Gold Panda makes organic electronica that brings to mind the best bits of The Field but, at its center, is a human heart to its processed exterior.
Features Electronica
Thieves Like Us – Play Music
Play Music is kind of like the musical equivalent of instant mashed potato; a lazy filler, a substitute for something of real substance, and most worryingly, numbingly mundane and instantly forgettable.
Placebo – Battle for the Sun
It’s album number six for Placebo, but can they match the drama of that weighty title?
Various Artists – A Psychedelic Guide to Monsterism Island
Almost an exercise in redundancy, A Psychedelic Guide to Monsterism Island is scarcely psychedelic at all, but what it is is a “soundtrack” to accompany the works of artist and cartoonist Pete Fowler.
worriedaboutsatan – Arrivals
worriedaboutsatan’s brilliant debut album – post-rock tinged electronica with cathedral-sized atmospherics and a mood of isolation and menace – is one of the best new IDM albums in years, says James Dalrymple
Kleerup – Kleerup
After the rather weak EP Hello Holla, Kleerup shows us a better account of his capabilities, even if some of them are a little familiar.
Mexican Institute of Sound – Soy Sauce
Been keeping up with Mexico City’s emerging electronica scene? No, me neither – but Soy Sauce shows we probably ought to from now on.
The Dø – A Mouthful
An oddball French/Finnish co-production, this album throws folk, pop and hip hop (!) at us all at once.
VETO – Crushing Digits
Touting their wares on these fair shores for the first time are VETO, who put in a not-unimpressive attempt at a rocktronica opus with their second album. Andy Johnson reviews.
Rone – Spanish Breakfast
Spanish Breakfast is a mix of light playful electronica that is comparable to indie acts like Lali Puna, Broadcast, Mum, etc, and more intense deep house/minimal techno such as Pantha Du Price, Lindstrom, Ricardo Villalobos.
Kleerup – Hello Holla EP
This EP just doesn’t offer enough of Kleerup’s impressive music – a weird release in terms of timing and content, wait for the re-release of the debut. Andy Johnson reviews.
TLOBF Interview: Röyksopp
TLOBF chats to Svein Berge, one half of Norwegian electronica titans Röyksopp.
