Tag Archives: Experimental

Twink: ‘Itsy Bits & Bubbles’ — toytronic arcade pop

28 Monday Nov 2011

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Sleigh bells ring, lights shine in the windows, and Santa laughter sounds through the night air.  It’s the season when even the hardest rocking Grinch grows his heart a couple extra sizes and embraces all things cutesy cuddly.  It’s time for ‘Itsy Bits & Bubbles’ from Twink.

This purely instrumental, incredibly fun sound is put together by musical mad scientist Mike Langlie, who was charmed by the off-kilter tones of a thrift store toy piano.  Twink has produced five prior albums, combining toy instruments with hyperactive rhythm machines, broken music boxes, and circuit-bent electronic gizmos.  Also included are kitchen drawer percussion, and the bleeps and blurps of 8-bit videogames.  Strong melodies, bouncy beats and surprising arrangements make Twink a favorite for use on networks like MTV, Nickelodeon, and Comedy Central. Continue reading »

Radiolab: ‘Phantom Limbs’ EP — sensuous trip hop

18 Friday Nov 2011

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There are days, months, or perhaps even years when we sense a haunting presence, bothered by something that cannot be seen with our eyes or felt with our fingertips.   Radiolab addresses this distressing invisible entity.  Sensuous and experimental, Radiolab is an Indie duo from Frederick, Maryland.  Dane Di Pierro (multi-intrumentalist / programming) joined up with vocalist Meghan Redding in early 2010. Combining elements of indie rock and electronica, and occasional samples from film, Radiolab gives new meaning to the term ‘music artist.’

‘Phantom Limbs’ is the October follow up EP to their 2010 album, “Sometimes Casual Confusion’, both released through Tunecore. Continue reading »

[aftersun]: ‘Pain Sounds’ EP — Internal Voices Echo

27 Wednesday Jul 2011

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It’s art rock, it’s hip hop, it’s shoegaze darkwave swirling in haunting echoes.  Bracketed as a side note, [aftersun] is the Brookly-based solo project of Stephan Cherkashin, former member of Telltale and Audn.  His debut EP, Pain Sounds was released this spring.

[aftersun] begins with the wrenching ache of defeat and humility in “You Were Right.”  Distant outcries are surrounded in tunnels of grooving doom.  Sounding very much trapped in a chamber, the vocals become part of the background, allowing the lead guitar to sing its own chorus. Continue reading »

“Limbo” by Jonathan Belcher

11 Saturday Jun 2011

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I’m not sure where I am headed just now; I simply I know I am not turning back.
I drive to clear my mind, to think, to just be for awhile.  Be me, whoever that really is anymore.  I drive and view the scenery, which I process as mostly shades of gray.
Thoughts come to me in vague whispers.  Like gnats, hardly noticeable and yet nagging for my attention.  Why won’t they leave me alone?  I have been swatting them away so long that I’ve forgotten to listen.
So I listen.  And I realize that the whispers are not just buzzes around my head, but words – insights.  I squint my eyes and strain my ears.  Directions.  Forget about yesterday, move forward, they say.  But I’ve been moving forward all along, have I not?
I look around me and realize that I’ve been moving in a giant looping circle, never noticing the repetition of the scenery.
I shift the wheel right and steer straight .  As I take a new path, I see colors arise.  Golden hues tint the landscape ahead, from flowered fields to cloud filled skies, inviting me toward tomorrow.

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Do you know where you are headed?