Niki N. Phaser » electronica

NikiN – The Architect

Niki N. Phaser — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:59:42 +0000

Slow, tech piece, based on plenty electro sounds and bells. It’s both atmospheric and yet intriguing. It could be a suitable soundtrack for a video of someone designing or building something. Because of this I really recommend it for tutorials and ‘how-to’ videos. The dreamy mood makes the track also quite suitable for space or science shows and documentaries. It might add the perfect background to stuff related to doctors and medical research.

This, as well as 3 other similar tracks, is also available in my Scientific Research Pack

Hot Chip Release New Album “One Life Stand”

Niki N. Phaser — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:04:58 +0000

Your favourite British pop-nerds, Hot Chip, are releasing their fourth studio effort, One Life Stand. Even before we hear the album, we have to give them a thumbs up for finding such a tongue-in-cheek title. It’s coming out this week and by judging the already released material, Chip fans have nothing to worry about. The oddball electro outfit, who are celebrating a decade of existence, have plenty of pop hooks and over-plugged beats in store for us. Ready for the Floor‘s title as the most recognizable Chip track might be in danger.

First official single, the title track, is a valid proof of this. It does sound like the little brother of a Depeche Mode track and Alexis Taylor like a Dave Gahan who hasn’t yet grown into his reverb, but One Life Stand has the merit of combining mystery with fun. It doesn’t happen too often. Still, I must declare that my first contact with this song was through the video, so maybe that’s why I’m seeing more green than black.

ONE CLICK STAND

The Knife – Pass This On : Weirdpop

Niki N. Phaser — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:52:18 +0000

Well, unlike most bands I write about in this section, Swedish experiment-pop duo, The Knife, would probably prefer to be ignored. They have the media-phobia of Terrence Malick, but sure enough, they do qualify as excentric geniuses. Just like they don’t care too much (or at all) about promotion, they are really not trying to please anyone else but themselves. Karin Dreijer Andersson and Olof Dreijer create a new, experimental brand of pop, that is as catchy as can be, but still strange and eluding mainstream. Pass This On, from sophmore album, Deep Cuts, will make you understand better what this is all about. The steel-drums hook will make you wonder why does this sound so familiar (it’s a normal reaction to songs you’ll love for the rest of your life), while the voice, the lyrics will conjure a fascinating uncomfortableness, convincing your mind that there is something wrong here, but you can’t help closing your eyes and falling in the melodic whirpool of this weird pop. It’s a rather instinctual review of a song, I know, but that’s the way this Knife ‘cuts’.

PASS THIS ON HERE

Ladytron – International Dateline : L.S.G.I.T.W.

Niki N. Phaser — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:05:18 +0000

Ladytron are one of those bands that seem to engage in a world of their own, that have such a well-defined sound that it’s impossible for their music to ever be outdated. Sure, we can call them synthpop or new wave or synth punk or whatever, but we all (those familiar with the band) know that labeling them is nothing but a convention. Any of Ladytron’s albums could testify for that, but I have to admit that Witching Hour has something slightly more mythical to it, maybe because you can find the band’s best stuff on it. Destroy Everything You Touch is, of course, the first to come to mind, but you can’t leave out Beauty *2 or the eerie good mood of White Light Generator.

International Dateline has an unique sense of immediacy, while being as melancholic as lovers saying goodbye in the wintertime. The punkish beat will make you expect someone singing “Here comes Johnny, he’s gonna do another striptease”, but that’s just one of Ladytron’s area of expertise: raw energy administrated through delicate means. This track will make you think of endings, but endings you don’t want to end. Facing the silence at the end of these four minutes is always desolating.

LET’S END IT HERE

Massive Attack Premiere X-Rated Video For “Paradise Circus”

Niki N. Phaser — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:38:09 +0000

Massive Attack are continuing the proccess of unleashing their new album Heligoland. The latest step is the video for Paradise Circus, a track which features vocals by Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star fame. The song feels a lot like a departure for the trip hop masters, sounding quite minimal and classic, except for the claps-filled beat. Nevertheless, it’s tragic cross-bearing aura will take its toll on the listener. It certainly creates an unique product, when combined with the video, which is comprised of an interview of former porn star, Georgina Spelvin, as well as uncensored scenes of her most well-known movie, The Devil in Miss Jones. It is an interesting and original work and it’ll be no wonder if more bands start digging up aging porn stars from the 70′s for their videos. On the other hand, this lady does come off as some kind of tragic figure, philosophizing about making ‘fuck movies’ and concluding that “We are our own devils”. After all, these are just some porn scenes in slow-motion. But, maybe, this one is NOT for over analyzing. If you are +18, see for yourself:

