Daddy Rocks - Ah re que (2015)

Daddy Rocks was a group featured on the Scenes of a City post on Rosario. Argentina. I found them of my own accord kicking around bandcamp and really liked what I heard. They've gotten hip to this the time since and thought it good practice to update me on their new album. So here it is,  Ah re que <3 i=""> the latest effort of the Argentine electronic outfit called Daddy Rocks.

Now, I do recall Daddy Rocks being a heavily electronic operation, but I gotta say they really leaned into it for this new album. It is more purely a selection of electronic dance tunes than I have been exposed to in recent months. Nonetheless, I found it incredibly delightful. The songs are fast, compact and exciting. I could not ask for a better soundtrack to play during a house party or hear at a bar that's compelled to have lights flashing. I do not mean any of this in a snarky way, as I engage in both this vices as regularly as my social life allows. This sort of music holds a prominent place in my heart as I elate at hearing anything half as good as Daddy Rocks in these context and feel a million times better for not hearing awful R&B garbage. Moreover, I am pretty certain hearing electronic music in any language you don't know is much better than understanding the lyrics. Hopefully I am not insulting the band with my off-color endorsements, for I truly love their songs, and I recommend you all take the time to hear it.

Te be had here:
Daddy Rocks  - Ah re que <3 a="">

Bashe - Open Up (2013) + Open Up (Slowly) (2014)

If you're a listener to the show the you might recall we were discussing remixes and how we felt about them, and I thought that to be the perfect excuse to share what is my very favorite sort of remix with set of new tracks submitted by Bashe. Bashe is from Denton, Texas and makes electronic pop music that strays close to dance rock at times and more toward dream pop at others. Awesomely they've tagged it as "hypnagogic pop" which might very well be one of the best new generic terms I've heard. Now, what we have here is a short release from last year called Open Up that is an incredibly catchy and smooth electronic EP, and the other as the name suggests is a slowed down version of the very same tracks. This is a not a new concept, nor is it the first time I have featured a re-worked release of an album by the same artist before. Long time Spacerockmountain pilgrims may recall Toronto's Tearjearker did a similarly self-imposed remixing of their 2010 album Strangers with the following year's Strangers Remade. Just as I was throughly impressed by Tearjerker, I found Bashe's releases to be astounding in their own right, but the really magic happens when heard back to back. The juxtaposition of the two versions, noticing the similarities underling and picking up on the alterations is a remarkable insight to the power of tempo and speed in musical theory.

To be had here:

Open Up











Open Up Slowly

Karl Bartos - Off the Record (2013)

This is not a submitted record, but with all the attention Daft Punk has been getting for their excellent new record, it reminded me of another electronic music pioneer that has a new record out this year. Karl Bartos was a member of Kraftwerk during their most influential period, and has been plodding along for years after leaving the band. His new set of songs, “Off the Record,” can be described as a companion piece to Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories. While Daft Punk’s newest celebrates the disco and R&B roots of electronic music, Bartos rediscovers the more experimental and disunite sounds that were pioneered in tandem with the genres various club incarnations. Just like Kraftwerk records of old, you can dance to “Off the Record,” and there are more than a few pop rhythms and hooks, but Bartos’ work creates a bitter environment where the only beings dancing are ghosts left in the machines mankind has let degrade. It is fascinating music, and one of my favorite records to be released this year. Bellow is one of the best tracks off the album, “Musica Ex Machina.”

 

Buy it here: Karl Bartos - Off the Record (2013)

Wedding Singer - Honeymoon Suite EP (2011)

Wedding Singer is a strange electronic project of a musician that was previously released as Younger Colours and as part of the duo JL Seagull. Honeymoon Suite is a free EP from CF Records, a label I've been getting pretty enamored with lately. They've released some good bands that I've posted already like Lucky Dragons, Girls Names and Cloud Nothings. As for this particular EP, the artist admits to the inspiration of Ariel Pink and the art suggests, it does have a sleazy, dance floor vibe like one might expect at an 80s wedding. For all that it is remarkably smooth and I was able to relisten to it several times over immediately. I hope to get more stuff from CF Records up, but depends on what I find.

To be had here:
Wedding Singer - Honeymoon Suite EP

Delorean - Subiza (2010) & Ayrton Senna EP (2009)

Not much dancey electronic music makes its way into Spacerockmountain. Normally that sort of thing isn't my jam. Yet from time to time I do find something that defies my predilections. I forget where I originally heard about Delorean but when I saw it popping up around the internet and it was being recommended to me by a Dutchman with an ear for electronic music I decided to quit resting on my haunches and give them a chance. Obviously these Spaniards succeeded in impressing me with their catchy, highly poppy electronic numbers. The band has been around for several years and what I am sharing here are just their most recent full length along with the preceding EP. For those interested this is the version of the EP with the bonus tracks. The two releases are rather close in the mood and style so it only makes sense to listen to them both if you find yourself liking either.

Not to be had here as these were continually taken down:




Ayrton Senna EP [256 VBR kbps]













Subiza [2010]

Beat Connection - Surf Noir EP (2010)

I'll begin with my disclaimer, I can't remember how I got this album. Just know it was near the top of my recently added songs, and after giving in a listen I was sure it needed to be posted. I mean, how could one pass up such a thing as an EP called Surf Noir? Luckily, the music lives up to the name. Beat Connection has succeed in making electronic music that provokes imagines of a beach side party that wouldn't have Corona. Not too long ago I posted a similar description of Candy Claws, and it is true that the two bands are quite alike. If anything Beat Connection is more dance-orientated and a bit less ethereal than Candy Claws. Another reason I was all worked up to post this band is that it was the first time I saw the term "glo-fi" and those of you that have been regular readers might recall that I think new genre names are fun and cute. Indeed, glo-fi is a good as term as any string of terms I might assemble for what Beat Connection sounds like, especially if you read the good description of glo-fi on last.fm. More or less it is lo-fi electronic music that infuses a good deal of retro or nostalgic elements into it. If Beat Connection is any indication of what this route can yield, I'll be clamoring for more.

To be had here:
Beat Connection - Surf Noir EP [320 bkps]