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Posts tagged with experimental music

March 6, 2009 | New Music | There's audio in this post. by Gerry Mak |

These heady times call for heady music, something spaced-out, trance-y, weird, and devilishly ecstatic to distract us from reality. Chicago’s Cave heeds this call for musical escapism, channeling Hawkwind, Kraftwerk, funk, and tribal frenzy into their mothership-beaconing groove.

January 29, 2009 | New Music | There's audio in this post. by Francis Andrews Highly recommended by the LAEM team. |

The latest in the flurry of experimental Brooklyn bands, Telepathe, have attracted some serious attention since the release of their debut LP Dance Mother last week. Although produced by TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek — enough of an accolade to draw thousands alone — the band are by no means riding on the crest of his wave. The sound is distinctive: synth-heavy backing dropped behind looped harmonies and chants, creating a sinister and compelling musical experience. One can guess at the influences — Gang Gang Dance, Animal Collective, Battles, and so on — although Telepathe stubbornly refuse to let this direct the music, adding a lick of 80’s paint to the equation and peeling off on their own unchartered course.

  • telepathe

September 23, 2008 | New Music | There's audio in this post. by Gerry Mak |

Chicago’s Cheer Accident started as a post-no-wave weirdo band typical of the Skin Graft roster, but of late, they’ve been doing some unrestrained pop and rock. They even have harmonized vocals and an occasional horn. This isn’t to say they’re commercializing – their songs are just as complex as ever, and there’s still a hint of discordance beneath the shimmering new sound.

August 19, 2008 | New Trends | There's audio in this post. by Derrick Stembridge |

Brian Eno and David Byrne recently finished their first collaboration in about 30 years. For the most part, Eno did the music and Byrne wrote some tunes, words and sang. It’s familiar, but completely new as well. The new record is called Everything that Happens will Happen Today and it will be available on August 18th. In September, Byrne will begin a tour on which he will be playing music from the new album as well as music from their previous collaborations – three Talking Heads albums and Bush of Ghosts, amongst them.

Listen to the new Byrne-Eno track, Strange Overtones.

July 16, 2008 | New Music | There's audio in this post. by Gerry Mak |

Caught The Dust Dive the other night at Glasslands. They’re a bunch of hippies, but even I have to admit, they’re atmospheric live show – consisting of violin, gently strummed guitar, a few piano and sampler twinkles here and there, and sound samples from the found footage projected behind the band – is really powerful, like the warm rush of fond memories that hits you an instant before the mushroom cloud annihilates everything. Frontman Bryan Zimmerman even plays the musical saw, and you really can’t argue with that.

Listen to their track, Claws of Light.

June 30, 2008 | New Music | by Gerry Mak |

The glut of pretentious art rock bands in New York has been getting me down and making me hate going to shows. That is, until I got to catch Extra Life a couple weeks ago. These guys obviously listen to everything Tzadik puts out, but as challenging and off-kilter as their angular squall can get, they’re not averse to, you know, making music. Their intricately-composed songs are almost operatic in their structure, and feature hints of everything from Arther Russell to Meshuggah. They even break into some pleasant and jaunty folk moments. Plus, they have a violinist, and violins in rock music is rad.

Listen to Extra Life’s track, The Refrain.

June 18, 2008 | New Prizes | by Zolton |

This is one for you Radiohead fanatics. We have a special box set to give away to a randomly selected Lost At E Minor subscriber featuring all seven Radiohead albums (minus In Rainbows). Read more

May 31, 2008 | New Music | by Francis Andrews |

No Age are doing something different to the mass of noise-laden, guitar-drum duos canvasing the lo-fi airwaves at the moment. I’m just not sure quite what. Their album, Nouns, is receiving top-rate reviews after sell-out crowds after screaming, obsessive fans. The music is simply massive: a vast landscape of heat haze, somehow both tranquil and manic, punctuated by singer Dean Sprouts backdrop of barely intelligible vocals and Randall’s distorted, archaic sounding drums.

