Thursday 19 August 2010

Extended 'Issue'

Well what do ya know, after a bit of lunch and a Pink Lady apple (My new favourite snack) here's a little bit more for you all!

Now I have been pondering over who to introduce to you next for a while with two artists in particular on the agenda... lets just talk about both, well it's my blog after all and perhaps I do have a bit of extra time on my hands.



The first artist who I want to introduce to you is someone who I first heard about when I was at Bestival in 2009, although I only caught the end of her set her name interested me (Some of you who know me may understand why?) after a bit of research once I was back at home I found out her music is pretty good.

Subeena (which is her real name 'Sabina' spelt wrong) lives in London and as well as being musically gifted she has her own up and coming record label Opit. Furthermore she is also signed to Planet Mu who boast the likes of; Shitmat, Benga, Bong-Ra and Venetian Snares to name but a few.

Her sound is a sublime mixture of; ambience, mixed with dubby rhythms, and finished off with her own touch of imagination, setting her apart from the dubstep scene which she could so easily (and perhaps naively) be associated with. Yes Subeena's appraoch to music is one hard to categorise; ranging from the chillful, R&B vibes of 'Solidify' (featuring Jamie Woon and Om'Mas), the frantically paced rhythm of 'Rakeeh', to the notably darker, dubby feel of 'Transient'(My personal favourite). But whatever she is she is definitely worth having a listen to so I will leave you with this little number:

Subeena - 'Solidify' (Feat. Jamie Woon & Om'Mas)



Lastly but by no means least we come to my second artist of the afternoon, Mike Slott.



Highly favoured by Mary Anne Hobbs, featuring on her 2009 compilation 'Wild Angels', Slott is another one renowned for his chopping up of rhythms and dramatic, electronic beats which is becoming all too popular at the minute. Along with; Hudson Mohawke, Dominic Flannigan and Martyn Flyn he formed a record label that goes by the name of 'Luckyme' in 2004, the same label he has used to release his newest album 'Lucky 9teen' (2009). The album is thick with stimulating Four Tet style rhythms, and exuberant artificial melodies that are enough to fill even the most demanding musical palettes.

Here is Mike Slott - 'Snow Birds'




If you liked Subeena and Mike Slott you may also enjoy: Debruit, Four Tet, Starkey, Zomby and Dabrye.
www.myspace.com/subeena (Check out the Beatport link)
www.myspace.com/mikeslottbeats
www.myspace.com/dbruit
www.myspace.com/fourtetkieranhebden
www.myspace.com/starkey
www.myspace.com/zombyproductions
www.myspace.com/taddmullinix

Regards¬

P.S - Listen to 'Rekordah Presents Astro:Dynamics' available on Spotify.

When you write an entire post then your computer decides to shut down without saving it...

...well that's what happened, however I suppose that is a slightly lazy excuse for not having posted anything for well over a month! Indeed I have been rather busy organising my new life, looking to the future you could say and it is becoming more and more promising, there is hope at last! *Applauses*

Anyway I shan't bore you any longer with the minor details of my life, I can only imagine that you have been feeling rather lost without this little blog to inform you about the many musical delights that still lay out there undiscovered (I hope haha).
So to make up for any hard feelings I have decided to make this post (actually I prefer to call it 'Issue', has a nice ring to it) an extended one, so speakers at the ready!



I thought I would start by introducing you to a music producer who I have been harking on about for a few months now and If you know me personally you may be able to recall these moments? For those of you that don't I wonder whether the Names 'Harald' and 'Bjork' ring any bells? Let me start off by saying that he is of no relation to the Bjork who famously dressed up as a swan and generally likes to make no sense at all (I love Bjork really).

...But anyway this Bjork hales from Sweden and his melodic brand of minimal techno is uniquely emotive and thick with bitter/sweet undertones. Interested yet? Well he is already making a name for himself in the techno world knocking heads with the likes of Miss Kittin and James Holden who regularly play his records as part of their sets.

Harald Bjork's most recent EP 'Kranglan' (named after part of the Nacka nature reserve Stockholm) is a prime example of electronic goodness. Take for example 'Skvaltan' the third track on the EP, its progressive build up and deeply pulsating bassline is a feast for the ears, and 'Cykeltur' the second EP track commences with an unusual repetative melody which makes me think of icey caves and snowflakes. Hmmm maybe that is just because of my slightly peculiar imagination... However check him out and then you can come to you own conclusions, and hey maybe you will agree with me?

For now I will leave you with this little number, possibly my favourite tune of his and one which leaves me feeling strangley nostalgic?

Harald Bjork - 'Glimt'



If you like Harald Bjork you may also enjoy: James Holden, Nathan Fake and Actress.
www.myspace.com/haraldbjork
www.myspace.com/iamtherealjamesholden
www.myspace.com/nathancake
www.myspace.com/actresskhz

Other Random Musings: Travelling, Truman Capote, Pink Lady apples, Holga cameras (I want one!), long walks, 'Dogtooth' (Has anyone seen this film yet?)

Hang on there is still more to come. Watch this space...