Eclectic Vibes

by Andrew Frey

Reviews From: Year 2013
Legendary Pink Dots - The Gethsemane Option

Legendary Pink Dots - The Gethsemane Option

Legendary Pink Dots
The Gethsemane Option
Label: Metropolis

Dark numbing droning rhythms intersect warbling dissonances and copulate with the soured Jesus thematics of the release. After 32 studio albums in 33 years the LPDs still retain the reins on unsettling minimalism that draws listeners in via some creepy beauty and psychological titillations.

The Legendary Pink Dots WebsiteThe Legendary Pink Dots FacebookThe Legendary Pink Dots Wiki

Snoop Lion - Reincarnated

Snoop Lion - Reincarnated

Snoop Lion
Reincarnated
Label: RCA/Red

“The only way to get love is to give love,” states Snoop Lion (the reggae version of rap icon Snoop Dogg) at the beginning of Reincarnated, his chart-topping first musical venture into reggae. Embracing a change of perspective in addition to lifestyle, he traveled to Jamaica to immerse himself in the Rasta of it all. In conjunction with the album, Snoop released an acclaimed feature-length documentary of his journey and career, explaining his change of perspective as well as how the songs on this release came into being. Maybe not be best reggae or dancehall album ever, but this release contains some big name guest appearances and a couple unbelievably catchy songs that will be retained in your brain for many days to come. But with 1.7 billion views on YouTube alone, this may be nothing new to you.

Snoop Lion WebsiteSnoop Lion FacebookSnoop Lion Wiki

Shpongle - Museum of Consciousness

Shpongle - Museum of Consciousness

Shpongle
Museum of Consciousness
Label: Twisted Records Ltd

Consciousness is what our lives are all about and this heartily psychedelic and pro DMT group certainly has allowed a grand consciousness perception to evolve in their music and performances. Tribal dance grooves are flooded with mystical ambiance and quirky electronic infiltrations are met with space warbles of mind jarring ascent. Invitations are sent out to pierce the veil of reality and get a glimpse of what else is out there (and in there). Are you experienced?

Shpongle WebsiteShpongle FacebookShpongle Wiki

Boban and Marko Markovic Orchestra - Gipsy Manifesto

Boban and Marko Markovic Orchestra - Gipsy Manifesto

Boban and Marko Markovic Orchestra
Gipsy Manifesto
Label: piranha

The Balkan brass band movement has been one of the most enjoyable and rewarding musical uprisings of the past several years and the Markovic’s have been unabashedly at the forefront of things. This legendary father and son virtuoso trumpet duo hail from Southern Serbia, but thanks to the saturation of multicultural elements into their music, they have been penning numerous genre-defining and explosive Balkan Gypsy Brass dance hits over the years while seeing their popularity skyrocket thanks to DJs around the world remixing all things Balkan into their electronica. Balkan beats get the dance floor percolating and there is a lot of fantastic percolation happening on Gipsy Manifesto!

Boban and Marko Markovic Orchestra WebsiteBoban and Marko Markovic Orchestra FacebookBoban and Marko Markovic Orchestra Wiki

Bombay Dub Orchestra - Tales From The Grand Bazaar

Bombay Dub Orchestra - Tales From The Grand Bazaar

Bombay Dub Orchestra
Tales From The Grand Bazaar
Label: Six Degrees

Inspired by stories that traders and denizens of the cafes and stalls of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul have been telling since it was established in 1461, this release matches beautiful and entrancing multi-ethnic rhythms with cool dub and electronica in a dynamic soundtrack environment. Recorded in Jamaica, Turkey, India, US and UK, the myriad of global inflections and nuances will have you conjuring your own stories of grand adventuring. 

