Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma

Cosmic soundscapes abound in the long awaited 3rd album from LA's glitched out hip hop master, Flying Lotus. As Cosmogramma evolves, you are hit with influences from all across the musical board, from loungy jazz grooves to dark junglist drum patterns. This album is one that has a little bit of everything, mixing all styles and flavors into a sound that is distinctly FlyLo. I expect you'll appreciate it as much as I do. The album is out now on Warp Records and can be purchased most anywhere music is sold.

[Flying Lotus]

Watch the man get high as a Georgia pine and talk about the record.

Flying Lotus - Zodiac Shit [Mediafire]

MooseMoose

Small Black EP

Small Black is one of many bands emerge in anew genre of psychedelic feel-good that the world has kind of been starving for. Eclectic, foggish sounds that eerily flow through you while you pour a bowl of cereal and look out the window at the sun rising and setting in one fast-forward moment of time. You want to feel happy but you feel so damn sad at the same time because it all just so damn beautiful but you know you can't shake that feeling in the back of your mind that so much fucked up shit is happening in the world each time you blink.  Nostalgia envelopes every bit of you and spits you out on the curb where you crawl along, ready to start the day, more ready to finish...

Those are some of the thoughts that possess me as I listen to this Small Black's self-titled new EP.  And that's why I'm SUPER EXCITED that they will be in town 5 blocks down the street at Double Door on Monday April 5th!!!

Be sure to pick it up or one of their head turning t-shirts. Remember, show bands your ♥♥♥ with $$$. 
 Small Black EP  [MediaFire] [Small Black]

Sleep Russia

Shoegaze: Ambient, mystifying, contemplative, astounding; there are many words that come to mind when trying to describe the emotions that can be expressed through this incredible genre of music. Unfortunately I've personally been posting the exact opposite of this for the past few weeks now: Dubstep, Electro, Thrash. Pretty much the most abrasive-to-the-ears kind of tunes and, although there's nothing wrong with that, I figured it was just about time for me to post something - well - beautiful.

We were recently contacted by Elliott Johnson aka Sleep Russia or his previous alias Hello Pacific. Elliot hails originally from St. Petersburg but now calls sunny Tampa, Florida home. He admits there has been some confusion with his alias being Sleep Russia and himself being born in St. Petersburg, Florida has caused some write-ups simply to assume that he is from St. Petersburg, Russia and thus is part of the Russian Electronic scene. I'll admit I was a bit confused myself! But here's the kicker:

   I released Vol. 1 EP under Musickollektiv, a organization based in Russia. As of last month, I am their most viewed and trafficked artist. In the coming months Musickollektiv will have a segment in DJ MAG, one of the largest electronic music magazines in the world, and the most popular in Russia, and I will have my own piece of space in the section. I released Vol. 1 EP February 17 2010, and within 8 days had 1500 full album downloads.

Strongly influenced by '90s Shoegaze/Dreampop, Elliot's music is reminiscent of some of his self-proclaimed influences including some of my favourite Ambient artists: Ulrich Schnauss, M83, Slowdive, Telefon Tel Aviv, Boards of Canada and Trentemoller. When I played a few of Elliot's tracks on SoundCloud my first words were, "Awesome! Sounds a lot like Ulrich Schnauss..." Which for me meant a great deal, seeing as how Ulrich's 2001 release Far Away Trains Passing By [MegaUpload] is probably one of the most influencing Downtempo albums I've had the pleasure of hearing and single-handedly opened a whole new world of music for me. However, Elliot infuses new sounds that I haven't heard much in Ambient tunes: analog synths that ring out as well a bit of crunchiness that does the ears wonders. One thing is for sure: he makes the music his own, and that is the key to great producing.

Sleep Russia stays true certain characteristics of Shoegaze: thoughts of rain falling rays of sunshine, driving down the highway and being able to see lumbering puffy clouds for miles and miles; lightning striking on the horizon or a single tear careening down the cheek of beautiful girl.... You know music is doing it's job when it infuses you with images, thought, or inspires you in ways that words can't quite express. For me Vol. 1 does just that and more. This album will certainly be repeating on my iPod for a while and hopefully yours too! We hope to be hearing from Elliot very soon, and be sure to look for his upcoming writeup in DJ MAG!

Sleep Russia - Vol. 1 [Direct Download] [MediaFire]

[Sleep Russia]

[Hello Pacific]
[Musickollektiv]

-jeanz.

Parov Stelar - A Night In Torino

Fusing electronic elements with jazz/swing sounds Parov Stelar has a sound that is one of a kind. I stumbled upon this track in a Lounge.fm mix and it grabbed me, so I wanted to spread the love.

Parov Stelar - A Night In Torino [Mediafire]


MooseMoose

Safe in the Steep Cliffs

Upon hearing his debut album "Soon It Will Be Cold Enough" I became enthralled with the music of student/songwriter emancipator. The album became the nonstop soundtrack to my entire Fall, and the feelings surrounding the time that I fell in love with those tunes really can't be put into words. So, needless to say I was very excited to hear that his new album "Safe in the Steep Cliffs" has just been released. Following logically from the deep textures and interwoven melodies of the first album, emancipator expands on his already divine sound. A very musical work to its core, the songs contain bright recordings of a vast amount of instruments, from mandolins to banjos, all backed beautifully by his uniquely surreal field recordings. Can't recommend this and his previous work enough.

emancipator - nevergreen (Safe in the Steep Cliffs) [Mediafire]

emancipator - Anthem (Soon It Will Be Cold Enough) [Mediafire]

[Emancipator]

MooseMoose