Tweaking trays for days and days.

Dancehall Queen Video

2010-11-29T14:14:00.000-05:00

Directed by Pomp&Clout (who have done vids for the likes of Boys Noize, Rusko, Congorock, etc.), Red Foxx and ... Diplo?

Mad indie-hipster cred! Amirite or amirite?

Also! The new Mad Decent forums are (IMO) simultaneously awful and dope.

Clicks & Whistles

2010-11-24T15:51:00.000-05:00

Oldschool drum machines, sensual synth stabs and dirty hip hop vibes characterize this American production duo's work. It all seems like some other-worldly, clean-cut, codeine-fueled, dreamscape. This is America's version of UK Funky.

Here are some of their unreleased tunes, but also be sure to buy the new EP on Beatport (I did and it's awesome).

Clicks & Whistles - Hello
Clicks & Whistles - Raw Passion

Hipster Vid Alert: Paradox Box

2010-11-02T23:41:00.000-04:00

Wanna get laid by a cute chillwave babe? Show her this video and teach her about Phantom Payn Days, and you'll surely get to 2nd base. Unless your neckbeard gets in the way, you hipster

PHANTOM PAYN DAYS - Paradox Box from Tara Sinn on Vimeo.

Did I mention it was recorded in the 90s?????

Profresher Blacklight lets it Glow

2010-11-01T15:26:00.000-04:00

(You haven't heard beats like these. I promise.)

Profresher Blacklight (aka Billy Blacklight, Profresher) is an all-out groove-fiend. His latest 18-track (holy shit that's a lot of tracks) album goes beyond showcasing his musical talent: it puts him high in the ranks of other prominent, west coast bass-music/jamtronic producers (ie EPROM, Pretty Lights).

Crunk-flavored beats and 'neo-g-funk' basslines set a bold stage for the crisp synth lines that cruise on top. Listening to the album from beginning to end is like playing the PS1 Gran Turismo in a subwoofer-laden submarine while sippin' on some 'tussin. There's a late-90s throwback vibe throughout, as well as enough bass to make even the skinniest booty clap 'til dawn.

I recommend 'Falco vs. Starfox,' 'Puddled,' and 'Furtherer,' but if you have the time, put the album on starting with track 1 and listen all the way through.

Y'all should buy this album while you can, because I can assure you that his next release will probably be on Warp and cost ~$15 (and yes, it will still be worth it).

Profresher Blacklight Bandcamp page
Profresher Soundcloud page
Profresher Myspace page

The 2 Bears Make a Beary Awesome Jam

2010-10-26T16:54:00.000-04:00

Cheesy and wonderful, uplifting and gospel-like, the 2 Bears are as new as they are unique. I haven't heard electro pop with so much soul/wonderment/simplified-beauty since Hot Chip's The Warning.

They're new to Southern Fried and definitely seem like a wildcard act among the heavy-hitting-house-heads of the SF crew. I guess with the new release from The Shoes, it isn't that out of the blue... but still.

The 2 Bears - Church

This lil video sheds some light on their goofy antics. They're incredibly lovable (and uncannily bear-like).

The 2 Bears - Recording Session at The Red Bull Studios
Uploaded by SouthernFriedRecords. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

On the Tip of Your Tongue

2010-10-26T12:37:00.000-04:00

Very rarely do I enter a room and become immediately enamored. Rendered speechless. In wide-eyed awe. Staring off into an indescribable future.

Yet, Porcelain Raft's Glasslands debut simply moved me. I could feel the throbbing of his heart. I could hear the voice in his head. A sheepish smile, eyes playfully rolling back into a previous place- not unlike playing directly to a wall amidst a crowd of the transfixed. I was only able to catch the last song (due to an apparently crippling addiction, at least in somber retrospect) but luckily found a recording of said last song on youtube. Enjoy this moment. I hope that it lingers on with you as it has with me.

Porcelain Raft - Tip of Your Tongue

James Marshall ||| Woods Music

2010-10-19T15:55:00.000-04:00

Surely there is a circle of sun-drenched hippies clapping, singing, and playing guitars somewhere in the head of James Marshall. His recent self-released "Woods Music" is a psychedelic spectrum of personality and color, brimming with life from a humble bedroom somewhere in Texas. It's a nice thing to drift off on throughout a warm, summer day. In October.

Check out James Marshall on soundcloud and download "Woods Music" for free here.

James Marshall - Country Life
James Marshall - Nostalgic Summer Song

The Pharmacy - Weekend

2010-10-18T19:07:00.000-04:00

Playing piano and guitar akin to an old car preeetty fuckin fast into a bright sunset. With just enough lo-fi buzz around the edges to make the inner beauty of the Washington trio shine through. Perhaps taking time to stop at a particularly beautiful corner and gently smoke a spliff amidst the lonely air. Through the highs of upbeat soul-grooving and the subsequent lows of longing.

"..."

"What are you doing with your life?"

"(sighs)..."

I'm not quite sure what to answer but it's a comforting echo nevertheless. Check out The Pharmacy on myspace and get a hold of Weekend in its entirety.

"What do you do with your life?"

The Pharmacy - WAYDWYL
The Pharmacy - Coldest Morning Light

Midday Veil - Asymptote II

2010-10-17T15:41:00.001-04:00

So sometimes iTunes visualizer is completely unnecessary when you've got a music video as psychadelic as this one for Midday Veil's track Asymptote II.

Full length, Eyes All Around, due out on Translinguistic Other Records which you can pre-order in CD or lovely wax right here. They're doing a west coast tour from late October through November, and yeah...these guys seem like they'd put on one hell of a live show.

Taragana Pyjarama

2010-10-17T15:13:00.002-04:00

Putting me in a heavy daze, this new jam from this Denmark based music making couple, Taragana Pyjarama, is the kind of stuff I would think the iTunes visualizer was made for.

Too bad it's only available as a soundcloud stream right now!

But alas, they've got a 3 track EP on the way so we'll be sure to keep you updated as we hear more from this dynamic duo from denmark. and for now, get ready to keep hitting the play button over and over on their soundcloud page:

more on Taragana Pyjarama:

myspace
soundcloud

Estate Sale Boat | Transmission Eyes

2010-10-17T15:02:00.000-04:00

Just got some love in the mail, floating on by in form of 60's psych rock from Orlando's Estate Sale Boat. Perhaps if the Grateful Dead liked to drink martinis in a smoke-filled lounge. Playing a song written by Brian Wilson. Definitely look out for what these guys do next.

Estate Sale Boat - Transmission Eyes

GOBBLE GOBBLE - NEMO

2010-10-14T16:14:00.000-04:00

Ohhhh mannnn this track is so deliciously evil. Horror. Not boring. I'm so excited to hear what Cecil brews up next. If you can, catch him and the GOBBLE GOBBLE crew at CMJ. We'll be there tweaking hard.

GOBBLE GOBBLE- NEMO

Unsolved Mysteries- You Only Live Once

2010-10-11T23:45:00.000-04:00

Alright. Time to die and be reborn.

Bangers for Basement Raves

2010-10-10T18:11:00.000-04:00

Aight y'all. Summer's officially done. Now we're left with partying out the remainder of these chilly months with a series of basement raves and bedroom blunt sessions. May these bangers power your autumnal escapades!

Amsterdam in Africa?
DJ Mujava - Mugwanti (R3hab Remix)

Fucking great tune for your next Halloween rave... (coming soon to Gumby house!)
Douster & Savage Skulls - Bad Gal (feat. Robyn)

MDMA chills all over this one.
DJ Chus, Voltaxx & Lissat - Vuela Paloma

Yeah, that's right. This is the best tune of 2k10.
Cassius - I <3 U So

NazcarNation -Dynazty EP

2010-10-10T15:50:00.000-04:00

Despite their name, NazcarNation does not make music that is particularly nazty (or cheesy for that matter). With an apparent foot in the door of both the current electro (yeah yeah yeah dubstep chmubstep) and indie rock scenes (yeah yeah yeah chillwave schillwave), NazcarNation is quite a pleasurable marriage between the two.

But enough genre stereotyping and suppression of the invisible minority. These guys sound pretty polished and play some bizarro indie pop in a way that is almost akin to Fang Island occasionally. Perhaps Die Nasty feels tooooo clean. Perhaps I'm riddled by my own expectation. Regardless, I'd be interested to hear them get nazzzty.

NazcarNation - Beeswax
NazcarNation - Destiny Intro

Spectrals - Peppermint

2010-10-04T14:21:00.002-04:00

Spectrals have a new single out on Moshi Moshi. Doo wop makes it feel good to feel sad.

Candyflipping at the Speed of Bass

2010-09-29T00:15:00.001-04:00

Jaw goes slipping down the drain. Strobes flashing my twitching flesh. Snares pop my legs into snipping. Bass thumps my neck into snapping.

Winding my energy up like throwing a yo-yo around the world. Now I gotta walk the dog.

These puppies get me wondering how I could work them into a 140bpm dubstep set... Too bad they all clock in at 170+ bpm...

(Guess that's the minimum tempo for melting face.)

Camo & Krooked - History Of The Future

Medics - Piggy Bank

Dino & Reid Speed - Fangbanger (J. Rabbit Drumstep Remix)

Man The Hunter

2010-09-28T23:06:00.005-04:00

Bringing back great song structure to the lo-fi pop gem, fellow Ann Arborite Man The Hunter has done it oh too well. Each verse/pre-chorus/chorus/bridge/etc seems to be just as catchy as the rest of the song....so yeah, this one's a keeper.

I know it's getting chilly out here in Michigan, but if you can rough it, grab some sunglasses and a swimsuit and take this one to the beach.

Man The Hunter - Less For You

I Don't Bother.

2010-09-28T12:59:00.000-04:00

My favorite Pissed Jeans song- On feeling worthless. And fucking alive.

Mutual Benefit :: Here

2010-09-27T00:15:00.000-04:00

[[[via]]]

Me Encanta El Guincho

2010-09-26T23:44:00.001-04:00

Fuck yeah, El Guincho. Solamente el fresco mas.

Tweaking Trays Presents

2010-09-23T13:26:00.000-04:00

GOBBLE GOBBLE invades AA.

Tonight.

Gumby House.

Ann Arbor, MI.

Be there.

Interview with The Mad Conductor

2010-09-23T12:47:00.003-04:00

The Mad Conductor has dabbled in shameless Zevon cops as well as the rude space rock before settling on a unique brand of hip hop, characterized by uncommon time signatures, obscure storytelling, and crisp production. Not too long ago, I had the opportunity to get in touch with the MC of MC, MC Devlin- touching base about the past, present, and future of the band.

MC Devlin- The Mad Conductor started in 2005 when I had gone to Dan’s house to record a hip hop record. I had planned on doing a solo record and calling myself “The Ill One” and releasing some raunchy hip hop. But then the head engineer, Dan McKinney began collaborating like 50/50 on the project so we decided to incorporate ourselves into one group. I dropped the solo album and he kind of directed me down a more mature path, lyrically. My rhymes became more structured, the ideas kept getting better, and we kept feeding off each other lyrically- so we decided to call ourselves the Mad Conductor. I forget how that happened really. I think I changed my name from The Ill One to MC Devlin because Devlin’s my middle name and I wanted MC to stand for something so I was like “Mad Conductor Devlin” and then we just called the group The Mad Conductor. Then we cut our first little demo the spring of 2005 and it hit the streets that summer and it started to spread quickly. People started to like the sound, it was something they hadn’t heard before- a psychedelic blend of reggae, hip hop, punk, and jazz. Anything we wanted to throw together. It was a studio project with just the two of us working on it, so it was really easy to put in any sound that we wanted. We dropped our first EP, self released around Christmas that year- 2005.

Tweaking- I’ve really been digging the EP you released earlier this year- Central America. What are your thoughts on it?

MC Devlin- Central America is an EP that I wrote in New Orleans- I just moved there and gave up on playing music for a while. I had been touring for years straight without a job or anything. I had to get my personal life back together so I kind of dropped out of the East Coast scene and went down into the Central Time Zone- that’s why I called the EP “Central America”. Over the course of a year I recorded about 10 demo tracks and I scrapped 6 of them, only keeping 4. The 4 that I kept were hip hop songs written in odd time signatures. Usually hip hop, 99% of the time, is done in the 4/4 time signature. I actually had never heard a hip hop song that wasn’t in 4/4, so it was something that I had been wanting to experiment with. So I cut some demos, went back up to Pennsylvania and recorded the 4 songs with Brandy Sharlani on drums. It was a real treat to have him in the studio. And it was the first time that we did a record with all live drums. Usually we’d have live drummers and cut a little snippet to loop there. But this time he pretty much played the drums all the way through the track, but musically- it was all Dan McKinny doing all the production, the piano, and the synths while I did all the bass and guitars. So basically, just the 3 of us. It was nice to get together because Dan McKinny and I hadn’t recorded something together in a long time.

I don’t know how well the EP was received by our fans. It’s kind of funny because usually we have a lot of ska influence on our records-ska and reggae. But this time there was virtually no ska whatsoever, so I think that it was received better by our fans who are more hip hop-oriented. So it was more of a cult following MC record, more of an experimental album. I’ll say I like the odd time signature thing, I’ll probably be experimenting more with that in the future.

Tweaking- So if you could name only one thing, what is the biggest influence on your music?

MC Devlin- On Central America?

Tweaking- Sure, yeah.

MC Devlin- I would say the biggest influence for me on Central America was an anti-influence. Just hearing everything that was going on- you know all this corny hip hop. I can’t even call it hip hop. Just this corny rap music. Corny dance and R&B, you know everybody putting effects on their vocals, trying to make themselves sound flashy. Hearing that made me want to make something new. Something raw. Something different. So I pretty much pulled myself out of traditional thought when it comes to songwriting and did what I felt. So I guess you could say my influence was that which was detestable to me. I wanted do something completely different from that. So in other words, I made a record without the idea of selling copies, but rather with the idea of charting new territory musically.

Tweaking- So getting off the Central America topic for a minute, is there a particular hook or riff that’s been stuck in your head for the past week or so? Something that’s been resonating a lot with you lately?

MC Devlin- Well just now on my ride home, I’ve kinda been trying to write a new a rhyme to the beat of this Nice & Smooth album. Nice & Smooth is an old school hop hop group. A lot of the time, I’ll get a record that I haven’t heard yet- a hip hop record or an LP and sit down with it for a little bit. You know, start to write lyrics for that and then you know take it over with my own music.

Tweaking- So what’s your favorite show that you’ve ever played?

MC Devlin- You know, I would like to say that I’ve always been partial to the scene in New Orleans. Back in the old days when I used play in punk bands, up until touring there with Mad Conductor. That’s why I moved here from Pennsylvania. When I’d go there, I’d see how much energy there was and how it felt physically. You know, all the kids down there was always cool, along with the other bands, and the whole scene.

The ironic thing is that when I moved there (New Orleans) I kinda stopped playing music. I think it was just because everyone around me was playing music and I was just like, you know “I gotta do my own thing”. I’ve always kinda been like that, you know? Whatever everyone else is doing, I’ll do the opposite of it. I came from a small town in Pennsylvania where there weren’t many bands coming out of there or any bands to speak of. You know there’s a few that I dug- No Service Project. But other than that, it was weird kinda pioneering that scene. Then when I got outta there and moved to New Orleans, everybody and his brother was playing in a band, trying to get big. The whole thing, with all the demos and whatnot made me think, “you know what? I’m not really down with this rat race and I just don’t care. I’ll just do my own thing and take care of my own head.” You know, look out for number one for a little bit.

Tweaking- So back in the day you used to sing for a crack rock steady punk band, No-Cash. Do you have any resonant retrospective thoughts about that time in your life?

MC Devlin- Well, the thing about No-Cash was that I was a kid, you know? It started when I was 15- angry little punk rock kid who hated going to school and hated living at home with my family. I thought I was too good for that. I was a mean little kid and that shows in my music, I was really angry. So looking back on it, I was kind of embarrassed of it until a few years ago. When I was in the process of maturing, I’d look at No-Cash and myself back then, and I didn’t know anything. I used to preach about the government. My lyrics were real bland, you know, I didn’t really know what I was talking about. And that kind of embarrassed me. Everybody was all like “oh yeah, that’s cool” (in a goofy ass voice) but those people were all like 15 year old kids and I was just like “well, what the hell do you know? Who are you to say that band is good? I’m saying that band sucks and I was the one who was in it. But now, as I get old, I can look at that band and be like “awww little knuckleheads” (affectionately). And then I kind of look at the fans of that band the same way, you know, little kids with an upside-down flag on their shirt. I think “awwww little rascals, you’ll understand one day. You won’t be blasting No-Cash you know when you’re like 30 years old while you’re picking up a nice girl on a date. You won’t want to be listening to some song about killing your parents. You’ll want to listen to like Bob Marley and just chilling out. So that’s how I sort of look at No-Cash and the whole punk rock scene in general. I see a lot of people who are like 30 or 40 still rocking the mowhawk, tight black jeans, and all this and that, and I’m like “whatever works for them”. But I’m glad that I grew out of it and that I’m evolving constantly. I would say to each his own, but that’s not really what I want to do with the rest of my life- running around, screaming about how I hate cops. I still don’t love cops, but you know, I don’t feel the need to write 12 songs out of 14 on an LP explaining why I hate them, you know what I’m sayin?”

Tweaking- So that being said, it’s safe to say that you’re not going to play Gasoline (an old No-Cash jam) again anytime soon?

MC Devlin- (laughs) Nope. I’d feel a bit uncomfortable performing that song. It’s not who I am anymore, you know what I’m saying? It’s like the Rolling Stones being like 60 years old, 70 years old still rocking songs that they wrote when they were 20. Granted they’re probably paid a ton of money for that, but when I see them doing those songs it seems so forced. I don’t wanna get up and sing a song I wrote when I was 16 years old. It wouldn’t make sense. Same reason Operation Ivy hasn’t done a show. You don’t want to live in the past. Progress. Live in the moment- work towards the future.

Tweaking- Where do you think the Mad Conductor’s headed?

MC Devlin- Well, I’m going through some different things in my own life. To me, the Mad Conductor was always super-abstract. I would just rhyme stream of consciousness and usually it would seem like I was talking nonsense, but I always meant something by what I was saying. But I think that I would like to write a few songs that are more to the point. I’d like to write some songs that people can relate to on a personal level. I’d like to get into more topics that get into real life- in the past I would just talk about werewolves and fighting monsters. Shit like that (laughs). I would like to write songs that better explain the real thoughts that I have in my head as a man, not a pot-smoking lunatic who was running around the country.

Tweaking- Do you think you’re gonna get the Mad Conductor back together? Are there any upcoming tour plans?

MC Devlin- I really would. Music is really important to me. When I look at my life, all of my friends and all of the places that I’ve been able to go and the people that I’ve gotten to chill with have been through music. Music brought me to New Orleans. All my friends in New Orleans, I met through music. My friends out in Texas, California, England, Ireland- all these people that I’ve met have been through music. I feel like I need some time to develop myself as a person. I took so much time out on the road, non-stop playing shows on tour. Shows every night. No job. No money in the bank. I realized I needed to slow down. So I moved to New Orleans to grow as a person, but I was doing it the wrong way- drinking and getting into the party scene. I needed to slow down for a minute. So that’s when I started taking kung-fu. I went up to a kung-fu master and was like “teach me”, you know? Pretty much every day for the past year and a half I’ve been training kung-fu. I picked it up quickly. When I get into something, I devote myself 100% to it. So I wanted to spend a couple years learning kung-fu and learning how to fight. I’m trying to take care of myself and become a better person. I really feel more like a man than when I started. More confident.

I would like to write a batch of songs more confidently and not have to be so abstract about what I’m saying. I want to come right out and say what I want to say. I would like to get a band together and do some more touring. There’s a lot of the earth that I haven’t seen. I can’t tell you when. I can’t predict the future and I won’t try because I used to try to do that and would always end up foolish when I said that I would tour in May. May came and went and I didn’t do the tour. I’m not going to do that to people anymore. I’ll just leave it up to time. Time will put me on the road in some van at some point. I can’t say when, but I know that I have to. Dan McKinny and I plan on recording some songs at the end of this summer, so hopefully we’ll get to put together a new record and do a show.

|||

Until we're graced with the yet-to-be announced next Mad Conductor record, be sure to check out some jams off of Central America. Some righteous jams off of Central America.

