Le Sacul's ocassional reccomendation thread v. Awesome free music

[Sacul]

So actively searching and discovering music has been an obsession for me these last months, and I thought this would be a nice way to share some of my findings. I already have all writeups done (did them for my FB page, the one on the sig [shameless plug I know]), so it's just a matter of posting them, one album per week . Just a warning - I have a developed a hipster wider musical taste so just a few of the recs I'll post here will be prog-related. Anyways, I hope you discover something interesting.

[Sacul]

Blue Sky Black Death
Late Night Cinema





Right into week two of my discovery project, I stumbled across this gem. I was really interested in the possibilities of instrumental hip-hop, after falling in love with Endtroducing.... by DJ Shadow. But I didn't expect to find such a glorious record, with great song after great song.

One would think this album relied heavily on sampling, and I don't know up to where that's true, but the amount of creativity here is ridiculous. Just on a track alone there are electronic beats, violins, female vocals, post-rocky guitars, gorgeous pianos - all in a relaxed, trip-hop atmosphere. Some tracks build up with subtle crescendos, while others linger in a swirling mixture of foggy samples and edgy violins.

There's melancholy on every moment, a nostalgia for things past. It's this album has lots of feels, and it manages to move me on every listen. I really can't help loving this record - it's what I'd been looking for so long. It's not Endtroducing Pt. 2 though. It's Late Night Cinema - an accomplishment on its own.

A song: The Era When We Sang

[wolfking]

Not my thing, but I'll be following this thread.

[sneakyblueberry]

I wonder if they took that name from High Speed Dirt.  Follows.

Edit: that was quite nice.

[Sacul]

I wonder if they took that name from High Speed Dirt.  Follows.

Edit: that was quite nice.

Glad you enjoyed it  . And not, it has nothing to do with Megadeth, at least according to this interview.

Intervier:  Where did the band name come from? What was wrong with "brown belt brown shoes"? It makes more sense, and let's face it, it's fucking practical advice.

BSBD: We were watching Drop Zone- which is the best movie of all time...dealing with skydiving. I think they say it in there, cuz it's like when you skydive-it's pretty, but it can also kill you...like our music. Brown Belt Brown Shoes was actually in our top two, but "practical" doesn't get you groupies.

[sneakyblueberry]

Ah right, it looks like they both ripped it from the same source

I kept the YouTube link going and I have to say, its pretty chill.  I like it. 

[Sacul]

I decided this will work better in a 'twice per week' basis 

 

BADBADNOTGOOD
III





Don't you feel like sometimes an album might seem meh, or ok at best during the first spins? But then, it clicks. Strongly. Somehow now you get what a record is about, and connect with it, enjoying song after song. And what if is from a genre you wouldn't have gotten into, normally?

That's what happened here. It also didn't help III was instrumental, and quiet. But once I realised this is was album of subtleties, it al made sense, and I found myself turning up the volume and discovering tons of details that revealed a smart songwriting behind. What an accomplishment for such young musicians!

And what I love most about them is their unique sound - a mix of nu jazz with instrumental hip-hop, and electronic music. Even with the occasional appearance of a sax, III relies on synths and drumming for the most part to bring a dark, yet warm atmosphere.

And given their sense of humour, the following video is hilarious.

A song: Can't Leave the Night

[mikemangioy]

Following of course.

[sneakyblueberry]

I love these guys, I recommend them also.  There are some awesome live clips on youtube, they make awesome noise for just three dudes.

[Sacul]

There are some awesome live clips on youtube, they make awesome noise for just three dudes.

Indeed, quite a talented young trio. Just think that not even their teachers approved the kind of music they were doing 

[Sacul]

Now with some weird yet awesome shit.

 

Clipping
CLPPNG






I never thought I'd end up enjoying Hip-Hop, nor an experimental album of the genre. Yet here we are. Maybe it's the huge creativity involved here, mixing industrial elements and going beyond 'just rap' and boring beats in a loop - or it might be how it feels these guys give absolutely no fucks about whether or not you'll like their record. Yes, it's pretentious as hell. Some effects may even be annoying, or repetitive, but trust me when I tell you once you give this enough spins, you'll start to comprehend it and notice all the minor details that are going on - must be listened with headphones.

