My 4-year-old son is obsessed with marine life of all kinds, to the point where a recent visit to the London Aquarium nearly resulted in a restraining order. It seems he couldn’t keep his hands out of the manta ray tank (to be fair, it was marked as a “petting” exhibit). He also recently informed me that he wants a pet octopus. My subsequent research led to this surprise discovery: some killer deadpan glitch funk from Texas — at a fraction the cost of a real octopus!
The Fatáles
Vaguely detached, vaguely nostalgic, vaguely wonderful space pop. It’s really hard to believe these guys are unsigned…maybe they’re not in it for the money, just on a personal crusade to promote use of the accent aigu (á). Either way, I’m in.
DJ Soul Slinger
Hidden in the back of every music collection is a little rave music. Okay, maybe not every one, but there are plenty of us who keep a little something stashed away. I pulled out my personal rave-orite Altern 8 recently. My five year old was not impressed. Another from my collection who is actually still going strong is DJ Soul Slinger. A native Brazilian, Carlos is an early purveyor of rave/jungle/drum’n’bass music/culture/goods here in the good ol’ US of A, and a perfect way to welcome a dear friend to 3hive on her first visit.
I Am Robot and Proud
Great minds really do think alike! I Am Robot and Proud has been queued up here at 3hive just waiting for the right day to post, and a kind reader of 3hive sent in an email to the suggestion box, well, suggesting I Am Robot and Proud. It gives us the chance to again ponder the question, “What is it with big corporations and their raiding of indie-dom for music for their commercials?” This time it’s adidas, and they’re using “Winter at Night.” I Am Robot and Proud is Toronto’s Shaw-Han Liem, and he makes a beguiling electronic (but not robotic) pop that is both warm and refreshing. Layers of melodies, alternately purposeful and tinkering, merely hide the rhythms that can get a little groovy. Proud indeed.
David Sylvian
I have a couple confessions to make. First, I feel asleep during a U2 concert. I’ve never been a big fan. I respect the band tremendously, but their music, and that concert in particular, just don’t do it for me. My second confession: I cried at a David Sylvian concert. Not that I wept out loud or anything, but his voice, its rich timbre, literally brought tears to my eyes. He has a long musical history, beginning with the band Japan, then his solo work. The first track, “Mothlight,” is an ambient piece composed as an accompanyment to a group of photographs. The remaining tracks include vocals and give a better sense of David Sylvian’s well-honed craft.
Worm Is Green
We’re officially five days into winter so I thought it apropos to turn our attention to Iceland. I know it’s not winter there year round, but it should be! Worm Is Green’s debut album is almost a year old here in the States, but proper respect has yet to be paid. The band does a brilliant cover of Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” and the rest of the album will put you in a cool chill with its warm synth tones and atmospheric vocals. These tracks are all demo versions and outtakes from Automagic. You’ll have to put down some cash for the final product.
Ulrich Schnauss
German, twenty-something with a veritable cornucopia of aliases. If you follow the reverse chronology of music represented here you’ll notice that Mr. Schnauss finally came into his own, name and music, after an early output of more than competent drum ‘n’ bass. On his latest work, A Strangely Isolated Place Schnauss composes lush, atmospheric tracks that’d fit like bricks into My Bloody Valentine’s or Chapterhouse’s wall of sound.
Giant Robot
Not to be confused with the Japanese pop culture ‘zine of the same name, Giant Robot are members of Nuspirit Helsinki and they run the gamut like Jesse freakin’ Owens. From cozy EBTG-ish ballads (“Best Match”) to lanky, dub-hop (“Konevitsa”). And then you’ve got the remixes, if you’re ready for even more curveballs. Best of all, Giant Robot’s site has a mile-long MP3 page with all of their commercially unavailable tracks, which includes their entire debut album and tons of said remixes. Set aside some download time.
Echostar
Martha Schwendener, of the late Bowery Electric, is the sole member of Echostar. Unlike the Dick Van Dyke One Man Band in Mary Poppins, this one woman band carries her instruments not on her person, but on her hard drive. While her beats are simpler and melodies “lusher” (Bowery fans should get that), Martha carries on where Bowery left off, with swirling sounds and her trademark whispering/breathy vocals making her debut solo album Sola sound as if it really is broadcast by a satellite.
The Aphrodisiacs
Scotland’s The Aphrodisiacs have a great story. They were friends just goofin’ around who recorded one demo and mailed it the late John Peel. A week later he called them up and asked if he could play it on the radio. So without ever playing a gig and having recorded only one song, they were invited down to London to record a Peel Session. Listen to their dark grooves and see why John Peel picked up the phone.