Today in the electronixxx round-up, we look at an American paper's attempt to review new beers while listening to Stars of the Lid. We discuss the possibility of Brian Eno again collaborating with Coldplay. We pick up on more of the buzz about Tim Hecker's new album, Ravedeath, 1972, and we gauge some more reaction from the world of music to UK electronica prodigy James Blake - whose album had better be as good as people are saying, or I will be ever so slightly upset.
First up, electronics master Brian Eno might not have the world in the palm of his hands any more. Hasn't done for about 20 years, come to think of it. But he still gets about. Word is emerging that he is working again with love em/hate em twee stadium rockers Coldplay. Wonder if they'll bash out an update of Before and After Science, or just press the repeat button on the bland machine. Click HERE for more on how the English sincerity merchants are planning a concept album. A la Yes, perhaps?
From America, we learn of a brilliant review of two of our favourite things here at electronixxx - beer and Stars of the Lid. Sounds like the perfect night in, right? Well, so thought a blogger for the Seattle Post Intelligencer. In a move that the rest of the world will surely soon make en masse, their blogger chose a selection of choice beers to review and then picked up some electronica to digest as he supped.
The piece begins thus:
"It's become tradition for the beers of Liquid Excursion to be paired with music. Any good excursion has a soundtrack right?"
And then goes on to pick out a musical choice for the drinking to come:
"Tonight, the vinyl disc that spins beneath the needle is imprinted with And Their Refinement Of The Decline by Stars Of The Lid. Stars Of The Lid are without a doubt a powerhouse in the world or drone, ambient and neoclassical. The music of And Their Refinement Of The Decline can often feel austere or placid. To allow it's sound waves to pass over and through you is akin to floating adrift a "dopamine cloud". Here, when acting as the setting to a tale with such an outlandish protagonist of a beverage, it acts as counterpoint, and grounds me before the flavors have a chance to overwhelm my synapses. As any true soundtrack should, this album simply accentuates, but never urges my thoughts in any particular direction. That is, solely, a task for Grand Cru this night."
Read the rest of it HERE
Putting the alcohol aside, more can be heard about the new Tim Hecker album due out next month by clicking on the Pitchfork site. Those arch cardigan-wearing types might be a little bit too much in love with Vampire Weekend for their own good, but they save a little bit of time for the Tim Hecker - which is their saving grace. Their latest post even includes an MP3 of something from the album - the ominous sounding Hatred of Music. Click
Elsewhere, Ikonika's new release gets a slightly stern review on Resident Advisor. Click
Meanwhile, old boy rock magazine Rolling Stone has had a say on the James Blake hype, with a short rundown of what the electronic hipster has to offer - as well as a link to one of his tracks. "Imagine if Antony of the Johnsons recorded an R&B album with Aphex Twin, or a scratched CD of Arthur Russell and Marvin Gaye collaborating in the afterlife," they say. Ooh, clever, eh? CLICK
And on the Consequence of Sound, more love is given out for Emeralds man Mark McGuire's super dooper album from last year, Living With Yourself. Some of you will know this has already been given the electronixxx seal of approval, but for those still in the dark, imagine the last Emeralds LP played only with guitars in a quiet French cafe in the early spring. As The Consequence of Sound review gushingly puts it: "Living With Yourself, then, is the perfect title for this collection, a sequence of three words that says as much about our humanity as most lyricists could." Click
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