Memphis has a strangely disjointed music scene these days, or at least as it seems to me — but I am a native Memphian and a relative outsider at times, even in my own town. Things are changing so quickly these days as I focus on working with Future Unlimited, truly the most exciting new band I’ve heard in years, and veer away from really writing this music blog as more than a hobby. My tastes have accrued over time & I’ve gravitated towards certain aspects of the music created here through my own experiences and my passion. These days, I tend to veer away from the drug-and-alcohol-addled, excessively bitter or ill-tempered, seeking out sincerity and intention rather than wanton disregard. Memphis has seen me through, as John Roderick once told me, “many incarnations of my id”. In this one, I’ve discovered Fast Planet, and I could not be more impressed.

From the fallout of a band I long-championed & at times begged to come back known as This Is Goodbye (they did come back briefly last year), the performers — Brandon Herrington, Landon Moore, Wil Deshazo and Jared Rawlinson — were tired of doing the same thing all the time. They all moved around, got girlfriends or wives, found day jobs and moved into other phases of their lives. At some point, frustrated with being caught in the “rock bubble” & inspired by Thom Yorke’s solo outings and electronic meanderings, they made a decision: they were going to learn how to play electronic music. One bought Ableton, another bought Logic, and the rest took care of itself.

Over the course of the last year, they’ve been creating the songs which appear on the soon-to-be-released debut Jes, and probably (according to Landon) threw away twice as many as actually appear on the record. What was left behind as the layers stripped away is a harmonic convergence of orchestrated pieces filled with an elegiac ambience. The 9-song cycle contains patently beautiful, cavernous and majestic electronic songs informed by an intricate flirtation with trip hop, dubstep and ambient.

The songs on Jes are filled with the kind of genuine heart that comes from a certain kind of group dynamic, an equanimity that transcends the music itself. Reminiscent of Telefon Tel Aviv, James Blake, Thom Yorke and Bon Iver, it is a revealing collection of songs, a record so fluidly masterful that one can’t help but express surprise that it comes from a city like Memphis, known for Big Star, Al Green, Three 6 Mafia, The Oblivians and Jay Reatard. Put in the simplest terms, Jes is the kind of record that requires an artist to know something about the world in order to convey its themes without being dreary and mournful. There is redemption in the songs, joy in the heartbreak, and a stunning ushering in of a sound that will come to influence people here for a long time to come.

Produced by the band themselves and mastered by Brad Black, Jes has the necessary weight of an important record, a record dealing with heavy themes about love and mortality, growing up and becoming who we are as people, the greetings and farewells to those we love and lose. It lacks any pretense as it explores these gifted musicians’ journey through their own learning curve. Not limited to a regional appeal, Jes is not merely one of the best Memphis records of 2012; it is one of the best records of 2012 anywhere.

Fast Planet – These Hills
Fast Planet – Rain Game

_{Jes is released 21 February 2012 via their Bandcamp page with a “pay what you will” system. But if you hurry over there, you can get your hands on it now.}

Everyone around me has been gushing incessantly about Lana Del Rey — the Daisy Duke-clad young woman whose picture you see above — for weeks now. Honestly, I still don’t get her entire musical appeal; however, just this moment, I finally caught on to her alluring voice hearing this irrepressible Joy Orbison remix of her song “Video Games”.

Maybe you’ve already figured her out, which means that this remix is ready-made to get you caught up in the headiness of its groove.

Lana Del Rey – Video Games (Joy Orbison Remix)

ADDENDUM ::: I guess I missed the part where she has 11 million views on YouTube for this song.

James Blake has this terrific, and sometimes awkward, habit of sneaking in a new track at the end of the year. Such is the case with this single, just released digitally and on vinyl by R&S, entitled “Love What Happened Here”.

For you James Blake fans, it’s not been an overdue wait for new material, so this may come as a shock to you. This seems like a variation on the theme of “Limit To Your Love” on the part of Mr. Blake with, perhaps, a bit more begging involved. Prepare to get weak in the knees again.

[ Purchase "Love What Happened Here" Digital / Vinyl (vinyl delayed due to manufacturing issue) ]

Drugs seem to be on everyone’s minds these days, am I right?? In addition to previous odes to various substances, I now have a remix of a track by The Internet entitled ‘Cocaine’ chopped up by Little Dragon, courtesy of FACT MAG.

The Internet is OFWGKTA‘s Syd The Kyd teamed up with Matt Martians, and all systems are now go. Enjoy the song, but eh … leave the actual shit alone ok? Their album, Purple Naked Ladies will be out on 20 December, aiight? The physical version featuring 3 bonus tracks and exclusive art and packaging will be in stores 17 January, 2012.

