29 December 2009

Some nice finds... but they really found me! 29 December 2009

First off, to all record label heads, etc... I know this podcaster likes it when you guys contact me, especially if you have music I might be interested in but am clueless that you even exist (or I may have a clue and you contact me anyway) or if I send an email and you respond.

Here's why I say this: How many different labels (record, net, creative commons, etc.) are there out there with large subsets of artists who fall beneath them?

Answer: countless.

And this can go for artists or even promotional sites. I've had great contact (both pre-podcast and post-podcast, initiated by me and by my co-conspirators (oooh, not sure if that's the right word I should use) with quite a few heads of labels: Fernando at PublicSpaces Lab, Per Capita records, David at Summer Rain Recordings, Electronic Eel, Bernard at Output Noise, Budabeats, Krieslauf, Dusted Wax Kingdom, Just Plain Ant etc. etc. etc.

To me it means a lot! It means my work is noticed and also gives me a way to touch base with others out there. It also means I'll probably work with you more in the future.

This leads me to my two picks for this post: Autorotation and Panda Transport.

Autorotation's Everything is Everything is a sweetly sung album with a tender mix of glitch, instrumentation and melody. If you can imagine this: take Frost's Aggie and her vocals, mix in some Boards of Canada with a dash of horns and guitars and you'll be treated to an LP based in fascination.

The fine folks of Autorotation contacted me by means of twitter. That message got me curious about their music; so I wandered over to their webpage and listened. I was hooked! They've been very kind (I use that phrase a lot, but it is sincere and not just some cliche I use about individuals I come in contact with) and you will get to hear some of their music on my next podcast coming out soon.

Their album(s) can be found at CDBaby, Amazon and Norman Records out of the UK.

Panda Transport's Monorail is described on their website as "[t]he songs are immediate, personal & poppy while retaining the curious experimentation & playfulness so often edited out in today's music." For some reason in my mind the group Flunk comes up... with some Kate Havnevik and maybe some Imogen Heap mixed in to describe their music. It ranges from sweet and tender to pop and floaty to kinda dark... no joke - it has a dark edge to it as well.

Here's how I came in contact: I was searching through my messages on IODAPromonet and there was a direct message from their label. I immediately searched through the rest of the new messages and found them all to be the basic promo stuff I receive most of the time (that does not mean I don't check out that selection of music...). This message from Panda Transport was personal and thoughtful and created a fan out of me before I heard their music. I became excited and checked out their tunes. This also prompted me to email someone, anyone from the group. The person I contacted was the lead vocalist from Charlottesville, VA named Kathy. I would have to place her in the kind and gracious group as well! She's a great conversationalist and has been a dream to work with (don't worry, I feel the same way about Autorotation).

And guess what... you'll get to hear some of their stuff over the next couple of months.

What's the moral of this story? A kind note can go a LOOOOOONG way! Even from this below the radar podcaster/blogger.

* Update 30 Dec 2009: made some grammatical corrections.
** Update 10 Jan 2009: I learned earlier this morning from the wonderful @pixieguts that Autorotation made it into Dandelion Radio's Top 50 of 2009 with their on "Ginger Pants". Good song, dang good album... really cool folks! Congratulations :)
*** Update ibid.: If you haven't checked out Panda Transports page, they have my brief review of their latest listed... they're gonna make me blush!

10 December 2009

The Chilldown Period - Episode Ten

Wowzers! It's that time of the month for what we like to call around here "The Chilldown Period"! I've taken myself out of the equation more and have let the music do the talking. We have some old faces here, some new names from familiar destinations, and new friends adding to the fun.

So, here goes nothing!





In A Dream (Japan bonus track edition)Gretchen Parlato
"In A Dream" (mp3)
from "In A Dream (Japan bonus track edition)"
(ObliqSound)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album




SpaceNickels
"Weightless" (mp3)
from "Space"
(Soundmind / End Of Earth Records)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album



Love ExtravagantlyRachel Pearl
"Baby Blue" (mp3)
from "Love Extravagantly"
(Per Capita Records)
More On This Album


No More Music Komite - Elles - Folk Hero EP - Miga - CC




Future VintageWayward Saints
"Ghost Town" (mp3)
from "Future Vintage"
(Concrete Grooves)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album


