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Descriere: formaţie

Locul de origine: Versailles, Franţa

Status: activ

Anul înfiinţării: 1995

Gen: Electronic/Experimental

Subgenuri/Stiluri: Electronica, Chillout/Downtempo,  Ambient Pop, Indietronic, Trip-Hop, Alternative Pop/Rock

Componenţă:

Nicolas Godin (producător, chitară, bass, vocal, vocoder, percuţie; n. 25 decembrie 1969, La Chesnay, Franţa)

Jean-Benoît Dunckel (producător, keyboards, sintetizatoare, vocal; n. 7 septembrie 1969, Versailles, Franţa)

Biografie:

Duo-ul francez Air, alcătuit de Nicolas Godin şi Jean-Benoît Dunckel, este una dintre cele mai spectaculoase apariţii pe scena muzicii electronice contemporane, surprizând prin prospeţimea şi spiritului inovativ al sound-ului său. Foarte interesant că Air, spre deosebire de majoritatea colegilor de breaslă din generaţia anilor ’90, sunt foarte puţin influenţaţi de fenomenul “club music”. În schimb în muzica francezilor se simt puternice ecouri  ale inovaţiilor melodice şi armonice din pop-ul anilor ’60, exemplificate mai ales de creaţia lui Burt Bacharach sau Brian Wilson, ca amprenta sonorităţilor electronice ale anilor ’70, reprezentate de artişti ca Jean Michel Jarre sau Vangelis. Dealtfel instrumentele folosite de membrii duo-ului în studio şi în concerte sunt cu precădere sintetizatoarele analoage de tip Moog şi Rhodes şi nu cele digitale de tip Roland sau Yamaha, aşa cum se obişnuieşte în general în muzica electronică recentă. Alţi artişti care i-au influenţat pe Air sunt compatrioţii Serge Gainsbourg şi Jean-Jacques Perrey, ultimul unul dintre primii popularizatori ai muzicii electronice, la finele anilor ’60. Deasemenea în muzica francezilor sunt prezente şi elemente din jazz, muzică de film, lounge music, psychedelia, krautrock sau new wave. Chiar dacă la vremea afirmării lor, retrofuturismul celor de la Air a reprezentat mai curând o apariţie exotică, în anii care au urmat o serie de alţi artişti electronica sau indie au fost inspiraţi într-o măsură mai mare sau mică de sound-ul analog al duo-ului.

Înainte de a forma Air, Nicolas Godin şi Jean-Benoît Dunckel au cântat împreună în grupul de rock alternativ Orange. Când acesta s-a desfiinţat, în 1995, Godin şi Dunckel au decis să continuie împreună sub denumirea Air. În perioada ’95-’97, duo-ul a realizat trei single-uri pentru label-ul Source şi unul pentru Mo’ Wax, reuşind să atragă atenţia în mediile muzicii electronice. La acestea s-au adăugat remix-uri pentru Depeche Mode şi Neneh Cherry şi o colaborare cu Jean-Jacques Perrey, la o piesă inclusă pe o compilaţie Source. Air a semnat apoi un contract de distribuţie internaţională cu Virgin. În ’98, duo-ul a realizat albumul de debut, Moon Safari, înregistrat cu contribuţia semnificativă a vocalistei de origine americană Beth Hirsch. Considerat de multe publicaţii drept unul dintre cele mai bune albume ale anului, Moon Safari a cucerit prin atmosfera sa relaxată şi visătoare, ca şi prin parfumul său retro. În Marea Britanie, Moon Safari a reuşit să urce în Top 10 şi a generat trei hit-uri: “Sexy Boy” (no. 13), “Kelly Watch The Stars” (no. 18) şi “All I Need” (no. 29).

