That Subliminal Kid

DJ SPOOKY – SOUND UNBOUND
Released in conjunction with his book Sound Unbound, which explores the state of contemporary digital music and its cultural context, this CD mashes and mixes a huge cast of artists, including Aphex Twin, James Joyce, Erik Satie, Sun Ra, Steve Reich, Sonic Youth and Iannis Xenakis. All of the material used was culled from Belgian ambient/industral label Sub Rosa's extensive archives. Check out my favorite track here:



Get your own copy of "Sound Unbound" here.

Welcome To Dreamland

Forming in 2005, Soundpool is a NYC-based 5 piece shoegaze/space rock act with sweet, ethereal vocals, saturated guitar noise, and lush synths. I first heard them on the “Secret Garden Vol. One” compilation, which featured the title track from their debut release, “On High.” The newest release, “Dichotomies + Dreamland,” is great from start to finish. Check out the track "Do What You Love" here:

Up, Up, and Away...

MATMOS – SUPREME BALLOON
Over the last nine years, M.C. Schmidt and Drew Daniel have used the recorded sounds of amplified crayfish nerve tissue, the pages of bibles turning, a bowed five string banjo, slowed down whistles and kisses, water hitting copper plates, the runout groove of a vinyl record, a $5.00 electric guitar, liposuction surgery, cameras and VCRs.
Now floating in a new direction, SUPREME BALLOON was recorded using no microphones at all, instead relying on a plethora of exotic and antiquated synths from Arp, Korg, Roland, Waldorf, and Moog. Check out the track "Polychords" here:



Get your own copy of "Supreme Balloon" here.

Return of Portishead

After an 11-year absence, the Bristol band that pioneered the trip-hop genre has returned! Still trippy, but a little less hoppy, the band’s sound has definitely been updated. But thanks to the distinctive voice of Beth Gibbons, THIRD still has the recognizable sound of Portishead that fans know and love, and have been eagerly awaiting. Check out the track "We Carry On" here:



Get your own copy of "Third" here.

Remix Romance

Adorable reclusive Swede Sally Shapiro (not even her real name, either!) follows up her adorable 2007 release, “Disco Romance,” with Remix Romance Vol. 1. Featuring a remix of each track on the US release of “Disco Romance,” remixers include Juan MacLean, Lindstrom, Junior Boys and more. Check out the Holy Fuck remix of “Find My Soul" here:



Get your own copy of "Remix Romance" here.

Saturdays=Youth

"I loved being a teenager," says Anthony Gonzalez, who is M83. "That's when I discovered music and started to take drugs and party with my friends. On this record I wanted to have the feeling of a teenager mixed with this period of the Eighties."
To realize his vision, Gonzalez enlisted the help of producers Ken Thomas and Ewan Pearson. Thomas is known for his work with Sigur Ros, Sugarcubes, Cocteau Twins, Suede and Clinic. Berlin-based British dance producer Ewan Pearson has worked with Tracey Thorn, The Rapture, and Ladytron. Check out the dreamy results here:



Get your own copy of "Saturdays=Youth" here.

shoegazer's not dead

TEARS RUN RINGS – ALWAYS, SOMETIMES, SELDOM, NEVER
Tears Run Rings has five band members, based in Portland, Seattle, and LA. Despite the distance between them, they collaborated over the course of about 3 years to create one of the prettiest shoegaze albums I have heard in recent times. Something like a more upbeat Slowdive, the vocals provided by guitarist Matthew Bice and bassist Laura Watling are sublime. Check out the track "How Will the Others Survive?" here: