Saturday, April 30, 2005

In-Tune: Calamalka

"Vancouver based producer and musician Calamalka (aka Michael Campitelli) is focused on the heavyweight. A veteran skateboarder who still likens any good track to a well-styled trick...trickery being the basis for many good dubs and mixes. Inspired as a youth by the reggae/hardcore crossover music of Bad Brains, Michael quickly discovered Jamaican roots with artists such as King Tubby, LKJ, Scientist, and Lee "Scratch" Perry. It was during this phase Michael realized Dub was truly the predecessor to all electronic and hip hop music alike. After performing in his resident city Vancouver as an established drummer/bassist, Mike took a hiatus from touring and session work to begin producing his own music in two disctinct styles, dubby live instruments and intricate hip hop beats. The future looks promising for Mike with the release of his much-anticipated full length on Plug Research Shredders Dub. As you listen to the album, each beat bangs with a thundering crack and thump. Volcanic bass pushes cryptic incantations through the murky surface while mysterious melodies snake like shadows through shattered skies...Enjoy." - Calamalka

Visit the website:
www.calamalka.com/

Also avaliable at:
www.plugresearch.com/calamalka.html

Highlights:
Chassi
Low Pressure

Friday, April 29, 2005

In-Tune: Jethro

"A combination of live and electronic instrumental music mixing fusion influences (Influences: Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock) with hip-hop (DJ Spinna/Kut Masta Kurt) and electronic production (K&D). All bass, guitar, keys, sarod and programming by Jethro. Jethro is part of the Culebra Cuts collective, as well as one half of Jethrosipho and the Paneer Bros." - Jethro

Avaliable at:
music.download.com/jethro

Highlights:
Astral Beaers
Clothes Get Very Dirty in Outer Space

Thursday, April 28, 2005

In-Tune: Letting Up Despite Great Faults

"Letting Up Despite Great Faults is Mike Lee, a 25-year-old Los Angeles suburbanite who somehow manages to create a unique blend of indie rock and electronica while living in a very ordinary environment. Some have said that his music paints for them green hills and lush forests, while many have agreed that the songs are just simply beautiful. Lee deftly interweaves piano and guitar, both of which he learned at a very young age, with intelligently sequenced patterns of electronic drums and analog sounds to form the beautiful and often picturesque organic/electronic mesh of sound that is Letting Up." - Letting Up

Inspiring indie-electronica that mixes guitars and vocals with electronic sounds. A very nice listen.

Visit the website:
lettingup.com/

Highlights:
Maybe I'll hide with you sometime
If you're here today

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

In-Tune: DoF

"The new album from DoF Mine is May feels not so much like a collection of songs, as it does field recordings from an imaginary place. Stolen snippets of pigmy tribes, guitars, and pianos peacefully co-existing with laptops and synthesizers. "Mine is May" is an aural translation of high altitude maps, where land blends with water and clouds into a blurry symphony of brown white and blue. It seems as if DoF is on a non-violent safari, head hunting the haunting echoes of acoustic melodies waning and waxing with digital war drums. Please don’t let this wistful description fool you into thinking that this music ever noodles or poses as anything but intricate and inspired song craft. In fact, every track on MIM is complete unto itself, with moods ranging from ass shaking anthems, to hypnotic lullabies. The songs structure jumps from frantic electronic polyrhythms to drumless compositions were the shyer sounds get to take center stage. While these varying musical approaches may seem like polar opposites, DoF creates a unified feel of witful beauty, held together by grimy background soundscapes and across the grid immaculate production. Every sound is so crisp and clean you can literally feel its textures scraping across your ear canal." - DoF

Avaliable at:
http://www.abandonbuilding.com/artist_DoF.html

More tracks avaliable at:
www.8bitrecs.com/cgi-bin/artinfo.cgi?artist=DoF

and
www.zebox.com/DoF/

Highlights:
Ten Cities
2x2 Makes 5 Is a Most Charming Thing

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

In-Tune: Rody Coronel

"Born in 1971 Maassluis, the Netherlands, I grew up listening to all kinds of music (Jarre, Vangelis, Queen, etc.). With my old synthesizer, a Korg Poly Six, I imitated every tune I heard on the radio. After seven years of classical music study I took a break and finished my science degree and my philosophy course at the university. A couple of years later, when I picked up where I had left with my music and started to compose and produce new songs. I put them on the internet under the name Minister which turned out to be a huge success. With 2,5 million listens to my music it was getting out there I started to get some offers for releases. I did some and declined some, resigned my day job and started composing and producing fulltime." - Rody Coronel

Visit the website:
http://www.rodycoronel.com/

Highlights:
Chilling
Adagio Eroico (Hero)

Monday, April 25, 2005

In-Tune: Boom Bip

"Bryan Hollon has had his dusty fingers in the crates of old vinyl for quite sometime. It wasn't always like that. Before 1992, his life was mostly filled with guitars, drums and pianos along with the cassette tapes of Sonic Youth, Hendrix, Prince, Bowie and other musical heroes. "The times were a changing" and Bryan sought after a new medium in making noise, the turntable. In 1992 he set off on a path of discovering original hip-hop sample material on classic jazz and funk albums that littered the Cincinnati thrift stores. Once his arsenal was built, he began experimenting with looping and chopping the drums he discovered on the dirty "Headhunters?" record he claimed to be his favorite. Soon after he discovered a bass line on a Ron Carter record that fit perfectly in the groove of the sampled drums and then a string line from a David Axelrod album. The gates crashed open. Boom Bip is now embarking on a new full release as well as a compendium release featuring many of the remixes of his "Seed to Sun" tracks and his most recent Peel Sessions. He is also doing several remixes at the moment for artist on various labels. Boom Bip's drive to push the envelope and experiment with combining several genres is second to none and none have proven to do so as well as he." - Boom Bip

Visit the website:
www.boom-bip.com

Also avaliable at:
betterpropaganda.com/artist_page.asp?id=449

Highlights:
Last Walk Around Mirror Lake (Boards of Canada Remix)
The Move

Saturday, April 23, 2005

In-Tune: Jolie Ruelle

"Jolie Ruelle was born in Vermont and grew up in the rural surroundings of the Green Mountains. After high school, and traveling extensively throughout the U.S., Jolie attended Massachusetts College of Art where she focused her studies on sound design and animation. "I feel that many aspects of animation taught me how to think about music and vise versa. I love to see how my visual work combines with my music. To me they come from the same place." While her animations bring the raw aspects of her visual art into the digital world, Jolie also integrates the organic qualities of her instruments with electronic effects. "I am interested in the textures, qualities, and space of each sound, the same way I am interested in visual art. Many of my songs don't have lyrics because I want the listener to think about the elements of the sounds freely. By making soundtracks I get to play with the space between the music and the animation. For me this is what is most intriguing" - Jolie Ruelle

Visit the website:
www.joliemedia.org

Highlights:
Heaven of Underneath
This Before

Friday, April 22, 2005

In-Tune: Krystov

"The works of krystov attempt to exploit the balance between the world of the real from the dream world. every creative element begins with the idea that there must be contrast to all parts of existence. every opposing element forms symbiotic harmony. mix classical elements with digital noise. mix religion with science. mix the natural world with the manmade world. contrast and balance. day connot exist without night. love cannot exist without hate. dreams cannot exist without experience. there is intrinsic beauty in all things. krystov's music exists as a cacophony of electronic mutilation, lying somewhere between classical, drum n bass, idm, and insustrial...the soundtrack of his dreams brought to life in his waking hours." - Krystov

Visit the website:
krystov.com

Also avaliable at:
xorsix.com

Highlights:
Ebb Cloud
Martini

Thursday, April 21, 2005

In-Tune: Sheveks Masada

"One of the most interesting aspects of interacting with mad genius turntable scientists is sorting through all their multiple personalities. Smaze, a funky monk painting hip hop production with constant variation in the rhythms and melody, went as Beneath Autumn Sky, a groovy blend of dub and lo-fi house that never fails to get the party started. More recently the crazy kid's been calling himself Sheveks Masada, (the parking lot were origami druids go to die. or so he claims) a continuation of the BAS feel, but with a glitchy more experimental twist. Sheveks Masada has the amazing ability to make a few chopped words riding the rapids of his beats more meaningful then a hand full of poets could conjure." - Sheveks Masada

Visit the website:
www.abandonbuilding.com/artist_sheveks.html

Also avaliable at:
betterpropaganda.com/artist_page.asp?id=709

Highlights:
Fire Song
Infiltrated

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

In-Tune: Modlife

"An avid socialite, artist Joshua Camp has spent an entire lifetime dedicated to the love and acceptance music can bring. Growing up in Nashville, TN the saxaphone being his primary interest as a child, his skills quickly surpassed even the most skilled learned musicians. His first big break as an artist came in late 2002 when he was asked to score an Indy Film("Wrong Number") for some friends. This gave him enough to drive him to success. Samples from The Lifted EP that are available for download are just a taste, as he has plans to release a multiple disc album to exagerate all the genres of modern electronic dance music; all with the ModLifestyle twist of Course." - Modlife

Avaliable at:
music.download.com/modlife

Highlights:
Progress
Cheap Porn

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

In-Tune: Prime Number Recorder

"Ever gotten emotional about math? Prime numbers are unique because they are indivisible. They cannot be produced formulaically; they are the building blocks for any integer greater than one; they enable us to conceal our most intimate data. The same holds true for Prime Number Recorder. Each track maintains the same immutable purity of a prime number while begging the listener to take one step closer to luscious rapture. Cinematic electronic music with a sense of humor, both touching and poignant. Get ready... P#R will move you. Don't forget: there's an infinite number of primes, but only one Prime Number Recorder." - Prime Number Recorder

Visit the website:
www.2isprime.com/

Also avaliable at:
music.download.com/primenumberrecorder

Highlights:
Bell Pattern
JSB

Monday, April 18, 2005

In-Tune: Sinema

"Sinema is a cross-genre, electronically oriented project created by Monsieur Esse (Mr.S) in 1999. First steps were very hard and unrewarding due to poor conditions, lack of disk space and knowledge of sound engineering, however the first 'official' LP Heaven:Closed released in 2002, gained enthusiastic feedback among net-based listeners. This encouraged him to continue exploring the sound and from then on, adding an extra emotional layer to the music was his another aim. The most recent Sinema tracks are the fruit of a very long and thorough rectification of sound. Check if it catches your ear, and not only your ear." -Sinema

Avaliable at: (Note - Site in Polish)
mp3.wp.pl/p/strefa/artysta/2572.html

Also avaliable at:
music.download.com/sinema

Highlights:
Super)(nova
Suave: Handle with Care

Saturday, April 16, 2005

In-Tune: Octet

"Octet is a French pop-tronica duo. But please, good people, don't hold it against them. And while comparisons to that certain other French duo (Air) are inevitable, and, in fact, at times appropriate, they will only serve to marginalize the eclectic and impressive debut from Francois Goujon and Benjamin Morando. These two cats have created a record that is both disparate and cohesive, combining influences more far-reaching than most on the lap-pop electronica scene today." - Octet

Avaliable at:
betterpropaganda.com/artist_page.asp?id=454

and:
music.download.com/octet

Highlights:
Hey Bonus
Sneakers and Thong

Friday, April 15, 2005

In-Tune: Legofriendly

"Legofriendly was originally conceived as a one-off live laptop loop and midi jamming project between Stan Eberlein and Peter Slade. After playing several events in Tokyo, Legofriendly became Net-based, when Stan relocated to Düsseldorf, Germany. This less spontaneous approach has had a surprisingly positive impact. Legofriendly now take in a greater range of influences, stepping beyond the sound of Autechre or Mouse on Mars, yet remain faithful to the original idea of combining harsh electronic sounds with warmth and listener friendliness." - Legofriendly

Visit the website:
www.soundispatch.com/legofriendly/

Also avaliable at:
www.intervall-audio.com/artists/legofriendly.html

Highlights:
Milc
Know How

Thursday, April 14, 2005

In-Tune: Fourier Wave Device

"Fourier Wave Device is an atmospheric electronic music project based in Florida, USA. Stylistically, the music is usually categorized somewhere between drum & bass and IDM. The name comes from a branch of mathematics called "Fourier Analysis" - mathematically, it's possible to build up a complicated function from simple building blocks called "Fourier Waves" - this corresponds to building up a complicated piece of music from pure tones." - Fourier Wave Device

Visit the website:
www.fourierwavedevice.com/

Highlights:
Barbican Days
Fat Girl in the Park

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

In-Tune: Druu

"LoFREEQ recording artist Druu is a L.A. based producer/songwriter who specializes in Electronica and Hip-Hop styles that push boundaries. Druu's latest offering, 2005's Turn It Up!, is all about Breaks. All kinds of Breaks, from Electro and Nu-Skool to Drum 'n Bass and Rock/Hip-Hop infused Breaks. WARNING - Listening to Turn It Up! while driving may cause you to break speed limits and behave recklessly. Please use caution." - Druu

Floor rockin' beats and breaks

Visit the website:
www.druu.net

Avaliable at:
cdbaby.com/cd/druu3

Highlights:
Domination (Fevertech Remix)
Pulse (Jumpstart Remix)

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

In-Tune: Ilkae

"Ilkae is Krystian Lubiszewski and Aaron Munson, a duo split by the Atlantic consisting of one Canadian (Aaron) and one Polish dude (Krystian). Together they've released music for Merck, Civik Records, and others culminating in one full length (Pistachio Island for Merck), a split 12" with Proswell for Civik, and remixes for the like of Neo-Ouija and Soulseek Records. Together they've produced some of the most ambitious and ridiculously pleasant music the world has ever seen incorporating the frantic sampling of Mouse on Mars with a mangled pairing of video games, hip hop and electronic guile. It's a distinct meshing of goodness so infectious it makes Akufen look like a miser." - Ilkae

Visit the website:
www.ilkae.com/

Also avaliable at:
music.download.com/ilkae

Highlights:
The Lockpick Almanac
Cinq Grimaces (Pour Sortir)

Monday, April 11, 2005

In-Tune: Figurine

"Figurine are a long distance love affair. Started a few years ago by David, Meredith, and Jimmy, the three would send each other sound files through the internet to their homes in San Francisco, Cambridge (Mass), and Los Angeles, respectively. What may have started as a fun project has blossomed into a unique electronic pop dream band. The Heartfelt combines that warm analogue sound that only bands like Stereolab and Mouse On Mars can capture with a very obvious pop sensibility not unlike bands like the Human League and OMD. It’s not romantic pop, however, it’s more loyal to the obscure Mute Records roster of yesteryear like Telex or Silicon Teens. All that said, the band purrs and whirs to create something that is 100% Figurine. You know it when you hear it. It’s love." -Figurine

Figurine's mixture of pop with an electronica sound is a great way to brighten your day.

Visit the website:
www.whatarerecords.com/figurine/

View and share the e-card:
www.WhatAreRecords.com/heartfelt

Hightlights:
IMpossible
Heartfelt

Saturday, April 09, 2005

In-Tune: Cognitive Dissidents

"If you took today's electronic music, placed it in a blender, and set it to puree' you would end up with Cognitive Dissident's unique style. Our music is a synthesis of trance, industrial, hip hop, and drum 'n' bass elements mixed with a small amount of classical influenced orchestration and Eastern instruments. Formed in early 2003, Cognitive Dissident's features the talents of SHPX, a classical and jazz trained pianist and Reverend R (aka The Iron Monkey) a DJ. SHPX has been a musician since the age of seven, he began writing electronic music in 1993 and has continued to write ever since. Rev R has been behind a mixer since the age of seventeen and began composing his own quirky dance music in 1999." - Cognitive Dissidents

Visit The website:
cognativedissidents.tripod.com

Also avaliable at:
music.download.com/cognitivedissidents

Highlights:
Skillful Means
Yoh

Friday, April 08, 2005

In-Tune: Synthetrix

"Los Angeles born Victory Stapf, (aka Synthetrix) grew up listening to a broad range of musics, but was drawn to electronic sounds after hearing classics like "Switched On Bach" by Wendy Carlos and Kraftwerk's "Autobahn". Victory studied guitar for two years as a boy, but really wanted to play the drums and spent all his middle and high school years in the school band's percussion section. "I never took piano lessons, but there were always organs or a piano in my parent's home and I would just noodle on them. After MIDI was announced I knew that music and computers would be married forever and bought my first synthesizer, the Casio CZ-101 and also my first computer which was the Commodore 64C with a mighty 64K of memory and a 5.25' floppy drive and I was off! The drums are really my thing and I now have a Yamaha digital drum pad kit, but I rarely use it in the recording of my own music" He released his first solo album in December of 2001 and followed up with Synthetrix 2 in 2003. Synthetrix 2 is on sale at www.synthetrix.com. He is currently working on his third album "Grafted" - Synthetrix

