Cinematic Sounds + Memory Tapes

Cinematic seems a curious word to use when talking of music. I can see the thrust behind its usage, an attempt to grasp the inherent epic scope of particular tracks, or the ability of some music to conjure a shared vision in the listeners mind.

To use such a visually-loaded word for sound tends to ruffles my feathers. But that is the only way I can portray the opening minutes of today’s track before it melts away to reveal undulating smacky space-disco.

Yet another surprising turn from the critical boomerangs, The Horrors.

mp3---> Memory Tapes – Bicycle (Horrors Cosmic Dub) (via box.net)

Green Man

I spent the weekend at The Green Man Festival, which was nestled in the Brecon Beacons. It was utterly lovely. Never thought I'd describe a festival as such, what with Reading being my usual haunt.

Lovely atmosphere, lovely food (all hail pieminister) and some lovely music. Highlights included Four Tet (pic above), 9Bach and Pagan Wanderer Lu (the less said about Animal Collective the better).

The stand out act of the weekend however was a 17-year-old Scot with a laptop, a lion hat and buckets of enthusiasm. Playing the tiny Green Man Pub Stage on Saturday afternoon, Unicorn Kid tore Green Man a new one.

The bearded folkies may have been left scratching their heads at the gameboy-dropped-in-a-bath chiptune beats but the kids got their rave on. Probably should have had a CRB check before I did too.

Catch him at Swn in October.

mp3---> Unicorn Kid - Goodbye (via box.net)

Cultural Tourism 2.0 - Benin

I have posted previously regards my feelings towards the rash of African rarities compilations around at the mo, so I shan't retread that thread.

This track is from Benin. I did a case study about this west African country in Year 5 at GJS. All I can recall about Benin is that it is shaped a bit like a peen and has never produced a footballer of note. I am aware of a player at Plymouth Argyle.

The point stands.

This tune is an organ/harpsicord driven, gamboling bass spattered, breakbeat driven funk monster.

mp3 ---> El Rogo et Sus Commandos - Feeling You Got (via box.net)

Min.

Philip Glass was one of the pioneers of minimalism in classical music, alongside Terry Riley, John Cage and Steve Reich. Taking their cue from Debussy and stripping it back even further, completely so in Cage’s piece 4'33", they embodied the less is more aesthetic of modern art and architecture.

You can see the influence Glass and his peers had on what would follow in music, electronic music in particular. The clean lines of Kraftwerk, the ambience soundscapes of Brian Eno, the gently evolving, enveloping rhythms of Basic Channel, the spacey techno of Lindstrom and aspects of Aphex Twin’s work, principally the non-schizoid tracks on Drukqs.

In the piece I’ve chosen, the simple melodies dance a macabre dance, swarming around the listener, a cloak of exquisite melancholy, allowing time and space for reflection, relaxation and renewal. Or you might think it's boring and miserable.

mp3---> Philip Glass – Metamorphis 5 (via box.net)

GWTF:3.0 - Daft Punk & Tron

(Tron + Daft Punk) - 2010 = December 23rd 1992 x Ball Ache

Rumours are that Daft Punk will tour the soundtrack... with Tron Legacy visuals.

The trailer is doing the rounds as is this excerpt, of a remix, of the theme tune, although it sounds the same as the track used in this video of nerd nirvana.

ARGH when is 2010?

mp3---> Daft Punk - Tron Legacy Theme (Cruda Luv Rework) (via box.net)