I think that's because you approach it from an indie/etc background/point of view - I might very well be wrong of course. I know that all too well because that's how I got into electronic music as well :) it's just a completely different musical ecology with its own norms and a completely different approach to writing/releasing music, and EPs make a lot of sense in that context - they can be just as era-defining as albums in that case.
but I completely get you, that's one thing that used to really bother me with electronic music at first, and is why I (and I think a lot of people) was first mostly into artists such as Autechre, Burial or the likes who release albums where you can feel their evolution. But yeah, the whole footwork/jungle hybrid that's going off at the moment completely emerged out of EPs and it's a completely new aesthetic, same with the future beats d&b stuff.

It's tough though as it implies much more implication to properly follow stuff - that's actually how I began nearly listening to nothing but electronic music at some point, drowning deep into it seemed like the only way to really get what was going on

Speaking of albums though - this one's not to be missed imo: https://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=39172

Really hyped by this one - Nidia's one of the most creative artists in Lisbon's scene so I'm really interested to hear what she'll do with a full-length record

Hey everyone! There's a new Burial EP out. Well, more of a long single... another long single.

Oh, and guess what it looks like!

...

Yer damn RIGHT it's another black circle with white lettering!



Haha!!

Anyway, it's pretty Fucking good. Better than the one before it. New sound, with familiar sinister undertones. Seething, breathing, leviathan-like ambient music.

"Subtemple" (b/w "Beachfire") is out now.

Would love to hear your thoughts.

Fox?

Yeah it's my favourite work of his in a loooong time. Didn't really care for anything he did after Kindred and Truant, but this one is really good -love Beachfire especially! Glad he went for this sound for sure

Wait wait wait waitwaitwaitwaitwait...

You didn't like Rival Dealer?!?!?!?

Ah man... I think that EP is his absolute career high-water mark so far. Every time I listen to it, it just completely sucks me into another fucking world entirely. It's a scary world, but also a beautiful one.

I can even paint you a picture of where that "EP" (really, I see it as one long track) takes me when I hear it. Here, I'll try at least...

Imagine life in post-second civil war Sudan (circa 2006-present) as a really fucking epic film directed by Ridley Scott in the early '80s. Imagine being a child in that setting, which takes on the hues and tones of the climactic fight scene in Blade Runner, with a sinister rain pouring down and neon lights flashing. A brutal reality chopped up and accentuated by bizarre existential maxims from angels and demons (or nuns and Replicants, whatever helps with visualization.) But imagine that instead of fighting robots, you're dealing with the pains of adolescence, drugs, sex, and the larger-than-life quality that all of these things take on when you are young and trying to figure yourself out. Plus you're in the fucking Sudan, so there's nobody on your side, you live in an authoritarian regime, and you're tired and hungry and scared... but you survive because flashes of divinity pop up to unexpectedly remind you that life is so much bigger than your immediate experience, and though you are harrowed by all of this, you find just enough hope in the melancholy beauty of these moments.

That's where Rival Dealer takes me. :o

It's honestly one of the most powerful pieces of music I think I've ever heard. I've got nothing to compare it to musically. I could say listening to it is like listening to some kind of condensed amalgam of the most potent moments of Lift Yr Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven, John Lennon's half of "A Day in the Life," and Boards of Canada and Autechre at their most resonant and ethereal -- but that would still be REALLY far from the mark.

Rival Dealer is one of the reasons I love electronic music. It can elicit moods that truly feel like they don't belong in this world. In some ways, electronic music (as a whole, you understand) can be quite emotionally relaxing, as it usually doesn't contain as much of the human element... the pleading and moaning about love and anger and sadness that can be far too easy to relate to and be brought down by. In other ways, it's capable of creating textures and atmospheres and emotional collages that are more heart-breaking AND -warming than anything a human voice or potent set of lyrics with organic instrumentation is capable of capturing, except for in the most unique and extraordinary of cases.

I don't listen to Rival Dealer often, because frankly it's a bit too much for me... but when I do, I don't bloody well turn that shit off for *anything.*

:)

haha I guess I feel you man – I just couldn't understand when everyone around me was slagging Temple Sleeper which I thought was really good!

re: Rival Dealer, I guess I just didn't pay sufficient attention at the time it was released and it didn't really caught me when I listened to it - it was released at a time when I was really getting immersed in club-based electronic music and stepping away from the more home-listening / experimental / chillout stuff that initially got me into electronic music (though I was still enjoying it, it was just not what I wanted to discover). so yeah, guess I wasn't in the right mood to get it - must say the message he published after the release didn't help either hah

I've been listening to the Richard D. James Album at work today. God almighty, what a fucking album! It's amazing to me that after all these years, I still find myself peeking up to moments on this album that sound revelatory, even thought I've heard every song a hundred thousand times. I can never really be sure where my favorite moments are, or even which songs are the standouts. It's always changing. It's that kind of album, and that's possibly the best kind of album there is. It keeps me more engaged than other "classics" where I know how I'm going to respond to every moment ahead of time.

Take "Carn Marth" for instance. I was just listening to it, but for some reason this time around, it sounded like the clouds were parting and the heavens were coming alive in my brain.

