Category: Quickspins

A Space for quickspins

AFX – orphaned deejay selek 2006-08

Post author By Samuel Provost-Walker
Post date September 15, 2015

AFX – orphaned deejay selek 2006-08 (Warop Records; 2015)

It’s still surreal to think Richard D. James is back to his usual self; having already released two EPs under two aliases and owned up to a slew of Soundcloud recordings in the year since Syro, it’s as if he never left. orphaned deejay selek 2006-08 is the latest treat from James’ AFX alias, a burst of wild, intricately arranged acid techno of the highest order. Deeply reminiscent of his own Analord series, orphaned deejay selek 2006-08 is a fat-free yet plentiful package brimming with nostalgic sounds and a thumping, fervent energy only an AFX release could deliver. While many would argue James’ latest output hasn’t been especially innovative or transformative, it doesn’t have to be. This is a man whose work has come to define an entire genre and gone through innumerable transmutations already. To expect anything more would be to ignore what’s already there; some of the most alien and unique sounding acid techno around and, arguably, some of his best in years.

Trial Track: “simple slamming b 2”
8/10

Music Quickspins

Dâm-Funk – Invite the Light

Post author By Samuel Provost-Walker
Post date September 15, 2015

Dâm-Funk – Invite the Light (Stones Throw Records; 2015)

Sprawling and brimming with glitzy, vibrant energy, Invite the Light is a sci-fi infused synth funk journey only the likes of which eccentric crate-digger Dâm-Funk could produce: gleefully bizarre, faithfully funky and laden with enough phat synths to make even George Clinton grin. Indeed, Dâm simply provides too much of a good thing; the album’s colossal 96-minute runtime undermines some of Invite the Light’s strongest elements by simply wading in them for too long. It’s made all the more disappointing given just how consistent and arresting most of these tracks are; the wonderfully visual “Surveillance Escape” blends kooky distorted radio chatter with an unapologetically funky groove before collapsing into the serene jazz-funk of “Floating on Air,” a song that recalls Flying Lotus’ jazzy recent works. It’s clear that Dâm knows his funk; he lives and breathes it, proudly wearing his influences on his sleeves while crafting something notably otherworldly. Perhaps he’s a bit too in love with the funk.

Trial Track: “Floating on Air”
7/10

Music Quickspins

k-os – Can’t Fly Without Gravity

Post author By Oneida Crawford
Post date September 8, 2015

k-os – Can’t Fly Without Gravity (Dine Alone Records; 2015)

Can’t Fly Without Gravity, the sixth album from Toronto rapper and hip-hop artist k-os, is an impressive compilation of speedy rap lyrics, electronic beats, retro samples, jazzy keyboards and bold trumpets. The album is funky, fast, and dramatic, which is something expected considering k-os’ alternative approach to hip-hop and avoidance of the typical formulaic beats heard in top 40 playlists. The majority of the tracks play out with an even amount of zeal. However, comparing the slowed-down, retro crooner samples on track six, “Crucify,” with the revved-up punk sounds on track 12, “Steel Sharpens Steel (Still in Love),” one may find it hard to believe that both pieces come from the same album. While this demonstrates the range k-os is capable of covering in terms of genre, these differing pieces divide the album and disrupt the flow.

Rating: 6/10
Trial track: “Vous Deux (Denzel Washington)”

Music Quickspins

Chelsea Wolfe – Abyss

Post author By Samuel Provost-Walker
Post date September 8, 2015

Chelsea Wolfe – Abyss (Sargent House; 2015)

Dense and clouded in a thick, billowing fog of dread, Abyss is appropriately titled to say the least. Chelsea Wolfe continues to be unclassifiable in five albums, this time treating her trademark darkwave sound to a welcome dose of doom metal and roping in a secret weapon: Mike Sullivan of Russian Circles. While Wolfe is no stranger to guitars herself, Sullivan’s crunchy tone feels like a real master-stroke at times; lead single “Iron Moon” lurches along with jolting vigour, its guitars plodding with immensity at every down-stroke before unfurling into a cacophony of shrill noise. Wolfe and her band refuse to let up, filling nearly every song with so much brooding atmosphere that it almost becomes overbearing. Later tracks “Survive” and “Color of Blood” while solid, nonetheless offer a familiar dynamic in light of opening track “Carrion Flowers” thundering ballet of eerie silence and deafening pads. Even in spite of this, Abyss remains as impressive as it is downright filthy.

Trial Track: “After the Fall”
Rating: 8/10

Music Quickspins

Ultimate Painting – Green Lanes

Post author By Étienne Lajoie
Post date September 8, 2015

Ultimate Painting – Green Lanes (Trouble in Mind Records; 2015)

After watching Kanye West’s unapologetic presidential announcement at the VMAs, I had to clear my mind with some humble musicians. I popped in my earphones and swayed my way through the sound of Ultimate Painting. This Jack Hooper and James Hoare duo was formed after they ditched their respective bands, Veronica Falls and Mazes. Now, they have a new CD that’s way more enjoyable than their previous ones. It’s just as mellow and joyful as their previous albums, but better produced and, consequently, less dark. “Break the Chain” sounds like a far-fetched replica of The Beatles’ “In my Life” in its last verses, and “Two From The Vault” sporadically mirrors Jack Johnson. In between, you’ll hear some Buddy Holly in the hit single, “(I’ve Got the) Sanctioned Blues.” The sweet, but somewhat repetitive guitar riffs accompany the soft-spoken lyrics about their everyday life. The addition of live drummer Neil Robinson on the new album changes the dynamic and gives the sound a more authentic feel.

