soundsystem, invented & global. the troubadour.
So it’s been a few weeks. A busy few weeks and there was a bit of waiting on new music to arrive. Well, the music arrived, the music has been listened to and now I need to provide some opinions.
Jimmy Eat World’s Invented. I remember hearing Jimmy Eat World the first time on KROQ in 1998. At that point, I had no idea who they were, had not heard Static Prevails or the incredibly important Clarity. But there was the first single, “Lucky Denver Mint” playing in my friends old mustang; me sitting, rapt in attention at the radio (why do we stare at the radio when a good song is playing? What’s the point?) asking my friend, Andy was his name, “What band is this?” he replied, simply, as if I should have known my whole life “It’s Jimmy Eat World dude.”
Admittedly, this was before Napster, I still had a Tower Records I could walk in to and spend hours in and Andy was a DJ at the radio station for the university we both attended. So, I was a fan from there, locked in for the last 10 years.
Every record has been a time capsule, a slice of my life when they come out, both in good and bad, bitter and sweet. And Invented is above all, the most interesting of all of their records. Each song is incomplete lest it’s played with the rest of them. This is the most cohesive record JEW has ever written. However, it must be noted that each song is rich and lovely, harking back to Clarity in wonderful ways, with a more natural, organic feel to the electronic elements. Jim’s vocal is passionate and earth shaking, angry and touching at the same time. The record is a force of nature; just sit back, let it control the room. I am and always have been a fan of this band, but this record grabs you in simple ways, you just know you’re held in place for the whole disc. And thank God for the return to the simple pianos, the beautiful framing of distorted guitars and these delicate piano melodies that make the song just open up.
This stuff has a view I swear. Well done gentlemen, thank you again.
Though I am late to the party to this mix, Hybrid released “Soundsystem 01” 2 years ago, unbeknownst to me. I have since acquired it and I am fascinated by Hybrid’s ability to take music and create layer upon layer of mood and feel. The mix is impeccable, your own cold rainy night, dark and dreary, but exciting just the same. This is a mix for bad nights as well as a 2nd disc that is hard as hell. But altogether an incredibly professional mix, both in design and execution. The Hybrid boys have taken many elements of EDM and arranged a tight, expansive, beautiful mix. I am quite impressed, do pick up a copy if you are so inclined.
Global Underground recently released Dave Seaman’s latest, GU039 Lithuania. This record was a surprise listen, where Dave had almost lost himself in all his use of Software DJ’ing tools, it seemed he had focused too much on the tech and it’s abilities rather than just producing a proper, danceable and listenable mix. His last renaissance was, to be fair a vague, underwhelming experience, with no real focus or feel. However, here on his new GU project, Dave has returned to a simple emphasis on mix, on flow and melody. The first disc has a “sinnerman” beginning to it, that subtly lands into a simple groove that expands and slowly grows into a mean ten story tall monster of electro and dark progressive house. The mix has some odd deviations, including (I shit you not) a side-chained accordion, some very jazzy piano variations and some brilliant use of vocals. The music choice here is a reminder as to why Dave Seaman always impressed me as a DJ: he is incredibly adept at finding music with breathtaking hooks and truly memorable sounds. Here is his return to form, if the technology aspect of his sets has been made more minimal, or if he has simply found balance between the old steel wheels and the new style of laptops and CDJ-2000’s, he has remembered what makes the venerable position of DJ important: the music, the groove and the flow from one track to the next. I am heartily recommending this mix, however, I will warn you, this compilation, especially the first disc, requires multiple listens to truly appreciate the smooth, almost effortless transitions and subtly beautiful track selections.
Speaking of flow, construction and execution of continuity, I Saw Mr. Ulrich Schnauss at the Troubadour a few nights ago and whatever he played, be it new or old (I’m almost sure it was all new save for the first track), he managed a remarkable combining and deconstruction of his music, coupled remarkably with a series of film/still frame motion capture. Apparently Ulrich Schnauss was at Burning man, also found walking through Paris last summer, and riding in public transportation in Berlin. Of all things, the film beautifully combined with the music and you found Ulrich himself, the least important part of the show. You were not looking at him, but merely listening to his music and seeing what he saw. It was quite an enjoyable ride.
keep listening.
_backchat.