Always liked the song, and the whole album. But without a single substance in my system (not counting caffeine) it gave me a fleeting moment of full-blown euphoria this time around. Like the calmest, most laid back and subtle moments of an ecstasy trip. But it's free! And last time I checked it wasn't a felony to ingest Aphex Twin. :cool:

I've been listening to the Richard D. James Album at work today. God almighty, what a fucking album! It's amazing to me that after all these years, I still find myself peeking up to moments on this album that sound revelatory, even thought I've heard every song a hundred thousand times. I can never really be sure where my favorite moments are, or even which songs are the standouts. It's always changing. It's that kind of album, and that's possibly the best kind of album there is. It keeps me more engaged than other "classics" where I know how I'm going to respond to every moment ahead of time.

Take "Carn Marth" for instance. I was just listening to it, but for some reason this time around, it sounded like the clouds were parting and the heavens were coming alive in my brain.

Always liked the song, and the whole album. But without a single substance in my system (not counting caffeine) it gave me a fleeting moment of full-blown euphoria this time around. Like the calmest, most laid back and subtle moments of an ecstasy trip. But it's free! And last time I checked it wasn't a felony to ingest Aphex Twin. :cool:

Found this on the ol' interwebs. From an RDJ forum.

This is weird as fuck for me, because the songs that hit me the hardest the first time around (and for years afterward) were "4, "Fingerbib," and "Girl/Boy Song." Haha.

I'm actually surprised, the new afx record is the first thing he's done in nearly 20 years that isn't totally fucking useless. patchy as all hell as per usual with richard but it's at least interesting for the first time in a longggg while.



the actress record is still kicking my azz, hated it on first listen but man has it stuck with me hard.

Severian has exceeded their stored private messages quota and can not accept further messages until they clear some space.

Fixed.

Wait, what new AFX record? Not Orphaned Deejay Selek ... (???)

obviously not orphaned deejay selek, how could anyone call that something other than lifeless? the record he released at field day, mini lp if you will. throwback-y but at least coming at things from a more interesting angle.

Well, when the hell is that going to be available to the rest of us?

I like Orphaned Deejay Selek well enough. It was an AFX record, not an Aphex Twin record. And as a between-albums AFX project it worked fine for me.

Saw Demdike Stare's Sean Canty playing mutant dancehall stuff on Saturday night. It was insanely good and immersive – really recommend catching him if you can see him DJ.

it's already out there in the world y'know......pirate it.

if afx is earmarked as his 'rave muzak for pseudo-intellectual dullards' project, how cum the last 3 aphex releases have been similarly mind numbing? sounded like a sad ket casualty teetering on the edge of the eastbourne pier in a real nice suit with light-up shoes.



^have seen canty play out here too, was marvellous. obviously prior to the equiknoxx explosion so not leaning *that* heavily on dancehall, but made a really strong link between uk soundsystem stuff and drone/ambient/concréte which was pretty whack at the time for a lot of people in a club context.

The last three Aphex releases were mind-numbing? I don't feel that way at all. But I'm not even sure which releases you're taking about. This one that you pirated+Orphaned Deejay Selek+Computer Controlled Acoustic? Or does the NTS shit count?

If you don't honor the difference between AFX and Aphex Twin, then what are the last three projects?

And you really no-likey Syro? That *has* to be in the "last three," especially if we're talking Aphex and not AFX. How could anyone not see Syro as a triumphant return?

yeah, he's really impressive in this regard. the set he played here was able to convey the same atmospheres he does with Demdike Stare through dancehall / soundsystem tactics. brilliant stuff.


unrelated, but here's a great ambientish record that's worth your time: https://ostresamigos.bandcamp.com/album/anxious

also Leeds' 8MANA crew is about to release its debut various artists release and it's really an interesting work, using elements of instrumental hip hop / beats and bass music to come with a weird sound that I really enjoy. release is called Sorry Julia, it's out this week I think :)

Ekoplekz has a new album out, I just realized. It's called Bioprodukt, and after a quick listen on Apple Music, I'm liking it pretty damn well.




Here's my current favorite track from the LP: Ekoplekz - "Slipstream (YouTube)

Also, DJ Dodger Stadium is now called DJDS, and has a pretty dope new track out.

A friend attended the, Steve Hauschidt show last night in Austin. "Pleasant with an undercurrent of menace" is how she described the performance. I'm not all that familiar with Steve's solo output, I just knew he was a member of, Emeralds.

Cool! I haven't paid much attention to his solo stuff in the past, but his 2016 album Strands has some really nice moments on it. Colorful oozey woozey shit. And of course I quite like Emeralds.

I just realized that my favorite Emeralds album is for some reason not on streaming services. Got an itch to listen to Solar Bridge and have no idea where my copy has gotten off to. :(

Did I already mention that Jeffrey Cantu-Ledesma has a new album out?

Not strictly electronic, though often filed under that umbrella.
It's called On the Echoing Green, and it's more dreamy spaced-out crushingly lovely droning semi-ambient guitars and synths, from one of the most trusted dudes who still packs a six-string.