Talking about creativity, one of the best tracks, Story 2, changes its beats' tempo signatures every 4-5 bars, and it keeps them going faster and faster, the rapping following the same acceleration. Until it reaches the climax. Oh boy, what an epic ending - can't get any proggier than that. There's also this song which features as a beat a sampled alarm clock which is kind of "autotuned" during the chorus, where some fitting female vocals actually sing instead of rapping. Or this song that uses a sampled children choir.

If you like experimental stuff, yet can't seem to get into hip-hop at all (like me), this album will do the trick.


A song:  Story 2

[PuffyPat]

this sounds ok i guess. i'll just stick with death grips for now.

[Mosh]

Clipping turned me on to the underground hip hop scene last year. Great stuff. Their beats are so weird yet infectious at the same time. And the guy rapping is insane. Body & Blood, Dominoes, and Get Up are great ones too.

[ThatOneGuy2112]

this sounds ok i guess. i'll just stick with death grips for now.

Though I like a few of their albums, I find Death Grips' hype to be rather overblown. Clipping, on the other hand, was quite refreshing for this style of hip hop.

[PuffyPat]

this sounds ok i guess. i'll just stick with death grips for now.

Though I like a few of their albums, I find Death Grips' hype to be rather overblown. Clipping, on the other hand, was quite refreshing for this style of hip hop.

i like how scary mc ride is, and how much zach hill tries to be equally as scary.

also, jenny death is incredible.

[Sacul]

Clipping turned me on to the underground hip hop scene last year. Great stuff. Their beats are so weird yet infectious at the same time. And the guy rapping is insane. Body & Blood, Dominoes, and Get Up are great ones too.

Exactly - can't believe how awesome the production of this album is, nor how fast can this dude rap. I'm already eager for the following record

this sounds ok i guess. i'll just stick with death grips for now.

Though I like a few of their albums, I find Death Grips' hype to be rather overblown. Clipping, on the other hand, was quite refreshing for this style of hip hop.

i like how scary mc ride is, and how much zach hill tries to be equally as scary.

also, jenny death is incredible.

I have to agree that DG might be a bit overrated, but dude, Jenny Death is dope.

[Sacul]

Now with some weird yet awesome shit.

 

Underworld
dubnobasswithmyheadman





How can people really think electronic music is just about pushing buttons on a pc? Virtual DJ doesn't write tunes - even those awful brostep/house tunes require a lot of work, and expensive equipment. Hours upon hours of dealing with complex software like FL Studio, and not to talk about the mixing/mastering process once it's all finished.


All that hard work isn't a guarantee of quality, of course. But when it delivers, it can be all kinds of awesome. Like this album. Quite an awkward one actually, because it features vocals - something rare in a lot of techno. But it works, damnit. dubnobasswithmyheadman also mixes trance and a bit of ambient, conveying a truly immersive experience. I normally dislike repetition. A lot. But when it's used as an hypnotic effect, it can certainly make for one hell of a ride.

Some people might complain the songs take a it to start, or that some parts feel like a chore to get through - I have no idea what the hell they're actually listening to, because this album is but a surreal experience, one that grabs you, takes you into different realities, and long after it finishes you realize it ended, your mind wonders what the fuck had just happened and why you aren't pushing the replay button.

tl;dr: 4/5 would love to get drugged by it again

A song:  Cowgirl

[sneakyblueberry]

complex software like FL Studio

you almost lost me there I thought it was pretty simple. 

I can't listen anyway because I'm on shitty shit fuck dial up at the mo but I'm deffo keen. 

[Sacul]

I can't see any simplicity there

[sneakyblueberry]

looks pretty straightforward?  the sequence thing from the first Fruity Loops, a piano roll, a mixer and some waveforms.  mind you I'm a geek for this sort of thing, you might know me by my stage name, timbaland.

