Eclectic Vibes
by Andrew Frey
Yellow Claw - New Blood
Yellow ClawNew 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 FacebookOpiuo - Opiuo X Syzygy Orchestra Live at Red Rocks
OpiuoOpiuo 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 Website • Opiuo FacebookPapadosio - Content Coma
PapadosioContent 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 Website • Papadosio FacebookBeefus - Busted Teeth Fandango
BeefusBusted 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 Website • Beefus FacebookTwenty One Pilots - Trench
Twenty One PilotsTrench
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 Website • Twenty One Pilots Facebook • Twenty One Pilots WikiTurkuaz - Life In The City
TurkuazLife 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 Website • Turkuaz FacebookDirtwire - Road Goes All Night
DirtwireRoad Goes All Night
Label: Beats Antique Records
Sometimes instruments plays a big roll in what a recording sounds like and there are few releases that have more a unique sound than this. I saw them last fall at Shangri La Festival and they were quite enthralling thanks in part to Mark Reveley’s Whamola bass and Greek tanbur as well as Even Fraser’s Kamole ngoli and bass ngoli plus David Satori’s bowed banjo and guitarjo. Throw in a harmonica, and smear on some southwestern grit and the folktronica that this trio of talented multi-instrumentalists produce will excite and captivate!
• Dirtwire Website • Dirtwire FacebookSoDown - Jet Black
SoDownJet Black
Label: GetDown Records
This EP is smokin hot! Establishing a menacing synth ambiance before introducing slick slices of glitch amid strong casts of electro bass and funky beat breakdowns makes for an entrancing listening experience. Chest pumping, hip hopping electronica doesn’t get much better than this.
• SoDown Website • SoDown FacebookAndy Frasco & The UN - Change of Pace
Andy Frasco & The UNChange of Pace
Label: Fun Machine Records
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.
• Andy Frasco & The UN Website • Andy Frasco & The UN FacebookSunsquabi - Instinct
SunsquabiInstinct
Label: Sunsquabi
This Colorado based hydro funk trio really takes flight on their newest release. Each track instinctively takes on the name of a different animal or insect, led by a three-track series of singles “Caterpillar,” “Chrysalis,” and “Night Moth.” Technical wizardry shines on each track, propelled by signature wailing guitars, slithering synths and slap happy improvisational jams. Another blissful display of stunning sonic glory! Become part of their metamorphosis when you go see them (with Defunk) on 4/11 at Miramar Theater in Milwaukee, WI and 4/13 at the Majestic Theater in Madison, WI.
• Sunsquabi Website • Sunsquabi FacebookWolf Tech - Weird World
Wolf TechWeird World
Label: Shanti Planti
UK producer Wolf Tech (aka Tom Chant) embarks on a sonic adventure of great depth and magnitude. The psybass rhythms pulse and propel listeners to psychedelic worlds with cinematic vision, while melodic yet dynamic and driving dubstep delivers hi-tech trajectories into distant lands filled with spaced out ambiance and modern musical eruptions. Immerse yourself!
• Wolf Tech Website • Wolf Tech FacebookFreekbass - All the way this. All the way that.
FreekbassAll the way this. All the way that.
Label: Color Red
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)
• Freekbass Website • Freekbass FacebookView More
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