În ’99 a fost lansat pe plan internaţional mini-albumul Premiers Symptômes, apărut iniţial în Franţa, cu doi ani înainte. Acesta reunea de fapt single-urile realizate de duo în perioada ’95-97. Cei de la Air au fost solicitaţi apoi să compună soundtrack-ul filmului american “The Virgin Suicides”, regizat de Sofia Coppola. Respectivul material, ieşit pe piaţă în februarie 2000, s-a bucurat deasemenea de mare succes de critică şi de vânzări apreciabile. În primăvara lui 2001, duo-ul francez a revenit în sfârşit cu cel de al doilea album propriu-zis, 10000 Hz Legend. Diferit de predecesorul său, datorită caracterului ceva mai experimental şi al nuanţelor mai întunecate, 10000 Hz Legend a menţinut cota foarte ridicată a celor de la Air, inclusiv pe plan comercial (dovadă, o nouă clasare în Top 10 britanic). De menţionat că pe album apar ca invitaţi artişti ca Beck şi Jason Falkner.

Air au continuat în 2002 cu o colecţie de remix-uri, Everybody Hertz, iar un an mai târziu au realizat un disc în colaborare cu scriitorul italian Alessandro Baricco, City Reading: Tre Storie Western, acompaniind muzical lecturile acestuia. Anul 2004 a adus în sfârşit şi un nou album de studio semnat Air, Talkie Walkie. După multe opinii, acesta reprezintă o tentativă de a împăca tendinţele diferite de pe Moon Safari şi de pe 10000 Hz Legend. Succesul duo-ului a căpatat atunci proporţii semnificative, Talkie Walkie fiind la un singur pas de prima poziţie a clasamentului britanic.

În 2005 cei de la Air au lucrat cu Charlotte Gainsbourg, fiica lui Serge Gainsbourg, la realizarea albumului ei 5:15. Anul următor ei au girat o compilaţie din seria LateNightTales, editată de label-ul Azuli Records. Deasemenea, Dunckel a debutat ca artist solo, realizând un album sub psedonimul Darkel. În martie 2007 Air a revenit cu un nou material de studio, Pocket Symphony. Acesta a beneficiat de colaborarea vocaliştilor Jarvis Cocker (Pulp) şi Neil Hannon (Divine Comedy). Primit în general bine de critică, Pocket Symphony nu a mai avut acelaşi impact comercial ca precedentele materiale ale duo-ului. În 2008 a fost lansată o ediţie aniversară a albumului Moon Safari, de acum legendar, ce include ca bonus-uri un CD cu înregistrări inedite şi un DVD. Un nou album Air, cel de al şaselea, Love 2, ieşea pe piaţă în toamna lui 2009. Clasat doar pe locul 36 în Marea Britanie, acesta confirma reculul comercial al duo-ului din ultimii ani.

Discografie:

Air:

Albume de studio:

Moon Safari – 1998 – Virgin (#6 UK)

The Virgin Suicides [soundtrack] – 2000 – Virgin (#161 US, #14 UK)

10000 Hz Legend – 2001 – Virgin (#88 US, #7 UK)

City Reading: Tre Storie Western [cu Alessandro Baricco; spoken word] – 2003 – Virgin

Talkie Walkie – 2004 – Virgin (#61US, #2 UK)

Pocket Symphony – 2007– Virgin (#40 US, #22 UK)

Love 2 – 2009 – Virgin (#36 UK)

Compilaţii:

Premiers Symptômes [EP] – 1997 – Source (#12 UK – 1999)

Everybody Hertz [remix-uri] – 2002 – Virgin

LateNightTales [mix album] – 2006 – Azuli

Moon Safari: 10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition – 2008 – Virgin

DVD-uri:

Electronic Performers – 2004 – Virgin

Moon Safari: 10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition – 2008 – Virgin

Single-uri de top:

“Sexy Boy” – 1998 – Virgin (#13 UK)

“Kelly Watch The Stars” – 1998 – Virgin (#18 UK)

“All I Need” – 1998 – Virgin (#29 UK)

“Playground Love” [cu Gordon Tracks] – 2000 – Virgin (#25 UK)

“Radio #1” – 2001 – Virgin (#31 UK)

“Alpha Beta Gaga” – 2004 – Virgin (#44 UK)

Darkel [Jean-Benoît Dunckel solo]:

Albume de studio:

