RPM

Uncle Tony's Coloring Book

Artist: 
Blockhead
Label: 
Young Heavy Souls Records

Uncle Tony’s Coloring Book starts with an interesting collection of phrases and questions, “Oh boy, this will be fun! I’m going to pretend to be anything I please today. And you pretend? Ride along with me. Where shall I begin?”, and a beautiful rhythmic guitar ensues, reminiscent of flamenco-esque vibes. When our Banger Queen introduced Blockhead as being “the go-to person of all things underground rap”, I had to cop.

Sounds Like: 
Moby
Sounds Like: 
Fatboy Slim
Name: 
Maximilian Serventi
Date Reviewed: 
04/26/2017

Hoova/Peak Magnetic Single

Artist: 
Clark
Label: 
Warp Records

Clark recently released two singles, Hoova and Peak Magnetic.

Sounds Like: 
Porter Robinson
Sounds Like: 
(Experimental) Bassnectar
Name: 
Nicholas Sergeant
Date Reviewed: 
04/26/2017

Dancing in the Smoke/X22RME Singles

Artist: 
Actress
Label: 
Ninja Tune

Actress recently released two new singles, Dancing in the Smoke and X22RME. Dancing in the Smoke is definitely a song I would imagine incorporated in to a boiler room set. It’s a very trippy song with a constant beat and chopped vocals. This would definitely qualify as warehouse techno. While the song has subtle nuance changes throughout it does not change much aside from random glitches and sounds being thrown into the song but there is no real drop.

Sounds Like: 
Eric PRYDZ
Sounds Like: 
Tiesto
Name: 
Nicholas Sergeant
Date Reviewed: 
04/24/2017

3:33 AM - Singles

Artist: 
Amber Mark
Label: 
Jasmine Music

New York-based singer, Amber Mark, will release her first debut EP on Friday, May 12th. The EP consists of 7 track including two pre-released singles "Lose My Cool" and "Way Back." While listening to both tracks, I immediately thought of my treks through H&M that could also fit the Forever 21 music theme. Lose My Cool is a mellow track with piano at the beginning and end of the track.

Sounds Like: 
Marian Hill
Sounds Like: 
Oh Wonder
Name: 
DeRay Chatter
Date Reviewed: 
04/19/2017

Concrete Desert

Artist: 
The Bug Vs Earth
Label: 
Ninja Tune

I'm a big fan of Earth, only having a passing familiarity with The Bug, but from my point of view this album is a little boring. That isn't to say it's bad though, and the title Concrete Desert does a good job explaining the appeal. This music is slow, sprawling, and desolate.

Sounds Like: 
Earth
Sounds Like: 
The Bug
Sounds Like: 
the soundtrack to Dead Man by Neil Young
Name: 
Andrew Boring
Date Reviewed: 
04/19/2017

Single

Artist: 
RAC (Ft. Rostam)
Label: 
Counter Records

The track starts of pretty slow, as if you are drifting in thought--much like the narrator/singer thinking back on a nightmare/ "dream [he] had last night." Then the beat drops and pace is faster and now you are singing and dancing to this sad yet nostalgic song. It's so easy to listen to and immediately grips your attention with the meticulous mixing  that perfectly accompanies the vocals. 

RAC can be an inspiration to us all as he too was just a college kid like us, passionate about music.

Sounds Like: 
Vampire Weekend
Sounds Like: 
Passion Pit
Name: 
Hibah Ilyas
Date Reviewed: 
04/19/2017

The Far Fields

Artist: 
Future Islands
Label: 
4AD

Future Islands put out "The Far Fields" and its amazing. This album has dreamy psychedelic rock vocals, with fuzzy guitars. The whole album makes you want to dance but it is never aggressive about it. It's male vocals, except on track 11 with Debbie Harry but the singer Samuel Herring is very talented and really makes you feel one with the album. One of the really cool things about this album is that it is rpm but also very much indie rock, theres two violins, trumpet, two trombones, cello, viola, flugelhorn, and tuba that make appearances on this album.

Sounds Like: 
Deer Hoof
Sounds Like: 
Message to Bears
Name: 
Alexis Walker
Date Reviewed: 
04/15/2017

Detroit House Guests

Artist: 
ADULT.
Label: 
Mute

ADULT. is an avant garde electronic duo comprised of Nicola Kuperus and Adam Lee Miller. For their first record in four years, ADULT. invited musicians and artists to come live with them for an extended amount of time. By spending all the time together, it helped create a claustophobic and kaliedoscopic record that is equal parts haunting and inticing. Guests include Shannon Funches, Michael Gira and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe. The sound varies from industrial to house to almost drone in places. 

Sounds Like: 
Oneohtrix Point Never
Sounds Like: 
Hieroglyphic Being
Name: 
Nick Kivi
Date Reviewed: 
04/12/2017

Season High

Artist: 
Little Dragon
Label: 
Off the Wall

“High”, a track pre-released of the Season High album expected to be released April 14th is mesmerizing with Indie vocals add a magical coffee house vibe. The minimal tunes of Little Dragon, a Sweedish quartet, in combination with the Yukimi Nagaon’s vocals remind me a lot of a Banks and SBTRKT mash up. Definetly the perfect song if you are looking for a bout of creativity. Pick up your paint brushes and break out your pens, if this track doesn’t inspire you then I don’t know what will.

Sounds Like: 
SBTRKT
Sounds Like: 
Goldfrapp
Sounds Like: 
Santigold
Name: 
Elena Ganev
Date Reviewed: 
04/12/2017

Tear My Heart

Artist: 
Moon Boots
Label: 
AnjunaDeep

The original track by Moon Boots is a fun, flirtatious, almost beachy take on classical 90’s techno/house techniques. The track features several rhythmic keys and symbols giving it a continuous floating feeling, making it perfect for a long drive down the coast or a relaxing day by the pool. This song features the vocals of Lulu James a neo-soul British singer. Her incredible vocals give this song an old fashioned, 90’s R&B, feel.

Sounds Like: 
Lane 8
Sounds Like: 
Tensnake
Name: 
Elena Ganev
Date Reviewed: 
04/12/2017
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