Saturday, June 8, 2013

Jon Hopkins - Immunity



On paper, Immunity is the album I've been waiting for all year. It's dark, brooding, mechanical, driving electronic music from a relatively unknown artist. Last year, I had Andy Stott's Luxury Problems, which ended up as my fourth favorite album of 2012.

In actuality, it's hard to call Immunity "the album I've been waiting for", but it is pretty damn close. I would not be surprised if it ended up in my top ten at the end of the year, as it is the kind of album that definitely has potential to grow on me hard.
 
There are at least two songs on here that are simply amazing, however. The first is "Open Eye Signal", which sounds as if Andy Stott and Demdike Stare got together with will.i.am to teach him how to not suck. It really reminds me of that  song by will.i.am and Britney (bitch) that goes "bring the action".. Wub wub wub. Don't get the wrong idea though. Action is brought in "Open Eye Signal", albeit very different from will.i.am's take. It's nearly 8 minutes of driving bass, sputtering percussion, and slippery synths, with a mid song change-up that totally rocks.

The last song, "Immunity" is one of those last songs on an album where you are left with only one thing worthy of listening to next, which is track one. It is a gorgeous song reminiscent of Sigur Ros and a perfect end to the album.

If you like your electronic music less dancey and more "warehouse party where people glare at each other seductively", then this is the album for you!

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Chance the Rapper - Acid Rap


I don't really have time to write much about this album, but it's great! And it's free, available on Chane's website, http://chanceraps.com/!

Chance's style is kinda weird at first. Kind of feels more like slam poetry on top of woozy beats at times. But he is a very positive rapper, and really fun too. Also, his album art is easily my favorite of the year so far.

My favorite line, and this comes towards the end of the album, so you know by then Chance is not the violent type: "But if you touch my brother / All that anti-violence shit goes out the window along with you / And the rest of your team"

Check it out.