January 2011
13 posts
Juju and Jordash
This week Juju and Jordash release 12” ‘Quasi Quasi’ on Dutch label Dekmantel. Although the original track is a sweetly layered work, it is perhaps enhanced by Ra. H’s remix, which reinterprets it as a brilliant techno stomper.
A2 Juju & Jordash-Quasi Quasi-Ra.H mix by dekmantel
Till Kruger - The Green
Last week Till Kruger released his second record ‘The Green/Last Track’ on Kompakt. ‘The Green’ is a classic Detroit house track, replete with staccato keys and repetitive vocal. The sicker tune, however, is Last Track, which Kompakt describe as a ‘typical last track on the floor’. Clocking in at thirteen minutes, it builds grubbily with keys and soaring synths...
Destroyer - Kaputt
Having been relatively unmoved by Destroyer’s ‘Bay of Pigs’ at the end of last year, I was surprised to see the overwhelmingly positive reviews Dan Bejar’s new album ‘Kaputt’ has received. All but a handful of the major music sites have earmarked this as one of the albums of the year, and one which manages to merit such an accolade despite reconstituting some of the least attractive musical genres...
James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream
It is probably contentious to say that these are ‘interesting times’ for James Blake. This is a guy who has had bloggers and critics waxing lyrical for nine months. A guy supposedly spearheading a new genre of music…at the age of 22. A guy continually championed by da Bank and Peterson. A guy who was on the front of the Guardian Guide this weekend, giving a pretty defensive and pugnacious...
An electric man
Today has been an odd day. I overslept. It was raining outside. I burnt my lip on a pitta bread. The “electronic-man” came to do something to my electrics. He fixed the electrics. He left. I played funkysnooker. I lost. I got irritable.
When I get irritable my usual tactic is to submerge myself in music, desperately seeking an avenue towards calm and rationality. After getting angry –...
Steven de Peven and Tom Trago - A/b
Steven de Peven and Tom Trago have released two-track single A/b under the name Alfabet, the first of a thirteen record series on Rush Hour.
Listening to the first two tracks, one can only hope that the standard consistently matches that of opener ’Roundabout’, a track that steadily builds around an almost jungular techno beat and a heavily distorted synth loop.
It perhaps messes...
A New Home
So we’ve relocated to tumblr, as I’m sure you have noticed, as you are now here. The layout is clearer, and nicer, and just better. We reckon.
To celebrate this wondrous occasion, here’s a brilliant track that I discovered through the wonderful Jon Hillcock podcast, which is based on Tumblr over here.
The track is from Manchester based producer xxxy. He seems quite keen not to...
How to make a hit record - or not
If there’s a pinnacle to a bands musical career, it’s to release a great album. You can play a definitive live show, release a smash hit, or you can be known for other less music-related achievements such as your innovative marketing techniques or your obscure fashion sense. But the one thing that every band strives for is to make a classic album. The recording and production of an...
Hospital Beds or Louder Than Ever?
Even in the wonky corridors of Carton Headquarters, Cold War Kids are a band who polarize opinion. Although I have been a firm supporter - even after 2008’s slightly underwhelming Royalty to Royalty - the argument persists on the eve of their third album: uninteresting, MOR rock; or inventive American tunez, with a brilliant singer and rutting basslines? On their first record the band...
Cloud Nothings
On Monday, Cleveland’s Cloud Nothings releases his eponymous debut album on Wichita. While some blogs consider CN a band, it appears that the force is Most of the tracks we have thus far heard - such as on E.P. ‘Turning On’ - have been short and breathless, and you expect the album will be much the same. Although he adopts the kind of lo-fi approach common in much contemporary...
Wave
There is a certain music blog to which I have subscribed for a number of years. It quite often unearths some real pop gems. It has a spectacularly good record of reviewing reissues. It puts on festivals. It hosts decent writers.
Sometimes, however, I feel that its tangible self-importance and sense of cool come to define how it reviews music. In Britain, the classic case of this is the NME,...
Pigeon Heist
Rather bizarre news today as drug dealers/a friend/an idiot employs a pigeon to carry drugs over a prison fence in Columbia: http://gu.com/p/2mfzd I was tempted to put Albatross by ‘the Mac’ on the blog - going with the bird theme - but resisted. I think everyone has heard that song too many times. Instead, why not the standout track from the Knife’s 2010 film score, Colouring of...
New Year, New Blog
wonky carton is BACK. Although it was never really there. Like Owen Hargreaves’ fitness. After a frustratingly lackadaisical approach to music, sport and writing in 2010, wonky carton has resolved to write. The carton proposes to push its keys - subtly - and attempt to rouse interest in anyone who will listen to its meanderings. The following words, things and observations will be on...