The Internet – Cocaine (Little Dragon Remix)

THE INTERNET
PURPLE NAKED LADIES
(ODD FUTURE RECORDS)
DEC. 20, 2011 (Digital)

1. Violet Nude Women
2. They Say/Shangrila (ft. Tay Walker)
3. She Dgaf
4. C*nt
5. Cocaine/Tevie (ft. Left Brain)
6. Ode to a Dream (ft Kilo Kish & Coco O.)
7. Gurl (ft. Pyramid Vritra).
8. Love Song -1
9. Lincoln (ft. Mike G & Left Brain)
10. Web of Me
11. She Knows
12. Fastlane
13. Visions (ft. Coco O.)
14. The Garden

Here’s an unexpected, daft and simply terrific re-edit from Hamburg’s Tensnake of Radiohead’s “Everything In It’s Right Place” which might be new or … might not be? Either way, I love it.

[ Purchase :: "Thom Yorke" (2008), Nathan Manire. ]

>

Kid Sister is back up in the cut with a new EP called ‘Kiss & Tell’ out on 29 November and apparently, it’s full of club bangers, workouts and, yes, RAPS. In this video, Kid Sis teams up with fellow Fool’s Gold label mate Danny Brown to deliver that flow on “Gucci Rag Top” & she keeps it 100 sharing verses with Riff Raff on the Sinden/5kinAndBone5-produced “Hide N Seek”. Just in time for the holidays, Melissa threw on a batch of stuffing for us, y’all. Thank you, boo-boo. N’JOI.

Riff Raff featuring Kid Sister – Hide N Seek (prod. Sinden & 5kinAndBone5)

Instead of writing a review, I’m gonna copy and paste this chat log between me and an anonymous friend regarding the new GRIM mixtape, FADED Re-Edits Vol. 1. Feel free to read along as you listen.

(12:37:29 PM) loudersoft: have you ever heard of a Memphis label called Voodoo Village? I read that they have this mixtape out or something.
(12:37:42 PM) loudersoft: 6RIM might have songs on it or something
(12:37:45 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: …;.
(12:37:47 PM) loudersoft: idk you know about stuff like this
(12:37:55 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: i hear is mad underground
(12:38:03 PM) loudersoft: MAD
(12:38:03 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: not like allot of other music
(12:38:08 PM) loudersoft: underground
(12:38:17 PM) loudersoft: like MAD Magazine or ….?
(12:38:30 PM) loudersoft: Alfred E Neuman-step
(12:38:34 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: it might have to do with living in a shit town or being an outsider
(12:38:35 PM) loudersoft: ?
(12:38:44 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: it might be about drugs
(12:38:49 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: i cant figure it out
(12:38:49 PM) loudersoft:
(12:38:57 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: haha
(12:38:58 PM) loudersoft: haha
(12:39:01 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: i just got it too, did you listen?
(12:39:04 PM) loudersoft: to what
(12:39:16 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: the mixtape
(12:39:25 PM) loudersoft: nah i am still at the trap
(12:39:30 PM) loudersoft: this shit is post-trap
(12:39:37 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: i didnt knwo what to make of it
(12:39:48 PM) loudersoft: post-death
(12:39:49 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: after the scond listen its like gospel
(12:39:58 PM) loudersoft: mommybahton
(12:40:10 PM) loudersoft: iwantmymommybahton
(12:40:21 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: man its doesnt even need a genra tag. Its like slow death
(12:40:35 PM) loudersoft: its tropical like a pina colada that sat out in the sun too long
(12:40:42 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: not even
(12:40:55 PM) loudersoft: like rotting pineapples n shit
(12:40:59 PM) loudersoft: covered in cocoa butter
(12:41:01 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: its like if you were stuck at viewing life at 1000 frames per second
(12:41:10 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: and all you could see is poverty and distruction
(12:41:14 PM) loudersoft: LIKE IF YOU WERE SMOKING DMT EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY
(12:41:22 PM) loudersoft: OUT OF A VAPE
(12:41:25 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: kinda exactly
(12:42:06 PM) loudersoft: its like slow evisceration with a dull butter knife
(12:42:16 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: … but better
(12:42:28 PM) loudersoft: covered in actual butter
(12:42:36 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: it really needs to be on the fader
(12:42:39 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: or something big
(12:42:43 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: its fucking nuts
(12:43:17 PM) loudersoft: completely unrecognizable shit
(12:45:21 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: it should be number 1 on tumblr tho
(12:45:43 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: i wanna get a vitamin water sponser so I can build an actual witch house tho
(12:45:54 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: i dont want to drive a tarus tho
(12:46:02 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: I need some new glasses tho
(12:46:11 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: I gotta get my dog some shots tho
(12:46:37 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: I want to smoke the finest dmt tho
(12:47:00 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: i wanna fuck anything with hands tho
(12:47:05 PM) anonymous friend of loudersoft: i want a smoothie tho
(12:52:57 PM) loudersoft is offline