March 15, 2008 | New Art | by Gerry Mak |

Stephen Tompkins makes some impressive Lichtenstein-esque paintings that look like Dali comic books. He is also a prolific experimental musician who makes dark, ambient sound collages and minimalist, beat-driven compositions. Read more

February 18, 2008 | Video | by Erick Jackson - Apes |

Only a band from Akron, Ohio could come up with the whole de-evolution theory. Read more

February 12, 2008 | New Music | by Monique Rothstein |

The E.L.F is the outrageous new side project of the flannel-clad Gerling frontman, Darren Cross. A genre agnostic, Cross throws a tantrum on Stevie Nicks Hearts, the first EP created el solo in the dark underbelly of his Sydney home studio. The indie-infused aesthetic smashes itself against the wall, whilst 80’s synth-beats get thrown across the room like a bad break up. It’s like Beck made babies with Dannii Minogue, and the chubby new born is strange looking yet surprisingly adorable. [also read our interview with singer-songwriter Reed KD]

 

Originally from Northern California, Amber Gray is now based in Manhattan, where she shoots for magazines such as Dansk, FQ, and Trace. Of her photography, she says: ‘I like to portray strong, vexing characters that have something more behind their gaze. I’m very inspired by music and the dramatic new wave characters of my childhood who conjured so many bizarre fantasies that still fuel my imagination to this day’.


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The first album released by the Malian duo Amadou & Mariam, Dimanche a Bamako, bordered on exceptional, if not for its songwriting then for its sheer diversity. You’d be forgiven for approaching cautiously an album that draws its influences from Syria, Cuba, Egypt, India, and Colombia, as well as its own country – much like a restaurant that offers every cuisine on the planet: choose one and do it well, you’d argue. But the album is fantastic: so full of life, so catchy and so accessible. Read more

Yes, we’ve featured him a lot on Lost At E Minor, but how could we not? New York-based artist Sam Weber’s work is amazing, tapping into dreams, visions, and fantasies from every wayward mind. [more about Sam Weber]


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California’s Cerasoli:LeBasse Gallery has just moved to new digs on Washington Boulevard, Culver City. And to celebrate the re-launch they have an exhibition running featuring the work of Deth P Sun, Mari Inukai [above] and Melissa Haslam, amongst others. This inaugural exhibition, the aptly titled Blender, runs until November 1st.

Oh man, what I wouldn’t give to be able to sing like Neil Finn. His voice rasps with all the sincerity and integrity of a thousand heartfelt melodies. Heck, I’d probably trade my prized collection of Archie comics for just the chorus on this song. Driving Me Mad? You betcha(dupa). This man is a treasure. Bow low indeed.

It’s hard not to sigh at another vector face or skull and diamond combo. I’m guilty of skull overindulgence myself. But Six Letter Word — aka illustrator, Diogo Potes — balances skulls with other macabre themes to create art that actually looks fresh and interesting. Read more

Artist Bill Zeman has an ruthless, hard-nosed art director giving him orders — his four-year-old daughter. He posts the products of their stormy collaboration along with her devastating critiques on his blog, Tiny Art Director, where you can also purchase the book version. Read more

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WE'RE POSTING / SOME OF THE BEST

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Mike Stimpson

Check out Mike Stimpson’s Lego reinterpretations of classic photographs. Stimpson’s version of Malcolm Browne’s iconic 1963 photograph of the self-immolation of Thich Quang Duc is particularly twisted. Read more

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Magic Dots

Wheeeeee! This game is so freaking fun! You move your cursor over each dot to make them split into four smaller dots ad infinitum.

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Lizzy Stewart

There is not a medium that UK illustrator Lizzy Stewart cannot wrap around her little finger to make the most beautiful, whimsical images. Read more

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Charlie Immer

Charlie Immer’s pastel-pallete sometimes obfuscates the gory violence in his surreal images. At other times, it heightens the gut-wrenching and visceral effect of his work. Read more

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Man-Tsun’s painterly images

Hong Kong-based illustrator Man-Tsun draws dark and beautiful painterly images that look like they are straight off a high-end Japanese animated film. Read more


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Wolfmother. Rock n roll. Mystical lyrics. Heavy riffs. They have a new album out, Cosmic Egg, and we have five copies to giveaway, along with their debut album. To enter, tell us your favorite Wolfmother song and the city you live in. Yo! Two fingered salute. Read more

Junior Massive is a newly launched Australian boutique t shirt label making limited edition tees using only Australia cotton. It’s street meets indie; design meets durability; edgy fashion meets edgy fashion. We have them for sale in the Lost At E Minor online store. Read more

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