The Mad Conductor - Yo Kid

The Mad Conductor - The Parthenon

Overtaken by White Light

2010-09-22T21:09:00.000-04:00

I'm ready for things to move back into hibernation... for the basses to retract their sweaty high-ends to deep, cool, low thwashers. One day we will even catch some synth-snowflakes on our tongues. I'm excited (in a really really chill way).

The little squeaks in the intro suggest that indeed, Roommate played & recorded a real Rhodes (fuck softsynths! lol jk). The sample takes me to a hill with white sunshine and ice-encrusted trees and takes me to a better time. Pure beauty. The percussion absolutely tickles my ears.
Roommate - The Silent

Finally, Joker releases some new material. This remix demonstrates a slight departure from his earlier, more minimalist beginnings; bright synth stabs fill out the funky lead & bass lines. I would have sex to this song. I've got a feeling there's a lot more where this came from.
Die & Interface - Bright Lights feat. William Cartwright (Joker Remix)

Meet the Frownies

2010-09-21T12:56:00.002-04:00

Twin Sister has got to be one of my favorite bands of the summer. Their Color Your Life EP was a serious grower, and now they're rereleasing their first two EP's on Domino, and have a full length supposedly in the works too.

Enter "new music incubator" Shaking Through (a joint project from Weathervane Music and WXPN), who asked the super-music-dude of all super-music-dudes Mark of YVYNYL to guest curate a few tracks for Shaking Through, and what do you get? -- A new Twin Sister song recorded in two days.

Twin Sister - Meet The Frownies (via yvynyl)

This one's a keeper for sure.

You heard it here first. Maybe

2010-09-19T14:55:00.000-04:00

At least you could pirate them before most.

Two huge tracks from Dem Slackers' upcoming release.
Dem Slackers - Let's Go (Bart B More 'Lesssgo' Remix)
Dem Slackers - Swagger

BRRRRAAAATTTT!!!! (Don't drop this version in your next set, though... Definitely not a full rip... sorry :)
Armand van Helden & Steve Aoki - Brrrat! (Bart B More Remix)

Thanks, technology!

Ape-Archangels of Electrofunk: Saint Pauli

2010-09-19T14:07:00.003-04:00

Space-funk samples, analogue basslines, glittery key arrangements, and thwopping disco beats

This is Saint Pauli. This electrohouse-funk duo's sound is both characteristically German (think the clean & cold electro sounds of Digitalism) and French (there's a healthy dose of Justice). Which is really fitting considering that they are based in both Hamburg and Paris!

Fare Soldi - Survivor (Saint Pauli Remix)
Haezer - WTFIH (Saint Pauli Remix)
Saint Pauli - I Need Rhythm

They do wear monkey masks when playing live, though unfortunately I don't think they actually shred metal guitars.

?????? We Are Mystery ??????

2010-09-18T18:24:00.000-04:00

DOPE DOPE DOPE

Tentacles Upon Our Ship by We Are Mystery

Indietronica. Done justice.

Broken Hearts by We Are Mystery

and perhaps a little mysterious.

Halloween Bass

2010-09-16T13:26:00.000-04:00

Y'all know it's gettin spooky in here. Raves across the country will be slightly seasoned with some ghoulish-zest. What's not to love?

I love how subgenres in dance music feed off each other. They cannibalize parts of other subgenres that sound badass. You'll hear the 'anger-step' bassline in this puppy pretty straight up.
Figure - The Phantom (Original Mix) by Figure

Although it's just a clip clocking in at only 1:24, you can see how epic Clouds can get.
Mauful Sir by thisisclouds

Bizarre Disco shit. I feel like dancing with every part of my body.
Attack Yourself! - Long Time No See (Demo Version) by Attack Yourself!

Hey Hey Sunshine

2010-09-15T18:14:00.000-04:00

So if you remember a few months back we posted about UK ambient/beat music guru Hypermagic's bandcamp EP, Tangerine Scene. Well now they're back at it again with another 3-track release that definitely keeps them grounded in the same Eno roots, but constantly moving forward into a more beat driven direction as well.

Hey Hey Sunshine finds itself almost in a Mount Kimbie "post-dubstep" world, while The Dogs is a sample based ethereal jam that crunches just as hard as it it floats...if that makes any sense.

Download the full release for free via their bandcamp.

Hypermagic - Hey Hey Sunshine
Hypermagic - The Dogs

Toys That Kill

2010-09-13T16:38:00.000-04:00

Oh shit, is it still '79 somewhere?

Toys That Kill make murder/destruction/dread seem fun again. They never really stopped tearing up basements. Covered in freshly-doused PBR. Still cold.

Check out some tracks off their recent split with Grabass Charlestons on No Idea.

Toys That Kill - Pliers
Toys That Kill - I'm Foaming

+| HEX MEX |+

2010-09-13T02:28:00.000-04:00

thanks bigstereo. Crazy installation from Demon Babies I don't think I'll be sleeping for a couple of days.

Don't Knock it 'til Ya Try it!

2010-09-11T23:40:00.000-04:00

If you've heard of John Fruscianti, it's probably due to his involvement with the Red Hot Chili Peps. Personally, I had known that he made solo music (pretty sure it's why he chose to abandon working with the Peps). I heard it was good (and I didn't believe it) 'til my 'lil cuz told me to check out the song 'Murderers.' Hearing is believing.

John Frusciante - Murderers
John Frusciante - Ramparts

(These tracks are from his 2001 release, To Record Only Water for 10 Days.)

You probably knew his guitarwork was amazing. He's been voted 'world's best guitarist' a million times (read his wiki, bra). But outside the pop/funk/punk/rock scope--in the realm of lofi--he should be regarded at least as some sort of lesser angel... Neutral Milk can be Jesus...

Now IDK what he's doing these days. Hopefully it's good. I don't know if I care. Those two songs are enough to tide over my lofi-binge for now. But hey, everyone's saying the 90's are comin' back, and I love the Peps. Maybe JFru is in for a rebirth into post-chillwave?

...

I doubt it, but wouldn't it be fucking awesome?

Slow Century- Only (Coma Cinema Remix)

2010-09-11T16:13:00.000-04:00

Thought I'd share a fresh take on a song that I love.

Slow Century takes us into expansive caves where words and limbs retreat into the static fog. Stuck somewhere within.

Slow Century - Only (Coma Cinema Remix)
Coma Cinema - Only

Heavy Hawaii

2010-09-08T15:41:00.000-04:00

Fuuuck am I stoked or what!?

I thought summer was over, but maybe there is a land beyond Michigan. A land where surf guitars still glisten as they get washed in reverb. A land where dreamy girls lounge around your bum ass friends on the beach. A land that you can only reach through the back of your mind. I'm not ready for the leaves. I want to go back to Heavy Hawaii.

Their debut, HH comes out September 28th on Art Fag. Check out the recently premiered Teen Angel and some lo-fi versionage.

Heavy Hawaii - Teen Angel
Heavy Hawaii - Teen Angel (lo-fi demo)
Heavy Hawaii - Sleeping Bag (lo-fi demo)

/ / / Dahga Bloom \ \ \

2010-09-07T18:33:00.000-04:00

Down the rabbit hole. Broken through into a jagged world of sounds and buzz. Another ear. Bending strings into the abyss. Feedback crying back through a prism of color. Your least favorite indie rock band covering your favorite psych-rock band's greatest hits with a headful of acid. Tearing apart melodies and watching them fall, as shards, out of sight. Pulsating sounds intertwined endless rhythms. Time travelling via salvia. Guitars shriek and slide. You can't touch the ground.

I fucking LOVE this album. Dahga Bloom's self-titled. Get the full length from Big Cartel. See them on the west coast. Check these nugs.

Dahga Bloom - Golden Sky
Dahga Bloom - M.I.A

Cloud Nothings// Kevin Greenspon Split

2010-09-07T01:24:00.000-04:00

Just in from Bridgetown Records (thanks, Kevin!) It's a walk down a concrete sidewalk as the sun reflects off of the corner of your sunglasses. A bounce in your step. You pass convenience stores, abandon fronts, and maybe even a basement space. All alone, somewhere between shoegaze and new wave.

Cloud Nothings - I Apologize

Also check out Kevin Greenspon's side of the split on Bridgetown Records.

Kevin Greenspon - Carpool Pepsi

THE BIRd DAY - Collect Vibrations

2010-09-01T12:38:00.000-04:00

Sunny/crunchy/falsetto/explode-in-ur-pants/funky/dance-pop goodness. No..... Greatness.

THE BIRd DAY comes from Buffalo, NY - these guys have been on my radar ever since hearing their first free DL track, Thirsty, off their website. I initially heard of them from my buddies in Holy Spirits (who by the way will be playing live with THE BIRd DAY at Glasslands Gallery in NYC tomorrow night -- if you're in the area, I can't recommend going to this show enough)

A few more singles and a full length (via mediafire (via Dead As Digital)) later, I'm fully hooked. These guys really know what they're doing, and have a sense for catchy falsetto melodies that I haven't heard since Hissing Fauna era of Montreal. Ganted, THE BIRd DAY isn't nearly as spastic as Kevin Barnes, but they surely make up for it with musical hooks that well deserve their repeated chorus structure.

THE BIRd DAY - Thirsty
THE BIRd DAY - Gonna Beg You
THE BIRd DAY - Space Feeling

Download THE BIRd DAY's debut full length, Collect Vibrations

Incan Abraham - Adult World EP

2010-08-30T10:59:00.000-04:00

The past few days I've been jamming on some Incan Abraham.

Psychedelic swirling///Rotary-style harmonies///Tiiiiight percussion

Good things. Get their EP, Adult Lives for free at their bandcamp.

Incan Abraham - Hors D'oerves
Incan Abraham - Shallow Shrine

NYC UFOS ARE COMING\\\\\

2010-08-28T15:05:00.000-04:00

Just got a friendly hello from some of Navajo Bixby's buds, NYC UFOS- playing groovy shoogazy jams like they used to be into the Damned some distant past ago. Rocking it like Weezer would if they had never made it and still played in the garage. Dripping in fuzz, familiar power chords lay down a Fugazi-ish vibe almost.

All hail, the 90's are gonna be back. Without a doubt. And without 3rd Eye Blind (those bros still tour, bro!).

DL a copy of Newer Stations, their latest demo, for free off their bandcamp. And check out these pop nugs.

