Memotone ~ Friend (2010)

Memotones 2010 album “Friend” comes as a surprise to me. I am not one who usually partakes in this kind of ambient/glitch/idm, but the smooth tones and acoustic instruments have swayed me. The way William Yates blends the soft subtle ballads with high strings, piano, and glitches is mesmerizing. Leaving you with a calm but not boring (I’m looking at you Boards of Canada) sound. Its sound is comparable to a mixture of Autchre, Plaid and Infinite Scale, while adding in masses of strings and woodwinds. Tracks that stood out would have to be “Sleeping in Circles” which sets the stage for what is to come. “These are your things” a collaboration of cut up vocals and instruments. And “Replace” which ends the album in a jazzy, subtle manner.

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Sweet Trip - Velocity : Design : Comfort (2003)

Since all we've had up lately was "best of" lists, I think it's about time we get a new album posted. This is just a really enjoyable record from a band that knows how to make great electronic and dream pop music. The songs feel very spacey and diverse, and no song sounds like the very next. On some songs, such as the intro it sounds sort of like a Venetian Snares CD but on others you get a glitchy sort of "Loveless" feel from it like my favorite track "Fruitcake and Cookies". The flip flopping that goes on here feels almost abrupt but it all adds to the overrall feel of the album. It's probably a love it or hate it album, for some it would sound fragmented to a fault, yet for others it could that album that grabs your attention right back everytime it manages to lose it. It's definitely something everyone should try out though.

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Flexe - Programmable Love Songs Vol. 1 (2004)

Benn Jordan goes by many names, The Flashbulb (which he is commonly known as) and many others including Acidwolf and Human Action Network. Under his Flashbulb alias he would typically release drill 'n' bass or Breakcore type albums, however as Flexe the music is much more laid back and this quote from the song Fox Paw describes the feel of this album:

'well, you know that the phenomenon called sound is a wave in the air, pulsing at a certain speed, now these waves kick the eardrums and then turn into vibrations, which the brain translates into what we call... acid.'

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Alarm Will Sound - Acoustica: Alarm Will Sound Performs Aphex Twin (2005)

A sterling, ambitious effort from an adventurous avant-garde ensemble.

Most of the tracks covered are from the Drukqs album, tackling some of his most complex works head-on. Alarm Will Sound does a fine, fine job on just about all of these works, an obvious standout being the incendiary version of "Cock/Ver10" which serves as the album's opener.

The highlights of this album fall between his melodically-rich drill n' bass and his drifty ambient music. "Blue Calx", "Gwely Mernans", "Fingerbib", and "4".
Even when the ensemble renders a couple cuts unrecognizable, the result is usually very interesting.

The remixes don't hold my attention much, but all in all this is not your average "String Quartet Plays" type of orchestral cover album. In fact, calling these covers almost seems like a disservice to Alarm Will Sound: they treat Richard D. James like a composer and provide creative orchestration solutions with their imaginative interpretations, done completely acoustically (save the electric bass on "Meltphace 6").


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