battles : dross glop 1

battles
dross glop 1
(download edition)
warp records
wap327


warp
battles

image ©warp

Well, it's been quite a while since I posted any updates here; due to the fact that I've bought very few records over the past few months. Although I have a acquired a few new releases -on download mainly- I just haven't got round to posting anything about them. Anyhow, I just got a download version of the latest release from Battles -a band that I really like. The idea reminds me very much of the great Tortoise Remixed project way back in the mid-90s (Unkle, Oval, Luke Vibert, Jim O' Rourke etc.) Dross Glop 1 one is the first of four 12-inch remix EPs of tracks from the band's last album "Gloss Drop." The A-side features a remix of "Wall Street" by Brazilian electronic music producer, Gui Boratto and the B-side; "Sweetie & Shag" remixed by The Field (who already did some remix work on the fabulous "Tonto" EP a couple of years back. I'm not too keen on the what Boratto's done -there seems to be some sort of Gloria Gaynor "I Will Survive" (I think) instrumental sample included and this completely spoils it for me. On the other hand, The Field's remix is really fantastic -I've listened to it about a dozen times today and I'll be listening to it even more over the coming weeks. Until the next volume appears anyhow. Highly recommended for the B-side alone. one2zero

battles : live @ the city hall, paris

Battles | Futura | A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

battles - ice cream

battles
ice cream
warp (download single)




A taster release from Battles' forthcoming long-player, Gloss Drop. Energetic riffs and punchy kicks with a guest vocal from Kompakt / Comeme records' Matias Aguayo.




It seems like it's been some time since Battles released anything -in fact, not since their superb Mirrored album way back in 2007- so it's great to hear this track from the forthcoming Gloss Drop album; scheduled for release early June 2011. More pop-like than what you'd expect from the band Ice Cream is quite funky and, like the artwork, very colourful. Recommended. Unfortunately, this is a download only; hope they'll be issuing some vinyl ahead of the album release. one2zero

farewell trish keenan

Warp

seefeel - faults ep

on the turntable:

seefeel
faults
limited edition 10" ep
wap299

image: japanese forms

Seefeel was one of those 90s bands that I considered had split and gone their separate ways long ago and it came as a bit of a surprise to learn, a few weeks back, that new material by the band was about to be released. Although they never officially disbanded this is their first release in simply ages. I've no idea really what the core members (Mark Clifford and Sarah Peacock ) did in the interim -their only recent "activity" being the reissue of the superb Quique (Redux Edition), back in May 2007- but this is a welcome return not only to recording but to form. Faults, following that 14-year long hiatus (!), is yet another excellent piece of what one could deem as abstract contemporary music. Music where everything is stripped down to the minimalist core sound space that the band so finely honed back in the 90s. We could have feared the worst after such a long break but the minimal soundscapes, of an almost trance-inducing nature, show that Seefeel has lost none of it's edge and is still a band to be reckoned with despite all that time in limbo. one2zero

buy / download: bleep
Attention: limited edition of 200 copies.

myspace / warp

autechre - (oversteps)

image © japanese forms

autechre
(oversteps)
warp210
warp records 2010

I haven't had much time to work on this blog over the past few weeks but i hope to catch up and put up a couple of posts this week. Anyhow, here's a shot of the latest Autechre album, Oversteps. Maybe not their best effort but it does have its moments with a return to a more "traditional" form if you compare this release with the Quaristice album from 2007. Beautiful Designers Republic digipak fold-out packaging. one2zero

broadcast and the focus group - investigate witch cults of the radio age

on my turntable

broadcast and
the focus group
investigate witch cults
of the radio age
warpcd189


image: ©japanese forms

I'm not too keen on the "best of..." lists that nearly every magazine prints at the end of each year -what one likes or dislikes is all very subjective so I never really bother about choosing a personal top ten, or twenty, or whatever. However, in my opinion, I'll go along with The Wire* in stating that this is one of the best albums released in 2009. Released a couple of months ago, I didn't pick up my copy until recently as the the local (shitty, chain) stores didn't have any copies in stock when I happened to drop in on any my rare visits to them. Thankfully Amazon, and the internet in general, exists. Anyhow, this 50-minute, 23-track album is really something special; probably the best ever by Broadcast. Of course, the selection of extra-special, added sound ingredients, by Ghost Box and The Focus Group mainman Julian House, enhance this recording immensely with Trish Keenan's voice making it an essential buy. one2zero

* "It really is quite fabulous… (Broadcast) crowned themselves dark monarchs of hauntology’s expanding kingdom" ALBUM OF THE YEAR – The Wire

Web:
warp/broadcast the focus group ghost box broadcast myspace

autechre - quaristice

autechre
quaristice
warp333cd



Exists also as steel-cased special edition.

The music on Quaristice manages to make Autechre's complex sound designs feel simpler than before, which of course is an art itself. With a selection of tracks that sound like an album made on deep reflection, the whole album is kept exciting through the sheer range of music and ideas. more (© warp)

warp page autechre download wiki

battles - tonto ep

battles
tonto ep & dvd
warp234cd
also available on 12"

release info: warp

mp3 download: bleep

website: battles



(above: still from the united visual artists' making of tonto)

Fine choice for the EP treatment with interesting remixes from The Field and Four Tet. I'm a bit less enthusiastic about the DJ EMZ / Joell Ortiz remix of Leyendecker but maybe, after a few listens, I'll change my mind. Excellent packaging;artwork by United Visual Artists, the EP includes a DVD featuring the rather awesome video of the title track. Also by UVA. A bonus documentary 'Making of Tonto' by UVA is included as well as the Atlas video. one2zero

The Tonto+ release includes remixes from Kompakt heroes 'The Field', Four Tet, a reworking of Leyendecker from DJ EMZ and DR Dre mentored mcee Joell Oritz, plus two awesome live versions - which if you've ever seen Battles live means a lot more than your average live version. Both CD & 12" include a dvd with the full length videos of Tonto and Atlas plus a making of Tonto documentary feature too. (© Warp )