With the exception of the additional remixes, this is an exceptional first single. Many people have said it, and I agree, that we will be hearing the name Hercules & Love Affair a lot over the next year.
Hercules & Love Affair’s “Blind” a Disco Explosion
4 ½ Stars (Out of 5)
Labels: blind, hercules and love affair, review
