Deftune

His music is a dizzying display of playful electronics. It’s so ridiculously good that you just have to laugh. Yeah, it’s that sick. Sick as in dope as in amazing. What I like most about Qua’s music is the child like innocence that it brings. There’s no sign of ego, showmanship, or signs of biting at all. It just is what it is…pure dopeness. I’m listening to the album as I type this and I feel like tossing this aside and busting some backflips off a skateboard while hanging on to a moving car going at the average speed of 88 mph (weaving through traffic on the 101/110 interchange of course). If you’re not too familiar with his music, he’s currently at the forefront of Melbourne Australia’s electronic music scene and has toured with the likes of Ratatat, Caribou, Four Tet, Clue To Kalo and Trioski. Q&A is a is a collection of twelve compositions brushed with strokes of guitar and electronics on a canvas of drums provided by James Cecil (Architecture in Helsinki) and Laurence Pike (Savath + Savalas, Pivot, Triosk). I predict you’ll be listening to this album non-stop on repeat for a VERY long time. Highly Recommended

“Goodmorning Sun”

“Circles Music Video”

Circles by Qua, Music Video from Qua on Vimeo.

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Die-hard Thavius Beck fans are on a verge of a feeding frenzy, crazed and ready for a taste of his new release Dialogue. Some great news came up this week and it’s set to drop sooner than you think. Mush recently announced the album will now be available in digital format on their website. A single is also available containing tracks Go! and Away with remixes by Flying Lotus and Offshore. Look below to hear the single Go! and a track from the album entitled Sometimes. I recently played Sometimes during my set at the last Deftune listening party on October 10th at the Blue Monkey Lounge. Positive feedback was through the roof. Highly Recommended

“Go”

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“Sometimes”

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THE BROTHERS BELL FINALLY TAKE SOME TIME OFF FROM THE ROAD AND ENLIST A HUGE SUPPORTING CAST AND MIXING HELP FROM JOHN CONGLETON (EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, R. KELLY, MODEST MOUSE, ETC.), FOR THEIR SECOND MUSH RECORDS FULL-LENGTH, IN STORES NOV. 3, 2009.

With their new full-length, Shutter Release, Lymbyc Systym’s Jared and Michael Bell are redefining what it means to be an instrumental band. The brothers make music that sings through you, and their impossibly personal vividly intimate melodies are the product of a lifetime of making music together. Seamlessly blending precision precise pop hooks, grandiose orchestration and experimental structures, their anthemic songs get straight to the point and leave the listener breathless. Their music resonates with our most personal experiences, and inevitably, our stories become the lyrics.

Shutter Release showcases Lymbyc Systym at its best and solidifies the brothers’ presence as a polyphonic wall of sound. For their acclaimed live show, Jared and Michael, side-by-side, dominate their instruments in effortless synchronicity. This energetic dynamism dynamic energy holds true in pervades the ten expertly crafted songs on Shutter Release the album.

With the brothers Bell now living apart in Brooklyn and Austin, the writing process for Shutter Release began with inspired late night conversations. Melodies and rhythms were sung to one another over the phone. These audio sketches, like the faded photograph on the album’s cover, were passed back and forth until these vibrant images came into focus.

Recorded to analog tape during the dead of an East coast winter, the brothers harnessed the full capacity of the studio. Organs, vibraphone, analog synthesizers, banjo, vintage tape echo, African percussion, toy piano and eight-bit modules adorn the album. Drum programming was based on an organic approach, with samples taken from found sounds, manipulated gongs and variety of household trinkets. Once the solid core of Jared’s high-energy melodic layering and Mike’s uncontainable beats were locked in place, the brothers called upon an array of talented close friends to lend a hand. Their rich, new complement of strings, horns, lap steel and guitar pushes the music into explosive new territory.

Lymbyc Systym’s compositional versatility and mastery of dynamics are in full force on Shutter Release. Guitar laden “Ghost Clock” conjures the ominous, energizing spirit of My Bloody Valentine combined with the melodic intricacy of Tortoise. The triumphant “Bedroom Anthem” lulls us in with tranquil intertwining banjo and glockenspiel before culminating in a jubilant, horn-heavy crescendo. The resulting sound resembles a chance meeting between Jon Brion and Broken Social Scene. In contrast, the ethereal textures on tracks like “Kubrick” add an intimate, spatial warmth to the record that evokes the subtleties of Stars of the Lid.