PARADISE CIRCUS

New Depeche Mode Double Single To Be Released

Niki N. Phaser — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:24:30 +0000

Depeche Mode are greeting the holiday season with two new singles released as a Double A side. The two songs in question are Hole to Feed and Fragile Tension, lifted from their spring-born album, Sounds of the Universe. The single will be released on December 7th and the full tracklisting includes an impressive batch of remixes, not just of the two songs, but also of previous single, Peace, and of other tracks from the new album (Come Home and Perfect).

There is also a video to help promote, but only Hole to Feed, unfortunately. In more than one way, Fragile Tension would have deserved the extra attention. On the other hand, the strange video for the aforementioned song doesn’t really do it justice, Eric Wareheim’s vision, while bound to spark some reaction, being a bit too… 90′s in its attention craving direction. The band members are not in the video, but we all got used to that by now.

This is the second single in the history of Depeche Mode to be written by singer Dave Gahan and collaborators, Christian Eigner and Andrew Phillpott and one of the three songs authored by the trio to feature on Sounds of the Universe. Depeche Mode are currently continuing their seemingly ill-fated Tour of the Universe, marked by a number of cancellations caused by Gahan’s health problems: doctor’s orders for vocal rest, a leg injury and gastroenteritis in the tour’s debut days. It seems that despite his… devotion, the universe is not on his side…

UPDATE: Depeche Mode have indeed released a video for the other single involved, Fragile Tension, on November 20.

HOLE TO FEED video FRAGILE TENSION video

Various Artists – The Jackal

Niki N. Phaser — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:20:30 +0000

As the image indicates, this review is about the Music from and Inspired by The Jackal soundtrack of the 1997 action thriller, starring Bruce Willis and Richard Gere. This “discrimination” doesn’t mean that the other album, containing Carter Burwell’s score should be disregarded. In fact, some of the tracks from there would fit inconspicuously on this album, Burwell being one of the most versatile film composers of the last two decades. His slick combination of electronica and a traditional score creates the real sonic trademark of the movie. That and, of course, the opening track, Massive Attack’s Superpredators, which sets the tone for the violence that is to follow and creates a memorable title sequence in the process.

And speaking of violence, an action movie, back in the day, would usually have more of a rock collection type of soundtrack, that’s why The Jackal, musically, is quite the milestone. By 1997, electronica and dance music had evolved in a more aggressive ‘beast’, bravely competing with rock as a mean of venting N. energy. The cream of the crop of the artists who achieved this are featured on The Jackal. A lot of these bands actually toured together. There’s no point in denying that UK was the headquarters for this new face of dance music and this is also illustrated through the selection found on this OST.

We’ll start with the most obvious, so we can ‘get them out of the way’ — The Prodigy. They make their appearance on this album with the classic (even then) hit, Poison, but without the ”phone call” intro. They are also joined by their touring partner back in the Jilted day, Moby (with Shining), one of the few non-British names on the whole thing. The list continues with Apollo Four Forty and their blood pumping mover & shaker, Raw Power (such a good choice of title). Keeping it still in the big beat bands area, we have Agent Provocateur with Red Tape (another title destined for action flicks OST’s). The DJ’s aren’t missing either. Of course, you have Fatboy Slim ‘going out of his head’, as well d’n'b icon, Goldie, both with a track (Sunray 2) and a remix of Bush’s Swallowed. Lunatic Calm’s overused Leave You Far Behind also makes its first ever appearance on a soundtrack.

There is also a softer side to this album, it’s not big, but it’s there. You have Primal Scream’s ‘feel good Sunday morning’ Star, Ani DiFranco’s moody Joyful Girl, some chill d’n'b by LTJ Bukem and then, there is Shineaway. Fully aware of the consequences, I must say that this is the true treasure of the album. A collaboration between The Psychedelic Furs’ singer, Richard Butler, and virtuoso producer BT, Shineway is basically a ballad, but with enough cool sounds around the edges to be the ballad to the power songs listed above. If the other songs are the stuff that draws you to this album, Shineway is the thing that’ll keep you there. There are some other songs on it, but I have to leave at least a bit of mystery unrevealed. You check it out !