NYC UFOS - Give It To You
NYC UFOS - Any Other Time airbase#$67

Shot Beyond Spacey

2010-08-28T14:46:00.002-04:00

Prepare for blast off, yall.

Self-destructo-vibes from Dave Luxe. Step into the club and explode into a giant, flame shooting fire-monster.

Lil Jon feat Soulja Boy - G Walk (Dave Luxe Crunkstep Remix) by Dave Luxe

Sounds to me like NiT GriT is coming round in full swing. His work is growing in popularity--and rightly so. Clean. Liquid. Filth.

<a href="http://nitgrit.bandcamp.com/album/heavy-machinery-ep" target="_new">Heavy Machinery by NiT GriT</a>

Flux Pavillion is soon to be the reigning king of all the lands of dubstep. Monarchical production on this sword-slicing, heroic, slobber/banger.

Freestylers - Cracks feat. Belle Humble (Flux Pavillion Remix)

Please enjoy these songs in moderation. Be sure to mix it up with music that you can't hear in clubs. Otherwise, your brain might die.

\\\///\\\BLAST\\\///OFF\\\///\\\///

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\///

FuzZ: Interstellar Sparkles

2010-08-27T19:29:00.002-04:00

Do you ever have those moments? You know, the moments where you:

are walking down a dark alley at night,
have a glock in ya pants,
are wearing dark sunglasses and a leather jacket

with hood up

just left a shady house party in Brooklyn,
want to kill the people who murdered your mother

For those of you who ever found yourself in this scene from a movie in your head, I recommend FuzZ. His track 'Marshmallow Bazooka' from his full-length LP entitled 'Sparkle Vision' that was released late this past June.

Marshmallow Bazooka by FuzZ

There is undeniably something strangely clean about his 'sound.' He is not afraid of the funk. Nor does he fuck around with breakdowns.

Buy Sparkle Vision on bandcamp. (All proceeds go to FuzZ and none to Steve Jobs) :D
You can find moar FuzZ on his Soundcloud, and you can tell him how much you like 'Sparkle Vision' directly to him via his Twitter or his Myspace.

Navajo Bixby || Down Under

2010-08-27T19:24:00.000-04:00

Imagine being stuck in the episode of Gilligan's Island when a band of hippies' tribe washed ashore with nothing but a vial of acid. This is the song that played through the montage that ended with Gilligan waking up naked the next morning in a palm tree, covered in strange tribal body paint.

I'm super stoked for Navajo Bixby's new tracks! They mentioned to us that they'll be playing a few gigs in Philly and New York in the coming months, so keep your eyes peeeeeeeeled.

Navajo Bixby - Down Under

Let It Unfold

2010-08-27T11:57:00.000-04:00

Pepepiano- Babes

2010-08-24T10:47:00.000-04:00

Today I awoke on some strange couch in Rhode Island (on a Mellows tour!) and to an unexpected surprise- Pepepiano's new EP- Babes. While the prior smells a bit musky and may involve some alleged heroin addicts- they have internet (huzzah for the future!) and I was able to cop the 4 tracks of Babes off of the Pepepiano bandcamp.

The latter is a dreamy wash of analog blips and whirrs/ shimmering keys often a la Cults/ fat synth sounds. Sweetness. I feel like I am summoned; he carries me upwards with a tractor beam of bright sound rather than light- leaving me confused/ intrigued/ elated. All over some catchy glitch-based beats and imprinted into your brain with cooing vocal harmonies.

I'm super excited to hear more Pepepiano. For now be sure to nab Babes right off his bandcamp, you won't want to miss it.

Pepepiano- Babes

Pepepiano- NO WAY

We Have A Room With....TEAMS

2010-08-21T12:23:00.008-04:00

So Yesterday/Today, the ever so awesome Teams drops his second EP, We Have A Room With Everything, on the ever so awesome 'future reserves label' AMDISCS.

I was a fan of his Catch Pools EP (the first bit of Teams that graced the world's ears) from its conception, and got to hang out with Sean for a bit during his recent trip up to NYC and see him play a woozy/awesome warehouse set by the river in Brooklyn. Yet another really genuine dude in this crazy musical world/community that's been evolving as of late....and AMDISCS seems to constantly be right in the center of all this wildness -- so it's all too appropriate that they be facilitating this next effort from Teams.

Check out two of my favorite gems below-- and stream the EP in full from Teams' bandcamp. Ambient wild beatsmithh to the maX>!~

mp3zzz:

Teams - Better (In This Way)

Teams - Airworks

don't fuck with jai paul, don't fuck with jai paul

2010-08-21T02:23:00.006-04:00

"Don't fuck with me, don't fuck with me" are the opening lyrics to Jai Paul's seemingly only full length original track, BTSTU. Singing in a high pitched falsetto voice, this young British producer sounds a lot like Thom Yorke and a little bit like Nick Pitera. Ok, mostly just Thom. The music forces your head to nod with a simple beat, Prince-like guitars and a somewhat metallic sounding wobble bass that is perfect for the track, though not heavy enough to satisfy dubstep fiends. As the track progresses, the instrumentation gets more and more dense, eventually leading to a sick horn section outro that overtakes the falsetto harmonies.

The icing on the Jai Paul cake is his remix of Emiliana Torrini's "Jungle Drum". I'm such a sucker for tracks with nothing heavy percussion + heavy synths and this one fucking hits the nail on the head. Bravo.

For as much as I love these tracks, there is one trend that should not and could not continue. BTSTU has a 2 measure chord progression that doesn't change once, and the Jungle Drum remix has a 4 measure chord progression that... yea... doesn't change once. Sure, Jai pulls it off with both tracks with his keen sense of (for lack of a better term) orchestration, but continuing this trend would be taboo.

So... what can come of a 21 yr old producer with 1 original track and 1 remix? A record deal with XL Recordings, of course (at least that's the rumor on the always-truthful interweb).

So for now... sit back, relax, right click, save as, and wait for Mr. Paul to crank out some new jams. You can be sure that I'll write them up asap.

Jai Paul- BTSTU
Emiliana Torrini- Jungle Drum (Jai Paul Remix)

Holy Books!

2010-08-15T10:57:00.000-04:00

Am I afraid? Am I nostalgic? Do I wish I was a kid again?
(not really)

Stryker Remixes Subvader

2010-08-14T14:04:00.001-04:00

I'm realllllyyyyy excited to announce that my new ep entitled 'Riding the Night - EP' will be released this Tuesday!! Super dooper stoked about this 3-track release... it really doesn't sound much like my last EP at all (in a good way, i hope :) You will be able to pick it up for free on soundcloud, and bandcamp (which has unlimited downloads in any file format) on the 17th.

So yeah, I've been asking various producer friends to see if they want to remix the last track on the album entitled 'Now We Leave Ground.' So far, the remixes are looking DOPE--got some really talented producers (Young Tom, anyone?)

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Stryker Matthews, prepare to be blown away. This californian adds a Diplo-esque flair to the original, cultivating a really energetic/rowdy vibe.

Subvader - Now We Leave Ground (Stryker Matthews Remix)

Be sure to catch Stryker's 2 part 'Coldest August mix.' Needless to say, it's pretty dope.

Bassline WIN

2010-08-13T18:00:00.000-04:00

Wanna get that 'rock ur sox' off feeling like back when u still listened to punk/metal but now u only really listen to electro/house/dubstep? well i have a solution--->comic strips' bassline

Congorock-Babylon (Comic Strips Remix) by Comic Strips
Download link (mediafire)

what makes it so amazing is that the original had a killer bassline that i thought couldn't be 'beat.' Young Tom put on his gloves (named "heavy" and "distortion") and whipped the living daylights outta the original mix (no offense, congorock, ur fucking amazing). Check the original song's video (directed by pomp&clout<<--they make amazing video art.)

More later on STRYKER MATTHEWS' SUBVADER REMIX and dj labam's whammalammer

ANNOUNCING///Mellows-It's In The Stones/Ghostriding 7"

2010-08-11T02:28:00.004-04:00

Here at Tweaking Trays, we're quite supremely pleased to officially announce our next release===>==>=> Mellows- It's In The Stones/Ghostriding 7"

(front)

The debut from the second coming of Mellows is being co-released by our pals at Royal Rhino Flying Records (who also do stuff w/ da fabulous GOBBLE GOBBLE) and ourselves-Tweaking Trays. We're doing a limited 500 copy run of the 7" on August 21st and can be pre-ordered from Royal Rhino Flying here!

(back)

Mellows is the 8-bit/folk punk/psychedelic pop golden child of the Tweaking Trays family, shamelessly including several of our contributors (coughMyselfcough), Kohwi (of Kohwi) playing the drums/doing the production, and Peter (Subvader) playing the Gameboy Classic/synths. It's 3 originals with artwork by James Green (our own Padre Zippo) and mastered by Zeljko McMullen (Wish). After a mild amount of deliberation, I'm quite pleased to say-

===DOWNLOAD IT HERE FO FREE===

=== PRE-ORDER THE 7" HERE ===

...or on our releases page...

Also, Mellows has a string of east coast dates allllmost ready to announce, so keep your eyes peeled on our facetwitspaceblr lest we repost them on our blog like some self-indulgent pigs who like to masturbate in front of the mirror. Before brushing their teeth. Every night. Likewise, we've got a tumblr to show us what we eat for lunch every day on the road and perhaps something even more arbitrary.

Sunlight Burns

2010-08-07T17:48:00.002-04:00

I'd love to be spending all my time in front of an LED screen with dancing letters, shapes, and colors, but it's just too fucking nice outside.

As I evaporate (you'll see the pun in about a minute) away from between the steadfast fingers of my addiction to the internet, there are but a few things that I'd like to take with me. In fact, I'd suggest that you do the same and take them, too.

They're tracks from Swimsuit (incl. Fred Thomas of City Center, Dina of Secret Twins, Shelley ex-Tyvek) off their first demo tape, which you can scoop for free here. I can't believe that I hadn't already taken this little slice of Ann Arbor/Ypsi, in form of reverberated/lo-fi/indie/pop punk sweetness, with me to Chicago this summer. Super stoked to hear such catchy jams from Ann Arbor/Ypsi locals, I can't wait to catch them playing around town this fall!