Shutter Release showcases the meticulously refined textures of Lymbyc Systym’s studio prowess without compromising the raw, captivating energy of their live show. With this release, the Bell brothers push the boundaries of wordless music into uncharted territory, proving that the genre is alive and thriving.

· Lymbyc Systym has toured with Broken Social Scene, The Books, Crystal Castles, The Album Leaf, Her Space Holiday and This Will Destroy You.
· Shutter Release was mixed by John Congleton (Modest Mouse, St. Vincent, Explosions in the Sky, Black Mountain, etc.)
· Shutter Release features instrumental contributions from members of This Will Destroy You, Balmorhea and Slow Six.
· Lymbyc Systym will tour the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Japan to promote Shutter Release.

“Ghost Clock”

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If you’ve heard Bibio’s music before….you haven’t heard anything yet until you check out his newest release Ambivalence Avenue. One thing’s for sure…his talent is immeasurable. His musical productions transpose elements of ambient, electronic, folk, hip hop, and experimental. You’ll find yourself questioning what exactly it is that you’re listening too. I find it quite amazing how he can transition from an organic, acoustic folk track into hard hitting beat any beat head can appreciate. Put it all together and you’ve got some amazing music. Highly Recommended

Sampler

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Check out this track called Tiger Choir from Scottish electro rock band The Magnificents. You can find it on their recently released album entitled Year of Explorers. I give it 10 toes up.

Album Info

Year Of Explorers, the latest from daring Scottish band The Magnificents, is an epic saga of stolen synths, left-handed guitars, trans-European expressways, covert product placement, and serious studio tomfoolery. Following months of touring, twiddling and general sonic invention, The Magnificents are finally ready to unleash their long-awaited second LP. Employing a bewildering array of dusty keyboards, wires, boxes and buttons, The Magnificents have meticulously crafted Year Of Explorers with a little help from esteemed producers Damian Taylor (Bjork, Unkle) and John Cummings (Mogwai). Whereas their eponymous debut was primarily fuelled by raw punk power and electrifying excess, the sophomore LP demonstrates a more measured method. Not to say the boys have mellowed with age… Year Of Explorers will still have the indie-disco young pretenders quaking in their Converse.

Tiger Choir

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Bonus

Can’t Explode

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Get Ready For It! K-the-I???’s Album Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow Is Set To Drop On Nov. 4th!

K-the-I??? teams up with Thavius Beck, who after working on the Niggy Tardust album with Saul Williams and Trent Reznor, set his sights on producing K’s album, mixing his conscious lyricism with futuristic beats to create what I can only describe as a masterpiece. K speaks on his life lessons and experiences so expect nothing short of amazing. Make sure you listen closely because I can guarantee that you will gain a deeper understanding of the world after hearing this. Be on the look out on Nov. 4th.

The album features a stellar line-up of guest MCs as High Priest of a newly reunited Antipop Consortium, Busdriver, Subtitle, Nocando, Vyle, and Mestizo all drop in. Thavius Beck even leaves the producer’s desk and steps in front of the mic for a track.

Chill out to this track entitled Decisions

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This is a track called Same Song Sing Along from the Her Space Holiday single Sleepy Tigers. It’s the lead single off the album Xoxo, Panda And The New Kid Revival which comes out on Oct. 7th, 2008. Her Space Holiday aka Marc Bianchi began his journey as a musician in the California hardcore scene. He has also part of Indian Summer and Mohinder in the early 90s. The new album is definitely a departure from his older work. He refrained using the laptop and decided to go for a more live folk sound.

I had a hard time deciding on which track I liked the most, but I really enjoyed Same Song Sing Along because it’s about independence and the rebellion against conformity and corporate propaganda. We’re all beautiful it cries out, giving all hope and strength to everyone who gives it a chance. Every song definitely has character and each possesses an addictive upbeat and positive vibe that keeps you wanting more. I guess we’ll all have to wait for the full release.

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