‘The Burial of the Dead’ by Axel Thesleff (November 14, 2011)
Like a closed circuit, ‘The Burial of the Dead’ always has an interesting way of feeding back into itself. Aligning traditional acoustics in a manner more suited for midi trip hop synths, Axel Thesleff creates a warming track that picks you up with its beats while contextualizing the melody beautifully.
- Big Boss
Posted in T: Single
Tagged Axel Thesleff, Big Boss, Finland, Sunday's Best, The Burial of the Dead
‘Time (André Uhl Remix)’ & ‘we are save’ by André Uhl (October 25, 2011) *
I love spacing. I love when a song has the balls to go an extra four measures, implementing a new level of anticipation; hold it, hold it, and there’s the drop. Today’s electronic music scene is not separated, unfortunately, by actual editing intellect (something André Uhl clearly displays) but rather by the phatness of those beats, the dexterity of your synth and the ability to trigger a sample in an orgasmic spot. Thankfully, Andre has these all, as well. The fact that his track pacing reflects a patience long dissolved in out society is just icing on the cake. Like Slow Magic, but with a rougher, diy aesthetic (think Ender Belongs to Me), Uhl crafts stories, not songs.
- Big Boss
Posted in T: Single
Tagged André Uhl, Big Boss, electronic, Germany, T: Remix, Time, we are save
‘For Marshall’ by Slothrust (June 30, 2010)
New York City’s Slothrust is nothing glamorous, nothing fancy. With broken sentences, bluntly sung, ‘For Marshall’ is aggressive and tense as it pulls itself into the bridge, which is by far the best moment in the song.
- Big Boss
‘teatro integral’ by tv zen (January 1, 2011) *
They label themselves post-rock, but I’m not really convinced it is. More in line with much of the foreign dream pop scene, tv zen’s introductory track is calming, cooling and above all soothing. Letting the beat take over, the synths slip to the back providing cushion for the vocal melody, which is haunting on its own.
- Big Boss
The Body by Facel Vega (December 12, 2011)
So I might be reaching here, but behind the up-front toughness that is this ”hardcore” album, I hear a paranoid frantic undertone. Similar in tone to Caleb from Kings of Leon before they became huge pussies. Overall, the album actually stays consistent and delivers, although this one’s definitely not for everyone.
- Big Boss
EP 2012 by Kick Snare Leave (November 4, 2011) *
Kick Snare Leave is a modern Moby (calling it here first), carving a new electronic path that I’d be happy to split an eight-ball too. It sucks that the best comparison I can make is to James Blake, because then you just think what I’m really getting at is that it’s a rip-off. But that’s not the case, it’s just as daring, just as informed, with a life of its own.
- Big Boss
Posted in T: LP/EP
Tagged Big Boss, electronic, EP 2012, Kick Snare Leave, New York, on music
‘Rise and Fall’ by Deckard Noir (November 13, 2011)
If this is an introduction consider me sold. Every inch of my post-rock-instrumental loving body was moved by ‘Rise and Fall’ (which is only a demo). In a genre with little room for re-negotiation, Deckard Noir, instead, takes convention and applies it well.
- Big Boss
Posted in T: Single
Tagged Big Boss, Deckard Noir, London, on music, post rock, Rise and Fall
LSD by Vagina Town (March 10, 2011)
What starts out as Crystal Castles meats Rock Horror Picture Show develops into a fully flushed goth-surf parade. Without skipping on intensity, Vagina Town (yep), actually holds their melodies together to present a nice two track, introducing the band.
- Big Boss
Leper by Shapes (November 11, 2011) *
Up until now, no Shapes recording had captured the raw-dog, bleeding heart emotion that frequently pours out of frontman Andrew Fanelli during a live performance. If you’re one of the few lucky enough to have seen this NYC glam-punk outfit evolve over the last seven (is that right?) years, this three track EP is a testament to your undying support. If this is your first introduction to the group, you couldn’t have picked a better moment to jump in. With lines like “There is no future” or “We’re all going to hell”, you’d think that Shapes would fit right into that punk imitation sinkhole, but while Fanelli and crew may touch on some of the more common human emotions of betrayal, loss and ultimately self-worthlessness, they do so with an organic freshness that makes each jaunt a skull smashing, mind twisting, brain fuck.
- Big Boss
‘Misnomer’ by Slothrust (June 30, 2010)
Without knowing them, I’d guess that Slothrust is a product of years of punk and years of an adderall scrip. Where they really shine is the hard rattled chorus, firing of lyrics like a machine gun. Slothrust always feel like it’s ready to explode into that 2/4 punk spasm, but restrains to provide a more rock influenced track and in the end, a more relatable track.
- Big Boss