Swimsuit---- Evaporation
Swimsuit---- Sunlight

Nightlands- Forget the Mantra

2010-08-03T21:50:00.003-04:00

Yeah. It actually DOES sound like the cover looks. Forget the Mantra is the debut record from Nightlands (Dave Hartley from The War on Drugs) and I've been spinning it on my metaphorical record player for weeks. And it's kept me completely ecstatic. Beautiful textures are created with a myriad of instruments that harken to a particular time and place---memories held suspended to a particular emotion. Enormous soundscapes and lush instrumentation carry you across great plains and across the endless sky to the gentle coo of bright harmonies. Forget the Mantra feels more akin entering a new universe than it does putting on a set of headphones.

Dave recently wrapped up a tour with none other than Philly's Constant Hitmaker---- Kurt Vile (also once in The War On Drugs) but hopefully we'll see some more Nightlands action soon! For now, pick up Forget the Mantra from the Nightlands' bandcamp!

As hard as it was to narrow, check some of the tracks below----

Nightlands---300 Clouds
Nightlands---God What Have I

Guerre

2010-07-29T17:05:00.001-04:00

Heard about the bedroom woo-haze of Guerre via one of my favorite blogs No Fear of Pop, and proceeded to find that they've more than made their way around the proverbial blogck (blog block, hehe) with expressed love on a handful of other of my favorite blizzogs (Delicious Scopitone, Life Aquatic, Friends With Both Arms).

If you'd always wanted to hear the stylings of How to Dress Well with more of hip-hop tint, then "Tomorrow, Sundogs" just may be your jam....

Also check out a new tune that they just dropped today, 'Dress You Down' (another uber-soothing slow jammer) via their own blogz, Spiritif Records. Yeah that's right, all the cool bands have blogs now too :) -- and these guys are giving away all their music for free there. so snag it before they get rich and famous like Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers and try to eat ur soul through People Magazines in the checkout line of ur fav. shopping store. (just kidding....you and i both know that Guerre will eat Miley's face off with their woo-haze bliss)

Guerre - Tomorrow, Sundogs
Guerre - Dress You Down

Take a Cruise to------>>>>Guards

2010-07-26T15:18:00.000-04:00

So today I'm about to shuttle my ass back from Chicago to Michigan (again after seeing a particular Detroit reunion to appease my inner youth a couple nights back) to enjoy life in the UP for a few days with some choice compadres.

And Guards are going to take our car off the road. We'll speed about 10 over across the sky, steadily trailing smoke. Guards will be a part of the ink to commit such fleeting moments to an eternal mental canvas. Listening to their new EP (free on their bandcamp) I feel as if I've already heard it in a hundred different places. Pure psychedelic bliss.

Guards- I See It Coming
Guards- Crystal Truth

Taped-out French Funk Master 'Onra'

2010-07-25T10:54:00.000-04:00

Somewhere in between the shadows cast by the groove-gods of the past (Dilla, Dre) and the poolside parties of today's chillwave-kids (Toro y Moi) we find the instant-classic beats of Onra. Speakers or headphones, it shouldn't matter--blast this shit (I should note that subs improve the experience tremendously--the slippery basses will cover you in wetness).

Send Me Your Love
High Hopes (feat. Reggie B)

I'm really intrigued by his heavy use of funk/r'n'b. It's like, before hearing this, I thought R'n'B was tasteless and boring, but Onra's dreamy pads and sequenced-out leads create an atmosphere that is not only mind-blowing, but also completely fresh. Fresh like summer, fresh like cool cucumber on a hot day, fresh like a handfull of 'chill bros' drinking oberon w u at 5pm after a day of boating.

GO BUY THE ALBUM

Candy Claws Fire

2010-07-23T15:40:00.004-04:00

As you may have heard, Colorado's Candy Claws recent had their car caught in a fire while on tour in PA. All of their equipment was totally destroyed. Nobody was injured. and the car got fucked for realz.

Shit happens. And shit certainly has happened to our beloved Candy Claws--- but that hasn't stopped them - For all that's happened to these guys, they couldn't possibly be more optimistic. In an interview with exlaim.ca they said:

"We just two missed shows: Pittsburgh and DC...but really, it's been great. We got to hang out at a summer camp in PA, and a beautiful farmhouse with a lily pond and a forest and a giant Newfoundland named Jackson. They loaned us a van to get to NY. Here we are!"

So if there's one band in the world sounds like they're fucking troopers and can bear all after a crazy explosion fire car-go-boom AND still have an optimistic enough outlook to carry on w/ half a tour on borrowed equipment and a loaned van --- that band is none other than candy claws. We here at Tweaking Trays Incoproated LLC salute you.

Note: this is an especially big salute as we're trying to book our first Mellows tour outside of Michigan right now for the end of August, which requires a lot more effort than any of us had thought possible (yeah, we're finding out the hard way), and the Candy Claws mentality is nothing short of inspiring.

Also, check out this kickass video from a show of theirs before the fire.
Pay special attention to the headbands (I heard they use their headbands for telekensis and other similar super powers)

PS. if you're just as amazed by their awesomeness as we are, Candy Claws' label, TwoSyllable, has set up a donation page for them where you can help these dudes out in getting the money to finance some new equipment, since yeah....all their old equipment got burned to the ground.

rock on 4 evaa-

djdr

hey y'alllll

2010-07-17T14:12:00.004-04:00

soo...i went to this crazy party last night. it was way out in the fucking boondocks and i was at some point walking in the middle of the woods next to a canal. but it was well worth it cuz this party was rockin with beer, cigarettes, hot indie chicks, sweaty bearded guys and rockin music. and amidst all the local basement metal that was there, the residents of the house came out to play a set; they call themselves The Wholetones and they are fantastic. So good in fact that i actually bought their CD. Who buys CDs anymore?! Anyway, i thought i'd share this recent discovery with the world. hope you guys enjoy it. the songs on their CD are better than the ones on their myspace, but give the Alamo a listen; the guy is a sick tapper.

Crunk as fuck: YounG ToM

2010-07-17T13:15:00.000-04:00

Remember the first time you heard Rusko and the bass wobbles completely crushed ur skull? Well listening to Young Tom is kinda like that. You'll have the same sensation of blowing ur mind.

Young Tom - Anthem
M.I.A. - Steppin Up (Young Tom HARD LA! Remix)

Young Tom is the dubstep handle of the Pittsburgh-hailing Tom Holroyd. At the fresh age of 18, he's proven that u don't gotta be some douchebag who studies music production in order to make badass, full fucking beats. (no offense to peeps majoring in music production--wish i was smart enuff to have done that.) What's really cool is that the dude started his music production swag doing mashups, then twerkin some electro steeze w his other/earlier project 'Comic Strips.' (check the g6 rmx--it's a slayer.)

There is something incredibly 'garage' about his tunes. Kinda reminds me of punk in that regard. His beats are raww. They draw u in with distorted wonderment/interest. Ya just need to hear what crazy shit is going to happen next. That crazy shit usually consists of monstrous bass and glitchy/gangster-ass samples. Maybe u could call it ghetto-step? Regardless, YounG ToM is crunk as fuck.

If u in the Pittsburgh area around the 22nd you should check out Tom (as Comic Strips) playin a show as he plans to drop his dubstep work also :D (check the Young Tom Facebook page for more info)

When this was happening, I was having the worst salvia trip of my entire life...

2010-07-13T15:58:00.000-04:00

Coma Cinema continues, Business As Usual

2010-07-12T12:20:00.003-04:00

I awoke today to be greeted by an awesome new track by musician/blogger/cultivator of hopeful internet label/all around do-gooder commonly known as Coma Cinema. I've been stunned and addicted to his full length, Stoned Alone, which is sort of on Arcade Sound (just get it straight from the man himself. for free.). But more importantly, there is more (speculated) to come- (perhaps) in form of a new EP (allegedly) to be entitled "Suicide Blue".

Business as Usual is a little melancholy, as Mat Cothran recounts personal ruminations on (what seem to be) the sensation of loss, the helplessness of solidarity, and what it feels to stand on the edge of something dreadful.

Yet, you can tell that "no one cares, it's easier to quit" is told ironically- with a wry smile and a heavy heart.

Enough words, more sound. This is totally my jam.

Coma Cinema- Business as Usual

Got so many haterz, they call me Justin Bieber

2010-07-11T16:18:00.004-04:00

Have u ever been hated on?
Are u a hater urself?
Is ur 'third eye' in an 'unusual place?'

If u answered anything to any of those questions, then please-- light up your chalice, crank your stereo system and blast this new remix I made of B.o.B's 'Haterz Everywhere (feat. Wes Fif).' (<
[Compare the original with Die Antwoord's 'Enter the Ninja'... if ur thinkin what i'm thinkin then ur like "ummm what?"]

Haterz Everywhere (Subvader Remix)
Haterz Everywhere (Original Mix)

So yeah, thanks for listening! And if you're on soundcloud, be sure to listen to it here (and maybe give it some <3's or comments if u dig it enuff)

B.o.B - Haterz Everywhere (Subvader Remix) by Subvader

TWEET ON, BRUVVAHZ!! #NED #NED #NED !!!

Meandering through the night with Day Sleeper

2010-07-08T01:07:00.001-04:00

For the past few days, I have been doing some

thinking in circles

forgetting what I'm talking about

staring at inanimate objects.

Perhaps the dreamy, slow bends of math-rocky guitars combined with hazy melodies of Day Sleeper have something to do with this. I was about to say "hopefully", but at this point I don't really even care why. Listen to these tracks and you'll understand.

Day Sleeper- Windows Left Open

Day Sleeper- Wait and Stay

Then download their entire EP, Wonderland Kid for free HERE

Long Time

2010-07-04T15:33:00.001-04:00

Been wanting to post some goods by UK chill beatster Star Slinger for quite a while, but the timing has just never seemed quite right....until now. Just got word of this glorious subterranean chill-hop track via good ole starslinger's tweetfeed today, and it's totally gunna be my 4th of july JAMM all day--

If you haven't heard the slinger's crazy post toro y moi hip-hop sensabilities before, be sure to snag his 11-track debut, Star Slinger - Volume 1 (via bandcamp).