Darkel – 2006 – Source

To follow up on Camstyles post I have been pulling some long hours in front of the computer these days, working on new projects. Like many of us out there I suffer from music ADD. So when an artist or album comes a long that I play over and over I know it’s something special. Lately I have been getting into indie, blues rock, dream pop, and of course some techno. Here are some artists that have helped me pass the time; in each genre:

INDIE:

Sub pop’s fleet foxes hailing from Seattle, some nice easy listening that can be listened to loud or soft depending on your mood, enjoy…

15 Mykonos (Alternative Version)

04 tiger mountain peasant song

BLUES-ROCK:

The Black Keys, I kept hearing their name everywhere for a few years but never really listened to them. Until I started watching the HBO show ” HUNG” thier song I’ll be your man is the theme song for the show, so I got some of their albums and really enjoyed what I heard.

05 Lies – The Black Keys

03 Black Keys – The Big Come Up – I’ll Be Your Man

DREAM POP:

I first heard Silversun Pickups at a friends house the other night. I first I thought it was a new Smashing Pumpkins album then I though it was Girls against Boys. Then I realized I had to have it. Check these guys out… serious!

03 – Growing Old Is Getting Old

04 – It’s Nice To Know You Work Alone

TECHNO:

Shadow dancer, I just love these guys!

01 Cowbois (Original) ( watch out for the drop at 1:30)

13 This Is This 1 ( no need to work dj, this track does everything for you )

ghost on tape: check out the mix this dude just did for xlr8r

Ghosts_On_Tape_-_Magadishu_Night_Life

enjoy guys!

O 12º disco do Yo La Tengo, Popular Songs, não parece o 12º de uma banda: é atual e vigoroso. Passeia pelo indie pop, em faixas de menos de 3 minutos, e chega ao experimentalismo em músicas muito mais longas – as três últimas juntas somam mais de meia hora.

O Air não é tão antigo assim, mas considerando que o clássico Moon Safari, disco de estreia, foi lançado em 1998, ele pode muito bem ocupar lugar neste post. O recente Love 2 mantém o padrão de qualidade que marca o histórico da dupla. A faixa aí de baixo me lembra até Add N to (X).

Imagem do wikipedia.org.

1. Snowfall Soon
2. Crown Estate
3. Bad Patient
4. The Fun of the Century
5. Birdymachine
6. Not Fair
7. Dark Secrets Look for Light
8. Snow Drums
9. Shepherds Are Needed
10. I Am the Sub-Librarian
11. Waking Up

(no wonder why no one loves me)

VBR. buy; download»

Non ci fermiamo più. Abbiamo ascoltato e recensito per voi (spesso in anteprima) i seguenti dischi:

• Banner Pilot – Collapser – Fat Wreck Chords
• Chase Long Beach – Gravity Is What You Make It – Victory
• David Bazan – Curse Your Branches – Barsuk
• GWAR – Lust In Space – Metal Blade
• Hit The Lights – Coast To Coast – Triple Crown
• Imogen Heap – Ellipse – RCA/Megaphonic
• Moneen – Hold That Sound – Vagrant/Dine Alone
• Project A-ko – Yoyodyne – Milk Pie
• Sherwood – Not Gonna Love – MySpace
• Shook Ones – The Unquotable A.M.H. – Paper + Plastick
• Simian Mobile Disco – Temporary Pleasures – Wichita
• Thrice – Beggars – Vagrant

Come sempre ce n’è per tutti i gusti: il prog-hard-rock sempre più variegato e sempre meno canonicamente post-hardcore dei Thrice, l’elettronica dance dei Simian Mobile Disco, il synth-pop ambient di Imogen Heap, il cantautorato americano di David Bazan (ex Pedro The Lion), lo skacore dei Chase Long Beach, l’hardcore/punk melodico degli Shook Ones, la parodia horror metal dei veterani GWAR, l’indie pop-rock degli Sherwood, il pop-punk moderno degli Hit The Lights, le prove tecniche di allontanamento dall’emocore dei Moneen, il noise-pop tra shoegaze e indie-rock dei Project A-ko, il punk rock melodico ma rugoso dei Banner Pilot… vedete cosa vale la pena di ascoltare al più presto e cosa evitare come la peste su www.dedication.it.

