Underworld – IDrum
About a month ago, I finally bit the bullet and picked up an Iphone. I have been tolling around with apps and few have caught my eye as Idrum’s Underworld app. Underworld partnered with iZotope to make create the app. The app features original music and artwork along with ability to remix Underworld Classics.
First, it includes all the essential Underworld tracks that would want in something like this. “Born Slippy” “Two Months Off” and “Cowgirl” so it is all the tracks we are familiar with. The other great thing about the app is the very simple and intuitive UI. Once, the app is loaded you get the list of songs and once you load up the song you are confronted with a large list of boxes. The boxes represent each section of the song and this is were you get to make the magic happen. The UI works well for the novices like me and the people who know what they are doing. For only 4.99 you will get plenty of entertainment value in listening back to your inaudible remixes of “Cowgirl.”
Their Hearts Were Full of Spring – How I Wasted My Youth
When you discover a band via a cover song it is never usually a good thing. But, THWFOS’s simple cover of Fleet Foxes’ ‘White Winter Hymnal’ equalled the beauty of the original. After, listening to “How I Wasted My Youth” on repeat this week. I have arrived at the conclusion that there are quite a few artists that they could cover successfully. The album is really an indie “kitchen sink” if you would. The pace and style vary greatly from track to track and the album just flows really well overall. One of the best of the bunch is ‘St. Cecilia’ that combines some twee indie harmonies with some thicker riffs. It is also encouraging to see a few sub two minutes songs. ‘New Favourite Band’ is just the right length to wet your whistle and keep you hanging around for some more. The album comes to a close with the fittingly dark ‘The End’
‘How I Wasted My Youth’ is a complete album that you will enjoy from start to finish. There are no songs that feel like dead weight that add nothing to the record. A top notch debut that we will be loving all year long.
Various Artists – Adam Soundtrack
It’s a new week and of course a new soundtrack. Adam follows the relationship between a young man (i.e. Adam) who has Asperger’s syndrome and the woman of his dreams: Beth. The movie just hit cinemas this week and the soundtrack is being released via Nettwerk records who feature a few of their own acts on the movie’s score.
Much like the plot of the movie the soundtrack is sequenced in manner slightly different from what you are used to. Christopher Lennertz provided the score for the film and all his tracks are located in the last half of the album. Joshua Radin has two tracks on the compilation including one brand new number written specifically for the film that features vocals by Maria Taylor. His solo track left me wanting a little more but the duet with Maria is where Joshua really shines. It is a beautiful tune with a very simple arrangement and Maria compliments Joshua perfectly. To round everything out we have a Weepies track and – let’s be honest – The Weepies make everything better.
The soundtrack has its particularly strong moments. Two bands that it has gotten me to pay a little more attention to are The Alexandria Quartet and The Hiders. But, soundtracks are tough these days as with most compilations. I liked the different layout and some of the stuff that was new to me but it might be wiser to just hunt down the individual artists.
Helado Negro – Awe Owe
Helado Negro is the solo venture from Roberto Carlos Lange, a Guillermo Scott Herren (Prefuse 73) collaborator. I first got wind of this release via Twitter. I was following Helado Negro’s account and he tweeted a track that caught my attention. Even better, the record is out via Asthmatic Kitty Records who has brought us a lot of quality music this year.
“Awe Owe” is an incredibly hard record to nail down. The record throws anything from a simple acoustic part, to a sample to some odd field recordings. His musical styling and sensibilities don’t end there and his vocals are a big part of the process. His voice is very soft and subdued but yet floaty. The lyrics are all in Spanish as this helps make the entire package very compelling to watch unfold. The album starts off with a track “Vencermemos” that has a bit of a summery, tropical vibe. It is the type of song you can see listening to on a beach in late August having a few drinks. Then the album transitions into “Dahum” that features some reprogrammed pieces as well as some amazing horn work toward the end.
The record is not something for everyone. It feels the best late at night but it is something that will not put you to sleep either. From the strums of “Time Aparts” to the spaced out “Ver A Ver” Helado Negor’s record has some of the freshest tracks I have heard in a long time. Every song feels a little organic and personal and the raw vibe really keeps the songs in your flow. If you are willing to take a chance on a album this year you will be rewarded with some great stuff here.