Before peacing outt, just wanna leave you with these last 2 tracks (1 RMX) of his -- straight bud'up

mp3:

Star Slinger - Minted

Blackbird Blackbird - Avalanche (Star Slinger Remix)

Doctor P and other bros like him

2010-07-04T11:59:00.000-04:00

Even though I'm American, for some reason the UK garage/grime-influenced dubstep just sits better with me. I feel like if you could characterize UK dubstep and American dubstep in order to make a metaphor to illustrate the differences between the two, American dubstep would be a post-metal-show-chick who just wants to roll face and and say "womp womp," whereas UK dubstep would be that outcast bro who steals mtn dew from gas stations and plays WoW on weekends with his 'coding buddies.'

Now u can see from that highly illustrative comparison, that American dubstep is, let's face it, more mainstream (and more likely to give killer head). Also, one should note that when I refer to 'American dubstep,' it sorta refers to both American dubstep producers (such as NiT GriT and Bassnectar) as well as the American 'interpretation' of dubstep (the highly music-festival-oriented, post-neo-hippy rave scene). Let's face it, America likes to bastardize/mainstream-ize/mcdonald-ize our shit. I feel like a lot of American dubstep producer bros get 'caught up' in this mindset and IMHO, it is a disservice to the genre and just makes it kinda cheesy. (kinda like an american car or something... just kind of an 'overproduced letdown.')

But UK dubstep producer bros CAN BE CHEESY and STILL BE FRESH. Why? Cuz the UK gets it. Take Doctor P for example--his 'aesthetic' is undoubtedly a bit geeky and fully-cheese-ridden, but it doesn't matter cuz it's 'crazy-lovable' (and pretty trippy/stimulating to a new degree).

This above track is over a year old and it still sounds phat and fresh to me. Maybe this is cuz 'I'm not on the UK level' but srsly the bass sounds tweak me the fuck out.

His newest 'ish' is pretty much mind-blowing as well. He and Flux Pavillion (one of my new favorite producers these days) got together and made this grimey number. I copped it on BeatPort like as soon as it came out cuz I thought it was JUST that fucking powerful.

But does it live up to last yr's 'banger' that put him on the scene to begin w? I'd like to generalize and say that everybody who's ever shown any interest in dubstep ever has prolly heard "Sweet Shop." Undoubtedly, it's a classic and a milestone for the genre.

I'd like to think that Doctor P has a lot more coming out of his 8-bit wizard sleeve, but what do yall think? Do u think 'P M.D.' has moar tunes that will reach 'Sweet shop status?' IDK, but in the meantime, buy his stuff cuz he's just a bro tryin to 'hustle some quids.'

pacman to the outizzle forshizzle my crackerizzles and other brozizzles.
ZAZZLE! (think imma use 'zazzle' for something. just typed it and realized how 'B.A.' it looks/sounds)

Holy Fuck, Birdy Nam Nam. Fuck.

2010-07-03T18:03:00.001-04:00

I feel like I've seen this before, but not in the external world. Props to the Haizdizzle.

Another Great Excuse to Take a Break

2010-07-01T18:21:00.011-04:00

I've seen this jam out on a few other blogs recently, but it's really stuck with me. It's Navajo Bixby- a poppy island walk with a pair of shitty headphones playing something golden.

Sorry, no ghost costumes this time.

Navajo Bixby- Moonlighting

While we're at it, here's another Navajo vid-

Today Can't Possibly Be THAT Bad

2010-06-30T12:59:00.011-04:00

...at least if you get the chance to check out the latest video by Super Desserts.

A flock of folk musicians. A beautiful voice gliding above. A tongue in your cheek or a tear dripping from an eyelash.

Well, actually, on second thought, I think that big fat fucking grin says it all. You don't have to go anywhere near Ohio to check out more Super Desserts, their whole whole discography can be found at their bandcamp.

Super Desserts- Ibiza

Oh and @Subvader/@Pacman/@Corlett-> I've seen you dip to some 'nectar. It's sort of like if you liked the Casualties as a kid. Except that the Casualties have always sucked. Majorly. And will continue to. Up the bloxgxsxs!

The line again is crossed......

2010-06-30T03:11:00.001-04:00

...and no i'm not talking about pacman's wacky dubstep posts

[<3 for pac'y, and <3 for the nittygritttyyy]

I'm talking about the new irresistible synth-pop gem from Montreal's Glam/Shoegaze/Glam outfit Cherry Chapstick, The Line. Just got an email with these 2 tracks last night from their guitarist, Nigel Ward. Let's just say that these guys have a way about raw dancey synth pop that I haven't seen in quite some time. You can see their production efforts applied elsewhere via the wonderful b/w track off their new single: a fast paced reverbed revamp of Precious Necklace (Be Good To Me) by Silly Kissers.

Cherry Chapstick - The Line
Cherry Chapstick - Precious Necklace (Be Good To Me) - A Silly Kissers Reimagining

And if you don't already feel like you're floating in mid air when listening to these space jams -- try watching this makeshift music video of The Line featuring clips from the trailer for Johnny 316.

NiT GriT: Genius or Retard?

2010-06-29T22:08:00.002-04:00

(sorry for saying "retard" in the title. i did it for the 'lulz')

I first heard of NiT GriT this past February when my ex-roommate (who is a complete dubstep noob and fills his playlists with 'hits' from the likes of Bassnectar) played me some of his tracks from his soundcloud. At first, I thought it was just some more shit--note his boringly ubiquitous wobble-bass 'roar' in some of his early tracks (such as 'One Love'). But after following his carrier label, Simplify Recordings (on twitter), I clicked a link that lead to NiT GriT's new 'single' (below)

Now, all 'COD'-styled profile pic images aside, how does his production truly rate? Although I bet he's using Fruity Loops as his standby 'DAW,' you can't deny his technical ability. He's no slowby when it comes to gettting a 'full' sound. If sounds were like diapers, his would be bursting at the seems. But this isn't that amazing, really. How many super-talented 'bedroom engineers' are out there today making subpar dubstep? Hundreds. What strikes me about his tunes is his ability to integrate 'sad/sorrowful' melodies into his bass licks. <<<---THIS IS WHAT I LIKE ABOUT HIS MUSIC

NiT GriT - Grit Shifter
NiT GriT - Lupin
(dude, srsly? ur capitalizing some of ur letters? what are u, some 14yr-old girl from inner-city Detroit?)

...And to be honest, this is all it takes for his tunes to kick ass. This guy--an AMERICAN dubstep producer nonetheless--understands that chordal progressions are important. It hooks people and keeps them hooked for a long time. It gives the song a 'soul.' It makes me cry a little sometimes if I'm alone. His melody 'lead' hooks are sometimes a little lacking, but the bass always sounds fucking full, and that's enough to keep a dancefloor moving, so yeah. awesome.

(classic gangster 'street' pose)

But then u go 2 his soundcloud and download his tracks (which many are free--awesome. All of them were uploaded via .WAV--NOT FUCKING AWESOME, DUDE), and u find that not only are they not 320's, but they're bizarrely named when you import em into iTunes. His sound is professional, and the fact that he's signed to a halfway legit label is... well, legit. But his logo's and all that are really lacking.

SOMEBODY PLZ MANAGE THIS DUDE SO HE CAN GET TASTEFUL!
kthnxbai
-PACMAN aka subVader
(what, like you didn't already know?)

Relajacion con Persona La Ave y Locura con Gobble Gobble

2010-06-28T15:00:00.000-04:00

The past week, through the hectic meanderings of my mundane life, I've realized that I need to

chill

the fuck

out.

And now I can, thanks to some new jams by Persona La Ave. On their latest slew of releases, Persona La Ave utilizes a refreshing wash of warm synth tones, crisp percussion, and creative samples that take you destination to destination/ realization to realization/ texture to texture. You can download their newest tracks at their bandcamp fo' freeeeeee; take a listen to a couple choice favorites below.

Persona La Ave- Beach 1

Persona La Ave- Dunes

...but if I've learned anything about the way in which I chill out, I can anticipate on being manic as FUCK within the next day or so. In anticipation, check out the GOBBLE GOBBLE revamp of Persona La Ave's "Beach", as well as his new Beko digital single, all found below. Shit is crazy, man.

Persona La Ave- Beach 2 (Gobble Gobble's R. Kelly Magic Carpet)

Gobble Gobble- Cat Eggs

Your World, Delivered.

2010-06-28T14:56:00.000-04:00

Grand Tetons | Badlands | Craters of the Moon | Yellowstone

__________________________________________________________________________

See you on the other side

Until next time...

...keep on Tweaking

Only Bleeding

2010-06-27T21:20:00.000-04:00

Phillip Oskar Augustine released his debut full length tape, Unkown Patterns, on Bathetic Records earlier this year. The tape is now sold out, but you can check out some tracks below and if you like, download the full album for free (via Summer Time in Hell).

Blending pop vocal melodies ala Panda Bear with an instrumental space truly his own of rippling guitar licks and march tempo snare, Phillip Oskar Augustine has been dominating my playlist the past few weeks. I'm speaking specifically here of Only Bleeding (one of my favorites tracks off Unknown Patterns), but don't worry...the album as a whole more than lives up to the precedent set by this track :)

mp3:
Phillip Oskar Augustine - Only Bleeding

GET YOUR TURKEY ON>?!

2010-06-22T19:20:00.002-04:00

GOBBLE GOBBLE has been making waves around the music scene for quite some time now, and it's about time we acknowledge our undying love for Cecil Frena and the whole GOBBLEGBL crew here in Ann Arbor. In fact, if you're a 'Michigander' yourself, you should know that Gobble Gobble will be bringing their pychadelic freak/tweak out to Ann Arbor for a show at our very own Tweaker Pad in September (more info on that in the coming months)

Be on the lookout for what seems to be a Lawn Knives 7" (listen below) in the coming months via our super pals over at Royal Rhino Flying Records, and if you're as obsessed with GBL's glitchy lo-fi hyper-speed remixes as much as I am, check out a whole FREE ZIP worth of spine tickling remixes on their Tumblr--

MP-FREEEEEEEE

GOBBLE GOBBLE - Lawn Knives

Persona La Ave - Beach 2 (GOBBLE GOBBLE'S R. Kelly Magic Carpet)

Coma Cinema - Only (GOBBLE GOBBLE's Sunshine Dust)

Picture Time!!!

2010-06-20T15:46:00.004-04:00

Ghost Animal. Ghost Animal. Ghost Animal.

2010-06-17T22:07:00.008-04:00

Howling distortion. Floating vocals amidst waves of lo-fi bliss. A cocked eyebrow. Hooks that resonate in your head played by two buzzsaw guitars. California Summertime.