Tracklist:

1. Circles – 4:18
2. Sixes & Sevens – 2:52
3. You Can’t Take It with You – 4:28
4. Go Easy – 4:49
5. Duermete – 8:19
6. In Case of Rapture – 5:03
7. We’s Been Waitin’ – 3:42
8. Is This Tomorrow? – 3:54
9. Sleepyhead – 3:14
10. The Narrows – 4:25
11. Lost My Mind – 6:14
12. Home Is Where You’re Happy
13. That’s What You Get
14. Sleepyhead (Acoustic Version)

Get it.

(link updated)

Disc One:
1. Silver Apples – I Have Known Love
2. Windy & Carl – Crazy in the Sun
3. Roy Montgomery and Kirk Lake – London Is Swinging by His Neck
4. Low and Transient Waves and Piano Magic – Sleep at the Bottom
5. Transient Waves – Green Acres
6. Loopdrop – Siempre Azul
7. Azusa Plane – United States Investment in Other Countries
8. P.S. I Love You – Where on Earth Is Kevin Shields?
9. P.S. I Love You – No Sharks Allowed
10. Piano Magic – There’s No Need for Us to Be Alone
11. Piano Magic – The Canadian Brought Us Snow
12. Mazarin – Wheats
13. Füxa – Techno Light
14. Mazarin – Chasing the Girl
15. Coldharbourstores – All That Matters Now

Disc Two:
1. State River Widening – Unsung Couples
2. Pluxus – Han, Jag and Du
3. Lenola & Mazarin – The Holidaymakers
4. Gnac – Tracy Draco
5. Her Space Holiday – These Days…
6. The Workhouse – Peacon
7. P.S. I Love You – I Want You
8. Experimental Audio Research – Ring
9. Coldharbourstores – Perfect Cursive
10. Aarktica – Icreateyoutoinhaleyou (Inthesehoursitsallihave)
11. They Came From the Stars, I Saw Them – I Am Not Afraid
12. Loopdrop – Lavamatica
13. Piano Magic – Shot Through the Fog
14. Keiron Phelan & David Sheppard – Par Avion
15. Füxa – Supercharged

(where did all my nightmares go?)

192kbps. buy; download: disc one. disc two»

todd osborn = osborne = soundmurderer

Osborne – Ruling  (beautiful micro house)

Soundmurderer – Badman (ak47 furious jungle)

tadd mullinix = dabrye  = sk1

Tadd Mullinix – The Letter  (ambient blips)

dabrye – Gimme Lowlands  (go west young man)

dabrye – hyped up plus tax   (static metronome)

Soundmurderer & SK-1 – Call Da Police

BONUs

(ckxu shesaid favourite)

cLOUDDEAD – Pop Song

Fever Ray é o projecto solo de Karin Dreijer, vocalista do grupo The Knife. O primeiro álbum foi lançado no início de 2009, com uma sonoridade bastante similar à de sua banda paralela.

Segue o Link para download do álbum “fever Ray” de 2009.

1. Rutti
2. Crazy for You
3. Miranda
4. Trellisaze
5. Cello
6. J’s Heaven
7. Vision of LA
8. Blue Skied an’ Clear
9. All of Us

Nie wiem czy to pogoda czy to przez M83 ale jakos mnie pociągnęło na powrót w kierunku slowdive. Ich muza już przystemplowała swoimi dźwiękami kilka pamietnych i wyjątkowych chwil. Smutnych i pięknych Ten album dołączy do nich tą emigracje ostatniej szansy.

[audio:
http://lacinta.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/01_jj_my_life_my_swag.mp3]

http://www.sincerelyyours.se

[hidepost=2]http://sharebee.com/98c2d723

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[hidepost=2]http://sharebee.com/6188b941

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[audio:http://www.wavesatnight.com/goldlion/2009-01/music/Lotus%20Plaza%20-%20Quicksand.mp3]

[hidepost=2]http://www.mediafire.com/?m3jdagov3dn

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While their latest album isn’t quite so hot-off-the-presses anymore – Immolate Yourself was released in January – it’s still making obsessively regular appearances in my daily music rotation.

