Epitonic Newsletter: Vol. 4, No. 29 'Tacos, Northwest Indie Rock, August Electronic'
08/07/02
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If you haven't checked out Epitonic's Fishwrap section lately, we
encourage you to do so. There you'll find a cinematic dissertation
on the history of tacos in North America, courtesy of the multi-
talented Jose Marquez of the San Francisco duo Pepito. You'll also
find a lively interview with Dave Matthies of the up-and-coming
Pacific Northwest indie label Knw-Yr-Own, which you can think of
as a preview of coming attractions (a bevy of Knw-Yr-Own artists
are scheduled to hit Epitonic in the coming weeks). Finally you
can check out reviews of new albums by Hey Mercedes and Spoon.
Watch the Fishwrap section over the coming weeks for an interview
with Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth and some summer literature.
Meanwhile, if you're sweating out the dog days of summer, we'd like
to cool you down with some August electronic music, some of it new, some of it less new. Enjoy this fine
selection of intelligent techno, cool downtempo, breathy jazz-house,
mesmeric post-rock, and robo-pop. Ahh. It's like an audio air
conditioner.
"Wishing Well"
by
The Black Dog
The Black Dog pioneered so-called "intelligent techno" in the late '80s and early '90s with the likes of B12, Stasis, and Autechre. Now signed to Hydrogen Dukebox (formerly with Warp), our canine friend's mindful electronic music is peppered with anti-global politics.
"After the Fight"
by
Glider
Searching, bucolic ambient instrumental music focused on drums and guitars, from a transcontinental duo who spent a lot of money on postage.
"73 Hours"
by
Park Avenue Music
Downtempo, glitchy electronic beats mixed with a gorgeous and ethereal voice. Sacramento's Park Avenue Music is chilled and stirred, never shaken.
"Wrong Type Of Day"
by
Atjazz
Martin Iveson's unique and highly palatable high-end house blends broken beats with subtle synths to perfection. Look out for his tracks on Sense, Compost, and his own Mantis Recordings.
"Concorde"
by
Gavin Froome
Canada's answer to Ralph Lawson comes on strong with some sensational deep tech-house via the Nordic Trax imprint. Gavin Froome is Vancouver's leading techno house architect and his sound has won over the likes of David Alvarado, Claudio Coccoluto, and Andy Weatherall.
"Gai Soleil"
by
Alphawezen
Aachen, Germany's Ernst Wawra makes music under a variety of guises, including Aeric for Ladomat, The Trigger Project, and Alphawezen for Mole Listening Pearls. His music is complex, intelligent, and extremely moving.
"Inside"
by
Shantel
The worldly Shantel brings an acute knowledge of acoustic and electronic production techniques to the fore with his mellow, refined downtempo. Kruder & Dorfmeister, Rockers Hi-Fi, and Groove Armada lovers take note.
"Recursion"
by
Jega
Jega's Dylan Nathan creates complex yet melancholic electronic landscapes that take the listener on intense musical journeys. Now you can expand your mind without the use of psychotropic drugs.
"Hip Hop Barrio"
by
Up, Bustle And Out
With releases dating back to '91, Up, Bustle and Out are true pioneers of abstract hip hop and Latin-flavored groove. With the flexibility of Ninja Tune, they have been able to experiment even further into the realms of smoky backroom downtempo.
"Sombre Hombre"
by
Tim 'Love' Lee
What do you get if you combine Ron Jeremy, two-dozen oysters, and as much electronic equipment as you can get your hands on? Tim 'Love' Lee of course. London's sexual breakbeat ambassador, and the man who discovered Groove Armada, comes (oops) to Epitonic.
"Spring Theme"
by
Norken
Norken's Lee Norris has been likened to Carl Craig and Juan Atkins for his minimal, melancholic music. More Detroit than Chicago, Norken will appeal to fans of u-ziq, Plaid, and The Black Dog.
"Key Stroke"
by
her space holiday
A beguiling mixture of dreamy pop and subdued electronics. Listening to her space holiday is like taking a brilliant Sunday afternoon drive through your favorite bit of countryside without a care in the world.
"A Bridge To A Closer View"
by
Languis
Gentle acoustic melodies, cascading sound collages, and experimental electronic beats partner to form a post-rock mix not easy to categorize, but very easy to listen to.
"Days for Bennet"
by
Kettel
Dutch producer Reimer Eising is reported to have a fetish for gnomes and a grudge against chickens. Before you go scrambling for your Psych 101 textbooks, have a listen to his complex and melodic beats.
"Eleven Eight"
by
Greg Davis
Greg Davis' blend of folksy instruments and ambient electronics is wooing fans of Boards of Canada and Plaid away from Warp and over to NYC's Carpark Records.