Internet amigas/os, I wouldn't be speaking to you so directly unless-

a) this were a suicide note

b) I wanted to have sex with you

c) Ghost Animal's newest single was fucking ill.

The answer is thankfully b. and c.

Ghost Animal- California Summertime Pt. 1

p.s. new GA > Wvvvvvvv

N E W T W E A K E R A B O A R D

2010-06-17T20:50:00.001-04:00

Today is a special day my friends, a special day indeed....but no, I'm not talking about getting your 'world cup nut' for the 7th day in a row (although if you'd like to read this post in true world cup fashion, be our guest)

Today we welcome our good friend Jeremy M. aboard the S.S. Tweaking. You may know J-doggg via his stellar remixes of Yeah Yeah Yeah's or Crystal Castles under the Moniker Professor Purple. But what you probably don't know is that he makes his turntables blow up....literally (see photo above).

Currently Jeremy's out in Pittsburgh for the warmer months, but will be back in the lovely Ann Arbor come September. In the meantime, he's heading abroad to europe for a bit, so be on the look out for his debut post from across the oh so beautiful ocean in the coming week or so.

See below for the Prof's killer rmx of Crystal Castle's Celestica, as well as a previously unreleased track from his solo tapey-beat/electronic music project Chrome Sparks (a beautiful mesh of blogorific hazyjamz with the high fidelity perfection of a chinaman) Jeremy's also currently working on finishing up a Chrome Sparks EP to be released via Tweaking later this summer...and we couldn't be more stoked.

mp3z::

Crystal Castles - Celestica (Professor Purple Remix)

Chrome Sparks - I'll Be Wait For Sadness Comes Along

with love,

djdr+teh_tweakingcrew

Sunbeam Rd - Turtles, Magnets, Animals EP

2010-06-14T18:40:00.016-04:00

San Francisco's Sunbeam Rd are releasing their new EP- Turtles, Magnets, Animals TODAY on their Bandcamp (cassettes seemingly available as well). Here at Tweaking , we love well-done psych rock more than we love houseboats. And we fucking love that shit. So where does this leave us? Thoroughly stoked.

Turtles, Magnets, Animals is a lush, rolling waltz of spaced-out indie jams and memorable hooks. Listening to the EP, I feel like I'm taking a peculiar walk through a damp night, passing through thoughts amidst brilliant reflections of streetlights and the stars overhead. Perhaps still a little blazed. But perhaps not. Perhaps you should just judge for yourself.

I'm definitely keeping an eager eye on Sunbeam Rd. But if I were in California, I'd probably treat my eyes to seeing them live on their upcoming mini-tour.

Check out my favorite tracks off the record below-

Sunbeam Rd - Burial

Sunbeam Rd - Houseboat

Blackbird Blackbird + Double Denim Records

2010-06-11T12:43:00.001-04:00

Recent internet pal and overall great dude Mikey Sanders, aka Blackbird Blackbird, just announced today that he'll be dropping a split 7" on Double Denim Records (UK) for DDR's debut physical, and I'm more than pumped.

The A-side will have two Blackbird Blackbird songs on it, "Pure" and "So Sorry, Girl".....and the B-side will feature another artist TBA next friday. So if you wanna be in the know, be sure to be checking DDR's tumblr at the tail end of next week.

Preview Mikey's two tracks for the split 7" below, and if you dig tunes, then dig a bit into your pockets as well and shove out the measly £5.00 to pre-order this hot bit of wax now.

Blackbird Blackbird - Pure

Blackbird Blackbird - So Sorry, Girl

Defiance, Ohio- Midwestern Minutes

2010-06-10T21:33:00.002-04:00

Leak schmeke, all that you need to know about Defiance, Ohio's new full-length is that it's incredible.

To be released on No Idea on July 6th (fuck, right?), Midwestern Minutes is a a 10-song story of reflective contemplations, nostalgic ruminations, and heartwarming Midwestern charm that has proven to be my favorite Defiance release to date. The music is well orchestrated and there are no filler tracks. None. Defiance, Ohio's lyrics are memorable and chill-inducing in their ability to convey sociopolitical and personal realizations as simple statements given to the listener, held close until they can't help but scream them. This is why I love Defiance, Ohio.

Check out a couple of my personal favorites off of the release below and be sure to check them out ON TOUR NOW!!!...in the real world- the one with oxygen.

Defiance, Ohio- Hairpool
Defiance, Ohio- You Are Loved

Hypermagic - Tangerine Scene

2010-06-09T17:04:00.004-04:00

Just when you thought every good new band lately is spitting out nothing but hazy pop gems, enter London's own Hypermagic, who remind us of where all this haziness comes from in the first place: pure, luscious, ambient music....and boy have these guys rediscovered the beauty in ambient music. Tangerine Scene consists of audio gems that don't rely on catchy melodies, but sonic textures and rhythms that ride you along a time warping tunnel headed straight for the moon, which upon closer inspection, might actually not be made of cheese, but rather the shiny bald forehead of Brian Eno himself.

Hypermagic - Moot

Hypermagic - Window Rat Sundae

Download Tangerine Scene in full (via bandcamp)

Vic Ruggiero- Songs For Clandestine Lovers

2010-06-08T12:26:00.010-04:00

Classic.

It's the feeling I get when my body collapses onto the prickle of dry grass on a hot day. The feeling I get, held in a fleeting stare, when I see a former lover in passing. Hearing your favorite Beatles song, etc.

It's also the feeling I get whenever listening to The Slackers' frontman and multi-instrumentalist, Vic Ruggiero. Recently, released his latest full-length solo effort (as a one man band) on Ska in the World Records. Songs for Clandestine Lovers spans 10 introspective, bittersweet Vic classics in the folk-rock stylings of a man who speaks love in a Brooklyn accent, a pork pie hat, and endless 4/4 time...Classic.

Vic Ruggiero- Clandestine

Vic Ruggiero- Mary is the One

CCU IN THE MIXXX

2010-06-07T23:40:00.009-04:00

So stoked to bring you guys the 3rd edition of Tweaking's Mixtape series:

------CCU IN THE MIXXX------

Chrissy of Coyote Clean Up just sent this over my way last night, and it's really fucking killer. Starts off with Best Coast, and has a few of my favorite CCU originals as well. In case you're not familiar w/ the lofi/dub/house/bliss of Coyote Clean Up, check out their jam Take It Like A Champ, below, off of their stellar drug induced Lackadaisical split EP with FUR that graced us all (via Waaga Records) earlier this year. See mixtape tracklist below - enough of me talking.....DL that shit!!! (link via the artwork above, or see below).

Tracklist:

best coast: when i'm with you

andres: sing about it (featuring tracy vox & kdj)

actress: machine and voice

whomadewho: keep me in my plane (dj koze hudson river dub)

siriusmo: wow!

lenka: trouble is a friend (eli escobar mix)

shake shakir: no. 3 (malfunctioning)

esg: moody (spaced out)

can: vitamin c

coyote clean up: don't worry dub (w/ ORPHAN)

jimmy edgar: hot raw sxx (ccu zoning out dub one)

coyote clean up: from behind

john talabot: matilda's dream

omar-s: set it out

massive attack: paradise circus (featuring hope sandoval) (gui boratto dub)

geneva jacuzzi: do i SAD?

erykah badu: incense

architecture: pregnant

mp3:
Coyote Clean Up - Take It Like A Champ

>>>>>>CCU IN THE MIXXX<<<<<<

Subvader remixes Kavinsky

2010-06-05T19:21:00.004-04:00

Our very own resident 'womperman' SUBVADER has just given us the link to a new track and we're goin gaga for it!

Nightcall (Subvader Remix)

The vader-meister has gone all out on this deep, deep, vastly deep track, showing us that there's (a shit-ton) more to dubstep than a melody-less, wobbly 'WAMP WAMP.' He retains a similar melody to the original but then takes it to some otherworldly space odyssey shit. After listening to it, I feel like I'm in a rave in deepspace where we're kinda floatin around in astro suits outside the starcraft and i just took a hit of DMT. Please crank your speakers when listening to it, and if possible, take some drugs (preferably hallucinogens).

>>ALSO!!!!<<
please give it some hearts on soundcloud because this track was made for a COMPETITION! and the track with the most hearts wins some shit and gets mad street cred. maybe you could even tweet @kavinsky himself and tell him how awesome you think it is. please vote for it tho! spread the word on twitter or facebook or whatever! here's the tiny link: http://tiny.cc/n5nqz ! plz spread tha word yallzz!

alzooo-->>> follow SUBVADER ON TWITTAAAAHHH!!! he's cool. i promise.

i love you guys,
pacman

dubstep loves you guys,
womp womp

don't ever say womp womp or subvader might blast u w his lazy beams

[REVIEW] Coma Cinema :::: Stoned Alone

2010-06-05T02:04:00.010-04:00

Coma Cinema's new album, Stoned Alone, dropped this past Monday on cassette and digital download via one of my favorite young labels, Arcade Sound Ltd, and boy what a treat it is. From the softly smooth beginnings of "In Lieu Of Flowers" Mat Cothran's vocals creep into your head and whisper from a world of truth most bands take several years to find. It's hard to describe the emotions associated with this album. It's definitely sad music, but something about it makes me feel at peace with its depressed loneliness. Where many bands transfer sad and somber sentiments through noncommittal lyrics, Coma Cinema's word choice and vocal delivery scream with raw and beautiful emotion that draw you in. Stoned Alone definitely seems be coming from a darker, more well defined, conceptual place than their last effort, Baby Prayers, but all of the elements that made their first album the pop gem that it was are still standing strong.

"Only" is the album's quintessential slow builder, starting off with nostalgic chords on your grandmothers ancient and dusted house organ, and then picking up slowly to stumble through minimal drums and sparse but heavy piano stabs. Sucker Punch comes at a noticeably faster pace than earlier tracks, following behind "Only" with a driving, harsher attitude that earlier tracks lack. "One good death deserves another, one good death deserves another; gunna drive these feelings out of my heart and drown them in the lake." I guess now is as good a time as any to mention how soothing Mat's falsetto ooh's feel throughout the whole album, and the end of Sucker Punch if a perfect example of how they give many songs that extra push to drown you in blissful sound.