Trial track: “(I’ve Got the) Sanctioned Blues”
Rating: 7/10

Music Quickspins

Mac DeMarco – Another One

Post author By Étienne Lajoie
Post date September 8, 2015

(Captured Tracks; 2015)

At one time, DeMarco’s videos on YouTube barely had 10,000 views. Now, he’s selling out venues around the world. The pop star’s latest album is punctuated by easy synth beats and DeMarco’s hillbilly-style vocals. Slightly similar to Beck’s early work, Mac greets you with meaningful but innocent lyrics. DeMarco is all about hope and love in his new tunes with lyrics such as: “If it’s so/then come on give this lover boy a try/I’ll put the sparkle right back in your eyes/What could you lose?” in “No Other Heart.” The song “I’ve Been Waiting for Her” has a summer vibe to it, with a galloping rhythm and the classic high-pitched tones that made DeMarco the unique performer he is today. “Another One” is a hearty ballad that’ll seduce synth-pop lovers with sensitive feelings, but is not quite melodramatic. The mini-LP only has eight songs—that’s the only downside.

Trial track: “Another One”
Rating: 9/10

Quickspins

Carly Rae Jepsen – E•MO•TION

Post author By Samuel Provost-Walker
Post date September 1, 2015

Carly Rae Jepsen – E•MO•TION (2015)

Enlisting the likes of Dev Hynes, celebrated Taylor Swift producer Shellback and Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij among many others, Carly Rae Jepsen and co. have crafted an infectiously catchy record in E•MO•TION, faithfully honouring the synthwave and sophisti-pop sounds of yesterday while in turn sounding modern and sincere. The result is a collection of sugar-coated synthpop completely lacking in pretension, brimming with earnestness and, perhaps most importantly, unapologetically FUN; title track “E•MO•TION” soars thanks to its vibrantly layered percolating synths while the Sia-penned break-up anthem “Boy Problems” kicks off with an impeccably funky bassline before providing one of the album’s most rousing choruses. While E•MO•TION’s A-side is virtually irreproachable, late tracks “LA Hallucinations” and “Warm Blood” prove particularly unremarkable, the latter seemingly lurching endlessly in search of a hook. If Jepsen and co. don’t exactly stick the landing, they’ve nonetheless provided one of the year’s most convincing arguments for mainstream pop in E•MO•TION. Nearly four years after “Call Me Maybe” burrowed its way deep into our minds, Carly Rae has done it again.

Trial Track: “E•MO•TION”
Rating: 7/10

Quickspins

Beach House – Depression Cherry

Post author By Paul Traunero
Post date September 1, 2015

Beach House – Depression Cherry (Sub Pop; 2015)

Following the release of their new single “Sparks,” fans were hoping that the “dream pop” duo would be shifting their trademark reverb-soaked, dream-like sound to something more experimental on their fifth album, Depression Cherry. However, it appears that the track was only a red herring in an otherwise predictable and formulaic release.

Not to say that the album is without progress, it’s clear that the duo has gone for a more stripped-back and aggressive approach to their sound, incorporating buzzing guitar riffs, trance and even spoken word into the mix. Ultimately, there is a bare and unfinished quality to the compositions that feels unsatisfying.

Much like a dream, when you pull back the atmospheric layers and carefully crafted aesthetic, Beach House lose much of the grandeur and distinction that charmed listeners since their debut. If the band is attempting a transition, Depression Cherry is the equivalent of the band’s awkward teen phase.

Trail Track: “Levitation”
Rating: 6/10

Quickspins

Foals – What Went Down

Post author By Jessica Romera
Post date September 1, 2015

Foals – What Went Down (Warner Music; 2015)

Since their 2008 debut Antidotes, the British band has been consistently evolving towards a more mature sound, yet have maintained their signature youthful grit—a feat many of their fellow acts have not been able to successfully pull off. What Went Down is the group’s fourth album, and their first since Holy Fire, their 2013 release that just oozed hit after hit, namely “Inhaler” and “My Number.” The title track and “Snake Oil” feature unapologetically fast-paced and aggressive instrumentals and Yiannis Philippakis’ equally raucous vocals, while “Mountain At My Gates” and “Birch Tree” feel like a return to their more melodic math-rock roots.

Despite the medley of great tracks, there doesn’t seem to be any defining “Spanish Sahara” or “Late Night” moments that characterized Total Life Forever and Holy Fire, respectively; songs that built up slowly, gripping you tightly from the inside and then growing into a cataclysmic eruption of sound and emotion.
Trial Track :”Mountain At My Gates”
Rating: 8/10

Quickspins

HEALTH – Death Magic

Post author By Samuel Provost-Walker
Post date September 1, 2015

HEALTH – Death Magic (2015)

Death Magic is at once peculiar and wholly expected. Their first album in six years, HEALTH have decided to trade in their searing guitars and deafening drums for a mostly digital framework steeped in dance and pop music. While this digital reinvention is a sound one on paper, the end results are surprisingly dated and flaccid. Drowning in pulsating EDM synths and revelling in obnoxious hedonism and casual nihilism, Death Magic sounds about a decade too late. Rather than provide a compelling case for their transition, HEALTH perform self-sabotage, bringing their signature disembodied vocals to the forefront and settling for a swath of cold, middle-of-the-road dance numbers; by focusing principally on the album’s dance-floor burners, the band have essentially reduced their noisier, arguably more interesting elements to brief stopgaps between the percussive raves. While it’s easy to see a glimmer of a good idea amongst the hodgepodge of nauseatingly “edgy” rave music and occasionally cringe-worthy debauchery (see “LIFE”) on display, the fact remains that Death Magic just isn’t very memorable. Like its lyrics, it’s pure surface-level theatrics.

Trial Track: “NEW COKE”
Rating: 4/10