This album kills me. At times painfully beautiful, it pops and drones in a dreamy haze of sound. With a slight nod to shoegaze and hints of – dare I say it – IDM, it sucks you into an otherworld of shadowy ambient pop. It feels like the open road, a barren desert, long trips on a rural train. But it’s also warm, epic, and urban.

“Helen of Troy” and “You Are The Worst Thing In The World” are two of my faves. As is this one:

stay_away_from_being_maybe

Tragically, one of the members of this talented duo died the same month this album was released. Charles Cooper will be missed.

1. I Came To Your Party Dressed As A Shadow
2. Blood and Snow
3. The Drowning of St. Christopher

(“as quiet as a velvet wave”)

VBR. download»

A word of caution. The songs on this split release have an ethereal quality that is so delicately beautiful that when you listen you find yourself in a state of child-like awe at even the simplest things you come into contact with. Both bands made these songs at home and within their subtle intricacies you can sense that making music, for them, is a real labour of love. 

Parachutes.

I guess there won’t be an article about Parachutes that doesn’t mention Sigur Ros. Its the easiest way to grab your attention, at least until they have made a full length record on their own, and you are just interested in their music. As an introduction they offer the two songs on this split, mixed by none other than Jón Þór Birgisson (of Sigur Ros), and featuring the strings of Amiina. Either song would not sound out of place on a Sigur Ros record except for the fact that Parachutes sing in English. Let us not forget however that sounding like Sigur Ros is no mean feat. I would offer that it is in fact high praise, many bands have have tried and failed to capture the warmth and depth of feeling that they create.

On this evidence Parachutes ethereal ambient pop music inspires daydreams and gentle epiphanies wherever you are and whatever the circumstance. Expect big things in the future.

8/10

Parachutes myspace: http://www.myspace.com/parachutesmakesongs

Band in Box.

I’ll readily admit that I knew nothing of Band in Box until I flipped over the record, dropped the needle and was overcome with layers of beautiful voices, it was like opening the curtains to a bright summers day. As those opening throes subside they give way to the sound of lovely folktronica filled with intricate little studio tricks and poignant lyrical imagery. All three of the Band in Box songs root themselves somewhere deeper inside than you’d expect. Music of this genre can often feel somewhat throwaway and emotionally detached but here its not the case. “Lost and Foundland” imparticularly hit me hard in the heart. Band in Box evokes the kind of thoughts that resonate inside of me long after the needle has lifted. 

Band in Box are my favourite type of surprise.

8.5/10        

Band in Box myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bandinbox 

Buy the record at Stereo Test Kit Records: http://www.stereotestkit.com/

Over the summer I met some really cool people, and was introduced to a lot of cool music.

My friend Evelisa would always play this ambient sounding pop music. One singer has a haunting operatic voice and another singer raps along. These two singers are actually twins, they are CocoRosie. From New York, they take influences from everything. Here’s what the New York Times had to say about them:

“The music of CocoRosie (the band’s name is an amalgam of their mother’s nicknames for the girls) is most often categorized by critics as “freak folk,” placing the two sisters in a new wave of 20-something singer-songwriters like Devendra Banhart or the harpist Joanna Newsom, who have revived the ’70s culture of homemade authenticity with at once more wholesomeness and more joyous perversity than their elders. Freak folk is not a bad label for CocoRosie, as far as labels go. But CocoRosie’s sound — the effects they deploy include windup toys and a kitten’s mewling, as well as more conventional instruments like a snake charmer’s flute, an out-of-tune ukulele or a beat box — is a little freakier, even, than that of most of their colleagues. It’s no accident that their professed patron saints are drag queens from the 1970s: the German countertenor Klaus Nomi, who became an East Village cabaret star, or the Cockettes, a San Francisco-based operetta troupe whose most famous film was a transvestite version of Tricia Nixon’s wedding.”

Check them out. They are amazing.