Eclectic Vibes - December 2019
by Andrew Frey
People Brothers Band at Majestic for NYE - photo by De Wook Photography
KAI WACHI
Genre masher and boundary crosser, the 22 year old DJ Kai Wachi will tantalize and hypnotize your senses before blasting you with ear-battering bass blossoms. Although he has produced some fine songs that utilize poppy electro synth and trap elements with female vocals, it’s his extreme electronics’ breakneck rhythms and commanding massive drops that will leave you speechless. Become part of the Skull Crew when Kai Wachi brings his Demigod tour to Liquid Nightclub in Madison, WI on 12/21 with Sam Lamar. www.kaiwachimusic.com
NEW YEARS EVE CHECKLIST
New Year’s may be at midnight, but there are a lot of great things that lead up to that time. Perhaps it would be best to start things off at the Candlelight Meditation for World Peace held at the Kadampa Meditation Center before heading over to the Monona Terrace for the Madison Family Eve? But if you want a different pace, the Ball Drop Blitz theatrical performances at the Bartell Theatre will perk your interest. The big events later in the evening are long and many, but my picks would be People Brothers Band, Porky’s Groove Machine, Frogleg, and Feed the Dog at the Majestic Theatre or Wurk, and Spare Change Trio at The Winnebago. For the total die hards, the Crucible has events till 7am! The performers include James Pennington, Soundmurderer, Mystic Bill, Starski & Clutch, Kitty Spit, Jared Perez, Otto, Cykophuk, Delilac, Hardcore Breakfast, Demix, Jethrox, Piledriver. Until next year!
MICRO REVIEWS:
This Month's Rating Scale is from 1 is Trammelling thru 10 is Elucidating
Aluna - Juntos
Aluna
Album title: Juntos
Record Label: Resueño
Rating: 10
This debut album named Juntos, which is Spanish for together, exemplifies the musical unions that took place on this entrancing world beat release filled with nature sounds, electronics and rhythmic traditions from indigenous cultures. This confluence of influences relates to composer Maywa’s time spent living in the rainforests of South America as well as fellow composer Steffen Ki’s travels around the world, but also encompasses their 8 guests (1 for each track), who include Mose, J. Poole, Intiche, and Biomigrant.
(1014) Page Views
Aluna online:
• Website • Facebook
Andy Frasco & The UN - Change of Pace
Andy Frasco & The UN
Album title: Change of Pace
Record Label: Fun Machine Records
Rating: 9
Super fun and party forward, Andy Frasco & The UN have toured through 10 countries, average 250 shows per year and have somehow managed to output 10,000+ hours playing music. Change of Pace adds more soul to their fabulous freaky funk, showing off their natural evolution as a band, while not losing their edge or originality.
(907) Page Views
Andy Frasco & The UN online:
• Website • Facebook
• Download Change of Pace from Amazon
Art Paul Schlosser & Frankie Pobar Lay - Cartoons
Art Paul Schlosser & Frankie Pobar Lay
Album title: Cartoons
Record Label: Art Paul Schlosser
Rating: 7
Art Paul Schlosser is one of Madison’s most prolific musical street buskers. On this round of tunes, with the help of Frankie Pobar Lay, he focuses on songs about cars. Production values aren’t great and most songs were recorded live, but each CD cover is a one of a kind artwork by Art Paul himself. My song favorites are “Banksy Graffiti My Car”, “I Left My Phone In My Car” and “Let’s Make Taco Trucks Great Again.” For a tip and a smile he’s sure to play your favorite next time you see him.
(1774) Page Views
Art Paul Schlosser & Frankie Pobar Lay online:
• Website
Ayla Nereo - By the Light of the Dark Moon
Ayla Nereo
Album title: By the Light of the Dark Moon
Record Label: Jumpsuit Records
Rating: 9
The delicate interplay of vocal melodies and seductive rhythms is what makes this a standout release. Often collaborating and touring with Polish Ambassador, this sixth solo album for singer-songwriter Ayla Nereo finds her on her own, with her sound stronger and more developed than ever. The overlying concept of the album deals with shadow work and the healing reconciliation of self acceptance. As such, this dark moon-light brightens and grows with each listen! Experience her light at Electric Forrest or Shangri La music festival this fall!