I feel like Jefre should have a more devout following, especially among Sonic Youth fans. I respect the shit out of him, and this new album is pretty goddamn glorious.

The new Jefre reminds me of My Bloody Valentine almost.

The only electronic album I've heard this year that I keep coming back to is Embers by Throwing Snow. It's not exactly revolutionary, but it has enough variety that it stays interesting for a whole hour, which is more than I can say about most releases I've heard this year.

There's a new Floating Points album out coming out soon. Apparently it's a soundtrack, but the tracks that have been released so far are pretty solid.

I think it's a soundtrack to a short film that was made *about* the recording of the songs, but I might be wrong. If so, I guess I don't really count that as a soundtrack album. But I'm excited to hear it.

Also, if you're having trouble finding electronic albums to hold your attention this year, might I suggest Visible Cloaks? Their new album Reassemblage is really one of the best things I've heard all year.

Also, Jlin's Black Origami, but being a footwork affair, it does have some redundancy to it. Still, mighty powerful album. I think she might be from the future.

And finally, I was ready to be disappointed by Botany's newest album RAW LIGHT II, thinking it would be a remix EP of songs from Dimming Awe, the Light is Raw. But in fact it's actually a really goddamn swell little album, with more high points than perhaps any album since the excellent Lava Diviner: Truestory in 2013.

Just throwing those out there in case you're interested in re-evaluating your 2017 electro-shit. Some good stuff out there. Not to mention Burial's "Subtemples" single, which is his strongest effort in a while.

:)

haha, thanks man, you're too kind. you should hear what kind of shit I'm preparing for my next week's performance on a big festival. Kind of good, I'd say :) ... lots of beats, twitchy and unstable.

A "big festival" you say? Which big festival?

Will you share with the faithful when you have the recording?

:) :) :)

https://www.pohodafestival.sk/en/

the biggest one in our country ... I'm slowly getting REALLY shit scared, man. I'm playing this Friday afternoon.

best of luck Slavo – and I co-sign Severian, would really be interested in hearing a recording of this one

Wow. I can't read anything on that page except for band names. Lol.

But listen dude, if I was attending a massive festival, one of my main spots would be the DJ tent. It's secluded from the big pop stages, and as long as it's not an EDM-heavy DJ list, it would be a place of welcome respite from the throngs of people.

This is exactly where I'd go in between my absolute must-see main stage artists, and I would be on the lookout for hot new shit to spread the word about. Don't be nervous man. If I caught a set like yours at a fedtival, it would make my freaking day. It would cut through the din, and I'd be very intersted in finding out more.

You are very good at this, and you caught my ear like a fishhook. Just go do your thing and know that you're likely offering something that a lot of your peers won't have on tap, so to speak.

yeah, the tent I'll play in, will be mostly experimental music and techno and that kind of stuff.
I've prepared my set in a slightly different way than the one you've seen on the video - this is going to be a bit more beat driven, weird twitchy beats, a bit like 2-step or early Aphex Twin, but I don't really know, I'm not a real expert on music with beats. but it sounds pretty cool.

Thanks for the support man, by the way. To both you and SYRfox. I'm scared shitless, though I know I'll go out there and do my best.

Fuck. Fuck. I'm reviewing the set and I feel like it's total bollocks crap. Maybe it's just the nerves talking though. I don't know.

You can't review your own stuff man.

I mean, I know you're not talking about that kind of reviewing. I imagine you are going over the recordings and checking for quality.

But still, you should turn that critical part of your brain off and focus on the mix and or the sound levels (or the video quality, or whatever it is you're reviewing) and not, "Does this sound like good music?"

In the newsroom, it's a rule. I've been doing a lot more copy-editing lately, and it turns out I'm quite good at it. But... if I write something, I'm literally not allowed to copy-edit that shit. Someone else has to. And I wouldn't want to -- story would suffer.

Get the product, whatever it is, ready for viewing/listening, and then let some friends tell you what they think (I can think of a couple ;) ). We'll tell you if, somehow, you missed your mark, and we'll do it knowing damn well how solid your sets can be.

But for now, just get that stuff together and don't worry about whether it was your best set ever or not.

APHEX TWIN OPENS STREAMING/DIGITAL MUSIC SITE WITH NEEEEW FUCCCKKKING SHIIITTT!!!

Read about it.

Go to there.



:cool:

I heard the Reassemblage album before, but after a couple re-listens I think that I'm coming back around to it. Really cool textures on that one

^ Screenshot doesn't show new tracks. Bonus tracks on Druqks, bonus AFX tracks, etc. I only looked for a sec, but I'll be purchasing some official fucking jams as soon as I get back to my computer at home. Fuck yeah.

Yeah, it's fucking good. One of the best of the year, I 'spect.

Ben Frost - Threshold of Faith

New EP recorded by Steve Albini :eek:

FEATHERED SUN - "Welcome Woodi" (YouTube)

FEATHERED SUN is a collaborative clusterfuck from Acid Pauli, Christopher Shwarzwälder, Jo.Ke, NU, Raz Ohar, and I think two other guys who are sometimes involved. Hah.

Nice track though. The good kind of chill.