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Music Bonobo: For the Electronica Fan with Everything

May 26, 2010 - 10:02 am

If an endless array of all kinds of different beats from across the musical spectrum is what you’re looking for, than look no further. I don’t know about all you audiophiles, but it’s a welcome policy for this ADD-afflicted reviewer, who finds that so much of the modern, ‘mellow’ electronic music could benefit from a little f*%in’ variety. All that said, I’m not sure how to classify Bonobo. They’re a little too experimental to be ‘electronica’, and who the hell knows exactly what that means anymore anyways, so a more threadbare term like plain ‘ol electronic seems a bit more appropriate. That being said, I love them. Bonobo’s eclectic name fits its eccentric brand of electronic tomfoolery. There’s traditional funk in there, some out-of-left-field guitar hooks, and spectral samples from what sound like a little kid…whining? It’s a lot of fun, and something that, to be honest, you kind of just have to listen to to really enjoy and appreciate. Usually I’d say ‘this is an acquired taste,’ but Bonobo has something for everyone and chances are that even includes skeptics like you. Today, Red Bull Music Academy embraces the weird.

Music Konono N°1: Spray it On

by Shop Keeper

May 21, 2010 - 10:44 am

Reared by a pair of vagabonding baby boomers, some of my earliest musical memories consist of traveling cross country in the back of my mother’s Chevy Citation, Paul Simon’s Graceland emerging scratchily from a pair of worn speakers behind my seat. Outside of this (perennial) classic and Simon’s follow-up, The Rhythm of the Saints, it could be safely said my suburban honky ass knows next to nada about African music. But it doesn’t really matter, because Konono No.1 differs wildly from Simon’s Ladysmith Black Mazambo, or any of the other (small) samples of African music I’ve heard. Hailing from the Congo, Konono really is to Bazambo music what Yes and Hawkwind were to prog in the 70s — their live performances are long, often monotonous jams, stream-of-consciousness wanderings that combine spacey-moog electronics with traditional Bazambo chants and choruses, tribal drums and what sounds like the din of cold war-era arcade halls (think a cacophony of Millipede, Galaga, and Pole Position). The band creates most of their own instruments from spare parts and whatever they might find laying around. With their rising star, Konono seems to be to modern music what Simon’s Ladysmith were to his own brand of hymns and rhythms: the band was recently selected by Bjork to be her back-up band, and Matt Groening hand-picked the band to play All Tomorrow’s Parties in May. And overnight sensations they ain’t — these guys have been at it for at least three decades. Have yourself a listen right now at Red Bull Music Academy Radio.

Music Gary Numan Still Rocks

by Shop Keeper

May 20, 2010 - 10:00 am

Is it just me or does Gary Numan look more and more like Billy Joe from Green Day every year? Despite having been around for what seems like forever (no matter who and where you are, you’ve definitely heard his song “Cars” at least at one point or another). On Red Bull Music Academy Radio, Gary Numan hosts a Fireside Chat and tells you about the art that inspired him, and some of his earliest work. From an early age — 4 to be precise — Gary was fascinated by the technology of electronic music and began fiddling with keyboards and spare parts to computers. He was also a huge fan of pulp sci-fi, which was responsible for his material lyrically. And, in a somewhat surprising statement, Numan admits that he never really had much of an interest in learning theory or scales, and even despite trying, he kind of sucked at it. Numan always preferred the science behind the music rather than the music itself, which always helped lend a sort of interesting tone to it all. He was smart enough to know that punk was one of the only things that sold, and recorded a traditional (and great) punk song, which got him the label, which then enabled him to do his own thing. Experimental and New Wave is perhaps all the better because of it.

Music KODE 9: On a Trip Way Back

by Shop Keeper

May 17, 2010 - 9:54 am

Kode 9 is a Glasgow-born DJ working out of London– which means if you’re searching for an artist with his finger on the pulse of the UK music/dance scene, look no further. On Red Bull Music Academy Radio check out his playlist, where he selects from a series of favorite inspirations. There’s a subtle ambiance to his mixes, which may conjure the imagery of an Antonioni or Fellini movie, or any rainy night from the celluloid frame of film-noir. It’s clearly where Kode owes his allegiance; just listen to tracks like ’9 samurai’, a nod to Kurosawa’s films. A recognized master of dubstep, Kode 9 drew most of his influence from early jungle when it first got big in the UK. In addition to his years of hard work behind the turntables, he’s got a PhD from the University of Warwick in philosophy and lectures regularly at University on the subject of media production. For a closer look at the mastermind behind the music, check it out here:

Uncategorized Aardvarck

by Shop Keeper

May 14, 2010 - 11:35 am

If Flying Lotus reveres John Coltrane, then Aardvarck has clearly built a shrine to several jazz legends of old, placed it next to his turntables, and isn’t afraid to worship it live while he does his dirty work. Interspersed between ambient and classic rhythms of Coltrane and other jazz greats (is that Weather Report?!) is a cadence of claps and stomp-worthy beats, all provided by the man isn’t afraid to experiment with a variety of different rhythms, and crank the subwoofer up in his quest for the ultimate thunder. Wisely Aardvarck lets the rhythms and beats do most of the talking and keeps the other jazz bits, especially some of the more dated material, to a minimum. It’s worth checking out right now on Red Bull Music Academy Radio.

