Posts Tagged: Subtext
ACL 2020 ~ Top Ten Electronic
One of 2020’s greatest ironies was a surge in dance music ~ while clubs were being shuttered across the globe. The surge reflected the desire to dance, and people didn’t stop dancing, happily demonstrated by Berlin’s drive-in raves. Others danced
ACL 2020 ~ Top Ten Electronic
One of 2020’s greatest ironies was a surge in dance music ~ while clubs were being shuttered across the globe. The surge reflected the desire to dance, and people didn’t stop dancing, happily demonstrated by Berlin’s drive-in raves. Others danced
ACL 2020 ~ Top Ten Drone
Fewer drone releases came in this year than ever before. The world was so dark, it seemed that even recording artists weren’t in the mood to record dark music. But by the end of the year, we began to notice
ACL 2020 ~ Top Ten Drone
Fewer drone releases came in this year than ever before. The world was so dark, it seemed that even recording artists weren’t in the mood to record dark music. But by the end of the year, we began to notice
Roly Porter ~ Kistvaen
Bury me facing the sun. As the pandemic bodies continue to pile up, awaiting burial, Kistvaen is a reminder of ancient practices. The title refers to the Neolithic/Bronze Age granite tombs of Dartmoor, surrounded by small stones and covered with mounds
Roly Porter ~ Kistvaen
Bury me facing the sun. As the pandemic bodies continue to pile up, awaiting burial, Kistvaen is a reminder of ancient practices. The title refers to the Neolithic/Bronze Age granite tombs of Dartmoor, surrounded by small stones and covered with mounds
Aho Ssan ~ Simulacrum
As one might guess from the artist’s untranslatable moniker, Simulacrum is a highly unusual album. Aho Ssan (Désiré Niamké) grew up black in a French suburb, and his music is a commentary on discrimination and displacement. It’s not a friendly set; the textures
Aho Ssan ~ Simulacrum
As one might guess from the artist’s untranslatable moniker, Simulacrum is a highly unusual album. Aho Ssan (Désiré Niamké) grew up black in a French suburb, and his music is a commentary on discrimination and displacement. It’s not a friendly set; the textures
A Closer Listen’s Best Drone Albums of the Decade
Drone can be as soft and comforting as a refrigerator hum, or as loud and abrasive as a jackhammer. The full range is represented here, from hum to noise, sine wave to distortion. Some call drone the sibling of ambience,
A Closer Listen’s Best Drone Albums of the Decade
Drone can be as soft and comforting as a refrigerator hum, or as loud and abrasive as a jackhammer. The full range is represented here, from hum to noise, sine wave to distortion. Some call drone the sibling of ambience,
ACL 2019 ~ The Top 20 Albums of the Year
Our reviewers have an ear for the unique, as evidenced by this list. Every writer voted for a different #1. But when the votes were counted, one album stood above them all, winning a broad base of support that unified
ACL 2019 ~ The Top 20 Albums of the Year
Our reviewers have an ear for the unique, as evidenced by this list. Every writer voted for a different #1. But when the votes were counted, one album stood above them all, winning a broad base of support that unified
ACL 2019 ~ Top Ten Electronic
There’s some wild stuff going on in our Electronic section this year. This year’s list includes a nocturnal symphony, an environmental plea, an ode to changing seasons, a mangled club set and a nearly unclassifiable band. Many of these selections
ACL 2019 ~ Top Ten Electronic
There’s some wild stuff going on in our Electronic section this year. This year’s list includes a nocturnal symphony, an environmental plea, an ode to changing seasons, a mangled club set and a nearly unclassifiable band. Many of these selections
PYUR ~ Oratorio for the Underworld
With Oratorio for the Underworld, Sophie Schell (PYUR) surpasses the high expectations created by 2016’s Epoch Sinus. Even more, she surpasses all expectations for an album, period. Listening again to her debut LP, one can hear the roots of what would eventually become trees,
PYUR ~ Oratorio for the Underworld
With Oratorio for the Underworld, Sophie Schell (PYUR) surpasses the high expectations created by 2016’s Epoch Sinus. Even more, she surpasses all expectations for an album, period. Listening again to her debut LP, one can hear the roots of what would eventually become trees,
a closer listen 