Eclectic Vibes
by Andrew Frey
Imagine Dragons - Origins
Imagine DragonsOrigins
Label: Interscope
What an album! These double platinum producing, Grammy winning pop icons deliver another masterpiece with several smash hits as well as several other songs (rounding out this 12 track release) that show off the evolution of their artistic diversity and depth, but not in the same predictable ways as their past releases. If you haven’t heard Natural, Bad Liar or Zero off this album, you will soon, as they are all destined to be classics!
• Imagine Dragons Website • Imagine Dragons FacebookDirtwire - Road Goes All Night
DirtwireRoad Goes All Night
Label: Beats Antique Records
Sometimes instruments plays a big roll in what a recording sounds like and there are few releases that have more a unique sound than this. I saw them last fall at Shangri La Festival and they were quite enthralling thanks in part to Mark Reveley’s Whamola bass and Greek tanbur as well as Even Fraser’s Kamole ngoli and bass ngoli plus David Satori’s bowed banjo and guitarjo. Throw in a harmonica, and smear on some southwestern grit and the folktronica that this trio of talented multi-instrumentalists produce will excite and captivate!
• Dirtwire Website • Dirtwire FacebookNinjula - Bass ‘n Honey
NinjulaBass ‘n Honey
Label: Ragtime Records
Electro swing just keeps getting more exciting! From start to finish, these 6 explosive and super punchy tracks blast out zany breakbeats and wild groovey rhythms flavored full of vintage and big band era compensations with barely a moment to catch your breath. Get wound up in the hyper bass and glitch-hop your nights away to these edgy high octane tunes!
• Ninjula Website • Ninjula FacebookYaima - Antidote
YaimaAntidote
Label: Yaima
Blooming with a connection to nature and sparked by the fire of internal growth and transformation, this third release by Seattle based duo Masaru Higasa (Guitar, flutes, handpan) and Pepper Proud (guitar & vocals) constructs gentle soundscapes filled with stories about the Lightness of Being. An introspective journey filled with atmosphere and many perspectives of the grand whole will please and pacify your inner soul itch.
• Yaima WebsiteMichal Menert & the Pretty Fantastics - From The Sea
Michal Menert & the Pretty FantasticsFrom The Sea
Label: Super Best Records
Featuring a DJ, an MC, and a violinist in addition to Menert’s wide ranging electronic musical influences, this 7 piece band flavors their compositions with tasty measures of jazz, jam, R&B and hip hop. Additionally, Menert for the first time shares lead vocal duties with Jules Thoma to create a warm and dreamy element to this release. Surprisingly seductive and soulful selections overall.
• Michal Menert & the Pretty Fantastics Website • Michal Menert & the Pretty Fantastics Facebook • Michal Menert & the Pretty Fantastics WikiSoleance - Tribute To Galt MacDermot
SoleanceTribute To Galt MacDermot
Label: First Word Records
Grammy Award Winner Galt MacDermot died on Dec 17, 2018, but his music will live forever! Best known for his work on the musical Hair, he produced several #1 hits in the late 60s and has been sampled by numerous groups and producers over the years.. This tribute by the French group Soleance samples choice snippets and turns them into quite on point, catchy, funky, jazzy electronic infused compositions.
• Soleance Website • Soleance FacebookSoDown - Jet Black
SoDownJet Black
Label: GetDown Records
This EP is smokin hot! Establishing a menacing synth ambiance before introducing slick slices of glitch amid strong casts of electro bass and funky beat breakdowns makes for an entrancing listening experience. Chest pumping, hip hopping electronica doesn’t get much better than this.
• SoDown Website • SoDown FacebookKojo - Guide My Soul
KojoGuide My Soul
Label: Random Records
Guide My Soul is the first full length psybass release from KOJO (aka Alexander Green). It is filled with a multitude of quirky samples, fat, plucky bass lines and upbeat rhythms. Time spent experimenting with styles and techniques over the past years pay off throughout the 14 tracks offered here by making this a grand adventure through many sonic landscapes distant dimensions.
• Kojo Website • Kojo FacebookAndy Frasco & The UN - Change of Pace
Andy Frasco & The UNChange of Pace
Label: Fun Machine Records
Super fun and party forward, Andy Frasco & The UN have toured through 10 countries, average 250 shows per year and have somehow managed to output 10,000+ hours playing music. Change of Pace adds more soul to their fabulous freaky funk, showing off their natural evolution as a band, while not losing their edge or originality.
• Andy Frasco & The UN Website • Andy Frasco & The UN FacebookSunsquabi - Instinct
SunsquabiInstinct
Label: Sunsquabi
This Colorado based hydro funk trio really takes flight on their newest release. Each track instinctively takes on the name of a different animal or insect, led by a three-track series of singles “Caterpillar,” “Chrysalis,” and “Night Moth.” Technical wizardry shines on each track, propelled by signature wailing guitars, slithering synths and slap happy improvisational jams. Another blissful display of stunning sonic glory! Become part of their metamorphosis when you go see them (with Defunk) on 4/11 at Miramar Theater in Milwaukee, WI and 4/13 at the Majestic Theater in Madison, WI.
• Sunsquabi Website • Sunsquabi FacebookPoranguí - Poranguí
PoranguíPoranguí
Label: Sol Creation Records
The red rocks of Sedona, AZ hold space for the musician, healer and creative spirit known as Porangui. He was cross culturally raised between Brazil, Mexico, and the Southwestern United States before training in ethnomusicology at Duke University, so his music draws from all of these. Poranguí’s signature World Soul style is created by using analogue hardware loopers, fx pedals, indigenous instruments and his voice to create mystical soundscapes capable of transporting listeners across space and time to a place of healing.
• Poranguí Website • Poranguí FacebookMindex - Sleep Deprivation
MindexSleep Deprivation
Label: Night Owl Collective
Russian born all original electronic composer, Mindex, touts a terrific topography composed of modern synthesizers and effects morphed into lush layers of melodic patterns and textures. While his other works are more upbeat and punchy, this release really takes the sleep deprivation aspect to heart and is dreamy, ambient and other worldly. He will be fully awake though on 4/26 (with Milwaukee’s own Deerskin) at Ruby Madison in Madison, WI. (8) www.mindex-music.com
• Mindex Website • Mindex FacebookView More
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