Interview Earplug March 2008 Raised on a family farm an hour outside of Oslo, Norwegian producer Joachim Dyrdahl has a definite appreciation for the quiet life. While his work under the name diskJokke certainly has its share of raucous moments — enough so that he’s earned frequent bookings at Oslo’s famous Sunkissed club night — […]
Interview Prague Post March 5, 2008 The blissful electronic melodies of Caribou, the alias of Canadian producer Dan Snaith, put a personal spin on sunny ’60s pop — psychedelic beauty, blinding sunshine and lyrics about all-consuming attractions to beautiful women. It suggests a certain easygoing demeanor, but it would be a mistake to assume that […]
Story XLR8R February 2008 Link Radiohead’s self-issued, internet-first, pay-as-you-wish release of In Rainbows is perhaps the best-selling digital album ever, according to unofficial early sales figures. But the stunt’s revolutionary appeal was tarnished when it was revealed that the files were released at a sub-par bit rate. It would be interesting to hear what Dr. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]