My favorite album of the year so far has been Gonjasufi's genre-defying Warp release A Sufi and a Killer. Gonjasufi is one crazy dude, with a unique croon unlike anything else you've heard in a while, and with Gaslamp Killer handling most of the production you can expect some heavy low-end beats with fuzzy, psychedelic samples from God-knows-where. Throw in a few guest beats by L.A. legend Flying Lotus and you've got an album that covers enough territory to captivate your ears and brain upon repeated listens. Right now I'm obsessed with "Holidays," a blippy digital affair that's sure to get your head nodding:
Speaking of Flying Lotus, his third EP Cosmogramma is set to be released on Warp early next month. From the tracks that have come out so far, it sounds like FlyLo's most ambitious and possibly best album to date - he's recruited help from artists including Thom Yorke, Ravi Coltrane, and Erykah Badu for what Warp is calling a "space opera." As far as I'm concerned, Flying Lotus is King Midas, and Cosmogramma is going to be a landmark album that launches him into the consciousness of a lot of music lovers that aren't familiar with the new-school beats scene. "Do The Astral Plane," a surprisingly uptempo and danceable song for FlyLo, is my favorite track from the few I've heard. There's no download available yet, but in the meantime you should check it out over at blahblahblahscience:
Lazer Sword is one of my favorite artists in that borderland genre that weaves together electro, dubstep, 8-bit sounds, sub-bass, and new-school beats with all sorts of other crazy sounds. Lando Kal and Low Limit, the two members of Lazer Sword, put out The Golden Handshake EP on Numbers, a label with an incredible roster that always puts out solid releases. My favorite tracks from the EP are Lando Kal's "Fuzzy Ankles" and Low Limit's "Trapperkeeper." I don't really know how to describe these sounds any better than the description Lazer Sword used for a mix they released last year: "razor blade beats in a tornado." Word:
Moving on to the dance side of things, I've really been into Four Tet's latest album There Is Love In You, which was released on Domino a couple months ago. I'm happy that the overall sound of dance music is moving away from the electro bangers that dominated the past few years towards a more pared-down sound with an emphasis on impeccable sampling and instrumentation. It's still totally dance-able, but it has a much more organic vibe to it. Four Tet is a master at giving his layered tracks enough space and time to flow dynamically throughout the song without ever sounding too sparse. The entire album is worthy of a devoted listen, but I especially love "Sing" for its syncopated drums and chopped vocal sample:
What would spring be without a super upbeat, poppy musical obsession? The warm weather just demands something to blast through your car speakers while you cruise around town without a care in the world. For me that new obsession is Two Door Cinema Club, a duo from Northern Ireland that's signed to French label Kitsuné, known for its amazing electro-pop artists and releases. Two Door Cinema Club will be this summer's Phoenix, an undeniably fun group with infectious tunes that you'll love having stuck in your head. I can't stop listening to "What You Know," a peppy, guitar-driven track off of their album Tourist History, which still hasn't been released Stateside:
For something slower and more relaxed that's still instantly accessible, it doesn't get any better than Columbia, South Carolina's Toro y Moi. Think catchy synth melodies dripping with shimmery reverb layered over lush beats that set a perfect vibe for a lazy afternoon. As my friend put it, "it's like Air and Daft Punk had a kid that listens to a lot of Ace of Base and does a lot of drugs." His debut full-length Causers of This is definitely going to be on repeat for me this spring and summer, and it should be for you too. "Low Shoulder" is my favorite track off the album, with a great keyboard loop reminiscent of Matt & Kim's "Daylight" and a fun synth line that brings a huge grin to my face every time I hear it:
Finally, I can't leave out Andre 3000 from my spring/summer music list. The Love Below is easily one of the best pop albums from the past 10 years, and I'd put it on my top 10 list of all time favorite albums. No other MC or singer has half as much swagger as Andre, and no other producer can cover so much sonic territory and make it sound so carefree and effortless. There's not a weak track on this album, but if I had to pick a favorite right now I'd go with "Vibrate:"
All of these releases can be bought on vinyl or as digital downloads at BLEEP, except for Two Door Cinema Club (whose album comes out on April 27th) and Andre 3000 (who you can find anywhere). Enjoy!
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