West CoastJunk Culture
"West Coast" (mp3)
from "West Coast"
(Illegal Art)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album


Dark EarthFilm Noir World
"Lunatics Desire" (mp3)
from "Dark Earth"
(Per Capita Records)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album

Dr. Illingsworth - Sips N Mugs (#Conan) - Twitterverse Traveler - Detroit CYDI



City Rain - These Days (Outputmessage RMX) - These Days EP - Output Noise



Christmas Remixed - Holiday Classics Re-GroovedDean Martin
"Jingle Bells (Dan The Automator Remix)" (mp3)
from "Christmas Remixed - Holiday Classics Re-Grooved"
(Christmas Chill)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album

Cover for Episode Ten of the Chilldown Period!


Here's the cover for my next podcast!

Why trains? 'Cause I like em... no other reason. The train featured is a GP-38 which runs for our local Class 3 railroad which runs through town. (I did add some motion to the picture as well)

The next podcast will feature less of me, and more of the music. That is to place more of the focus on the music, because that's what makes the podcast the podcast. Later on today you'll get to hear it!

Stay tuned and ENJOY!

02 December 2009

Creative Commons Choosings - 2 December 2009

The hyperactive one is back!

You know what, it's time for me to put my blog where my mouth is! If I like these artists so much, then I should write a post and share with all of you their sound and their style. One thing they all share in common: they're Creative Commons Artists.

I'll also give a shout out to their labels while in the process!

I'm starting off with an artist I featured on Episode Nine of the Chilldown Period. She's one half of the electropop duo Bisexual Cyborg. Emily in Love brings to us wonderful folktronica with an indie pop twist, and she's also a connoisseur of Dr. Pepper (those two have got to be connected somehow!). Her album, "Let's Pretend We're in Love", is full of fulfilling lyrics and tender beats. My favorite track from the album is "Half a Chance"* with its catchy guitar sample and Emily's distinct vocals hooking you into her style. (Corpid Netlabel)

My next pick has got to be DJ Racy AJ's "Rust Tree LP". Cinematic angst (as IndieFeed would say) mixed with happening hooks and determined melodies. This album is a HEAD NODDER from the "Priming" all the way to "No Where." DJ Racy AJ comes to you on the Dusted Wax Kingdom netlabel. This is one of the albums which helps me get through my day cleaning buildings. The review from the Dusted Wax website says:

Right from the forgotten underground outskirts of Kiev comes the debut album from Dj Racy A.J. Trippy-phat big beats run like dark shadows across dusty walls of melancholic ambient sounds, to create another original soundtrack for the real hard life. If you love Cujo's "Adventures In Foam" you'll definitely dig this album as the sun, the moon and the stars!

Sticking with the Dusted Wax Kingdom label, we'll pay a visit to Nienvox and the release "Sphere [EP]". This is a tender (not the best word to use, but the only one which comes to mind) mix of mellow beats and pristine oscillations going from jazz to orchestrations to eastern melodies. If you play your cards right you'll get to hear one of Nienvox's songs on my next podcast... but you have to be good, okay? If you want to have a special evening with a certain someone; pull this gem up in your iTunes library and let the night unfold.

Finally, I'm going to take you back to the Just Plain Sounds label and to one of my favorite twitterers I follow (yes, there are a few, but this one has some great 140s). Sleaze's blog you'll find linked on my side bar, and you'll find yourself hooked to both his lyrics and his beats. Straightforward and passionate, Sleaze draws you in and plays to the artistic and logical parts of your brain! Here we'll pay more attention to his beat tape "A Rose, By Another Name." As I said before about DJ Racy AJ, I'll say about Sleaze's release - it's a pure HEAD NODDER! Sleaze says about this album:

This beat tape was a mental process I had with myself. It is a project of growth, determination and renewed spirits. A rose is formed, it grows, bears seeds, and dies, only to be reborn to repeat the cycle. But in this “death”, it is multiplied many times over. It becomes a bush, full of life and luster. So my musical “death” and “rebirth” is captured in this project.
I hope you enjoy these picks! If you have anymore which you think I should include for a future posting, hit me up at ublfsounds@gmail.com.

*Update/Correction 6 December 2009: Emily let me know that the vocalist on '"Half a Chance" is Pia, one of a couple singers I've worked with on the project.' (from her post in the comments section)