(1815) Page Views
Ayla Nereo online:
• Website • Facebook
• Download By the Light of the Dark Moon from Amazon
Babymetal - Metal Galaxy
Babymetal
Album title: Metal Galaxy
Record Label: Cooking Vinyl
Rating: 9
Nothing short of a fascinating anomaly in the world of music, the chart topping (recently #1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart) Japanese group Babymetal mixes the vocals and choreographed movements of a trio of cutesy teeny bopper type girls with anthemic, super heavy, metal music. This release is a loose concept album about being dispatched to distant parts of the universe. After headlining performances at many prestigious festivals around the world, who knows which part of the universe they will explore next?
(996) Page Views
Babymetal online:
• Website • Facebook
• Purchase Metal Galaxy on Amazon
The Darkness - Easter Is Cancelled
The Darkness
Album title: Easter Is Cancelled
Record Label: Cooking Vinyl Limited
Rating: 8
Looking for a buff Savior just in time for Xmas? The obvious choice here would be the crotch-thrusting rock’n’roll group The Darkness! The sixth album from these British rockers still screams and strains with cheesy iconic hooks and riffin a plenty. Like a trip through the hairy 80s, the finger flying beginning gives way to the power ballads before apexing with anthemic fist pumpers. Good to go.
(637) Page Views
The The Darkness online:
• Website • Facebook • Wiki
• Download Easter Is Cancelled from Amazon
Elder - Gold & Silver Sessions
Elder
Album title: Gold & Silver Sessions
Record Label: Blues Funeral Records
Rating: 10
Immaculately constructed instrumental progressive psychedelic doom rock that utilizes these multiple influences to paint sonic pictures of unmatched beauty, complexity and prowess. Adding to their past couple highly acclaimed releases, this one sets the sail for even more amazing adventures in music.
(761) Page Views
Elder online:
• Website • Facebook
• Download Gold & Silver Sessions from Amazon
Ecstatic Music of Gaia - Angels
Ecstatic Music of Gaia
Album title: Angels
Record Label: Merkaba Music
Rating: 9
Cleverly released on 11/11, EMOG’s release capitalizes on the energetic opening this time and date created by taking the listener on an Angelic journey fruited by the electronic lands of psydub and psychill. Embark on these ethereal yet ecstatic soundscapes and plug into lessons from the 5 big Archangles; Gabriel, Jophiel, Auriel, Raphael and Michael. Who’s ready to ascend?
(717) Page Views
Ecstatic Music of Gaia online:
• Website • Facebook
FKA twigs - Magdalene
FKA twigs
Album title: Magdalene
Record Label: Young Turks Recordings
Rating: 9
Poignant, compelling, artistic and unique, English singer and songwriter FKA twigs’ second studio release emanates emotions and rhythms as bare and brilliant as a crystal clear star lit sky. These strikingly sad, forlorn and heartbroken compositions are peaked by the ethereal vocals and biting lyrical content. Meticulously subtle yet miraculously expressive. Look for her in the feature film “Honey Boy.”
(674) Page Views
FKA twigs online:
• Website • Facebook • Wiki
Freekbass - All the way this. All the way that.
Freekbass
Album title: All the way this. All the way that.
Record Label: Color Red
Rating: 9
With his backing group, The Bump Assembly, Freekbass’ seventh full length album harnesses the funk forward Cincinnati sound and merges it with universal influences from the 70s through tomorrow. This gyrational groove goodness not only shows off the innovative styling of Freekbass including his signature double thumb strumming technique and driving rhythms, but gives him plenty of room to show off wild costumes and vigorous live show. (9)
(638) Page Views
Freekbass online:
• Website • Facebook
• Download All the way this. All the way that. from Amazon
Gramatik - Re:Coil, Pt. II
Gramatik
Album title: Re:Coil, Pt. II
Record Label: Lowtemp Music
Rating: 9
Exactly two years after the release of the first part of this Re:Coil, electro-funk pioneer Gramatik delivers Pt II. As with the first, these tracks are all collaborations, except the final which is solo. Showing off many faceted styles and approaches to the electronic genre with such luminaries as DeFunk, Big Gigantic, and Beat Fatigue insure many memorable jams. See him do his thing live on 11/15 at the Majestic Theater in Madison, WI with Balkan Bump, Opiuo.
