Interview XLR8R February 2008 Link The name Beach House may conjure up bright visions of white surf and grainy sand, but the origins of the Baltimore duo’s designation are, fittingly, much more vague. “We were describing worlds that we felt described where we were at,” says singer/keyboardist Victoria Legrand of their choice of names. “And […]
Interview Earplug January 2008 Dubstep has spawned a surfeit of producers in search of the most brutal bass possible, but few have created music as tense as Sam Shackleton. Producer and proprietor of the highly touted Skull Disco label, Shackleton has created a singular body of work that often transcends the genre altogether. His music […]
Story XLR8R December 2007 Link It wasn’t long ago that global-warming “alarmist” Al Gore was mocked as “Owl” Gore or Ozone Man by his Republican opponents. It’s a sign of how much popular culture has embraced the environmental issue that Gore, this year’s Nobel Peace Prize recipient, is basking in adoration that would make Bono […]
Interview XLR8R November 2007 Link Fraternal twin brothers Aku and Akwetey Orraca-Tetteh are used to working on their own personal wavelength. “When we play, we find these special moments where everything comes together,” says Aku. “That’s our strength and our foundation. We’re pretty much in each other’s heads.” It’s some very coveted headspace, based on […]
Review Earplug November 2007 Many new records celebrate past sounds and styles, but few offer the feel of a genuine unearthed artifact — a piece of dark, forgotten vinyl aged in the soil. With Untrue, mysteriso South London dubstepper Burial follows up on last year’s self-titled debut with an enigmatic and lyrical bit of archeology […]
Interview Earplug September 2007 While Norway’s sub-Arctic climes have frequently proven fertile ground for cold, distant dance music, the Scandinavian sound currently flooding clubs is warmer, more spacious, and mystical, referencing the country’s wide-open vistas and extended evening hours. Bjørn Torske is adept at conjuring up such a panoramic feel, folding elastic melodies and offbeat […]
Review Earplug September 2007 Few mixes have arrived with as much mystery as Chilean/German showman Ricardo Villalobos’ entry into Fabric’s showcase series. Even its unique format — a seamlessly arranged slate of Villalobos’ original productions, all hitherto unreleased — has raised speculation as to just how game-changing it is. Rest assured, it’s a true time […]
Feature URB September 2007 Link Hip-hop is a market force like few other genres, one that’s coined more terms for cash than the U.S. Mint. It dominates the charts, and the entrepreneurial enterprises of its stars, from movie roles to merchandise, seem ubiquitous. Jay-Z’s “I’m not a businessman/I’m a business, man” line has never seemed […]
Feature XLR8R August 2007 Link If you’re not prepared to pay heed to rapper Aesop Rock’s gravelly baritone, his complex lyrics can easily overwhelm. Reflexively branded one of hip-hop’s most abstract wordsmiths, the Definitive Jux mainstay appears to operate on a different wavelength, his dense rhyme schemes relying on seemingly inscrutable verbal algorithms. But a […]
Interview XLR8R August 2007 Link Tortoise’s polyglot approach to music is grounded in the work of three percussionists–John McEntire, John Herndon, and Dan Bitney (a.k.a. Bumps)–who integrate elements of dub, funk, jazz, and numerous genres into the band’s instrumental compositions. But despite the wealth of side projects they’re involved in, they’ve never made a percussion […]