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Category Archives: Music

Sweets Break: @INCENSEGREENS Someday In The Spring

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The latest from Ano(t)raks is the sort of thing that’s perfect for an early afternoon break which…well would you look at that, the exact scenario I’m writing this post during! @INCENSEGREENS’ Someday In The Spring is a brief two-song set, but one that crams a lot of pleasing sounds into just over ten minutes. It is certainly twee, full of bright keyboard notes and sweetly sung vocals, yet the outfit seems most intrigued by the memory of Shibuya-kei, taking cues from that style and creating a sort of a copy of a copy (of a bunch more copies, if you get into it). Not original, sure, but they do it well, and create something charming from familiar pieces. Get it here, or listen below.

Voice Works: City Your City’s “Share”

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This is like catnip for me. City Your City’s “Share” is a number that drips like syrup, the duo dousing their vocals in digital manipulation and singing over synthesizer and drum machine, the focus completely on those altered voices. It’s the latest example of artists seemingly indebted to James Blake (or Kanye, your choice) stepping up, City Your City joining Yahyel and Half Mile Beach Group in embracing digital manipulation delivered over skittery sounds. Listen above.

New Erik Luebs: Wasteland

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Osaka-based artist Erik Luebs recently released his latest, Wasteland, and though we are a bit behind, it is worth catching up on, as the three-song set makes for an engrossing, at times dark listen. A lot of that was previewed in advance track “Red C,” which leads off here and sets the mood. It isn’t a dark and gloomy affair…”Crashed” works in some upbeat percussion, even if it is surrounded by more intimidating electronics…but certainly edges into the shadows at times, the songs slowly morphing and building into new directions. Get it here, or listen below.

Drafted: The Navy’s “Borderline”

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This is technically a remastered take on quartet The Navy’s “Borderline,” but it’s the first I’ve heard of it and I can’t find more info on when it might have first come out (have you tried Googling “The Navy”)…so it’s like it is brand new to me! And it sounds lovely, the band creating a forceful rock number highlighted by the vocals, from the lead vocalists’ delivery — which can move from relaxed to intense quickly — to the harmonizing going on behind her throughout the song. Listen above.