Looking for new music? DJs at WVAU share their thoughts on a range of recent releases.
Bonobo | The North Borders
Your new rainy day groove.
On Simon Green's, aka Bonobo, fifth release, the British producer shows his growth and skill as an electronic artist.
Compared to 2010's "Black Sands," the songs on this album are sparkling and more emotive. Stand out parts of "The North Borders" are the collaborations, with artists like Erykah Badu and Grey Reverend popping up.
Green's production shines here, with his spacy soundscapes sitting nicely under the vocals on the track. Whereas the rest of the songs are minimal and sweet, these catch your attention while maintaining the hypnotic quality that can usually be associated with Green's work.
Overall, this album evokes a sprawling world of mist and space, with the use of chimes and glitchy synth keeping it from crossing the thin line into monotonous. This trap is one that many artists and producers fall into, but Green soars above it.
Recommended If You Like: The Cinematic Orchestra, Coldcut, Jaga Jazzist
By Leigh Hopkins, Ambient Bloom, Wednesdays, midnight-2 a.m.
White Fence | Cyclops Reap
'60s psychedelia with some modern touches.
White Fence released a collaboration with Ty Segall last year that was the perfect combination of '60s influence and garage rock.
This White Fence album is straight '60s psychedelia with modern multitrack recording techniques.
This allows White Fence to add whatever he wants, whenever he wants in the song, and he does this a lot. "Pink Gorilla" features buzzy guitar snippets that come in randomly, and it's like a tornado of different layers that all come together.
"Live On Genevieve" begins with a trippy reverse effect; then goes into a catchy pop song with a trio of slide, electric and acoustic guitars.
"White Cat" abruptly transitions from a nice '60s acoustic guitar, to an electric guitar and organ with a pounding electric beat, then reverts to that first style through what sounds like a record slowing down.
"Only Man Alive" is a fairly normal track