Music Pharoahe Monk Likes it Weird

by Shop Keeper

May 5, 2010 - 10:24 am

On Red Bull Music Academy Radio, the artist known as Pharoahe Monch (pronounced ‘monch’) examines the music from past and present that’s inspired him. Whereas a few artists tend to meander amongst their picks, and many of their catalog sounds the same, Pharoahe Monch has what some might call a penchant for more bizarre genres/songs. It’s this kind of strange eclectic and often hypnotic sound, which in reality bares little in similarity to his own music, that just goes to show you ya never can tell: listen to tracks like “Welcome to the Terrordome” or “Desire” that alternate and dabble in both harder and heavier hip hop as well as classic R&B. Get a look at the man’s influences now on the RBMA.

Music The Bizarre Blends of Peanut Butter Wolf

by Shop Keeper

May 4, 2010 - 9:42 am

Say or think the name Peanut Butter Wolf, look at that pic, and tell me if it doesn’t prompt a snicker or at least put a “WTF” look on your face. After I got a listen of this San Jose-based DJ (aka Chris Manack) who pastes reggae, hardcore hip-hop, soul from the past century, with a bit of the old-fashioned scratching a la Public Enemy thrown in, however – I’ve learned that if anything, it makes for an appropriate moniker. The sweet and soothing melodies of 80′s R&B pop, jazz, and old school soul that Wolf blends so awesomely with more aggressive hip-hop beats, foul-mouthed and borrowed from some of the genre’s most notorious acts. He’s one of those few DJs who can manage to resonate with his crowd and keep his hand on the pulse from second to second: the Parisian masses seem to know every soul and R&B obscurity before it leaves the subwoofer. You kind of have to listen of his show on Red Bull Music Academy Radio to really get a taste of the performance. Whatever it is, it’s working well.

Music Rustie, Another Schizoid Scottish Gem

by Shop Keeper

May 3, 2010 - 9:55 am

Straight out of Scotland, Rustie is a veritable hodgepodge of dozens of musical genres from over the past 30 or 40 years: at one minute, it’s a flurry of disco symphony samples, the next, a peppering of golden age jazz alto-sax, followed by a dollop of early 80′s electronica and one-hit-wonder pop sounds (remember Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam?). Picture the inbred child of Al Dimeola, Gloria Gaynor, Tiffany, ABBA, and Steely Dan, after they all had an orgy (and an ugly one at that)– and Rustie is your man, re-birthing some of the more irreverent musical moments of the last few decades. Here’s a peek at his Warp Records set at Red Bull Music Academy Radio. If it gets too cute, at least he segues between genres with gunshots.

Music The Archie Bronson Outfit

by Shop Keeper

April 28, 2010 - 6:20 am

I haven’t heard much about The Archie Bronson Outfit lately, and little of their actual music. What more could be said of a group that describes themselves as “trashy guitars and psychedelic, krauty rock”? Or one that writes songs with irreverent titles like ‘Kangaroo Heart’? Besides the obvious — a band that rarely (if ever) takes themselves seriously – singer Sam Windett’s voice is somewhere between the distorted, trembling vibrato of Johnny Rotten and a ghost or two from ye olde rock n’ roll. Think not so much the aggressive vocalists of our generation as a bit of Joplin or, dare I say, Axl Rose; not so much in tone but shrill distorted yell, right from the gut and the soul. They’ve come a long way since their debut, Fur, and in a way they haven’t — the same sound that endeared the media and press to them back in 2003 hasn’t changed, and they still sound like they record all their music with pillows strapped on top of the speakers. It’s that fuzzy, furry guitar sound that’s garnered them their legion of loyal fans. You can check out some of their music on Red Bull Music Academy right now.

Music The XX: Happy Melancholia

by Shop Keeper

April 26, 2010 - 11:50 pm

Described as “4 precocious 19-year olds” from the United Kingdom, The XX are, quite simply, 4 Brits who play self-described “pop music with a bit of a twist.” On Red Bull Music Academy, they play their latest and greatest Headphone Highlights — a collection of different music of all genres, from hip hop to electroclash, that’s inspired the four to do what they do best. Outside of this, it’s hard to definitively describe The xx’s sound; songs like ‘Intro’ and “VCR” which are strange and hypnotic in their own sad sort of way could be the soundtrack to a sunny day as much as a gloomy and overcast one. Yes, they’re a bit forlorn, a bit melancholy, perhaps even pseudo-suicidal sounding. But it’s a deft mix of post-shoegaze and mad prose that makes for something unique and catchy despite its mopyness, and worth checking out on Red Bull Music Academy.