Visit his site:
www.synthetrix.com/

Also avaliable at:
music.download.com/synthetrix and Heart of the Harbor Records

Highlights:
Yar's flight
Stavis Groove

Thursday, April 07, 2005

In-Tune: Goorapa

Self described as "Electronica related music experimentation", South Korea's Goorapa makes some really funky breaks.

Note: Site is mostly in Korean but navigation menu is in English

Visit the Website
www.goorapa.com

Also avaliable at:
music.download.com/goorapa

Highlights:
Dynamix (Madswine Lo-Fi Remix)
Tenzion

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

In-Tune: mr Epic

"With the release of his debut album "Sideways", Seattle born native mr. epic gives us a heavy dose of sultry eclectic beats with soulful melodies and jazz influenced rhythms. A long time drummer of nine years, epic (aka Taylor), made the crossover to production in 1998. After graduating in 2001 from the Art Institute of Seattle for audio production, Taylor has been locked in the studio ever since, honing his skills and talents to take his productions to the next level." -mr Epic

Relaxed downtempo with a jazzy feel, a great listen

Avaliable at:
magnatune.com/artists/mr_epic

Highlights:
Blue Days
Slipping

Tuesday, April 05, 2005

In-Tune: Audiomoe

"Whether it's producing original music and remixes or killing it live behind the decks, Audiomoe (aka Moses Truzman) combines his passion for music and expression to create something truly unique. Born in New York, he was influenced by many styles of music ranging from rock, latin and hip hop. According to him, "Music has no labels, it's all just soul music to me". And with that mind set he creates music that crosses genres and styles but still hits you in the same place. As for his dj sets, be prepared to get taken on a journey that touches on funk, hip hop, house and everything else in between" -Audiomoe

Visit the website:
www.audiomoe.com

Highlights:
57 Spring
Persistence

Monday, April 04, 2005

In-Tune: joram

"Michael Hovan (joram) is a native of Tallahassee, Florida. He began producing electronic music in 1999. He draws inspiration from a host of unlikely sources including: Stereolab, Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, nobukazu takemura, Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, Plaid, The Descendants, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, and Doudou N'Diaye Rose. Some of his strongest musical inspiration is taken from the music he has performed in the various world music ensembles at F.S.U. (Brazilian Samba, Chinese, Balinese Gamelan, and the African ensemble.) joram's music could be considered somewhat minimalist, and is created with the concept of musical texture in mind." -joram

Avaliable at:
magnatune.com/artists/joram

Highlights:
Moments of Clarity
Thinking Music

Saturday, April 02, 2005

In-Tune: Anyma

"Chrystian Bourassa and Ghislain Caya author-composer-performer.
Established in Montreal since 1991, developping many styles of music from the French Pop to Gothic, up to Techno. In fact we are an amalgam of all these different styles. From our influences (Enya, Depeche Mode, Brian Eno) is born a music of universal character." - Anyma

Visit the website:
www.anymaworld.com/

Highlights:
Ethiopian Dream
Free Me

Note: Site error (Must manually replace the %5C in address bar with / for music files to work)

Friday, April 01, 2005

In-Tune: Aerobic Jonquil

Formerly in a rock band for 10 years, Nicolas Jeanbourquin aka Aerobic Jonquil now creates "musical ideas" in the form of electronic music. Using software such as MetaSynth, Logic Audio and Ableton Live, to craft atmospheres and soundscapes, Aerobic Jonquil takes you on an ever evolving journey through the surreal.

Avaliable at:
magnatune.com/artists/aerobic_jonquil

Highlights:
Hourworks
After a Glass