i was asked to put together a topten with comments for a publication, and
figured i'd share what i made-up. while reading the comments, please
realize the "critic-tone" is just that... bullshit (trying to sound cool and
knowledgable when you're not), i make bold statements in a shameless attempt
to get a quote published (take it with a grain of salt). so, with that in
mind... and yes, in the BOC comments i exaggerate a bit, but it's just to
make a point. :>
(comments appreciated)
1. Sigur Ros- ( )
2. Boards of Canada-Geodaddi (warp)
3. Mum-Finally We Are No One (fatcat)
4. Astrobotnia-Part One (rephlex)
5. Flaming Lips-Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
6. Venetian Snares-Winter in the Belly of a Snake (planet-mu)
7. Black Dice-Beaches and Canyons
8. Joseph Nothing-Dreamland Idle Orchestra (planet-mu)
9. Tujiko Noriko-Make Me Hard (mego)
10. AE-Gantz Graf (warp)
Whose gunna hot shit in 2003?
Cherry (forthcoming on AudioDregs)
1. Sigur-Ros- ( )
Sigur-Ros? music may seem soft spoken, but in actuality theirs is a
rather extreme response to the arrant music landscape. As with the slowcore
movement popularized by Low in the early 90s, their rebellion against the
mainstream goes in the opposite direction from teen angst filled metal (the
motivation was there, but lack of any sophistication de-legitimized a
stronger notion). Dancing the line between pop accessibility and
emotionally challenging art, this may be the most heartbreaking music ever
created. Sigur-ros offers a new voice/vision that is both f1ully-realized
and expertly manifested.
2. Boards of Canada-Geodaddi
Like with a lot of rewarding music/art, it can take a while for BOC?s
genius to become apparent. Despite BOC?s deservedly legendary status on the
influential idm-list, Geodaddi initially was met with disdain? of course,
months later, it also ended as many of those same poster?s album of the
year.
Filled with seemingly endless attention to detail, BOC?s sound forest is
a stoner?s wet dream with its crunchy, slippery beats and signature lullaby
melodies that haunt and uplift.
With tons of back material ready to be released, and an ever thickening
personal mythology, BOC are officially legendary.
3. Mum-Finally we are no one
It wasn?t until I got to see them live at the Knitting Factory this
year that I realized the breadth or organic instrumentation FWANO held.
Many sounds I assumed to be synthetic in origin were in fact created by
melodiums, accordions, and guitars. They have taken revelations from the
electronic scene and applied them back to archaic instruments in blissful
innocence, creating a new kind of quilt to keep to you warm.
4. Astrobotnia-Part One
Criminally overlooked, Astrobotnia is a 3 part (the first installment
being the best) team-effort from the Rephlex stable. If only people would
quit complaining about the disappointing Druqks and pick this up. Here in
lives the perfect ethereal blend of Eno soundscapes and Braindance
breakbeat. Updating the Rephlex sound for the new millennium.
5. Flaming Lips-Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Ok, so they?re in TV commercials, so what? Wayne and his band of merry
pranksters are the most inventive, motivated, and downright fun band in
American music today. Refreshing, transcending, and poppy, Yoshimi shines
so bright! And with a full-length film just around the corner, it looks
like the fun is just starting? what's not to like?
6. Venetian Snares-Winter in the Belly of a Snake
Aaron Funk lives in Canada and makes electronic music, lots of it (he
releases a new LP every couple of months). Recording as Venetian Snares,
Aaron is quickly securing a spot in the coveted drill-and-bass pantheon
founded by Aphex, Squarepusher, and Mu-ziq. What sets VS apart? He has a
legitimate and consistent hardcore streak, maintaining a tension that?s
sexual, horrific, and painfully brainy. That and the fact that the
emotional and aesthetic depth he throws around is unmistakably the work of a
frustrated genius. Bow down to the new master. Oh, and WITBOAS is his most
fully-realized and varied release to date.
7. Black Dices-Beaches and Canyons
While one could argue that what Black Dice are doing has been done before
(lord knows the 70s were filled with driving, droning space jams), but Black
Dice?s immediate relevance and hopeful influence on the waning NYC scene is
undeniable. Once an infamous hardcore band, after a tour with Avey Tare and
Panda Bear they rethought their approach and came up with Beaches and
Canyons, a majestically hypnotic tidal wave of throbbing sound.
8. Joseph Nothing-Dreamland Idle Orchestra
Joseph Nothing?s name really isn?t Joseph, he?s from Japan. Playful and
chaotic, JN?s albums unite hyperactive lullabies with soft-spoken ADD
beatage, throwing in some just-being-weird-for-the-fun-of-it Japanese
freedom love. Inspired by an amusement park he visited as a child,
Dreamland Idle Orchestra is an absolute wonder of an album and it?s a shame
it?s been so overlooked. A real gem.
9. Tujiko Noriko-Make Me Hard
Also from Japan, Tujiko Noriko pushes Fennesz?s sound aesthetic into the
realm of pop. Doing everything herself, Tujiko?s albums are so
fully-realized and heady and warm and refreshingly playful and it?s made by
a female (rejoice!).
10. Autechre- Gantz Graf ep
Once again, Autechre remind us that they are God. Not only are their
technical abilities in sound design light years ahead of the competition,
they are making some very bold aesthetic comments that will become very
apparent say? ten years down the line. Absolutely mind bending.
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