——————————————————
Diamond Bass – Nomada/All That
Three Six Mafia – South Memphis Bitch
Clicks & Whistles – Hello
Lil Daggers – Pair of Lives
Lil Wayne – I Feel Like Dying
Project Pat – I Keep That
Courtesy – Life, Man
Wiz Khalifa – On My Level
Com Truise – Colorvision
Koreless – Made In
Cities Aviv – Sixsixsixes
Gorillaz – Empire Ants
——————————————————
http://www.facebook.com/grimcreeper.music
http://www.voodoovillage.net
http://www.facebook.com/voodoo.village
Released by: Voodoo Village
Release/catalogue number: VVMX003
Release date: Oct 5, 2011

Cities Aviv – Die Young (GRIM Re-Edit)

M.I.A recorded this song before the Vickileekx Mixtape, and then posted it to her Twitter as a response to the death of Amy Winehouse. If you missed it, it’s very good if rather eerie.

M.I.A. – 27

::: M.I.A. – 27 — Lyrics :::

said your all mouth and no brains
all rock stars go to heaven
you said you’ll be dead at 27 seven
when we drunk in a English tavern
the owner poured you the Bourbon
and you drunk your self so rotten
so he got so rich he bought a Bentley
and moved himself to Devon

you started dirty dancing
and you bar tended a dozen
i took you to the clinic
to get you clean but you couldn’t
said in 2 days ur 27 and and ur destiny was comin
so ur papa passed so sudden
and left you with lil somin

you blew that money on a mountain of drugs
and staged your self a bed in
a month later when i popped in
your still high but the winter set in
i bought you a coffee and a muffin
and you quoted me some Lenin
i wished i was that clever
but thats what kept me coming
your friendship did mean somin
but you left me for nothin
when i left, you befriended a rope
and i saw you both were hanging.

The Michel Gondry-directed video for Björk’s song “Crystalline” from her app-album Biophilia has arrived. Enjoy.

::: Purchase Biophilia for iPhone or iPad :::

Daniel Trudeau calls himself Pregnant, and the music he makes is not at all unlike that idea: beautiful, uncomfortable at times, and fraught with significance.

Life Hard : I Try is Pregnant’s first release on Mush Records. It’s a thick and complex landscape of pop, decorated with Trudeau’s lilting vocal and punctuated with glitchy beats and unexpected instrumentation and melodic shifts. Check out “Letter to a Friend” below and watch for the full album to drop on September 6.

::: AUDIO: Pregnant – Letter to a Friend :::
Pregnant – “Letter To A Friend”

First off, congratulations goes out from us to the whole Fool’s Gold crew on the launch of their new retail space at 536 Metropolitan Ave in Brooklyn. Reports from various sources around the web all tell us the good news we expected: the space is pretty spectacular and anyone who attended Friday’s grand opening bore witness. Now open for business officially, they’ve decided to collabo with Hitachi’s G-Connect to create a new streaming live experience called Tight Space starting on Wednesday, July 20th.

From the Fool’s Gold Blog:

On Wednesday, July 20th, Fool’s Gold and G-Connect will launch the first episode of Tight Space, a new web streaming series broadcast live from 536 Metropolitan, the new Fool’s Gold storefront in Brooklyn. Fans who “like” the G-Technology Facebook page will be able to watch exclusive live DJ sets from Chromeo, A-Trak and Treasure Fingers, powered by the new G-Connect wireless storage solution from Hitachi. Hit Facebook.com/GTechnology for more info, and stay tuned for more details on Tight Space.

Don’t live in NYC? Don’t worry — remember to follow G-Connect on Facebook for a chance to win a trip to Brooklyn to experience Tight Space in person.

*Old Man Voice* “Waaaaay back in ’89, I got dragged by a buncha n’eer-do-wells from my College Radio Station to see some ol’ mystery band name of Sykurmolarnir at this club name of CBGB‘s. You whippersnappers are too young to remember that place, but it was, what is it you kids say these days? …..it was THE SHIT!!!