(888) Page Views
Gramatik online:
• Website • Facebook • Wiki
Griz - Ride Waves
Griz
Album title: Ride Waves
Record Label: Griz
Rating: 10
Some of the fattest, most exciting beats I have heard in a while! Griz’ 5th studio album is riding BIG! Bigger beats, bigger sounds, and bigger collaborators (Snoop Dog, Wiz Khalifa, Bootsy Collins). While the vibes are high, the grooves are deep and the beats are blasting, Griz covers a lot of other territory too, reflecting his immersion into societal influences, culture amid a pleasant variety of soundscapes and musical approaches. Maybe you will be lucky enough to see him on May 17 at Armory in Minneapolis, MN
(1852) Page Views
Griz online:
• Website • Facebook
• Download Ride Waves from Amazon
Heilung - Futha
Heilung
Album title: Futha
Record Label: Season of Mist
Rating: 10
Heilung (German for ‘healing’) is known for their striking live performances, complete with leather, and bone outfits, and primitive often homemade instruments. They call their genre Amplified History, which brings the far ancient Northern European past into the present. The atmospheric, sometimes dark, yet delicate, undeniably intense, and primitive style of neo folk that this Danish group plays is sung (and chanted) in multiple Scandinavian languages, which gives it a primal power and
conviction deeper than experienced elsewhere. Authentic and truly unique!
(816) Page Views
Heilung online:
• Website • Facebook • Wiki
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Infest The Rats’ Nest
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Album title: Infest The Rats’ Nest
Record Label: ATO Records
Rating: 8
Imagine you are in a quirky psych-pop band. Then someone turns you on to Slayer, Black Sabbath, Metallica and Motorhead. You decide to write an old school metal album. That’s what seems to have happened to KG&TLW (who are well known for genre hopping tendencies). This album is thrashing and heavy, with gruff metal vocals about environmental impact amid zany Slayer-ish solos. The Gizzard will never be the same. (8)
(743) Page Views
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard online:
• Website • Facebook • Wiki
• Download Infest The Rats’ Nest from Amazon
Kojo - Guide My Soul
Kojo
Album title: Guide My Soul
Record Label: Random Records
Rating: 9
Guide My Soul is the first full length psybass release from KOJO (aka Alexander Green). It is filled with a multitude of quirky samples, fat, plucky bass lines and upbeat rhythms. Time spent experimenting with styles and techniques over the past years pay off throughout the 14 tracks offered here by making this a grand adventure through many sonic landscapes distant dimensions.
(908) Page Views
Kojo online:
• Website • Facebook
• Download Guide My Soul
• Purchase Guide My Soul
Madly in Dub - Nag Kanya
Madly in Dub
Album title: Nag Kanya
Record Label: https://www.facebook.com/madlyindubmusic/
Rating: 9
(791) Page Views
Madly in Dub online:
• Website • Facebook
• Purchase Nag Kanya on Amazon
Maneesh de Moor - Icaro
Maneesh de Moor
Album title: Icaro
Record Label: Pachamama Records
Rating: 10
An Icaro (or sonic pattern) is a melody traditionally received by a shaman journeying in the spirit world. The Icaros contained here are contemporary interpretations of Icaros derived from Shipibo tradition, and altered to be played on special flutes, made of Tobacco branch and ancient wood. The recordings are nested amid original field recordings of the Amazon jungle by night and are highlighted by instruments like the ‘Chakapa’, an instrument made of leaves from the ancient Chakapa bush, which provides a very trance-like groove mated to the heart beating rhythms of a shaman’s drum. Superbly done!
(872) Page Views
Maneesh de Moor online:
• Website • Facebook
Michal Menert & the Pretty Fantastics - From The Sea
Michal Menert & the Pretty Fantastics
Album title: From The Sea
Record Label: Super Best Records
Rating: 9
Featuring a DJ, an MC, and a violinist in addition to Menert’s wide ranging electronic musical influences, this 7 piece band flavors their compositions with tasty measures of jazz, jam, R&B and hip hop. Additionally, Menert for the first time shares lead vocal duties with Jules Thoma to create a warm and dreamy element to this release. Surprisingly seductive and soulful selections overall.
(990) Page Views
Michal Menert & the Pretty Fantastics online:
• Website • Facebook • Wiki
• Download From The Sea from Amazon