Bombay Dub Orchestra WebsiteBombay Dub Orchestra FacebookBombay Dub Orchestra Wiki

Various Artists - Mycelium Music Compilation Vol 2

Various Artists - Mycelium Music Compilation Vol 2

Various Artists
Mycelium Music Compilation Vol 2
Label: Mycelium Music

Making music for a cause is always admirable, and the cause here is of utmost global importance. This collection of 13 downtempo, dub, idm, glitch and psychedelic electronic producers from around the world have been inspired by the mycelial networks of the Pacific Northwest. In turn 100% of proceeds from this compilation go to the Amazon Mycorenewal Project which educates people about how fungi can (among many other amazing things) clean up industrial pollution caused by petroleum extraction.  amazonmycorenewal.org

Various Artists WebsiteVarious Artists Facebook

Banco De Gaia - Ollopa: Apollo Remixed

Banco De Gaia - Ollopa: Apollo Remixed

Banco De Gaia
Ollopa: Apollo Remixed
Label: 1-2-3-4 GO

While remix albums are diverse and plentiful, the real trick is to get the zestiest musicians to work with the most intriguingly remixable material. Banco De Gaia has been around for 20+ years, releasing excellent ambient world beat electronica, but the Apollo album was his first album in 7 years, so might as well do it up! Remixers here include Desert Dwellers, Kaya Project, System 7, Eat Static, and Gaudi, which is why this is a special treat.

Banco De Gaia WebsiteBanco De Gaia FacebookBanco De Gaia Wiki

Futexture - Genetically Modified Oscillations

Futexture - Genetically Modified Oscillations

Futexture
Genetically Modified Oscillations
Label: Gravitas Recordings

Heavily glitched electronica with an obtuse but foreseeable future concept angle. “The year is 2146. Due to genetic modifications made to commercial crops and animals at the turn of the millennium, there is widespread sexual compatibility between nearly all forms of life on planet Earth. New hybrid species are being discovered every day…” So if you are willing to go on an adventure and meet the Aardvartichoke, Caulilflowl, Asparagoose, or the increasingly rare Cucumbear, this is your chance!

Futexture Facebook

Turiya Nada - Arakara: Ecstasy of the Awake - Ancient Siddhar Yoga Resonance

Turiya Nada - Arakara: Ecstasy of the Awake - Ancient Siddhar Yoga Resonance

Turiya Nada
Arakara: Ecstasy of the Awake - Ancient Siddhar Yoga Resonance
Label: White Swan

While most musicians don’t aspire to actually live the life of a yogi. Turiya Nada (aka Tapasyogi Nandhi) is the exception to that rule. And part of living that lifestyle for him involves sharing ancient consciousness-raising Siddhar chants and mantras with the world. On this release, 21st century electronic soundscapes float behind and around these powerful chants to evoke and enrich the vital message and power of Oneness in an effort to awaken your inner guru.

Turiya Nada WebsiteTuriya Nada Facebook

Aligning Minds - My Heart is Remixed

Aligning Minds - My Heart is Remixed

Aligning Minds
My Heart is Remixed
Label: Gravitas Recordings

What do you do when you have one of the most downloaded infectious etheric glitchy breakbeat releases of 2013 for your record label? A remix album of course! This opportunity to show off the talents of others offers remix contest winners as well as the revisioned compositions from like-minded producers all for a Name Your Price download. Most of the proceeds will be donated to the green non-profit, Critical Beats, to further the link between electronic music and important causes. 

Aligning Minds WebsiteAligning Minds Facebook

EarthCry - Hear the Earth, Heal Yourself ? Heal the Earth, Hear Yourself

EarthCry - Hear the Earth, Heal Yourself ? Heal the Earth, Hear Yourself

EarthCry
Hear the Earth, Heal Yourself ? Heal the Earth, Hear Yourself
Label: EarthCry

In an effort to expose younger people to the ancient solfeggio scale (particular frequencies known to aid the human condition) Asheville-based producer Anthony Thogmartin (who is also a motivating force in Papadosio) has taken these mysterious tones and meticulously paired them with electronic tempos and rhythms to create 6 corresponding tracks. Beautiful and blissful but with a beat.

EarthCry WebsiteEarthCry Facebook

EarthRise Sound System - Rock Beats Paper

EarthRise Sound System - Rock Beats Paper

EarthRise Sound System
Rock Beats Paper
Label: Yoga Organix Records

When the prolific duo DJ/writer/yogi Derek Beres and producer/percussionist Duke Mushroom had their debut reach #5 on the iTunes World charts, they chose to up the ante of their follow-up by melding an impressive myriad of guest vocalists and musicians into their lineup. This, in turn, integrated influences ranging from India, Pakistan, Jamaica, Brazil, Peru, and beyond. Thematically, this album recalls the classic kids’ game and brings to light the consequences of choosing money (paper) over the planet (rock).

EarthRise Sound System Website

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