2012 was an interesting year for music packaging, but no other release was as uniquely put together as Clown and Sunset’s Prism. When I first received aluminum cube, I literally didn’t know what to do with it. It had two headphone jacks, and four unmarked buttons with no instructions. So I sat there pressing buttons until the device turned itself on. Luckily, I found instructions on CSA‘s website, but I think I missed an important part in the release in discovering just how to make it work. The prism comes with a lot of questions, something you can’t say too much about music nowadays.

Aside from the aesthetics of the compilation, the music itself is eclectic and simply beautiful. The Prism gives us a taste of the world of music from Clown and Sunset’s eyes. Influences from Russian, Balearic beat, down-tempo, classical, minimal, jazz, Latin, Hip hop,  and much more come together in one soothing package.

The Prism also promotes an experience that seems to be dying more and more each day with modern technology, and that is the shared listening of music. In a world of iTunes, iPods, Spotify, and Pandora, music has become more “personal” than ever before. I can’t remember the last time I had company over to simply listen to music. Most conversations are more along the lines of “Oh have you heard the new xxx album” or “Check out this track I found.” This aluminum cube is an attempt to break this pattern. When one of the included headphone jacks is occupied, a light shines through the other end, telling the listener “someone is missing.” The work as a whole promotes a sense of togetherness. Many artists contributed, and while the sounds vary, there is still an intangible yet distinct overall theme.

The Prism was without a doubt my favorite album/piece of art/tiny metal cube released this year, and it has made me even more excited for what this exceptional label will offer in 2013.

But joking aside, and this IS a funny video, but It has weight to it too. I have been creating this for 6 months. The clips within I have been collecting for 7 years. So many have been cut out, but that was a good process within itself. Chuck away the things you don’t need, which don’t make something better.

Music: Nicolas Jaar - Don’t Break My Love

Nicolas Jaar operates as both a musician and owner of Clown & Sunset Aesthetics, a design and media company which operates indie label, Clown and Sunset. Next month, Clown & Sunset records will be releasing a compilation entitled, Don’t Break My Love, which will come in the form of an aluminum cube called The Prism.

Even more unique than the cube itself, is The Prism’s dual headphone jacks which will allow users to share music in a very analog way. Instead of sharing playlists through social media or recommending songs to your friends through online music players, imagine a bit of human interaction through plugging in with a friend who sits in the very same room as you!

Kinda blows your mind, doesn’t it.

More from Pitchfork.

Well now I have to buy a copy of Clown and Sunset – Don’t Break My Love. It’d be awesome to play on the radio. It reminds me of the 1-bit Symphony by Tristan Perich that came to the station in the summer.

I really dig how physical this release is. Plus some great tunes from the genius Nicolas Jaar.

Nicolas Jaar’s ‘Don’t Break My Love’ Prism

Pre-ordered yesterday; can’t wait to see and hear it already.

in april, nicolas jaar’s record label is teaming up with clown & sunset aesthetics are releasing a compilation titled don’t break my love. it will not be pressed in any standard music form but in an aluminum cube or prism that fits in your hand which you can plug 2 headphone jacks into either side of this rechargeable cube. there are built-in buttons that allow your to start, skip, and pause.

below check out the promo video, tracklist, and a place to pre-order your copy (which i am hoping will be in stock again).

Tracklist:
Brandon Wolcott & Emil Abramyan: “YouAndTheSpace Between”
Pavla & Noura: “Siblings Music”
Nikita Quasim: “GHOST”
Nicolas Jaar: “Why Didn’t You Save Me”
Pavla & Noura: “Don’t Owe Me A Thing”
Just Friends: “Avalanche”
Acid Pauli: “Palomitastep”
Nicolas Jaar & Will Epstein: “Never Have I Ever”
Vtgnike: “Untitled Juke”
Nicolas Jaar, Will Epstein, Dave Harrington, Ian Sims: “Ishmael”
Valentin Stip: “Hiathaikm”
Nicolas Jaar: “Don’t Break My Love”

Untitled from NICO JAAR on Vimeo.

PRE-ORDER.