[Sacul]

I guess I'm just still learning how to use this kind of software

Give this album a listen son 

[sneakyblueberry]

dad, i only have dial up i'm at uni this arvo so I'll give it a spin then. 

[Sacul]

Now with some weird yet awesome shit.

Have a Nice Life
Deathconsciousness




This album is not ground-breaking. It doesn't represent a revolution nor it creates a new genre. But it mixes Post-Punk and Shoegaze with Industrial, Post-Rock, and even some Drone, creating a unique sound unlike any other. Its Lo-Fi production gives it a plus of intimacy. But if Deathconsciousness is anything special, it's because just one thing: feels.

I once found myself being deeply moved by it after some initial meh spins, while listening to it with headphones, while drawing - so while a part of me was making lines, the other was fully immersed into something... intense. Its two discs comprise so many emotions, most of them dark, that I was kind of depressed for a few days. Nevertheless, it was a fantastic experience that reached its climax in the last song, Earthmover. The name is so fitting, because I think this tune has the power to move the entire planet. Or any living being on Earth.

After listening it, for a while I wished I had a nice life again.
 
A song:  Earthmover

[sneakyblueberry]

Yeah love this album.  Arrowheads x75.

[Sacul]

Yeah love this album.  Arrowheads x75.

That part is pretty hypnotic.

[sneakyblueberry]

Probably my favourite track on the album.  Have you listened to The Unnatural World from last year?  I have it in my itunes but haven't listened yet. 

[Sacul]

I've heard that, while not a fucking masterpiece like their debut, it's a solid follow-up.

[Elite]

This sounds intriguing, I'll look it up.

[Lolzeez]

Ayyyy,gonna follow this! Here are my thoughts on the albums so far:

Blue Sky Black Death - Late Night Cinema: Still have not heard yet. Will check out asap.
BadBadNotGood - III: It's alright I guess but I prefered their second album. I think their songwriting was a bit weak on this one.
Clipping - CLPPNG: Really really great experimental hip-hop. Yes,I do prefer Death Grips but there's couple amazing tracks on here.
Underworld - dubnobasswithmyheadman: I know of Underworld but haven't heard this. All I know from Underworld is the track on Trainspotting. 
Have A Nice Life - Deathconsciousness: An album we will look back on in 20 years the same way people look back at something like Pornography by The Cure,one of the best albums from this century.

[Sacul]

Still have to check BBNG2, but III was definitely a grower. Works amazing at night, fits the mood very well.

And about Underworld, don't forget the song I sent ya in the last round of your roulette

[sneakyblueberry]

I guess I'm just still learning how to use this kind of software

Give this album a listen son 

I'm listening to that Cowgirl song... its not grabbing me by the testes.  I feel like it would be awesome if I was baked tho. 

[Sacul]

I guess I'm just still learning how to use this kind of software

Give this album a listen son 

I'm listening to that Cowgirl song... its not grabbing me by the testes.  I feel like it would be awesome if I was baked tho.

Yeah, listening to it while being high... damn it scares me to even think about it  . But I think the album works better as a whole tbh.

[Sacul]

It was time for some prog!

Gazpacho
Demon





Prog is such a pretentious genre: long songs, with multiple sections; extended instrumental sections; cryptic lyrics about deep subjects; and lots of instrumental virtuosity. That ain't bad at all though - some of my fav songs are like that. But... what it you just got rid of the last perk, and leave a true progressive spirit? You'd have an album like Demon.

Gazpacho have recorded something that is quite near to art rock, and just keeps the prog melodies, while embracing a progressive nature. And a quiet one. Yes, there are long songs, but for the most part they're beautiful pieces of pianos, violins, guitars, and a male/female singing duo. Her voice leaves me speechless.

Such a wonderful journey I regret not having discovered before this year, but I'm so glad I finally came around to listening to it. One of the best things 2014 gave us.


A song:  I've Been Walking (Part I)

[Crow]

prog without the wank is like my jam recently, i'll check this one out

[Zantera]

Big props for Have a Nice Life and Gazpacho!  Demon was Gazpacho's best since Night for me, but Night remains nr1.