Eclectic Vibes

by Andrew Frey

Reviews From: Year 2018
Red Baraat - Sound The People

Red Baraat - Sound The People

Red Baraat
Sound The People
Label: Rhyme & Reason Records

Bhangra beat music has many avenues to choose from and the crazy twists and turns that this now 6-piece outfit infuses it with is undeniably spectacular. Their brassy global perspective and experimentation continues to push the musical boundaries of psychedelic, jazz, hip-hop as well as what can be accomplished on individual instruments. (9) Appearing with Tribu Aharu and Charanga Agoza’ on 8/16 at Central Park in Madison, WI.

Red Baraat WebsiteRed Baraat Facebook

Yellow Claw - New Blood

Yellow Claw - New Blood

Yellow Claw
New Blood
Label: Barong Family

Thanks to their famed bass-heavy productions and riotous performances, this Dutch producer/DJ duo known as Yellow Claw (Jim Taihuttu and Nils Rondhuis) have moved to headlining festivals around the world this year. Released on their own Barong Family label, this 14 track release offers a full musical palette ranging from hip hop blasters to frenzied anthemic ragers to moody downtempo offerings, all with special guests. Although bouncing all around the world, you can catch em live on 9/2 at North Coast Music Festival in Chicago, IL

Yellow Claw Facebook

David Starfire - Primal

David Starfire - Primal

David Starfire
Primal
Label: Amrita Recordings

Los Angeles based producer David Starfire certainly has a talent for creating enthralling world beat based electronica! This EP which features guests SOOHAN, and Patrick D, plus a collab with Justin Terranova, stylishly transports you across a wide musical terrain with invigorating beats and anthemic refrains. More please.

David Starfire Website

Underworld & Iggy Pop - Teatime Dub Encounters

Underworld & Iggy Pop - Teatime Dub Encounters

Underworld & Iggy Pop
Teatime Dub Encounters
Label: Caroline International

An unlikely coupling that pops before sputtering. As Iggy spouts surreal soliloquies and reflective prose, Underworlds creates a polished cache of catchy electronica. The concept is novel yet cantankerous, and not historical, just current spontaneous creativity from this pairing, flowing as it will into unlikely places.

Underworld & Iggy Pop Website

Opiuo - Opiuo X Syzygy Orchestra Live at Red Rocks

Opiuo - Opiuo X Syzygy Orchestra Live at Red Rocks

Opiuo
Opiuo X Syzygy Orchestra Live at Red Rocks
Label: Slurp Music

I am not aware of any other electronic musicians that have added a live orchestra to their future funk compositions, but that is exactly what the New Zealand DJ known as Opiuo did at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheater on 4/21/18, and results were/are amazing! Re-Interpreting and then respinning his songs so they blossomed into 7 wonderful movements that conjoined with the 20 piece Syzygy Orchestra is unique, invigorating and inspiring to hear and behold! Lucky for you he is performing a solo DJ set at the Majestic Theater in Madison, WI 10/18 with Sodown

Opiuo WebsiteOpiuo Facebook

Papadosio - Content Coma

Papadosio - Content Coma

Papadosio
Content Coma
Label: Self Released

This Asheville, NC band offered forth 30 ideas were coalesced utilizing an online collaborative platform (Spice) into what would become the diverse 12 track content of this musical commentary about our dependence on technology.  Recording in a professional recording studio created high quality production while spotlighting the talents of each individual musician, whether they spin tales of mellow psychedelia, indie psych rock, ambient instrumental jams or poignant pokes and jibes. Catch Papadosio at the Majestic Theatre on 11/3 with Evanoff

Papadosio WebsitePapadosio Facebook

Beanpole - All My Kin

Beanpole - All My Kin

Beanpole
All My Kin
Label: Chimera Music

As the story goes, this release was penned many years ago by an artist known as Beanpole, but it wasn’t until Sean Lennon heard these erstwhile commercially non-viable concoctions that the songs got green lighted for release. This is a sad carnival of extremely warped, bizarre and outlandish melodies, which include lyrics about food, farming, and mutants. All My Kin, features recordings from between 1984 through the late Nineties (and in reality features Les Claypool and Larry LaLonde, but were birthed by Derek Greenberg and Adam Gates).

Beanpole WebsiteBeanpole Facebook

Beefus - Busted Teeth Fandango

Beefus - Busted Teeth Fandango

Beefus
Busted Teeth Fandango
Label: Wavelength Productions

Beefus is a musical collective from Madison, known for their quirks, strangeness and unique perspective. This time around there is more steel, grass and twang (and perhaps inbreeding?) than before, but the lyrical content is still twisted, kitschy and head scratching enough to make even Captain Beefheart proud. Remember, the moon always shines when it’s moonshine!

Beefus WebsiteBeefus Facebook

Twenty One Pilots - Trench

Twenty One Pilots - Trench

Twenty One Pilots
Trench
Label: Fueled By Ramen

Bands with 2 billion+ hit videos are hard to ignore. That being said, this groups bizarre yet amazingly attractive conflagration of alt rock, hip hop, metal, and singer songwriter swings are often as confounding as they are comforting. But it works! Trench definitely captures their signature sound and approach, but simply isn’t quite as high strung as prior releases. It is still lyrically provoking though and offers a bunch of great songs and potential mega hits.

Twenty One Pilots WebsiteTwenty One Pilots FacebookTwenty One Pilots Wiki

Turkuaz - Life In The City

Turkuaz - Life In The City

Turkuaz
Life In The City
Label: Electric Habitat Music

Expressive and fun, this nonet from Brooklyn will blow your socks off with their energy poppin’ horns, strong jams and catchy rhythms. Dripping with splashes of funk, rock, alternative and R&B this group brings momentous energy and presence to Life In The City as well as their live shows wherever they may be found. Find em nearby on 11/15 at High Noon Saloon in Madison, WI

Turkuaz WebsiteTurkuaz Facebook

Greatest Showman: Reimagined - Various Artists

Greatest Showman: Reimagined - Various Artists

Greatest Showman: Reimagined
Various Artists
Label: Atlantic Records

The Greatest Showman was a landmark musical film and the songs it contains are iconic. Ripples of it’s popularity have been shaking the musical universe since it was released. Now you have the chance to hear 13 tracks reimagined by some of today’s top pop artists including Kesha, Kelly Clarkson, Panic! at the Disco, Pentatonix, P!nk, and Willow Sage Hart (P!nk’s daughter). Sure it is a commercial Christmas pinata, but the original songs are strong enough to offer a fair amount of candy and glee in this new light. (8) press.atlanticrecords.com/the-greatest-showman/


Imagine Dragons - Origins

Imagine Dragons - Origins

Imagine Dragons
Origins
Label: Interscope

What an album! These double platinum producing, Grammy winning pop icons deliver another masterpiece with several smash hits as well as several other songs (rounding out this 12 track release) that show off the evolution of their artistic diversity and depth, but not in the same predictable ways as their past releases. If you haven’t heard Natural, Bad Liar or Zero off this album, you will soon, as they are all destined to be classics!

Imagine Dragons WebsiteImagine Dragons Facebook

View More

Viewing Page 2 - of 3

 < 1 2 3 >