It’s a line we have all asked at least once in our lives. Why didn’t you save me? It has so many possible occurrences. And unfortunately it is always a reactive question.

I have said it many times before, that sometimes you have to be in the right place to fully get a song or an artist. This is one of those artists for me. Nicolas Jaar has been around for a few years now. His full-length release from 2011 was highly regarded by many critics. I just couldn’t get into it then. There were big moments when I was brought in, but a few moments later it was gone. Nearly one year later, he releases a 2-track EP. I decide to give it a listen. Still nothing. Then one day it comes on in the car. And Bam. It hits me. It gets played over and over and over.

What has changed? Perceivably nothing? It was just the right moment. Life is full of the moments and instances that create reactions. A split second, and if you are lucky, more, where everything around you seems to click. These are the moments I live for. Music plays a huge part in so many of these instances. Maybe that is the main draw for me.

Both of the tracks on this EP start with a sort of foreplay. A long and seemingly subtle warm-up to the main attraction. “Why didn’t you save me” is what seems to be the B-Side of a 2 track EP. But, you could almost treat “Don’t break my love” as an extended session of foreplay to “Why didn’t you save me” (WDYSM). But that might be discounting the equal genius of that track. WDYSM starts off with a slow, barely there, static that generates into some organ hum, scattering electronics, and then cascades into a percussive frenzy beneath a filtered vocal sample. It eventually takes a darker tone when what sounds like a harpsichord chimes in. The layers build and separate all hinting at what is to come. Then a sombre piano piece fills in the space before being digitally shattered. And then it arrives. Everything combines into a perfect blend for just over a minute of dancey bliss to the sobering refrain of “Why didn’t you save me?” repeated for effect. And then is deconstructs and disappears. Leaving you alone with your thoughts. And the desire for more.

Of course, going back to his album, “Space is only noise”, I realize it was always there. I just wasn’t in the right mindset, or moment, for it.

You can hear both of the great tracks on this EP below, and in a generous move, you can also download it for free from his soundcloud site.

enjoy

-Shaun

Nicolas Jaar depresses me. Not only because his music can sometimes be a bit depressive, also because this guy’s only 21 and manages to make this amazing music that also seems pretty mature (while I’m an epic failure as a musician).

I first heard this album about a month ago, and at first it was just a “cool” album for me; but it has grown on me so much since then. Space Is Only Noise has become one of the albums that I  definitely should have included in my top albums of 2011. Nicolas Jaar really hit the spot with his one, I love how the album is so well balanced between weird (and awesome) eeriness and minimal “chill-ness”.

If you like this, check out Jaar’s collab with Dave Harrington, Darkside. Also check the Don’t Break My Love EP, free to download.

Nicolas Jaar is one of the greatest artists making music today and this release doesn’t fail to impress. This EP helps you slip into another realm and leaves your clothes where you came from. Check it out.

Oh yeah, you can download the whole thing for free from Sound Cloud or the Clown & Sunset website.

Enjoy.

Download:Nicolas Jaar Don’t Break My Love (EP)

A while back a friend of mine introduced me to American-Chilean producer Nicholas Jaar. I liked his style which reminded me of a darker James Blake. The minimalistic synth line and the presence of a wobble bass in the background really sets a particular mood. This week Nicolas Jaar released a free 2 track EP called Don’t Break My Love. Of the two tracks I preffered Why didn’t you Save Me but the ending of Don’t Break my Love is brilliant as well. You can grab the EP for free below.

Don’t Break My Love-Nicolas Jaar

Why Didn’t You Save Me-Nicolas Jaar

Image via Chromeo Music

Thanks to the guys over at Clown and Sunset for sending me this incredible new track by Nicolas Jaar, “Don’t Break My Love.” It’s his most visceral piece yet: music you can feel in your bones. Begins like a field-recording of a breaking glacier, morphs into a heartbreaking beat, and ends with a surprise to lift you out of the dark place his music inevitably carries you down. Click on the link below to listen and for a free download of the song go to Nico’s website.

http://soundcloud.com/clownandsunset/dont-break-my-love/s-F2R1a