Culture

Percussions - Ascii Bot



Percussions is another alias of Kieran Hebden, also the mastermind behind electronic project Four Tet. With Percussions, Hebden seems to approach electronic music from more of a minimalist standpoint. “Ascii Bot” spans eight and half minutes, but is constructed masterfully around an almost Nintendo-like synth pattern. Rhythmically the song transitions from busy hi-hat patterns to basic kick drum and back. A beautiful voice sample also comes in and out, working well to accentuate swells within the song.

Swans - Oxygen



Why not have two eight-minute tracks in a row! “Oxygen” is another single from the highly anticipated Swans album To Be Kind. It is everything you expect, really. It’s kind of visceral and nasty. The vocals are reminiscent of Nick Cave in Birthday Party mode. The song is built around a descending guitar riff, spelling doom and gloom. The track transitions into sort of a chant-mantra-esque bridge part. Then it gets even more Birthday Party with the introduction of a gnarly horn section. Chaos.

Lana Del Rey - West Coast



Queen of faux-hipster hype Lana Del Rey returns. Not venturing too far from her previous output, “West Coast” is moody, crimson and sultry. I read somewhere that it was described as “Edge Of Seventeen” on heavy sedatives. That’s really a perfect description, so thank you, Internet! Do you like “Edge Of Seventeen?” Of course you do. Everyone does. Stevie Nicks, man.

Total Control - Flesh War



Hailing from Melbourne, “Flesh War” is Total Control’s first single from upcoming album Typical System. Apparently this band used to be quite hardcore? Or punk? Or whatever label people use to generalise loud, shouty, angry music. But this sounds kind of like Joy Division. Controlled, relatively straight drum beat. A cool synth bit comes in, driving bass. Monotone, dead-pan vocals. Do you like Joy Division? Because Total Control definitely do. Maybe you’ll like each other?

tUnE-yArDs - Wait for a minute



“Wait For A Minute” is another single from Merrill Garbus’s tUnE-yArDs. Compared to previous single “Water Fountain,” “Wait For A Minute” is more soulful, slower, less playful. I kind of like it a little more. It doesn’t sound like a hyper active child unleashing itself on a room full of African instruments. Which actually I do like, but it’s nice that there’s some variation. This track has a great rhythm and groove. Yeah, it’s good.