On paper, an ode to a piece of gear (in this case Waves’ Codex synth) should really, really not work this well as a piece of music. But then again, Eyal Amir isn’t your run-of-the-mill composer. Theme From Planet Codex all but bursts with joy and cuteness, effectively representing the rapture of pure creative inspiration in almost exactly four minutes.
Listen up: This is the sound of a master at work. Read more…
I was first introduced to this album by Falsense – and now, let’s just say that I owe him a lot of drinks. I already spend much of my spare time listening to fusion and prog bands – many of whom have been written about in this very corner of the interwebs – and my standards have been driven consistently upwards by the outstanding contributions that have already come my way. Nonetheless, Father Figure meet (and frequently exceed) those standards with a borderline terrifying effortlessness. Read more…
Weaponised bleeps and bloops. Gritty and filthy bass layers. Haunting synthetic melodicism. The kind of music that would haunt your dreams if you spent at least six hours playing retro arcade games and eating cheese before going to bed. A sense that you don’t really know what the fuck is going on, but you’re happy to stick around until you figure it out. Read more…
If you’re looking to have your brain fucked in and enjoy the experience, Beardyman is the artist for you. A restless and relentless musical innovator and virtuoso beatboxing mouth-wizard, Beardyman holds little back on the appropriately-titled Concentrations, which is only a taster of what’s to come on his upcoming album Distractions. Read more…
Regular TMMP readers (as well as my family, friends, and any stranger who’s sat next to me on the train for more than five minutes) will probably be sick to death of hearing me rant about how goddamn amazing Marmozets are. Well, I have many a good reason for doing so – and this 13-track slab of genius is another one to add to the list. Read more…
Their name might evoke images of seedy backstreet Chinatown massage parlours, but Dragons That Make Love To Pandas offer much more than just happy endings. Every moment on Roundabouts is masterfully tuned to elicit maximum pleasure of a different sort – the kind of excitement that comes from having one’s auditory cortex stimulated by a unique combination of stylistic elements. DTMLTP drop ska, math, guitar-pop and more into the musical equivalent of CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, and what emerges is appropriately awe-inspiring. Read more…
OMSQ never do anything half-arsed. Whether you’re talking about their doomy genre-mashing instrumentals, the passion poured into their live shows, or this interview, it’s more than obvious that OMSQ give a shit – and make a point of doing so. Here, the Belgian forward-thinkers talk art, inspiration, futurism, and much more… Read more…
Aphex Twin represents a musical culture all his own. If you’re new to Cornwall’s most unorthodox export, then look no further than this brand new album for proof. Take in minipops 67‘s sandpapery beats; 4 bit 9d api+e+6‘s vibrating bass bubbles; and 180db_‘s demonic dissolving-club vibe – or try out CIRCLONT6A, where 8-bit bloops find themselves ambushed by subterranean bass monsters. It’s overwhelming and even oppressive at times, but nonetheless deeply rewarding. Read more…
And now for something completely different.
Alt-J are not just Alt-J. They’re alt-everything. This Is All Yours is a collection of sounds that branch off into multiple directions – often simultaneously – yet somehow retain a core identifiability as originating from a single source. Singles Hunger Of The Pine and Every Other Freckle twist and turn with a glorious unpredictability – but middle sibling Left Hand Free is this album’s real tipping point. A retromanic slice of rough-edged classic rock complete with authentic production job, it stands out a mile, representing a singularity beyond which all hope of successfully guessing what’s next must be dismissed. Read more…
Last night was a reset-hitting moment for a venue whose continued survival was confirmed just over 24 hours previously. Vintage swing music played in the background while earlycomers gathered around a table laden with instruments, effect boxes, microphones, an iPad, and even fairy lights to await the arrival of first act, A R T E L S. Read more…