By Bath Of Time the album briefly reaches a more upbeat chord progression, but the screechy synth/guitar noises that trade musical moments with the verse serve as reminder of the emotional space where this album came from: somewhere in the uncomfortable and undeniable beauty of solitude. Blissed brings us back home as the second to last track, and comes as a much more blatantly sad but beautiful piece of dwindling high guitar and lethargic drumming, building slowly only to be drowned out by synths and soon after die to make room for the albums closer, Have You?: a painfully honest fingerpicked lullaby.

Sing me to sleep Coma Cinema---

Really great video for "Only" by Tyler T Williams. Below preview album opener, "In Lieu of Flowers", and check out a remix I did for Sucker Punch-- enjoi>

mp3:

Coma Cinema - In Lieu of Flowers

Coma Cinema - Sucker Punch (Kohwi Remix)

Buy Coma Cinema :::: Stoned Alone via Arcade Sound on Cassette+Dgtl for $5+shpping (for realz, you won't regret it)

Say It

2010-06-03T00:10:00.009-04:00

Born Ruffians' new album, Say It, released just a few days ago definitely doesn't disappoint. The release is Canadian rock at its finest, and maintains a compelling indie sound. Oh Man is decidedly one of the best songs, starting the album off strong.

Along with the release of Say It begins Born Ruffians' North American Tour with Young Rival, whose debut LP will be released June 8th. They have a pretty sick Beach House cover that you should check out.

Until next time, enjoy!

Born Ruffians - Oh Man.mp3

Young Rival - Master of None (Beach House cover).mp3

Weeeeed Diamonnnnnd

2010-06-01T13:27:00.008-04:00

Although Weed Diamond's latest 7" on Transparent Records was released a couple months ago, it's still worth checking out if you haven't already.

Snowmelt is upbeat little gem with glassy guitars that glisten together in a unified stream. Between reverb-heavy vocals an exceptional chorus, it simply feels like you're getting lifted (perhaps from some surplus product you unexpectedly found chilling with the lint in the pocket of your jeans).

Also, check out catchy rock jam on the b-side, Oklahoma.

Weed Diamond- Snowmelt

Weed Diamond- Oklahoma

The CQ's Things

2010-05-25T22:31:00.013-04:00

If you haven't heard of up and coming psych-rockers, The CQ, you're totally missing out. Totally.

The CQ plays a soothing mix of pleasant grooves and gazey melodies embracing the textural stylings of lo-fi. They also totally just released a new track on bandcamp-

The CQ - Things

Also, check some of their other tracks belowww-

The CQ - Wait and See

The CQ - Where Are You?

The Summer Jams Cometh

2010-05-23T16:23:00.009-04:00

Doomstar!- Rainbow Bloodsucker

Classic Fender reverb drip. Psychedelic grooves thrown in line with indie-pop moments. Lo-fi warmth like the interior of your car in a hot parking lot. A perfect mix of feel-good moments and innate weirdness to make Doomstar!'s recent Rainbow Bloodsucker a great record to blast through your house while you drink a 40 on your front lawn. Pick it up off of their bandcamp page.

Check out some nugs below.

Doomstar! - Ronald Ray-Gun

Doomstar! - Lily Face

It's your fuckin' Nightmare

2010-05-21T18:46:00.003-04:00

i suppose you can call this a follow up on one of my previous posts from way back in December about the metal band who made it, Avenged Sevenfold. i realize they are becoming a bit more "mainstream metal" so to speak, but when you're in a genre like metal, which is obscure enough as it is, its hard to be an "obscure metal band." at least that's my opinion. even mainstream metal is ignored by the general population. either way, Avenged Sevenfold, who recently lost their drummer the Rev (may he rest in peace), has just released a single off their new album, which is coming out later in July. The album and the single are both titled "Nightmare" which can only foreshadow an eerie, darker sound to the album. The single does remind me of some of their other stuff and I can't say is one of their most original songs, but in the end, I still think its a fucking awesome song to rock out too (or maybe i'm just too hardcore of a fanboy). M. Shadows did say in an interview that this album would be a darker emotional album and that they were dedicating it to the Rev. The Rev actually wrote a piece that he claims to be his masterpiece, which he turned in 3 days before his unfortunate death. I believe this piece was originally titled "Death" but in honor of the Rev (aka "Fiction") they renamed the song "Fiction."

Of course you're probably wondering how they recorded drum parts for the album without good ol' Jimmy Sullivan. Well, they asked one of Jimmy's idol drummers, Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater, to record the parts and to go on tour with A7X for a while. This is, unfortunately, just a temporary substitution. After the tour, Mike Portnoy will return to his post with Dream Theater and Avenged Sevenfold will have to get a new drummer.

Anyway, you can read up on the whole thing online somewhere. Wikipedia has some good shit. Here's the single.

Is it here? Or is it going to drop below freezing again in Michigan?

2010-05-20T19:00:00.002-04:00

Fuck meteorology- given any outcome, we might as well prepare.

And no, I'm not talking about picking up that 10-strip from Ricky before seeing _________ Fest or pretending like you're going to have a job outside of food service.

I'm talking about rocking out some jams mid-cigarette while driving someone else's car. I'm talking about waking up to the same damn song every day sometime after 3 pm. I'm talking about that smug grin on your face while you check out summer skin with a pair of shitty headphones on.

You know what I'm talking about.

So here's some nugs:

The Mad Conductor - Members Only Single

Two well-traversed time bending enthusiasts, MC Devlin and MC Kinney give out some mad props to none other than KURT VONNEGUT. Somewhere between Billy Pilgrim and Bluebeard, MC Devlin spits a rude blend of off-kilter rhymes that humanize animals, euthanize virgins, and give you some nice music to get crunk to. I don't like get hung up on things, but these guys get me wet.

On contradictions and crunkness, jam out to an old MC gem-

The Mad Conductor - Tomb Diggin' Shovels

The Mad Conductor may be around in the future; they may have lost themselves within their own consciousness somewhere in Louisiana. Maybe. Check them out.

TWIN SISTER x TEEN DAZE

2010-05-20T10:22:00.003-04:00

One of Twin Sister's stellar tracks off their recent release Color Your Life from Brooklyn got remixed and re-vamped up by Arcade Sound labelee Teen Daze. Enough Said. Yet another fine showcase of the awesome musicians that are coming out of Canada these days (Gobble Gobble, Kumon Plaza, etc). This remix throws Twin Sister's track immersed in sweet synth and drum machines with a heavy dose of nostalgia -- to the max.

I'll be honest when I say that at first Color Your Life didn't really live up to my expectations, but good thing I kept it in rotation...this album is for sure a grower. The first track is certainly a standout for me, with gorgeous synths and driving drums overlayed by beautiful and almost eerie ooh's and ah's to lull you into a warm bliss....tracking in at a full 7:07, The Other Side of Your Face is a slow builder, worth every second. Head over to their site and grab it for free while you can, and let it be a testiment to why you should pre order it vinyl or CD from infinite best all the same.

Teen Daze also has a EP, Four More Years, coming out soon on Vinyl and digital via Arcade Sound, which from what I hear sounds quite promising as well. So be on the lookout for those goods too-

mp3:

Twin Sister - All Around and Away We Go (Teen Daze Remix)

Twin Sister - The Other Side of Your Face

Kohwi - Blindlights Mix

2010-05-10T20:44:00.001-04:00

So this is a mix that I started at least a few months back, but it had to take a back seat to some more pressing projects for a while. School ended, I found myself with some more free time on my hands, and finally got around to finishing this little set.

Today I bring you Tweaking Trays' second mixtape: Kohwi - Blindlights Mix.

A 30-minute set that strives for variety similar to that of a freeform radio show ala my weekly bit on WCBN here in Ann Arbor. These are all tracks that have really hit me hard over the past year, mostly recent stuff, but there's also some songs that are a little older, tracks that I've recently discovered, or tunes that I just feel never got enough love. So get yourself in bed, turn on some trippy mood lighting, crank this through your A grade studio headphones, and enjoy the BlindLights.

Tracklist:

1. DM Stith - Abraham's Song (Bibio remix)

2. Mount Kimbie - Vertical

3. Luke Vibert - Porn Shirtwee

4. Mobius Band - The Loving Sounds Of Static (Junior Boys RMX)

5. MillionYoung - Chlorophyl

6. Andre Nickatina - Killa Whale

7. Venetian Snares - Eurocore MVP

8. Static - Untitled

9. Toro Y Moi - Lissoms

10. New Villager - Genghis On

11. Machinedrum - Freshkids (Fresh Edit)

12. Dan Deacon - Snake Mistakes

13. of Montreal - Id Engager (Diplo Mad Decent Mix)

14. Fizzy Dino Pop - Space

15. Alice Russel - Universe (Dave Da Gatos F_uck-up The Festivals Bounce)

16. Dizzee Rascal & Armand Van Helden - Bonkers (Doorly Dubstep Remix)

17. Modem - Three-Year-Old Slug

18. Ernest Gonzales - When You Are Lost I Will Find You

Kohwi - BlindLights Mix

Ps. The new spring schedule begins tomorrow for WCBN. My show, The Magical Mystery Hour, will be Monday's 3-5:30 from now through the end of June, and fellow tweaker Gargamell will also be storming the airwaves Wednesday nights 11pm-1am right after the Local Music Show. You can stream 'cbn online ALL THE TIME!

Now I'm out to listen to a live broadcast of Toro Y Moi & Caribou in DC via NPR. Check it out --

-djdrbegone

wishes Chairman were here.

2010-05-07T17:10:00.008-04:00

Ann Arbor, MI

oh em gee its out its out its out

2010-05-06T10:24:00.006-04:00

Ladies and Gents, long time no see.

I apologize for my long absence, but you see...I had more important things to do. Well, that may not be true, but regardless, I come bearing exciting news and gifts.

The new Ratatat album, appropriately named LP4, is scheduled to release soon and it is fantastic. How do I know? There was a leak. some dutch guy put it up on /mu/. Those dutchmen are crafty in their ways, y'know. So here's a mediafire link to download the tracks. Unfortunately, you're gonna have to download the tracks individually, but trust me it's well worth it.

LP4

I must say, I've never been disappointed in Ratatat. They are some of the finest and most unique musicians I have heard and their following is constantly expanding. So now, be one of the first to have the new LP4 album. You're welcome.