The Prodigy – Diesel Power : It Really Does Blow Ya Mind

Niki N. Phaser — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:15:53 +0000

We all know (or do we?) the story of The Prodigy’s The Fat of the Land album and how, because of it, the rave elders of the tribe ruled the world for about two years, before taking a long break. The three singles released from this album, Breathe, Firestarter and Smack My Bitch Up have all made history: the videos included in almost every countdown of controversial mv’s, the tracks covered and remixed by legions of dj’s, they haven’t missed from any live set of the band ever since. But an album does not achieve such success and notoriety on singles alone. Amongst non-single masterpieces like Funky Shit, Mindfields or Climbatize, we also encounter the first official collaboration between Liam Howlett and rapper Kool Keith of Ultramagnetic MCs fame. The hip-hop crew is one of Howlett’s favourite to sample, but this is the first time Kool was actually invited to do the vocals and the lyrics. Before being included on the album, the track used to be played live, known as Blow Ya Mind with Maxim doing some freestylin’ over the beat. The Kool version retained the chorus “Blows your mind drastically, fantastically” and most importantly, the sick d’n'b line, punctuated by a base hit that will test ya speakers and blow ya mind, all in one. It’s interesting that despite hip-hop being one of Howlett’s primal preferences, this is about the only Prodigy tune that would qualify in this genre. It is one of their most powerful tracks, displaying once again Howlett’s ability and pleasure of creating beats that no matter at what volume you play them, they still sound too loud for the neighbours.

LIVE PERFORMANCE OF Blow Ya Mind IN 1996

Apoptygma Berzerk – Apollo (Live On Your TV) : Energy

Niki N. Phaser — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:34:18 +0000

Apoptygma Berzerk, a Norwegian futurepop band, has tackled mainstream success, especially with their 2005 album You and Me Against the World, but never quite make it in becoming a household name, other than in their own field. Their last album continues a more accessible sound, that distances them from the euro-futurepop scene which they practically help build in the 90′s. Released in January 2009, Rocket Science is probably one of the best albums to come out this year and also one of the most underestimated. It’s filled with powerful tracks, like Black vs. White, The State of Your Heart – Shit End of the Deal, Trash or Shadow. But, to respect the band’s choice, I’ll recommend for starters their first single off of Rocket Science, Apollo (Live On Your TV). If released by any mainstream band, this song would have most likely became one the biggest hits this year. The catchy keyboards and the energetic guitars would make anyone instantly start jogging. And smile while doing it. And when say ‘anyone’, I mean anyone, but old Apop fans, who are mostly disappointed with Stephan Groth’s new pop direction. Also, Good Charlotte fans should know that Benji Madden makes a vocal cameo on Apollo (Live On Your TV).

And P.S. Despite rumours, Stephan Groth is not Brian Molko’s older brother…

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR Apollo (Live On Your TV)

Maxim Reality – Killing Culture : “The Maxim In Your Bloodstream”

Niki N. Phaser — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:05:35 +0000

We all know why Maxim Reality would ever be ignored: because he is a component of one the essential electronic bands in the history of music, The Prodigy. In that big break the band took between The Fat of the Land and Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned, these guys weren’t lazying about. For Maxim Reality it was a chance to finish up his first solo album, by the title of Hell’s Kitchen, released in 2000, which also contains Carmen Queasy, his quasi-famous collaboration with Skin from Skunk Anansie (nice video). Maxim’s music is different than The Prodigy, but has a major thing in common: it’s hard to label. There is instrumental stuff that sounds real dirty and undergroundish, like Dominant Genes, also some more accessible stuff, like the aforementioned duet and a lot of hip hop, which remains Maxim’s favourite genre. In this category we mention Killing Culture, a real dynamic banger of a song. Punctuated by a chorussy bass, that will remind you a bit of The Prodigy’s Diesel Power, Killing Culture is, lyrically, that “I am the baddest motherfucker” song that each rapper has to have. Of course, we are talking about rapping skills, not guns and crew. It’s all about the lyrical ammo: “Drop bombs, stain your eardrum” or “Fear the words spoken by my tongue Nubile force yet to come”. He’s aware of the challenges of a solo move, but not worried as so skillfully expressed here: “Thousand acres of critics Two thousand hectares of addicts”. Like in many Ignored-Gold cases, this is not only about Killing Culture, but the whole Maxim Reality solo project, including his second album Fallen Angel. This song is just a good taste of what Maxim is capable of as an artist, with or without The Prodigy.