Anyhoo, we got piss drunk on whatever was on tap up in thar, all of us smashed like sardines that aint been properly introduced & a lil’ ol’ band o’fellers and ladies came-a stumbling out and started hollerin’ at people in some language called Icelandic that I ain’t never heard of ‘fore. Turned out, they weren’t nothin’ but them people from The Sugarcubes pretending to be somebody else and makin’ fun of us stupid American folks, and this here Bjork girlie, well….she was up there just a-hootin’ and a-hollerin’ and a carryin’ on in a mighty fine way. Your grandpa here? Welllll……I became downright smitten that night, and the rest, as they say, is history. We fell in love and decided we was gettin’ married right thar on that very stage that very night…. Course, me and your other grandpa, we had to wait 21 years and move back to New York City to tie the knot….

But anyhoo, we just love that dern Bjork and we sure are happy to know she’s still makin’ them there records. Turns out, she’s putting out a new’un name of Biophilia ’round about September. Apparently, she’s gone and collaborated with them people at that Apple Computer to make it into some new-fangled app, so make sure you get you one-a them fancy iPhone thingies if’n you want one of us to buy it for you when it comes out.”

Mathematically speaking, Talib Kweli + Res = Idle Warship. Since first tested back in 2000, that has been the basic formula that mathematicians and scientists use to start all known Idle Warship equations and binary structures with. When placed into any known audible subroutine, the resulting auditory output is frequently something greater than the sum of its parts, generating a freedom of frequency heretofore unknown in this dimension.

Over the course of the past decade, the discovery of the basic formula has led to a series of programming miracles, including 2009′s Party Robot mixtape. But you can’t break down Idle Warship to it’s basic equation all the time; occasionally, as your math skills progress, you have to consider certain “x factors” such as the potential for including a Jean Grae or a Jay Knocka. Under the guidance of noted mathematician/scientist/producer DJ Khalil, a laboratory experiment was conducted recently utilizing this particular equation as a basis for the output of something referred to as “System Addict”.

Upon careful examination of the auditory sensory processes which are connected to the neural output generated by this series of subroutines, the Idle Warship equation leaves notice that “System Addict” signals the forthcoming release of a full-length collection due out in 2011 from the Blacksmith/Element9/Fontana organization. In the meantime, add this to your collection and sit tight for further instructions.

Idle Warship – System Addict (ft. Jean Grae and Jay Knocka)

The Weeknd has been in the studio banging out new tracks because, well, when you’re currently one of the hottest tickets on the planet at present, why wouldn’t you? Drake might have made the song “Trust Issues” famous, but Abel Tesfaye turns this song out by placing his deliberate, uncompromising voice into the mix.

The dynamic and enigmatic duo are currently working on completing two new mixtapes: Thursday, which will likely pop out by July sometime, and their back-to-school release, Echoes of Silence. Among the many collabos they’ve been involved with lately, the pair have been summoned by Jamie xx, Florence + The Machine and even Drake himself. Every song I hear from them makes me want to hear the next thing they’re going to do, so whatever the formula is, it’s hard not to sit back in slack-jawed awe and wonderment.

Still don’t have their epic House of Balloons mixtape? Cop it here.

HTML5 Link for Mobile

::: UPDATE ::: Thanks Luis from Pretty Much Amazing for this link to the MP3.

HTML5 Link for Mobile

I’m a sucker for a good back story. So when I stumbled upon the Wikipedia entry for “ghost estates” while searching for the band of the same name and found out that the term refers to abandoned houses from a boom and bust in Ireland called the Celtic Tiger period,  I was pretty much smitten (luckily it turns out ).

These guys have played together for about a year and a half after the members’ two previous bands — Sickboy and 8Ball — collapsed. They recorded their debut album as Ghost Estates at Sun Studios Temple Bar. (In the Temple Bar district of Dublin, not to be confused with that other place with a similar name.) The album was mixed by Marc Carolan, whose previously worked with Muse, Snow Patrol and The Cure.  According to the rather sparse information that’s available on the band at the minute, the plan is to release singles throughout 2011 as they tour (nationally, for now: only Ireland dates have been announced thus far).

The first single is called “Paris,” and while I’m hesitant with only the one single in my ears to start drawing comparisons, you’ll probably like these guys if you like Passion Pit, Blonde Redhead, Animal Collective and the like. It’s electronic, it’s ethereal in places and poppy in others. Something about it is working, though. I pressed play on this track no less than four times yesterday.

Stay tuned for more, check out the band’s label – Slap in the Face Records — and listen to “Paris” here.

::: AUDIO: Ghost Estates – Paris :::
Ghost Estates – “Paris”