Dam-Funk – DJ-Kicks

dam-funk - dj-kicks

Studio !K7’s long-running DJ-Kicks series has always been a great opportunity for artists to show off their tastes, often far broader than their own music implied. It was a chance for your favorite indie rock band to say hey, we listen to hip-hop and early drone music too! But the most interesting sets always did something more powerful.

For his entry, Dam-Funk offers a free fall down the rabbit hole of his own work by exploring artists that sharply reflect the edges of his own productions. It feels like an archeological dig into the distant past and unknown present, unearthing insight into a man whose work seemed to have sprung out fully formed so many years ago.

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Gaussian Curve – Clouds

Gaussian Curve - Clouds

Clouds is, simply put, one of the most addictive albums I’ve heard all year, despite its relaxed attitude and understated charm. This thing slid into my brain and refused to leave.

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What I’m Into This Week (6/5 – 6/11)

Witcher 3 Ciri and Geralt

This week has been as busy as ever so I didn’t have a ton of time for new music, but I made up for that with deep enthusiasm for what I did discover.

Thanks to Dam-Funk’s excellent new entry in the DJ-Kicks series, I’ve been looping a certain new-to-me album half a dozen times over the past day alone. I’ve also spent time in one of the most sublime virtual worlds ever created, in The Witcher 3.

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What I’m Into This Week (5/29 – 6/4)

the avalanches old

Since you’re seeing this a day late, you might have gathered the fact that I was busier than normal this week. After Memorial Day left me only four days to take on a new project at work, I barely got around to writing about music, which always feels pretty bad.

Still, I’m thankful for a job that allows me all the time in the world to listen to new music. I’m going to mention the best stuff now. Spoiler alert: The Avalanches appear.

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Radiohead – Burn the Witch

Radiohead Burn the Witch

Radiohead just released a new single for the first time in years. It’s called Burn The Witch and it honestly gives me some hope for the forthcoming album.

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Colin Stetson – Sorrow, a Reimagining of Górecki’s 3rd Symphony

colin-stetson-sorrow-album

Colin Stetson, known for his virtuoso saxophone work and haunting trilogy of avant-jazz solo albums, has put together a miniature orchestra to record one of the greatest pieces of music of the 20th century. While I had my doubts, the resulting album is an incredible feat of musicianship and passion. It’s a riveting new take on a classic that leaves the emotional core intact while adding new wrinkles to the experience.

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What I’m Into This Week (3/20 – 3/26)

Dope 2015

This week’s real world brought a deadly terrorist attack in Belgium, while the music world brought the premature death of a hip-hop hero. It was downers all around, and I struggled personally with some dark moments too. At least in my own case, I try to meditate, focus, and seek the healing power of art. This is how I keep perspective.

It’s also how I end up sharing music. Here we go:

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