One of the bigger downsides of music fragmentation — specifically the fragmentation of how one goes about listening to new music — is not knowing where exactly to find something you want to check out. House Of Tapes released a full-length album via Progressive Form last month, and it’s on the hallowed wanna-hear list…but I couldn’t find a physical copy in any stores near me, and it isn’t on streaming last time I checked (and, uhhh, I’m lazy about ordering online). “Another Sky” serves as a great personal reminder to stop slacking and go get it, while also teasing a new(ish) direction for the Nagoya producer. Unlike the heavier sounds populating his early song catalog, “Another Sky” opts for lighter, downright pretty synthesizer notes, letting them flutter upwards. House Of Tapes slowly distorts them, leading to the big, forceful break in the song — the arrival of drum clangs — but even that doesn’t turn the song claustrophobic. Rather, it adds extra energy, and underlines the warm feeling lurking within. Listen above.
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New House Of Tapes: “Not Eternity” And “There is No Encore”
Two new songs from Nagoya’s House Of Tapes emerged over the weekend, both highlighting different sides to what the electronic producer — one of Japan’s more prolific independent electronic acts — has been up to recently. “Not Eternity” finds him in a particularly dreamy space, his singing muffled but surrounded by bright synth pings. Ultimately, the vocals offer some disruption, as when they leave the number “Not Eternity” approaches a particularly shimmering headspace. But the words cut through, and add some ennui to the proceedings. Listen above.
“There Is No Encore” treads similar ground, as it too features prominent (albeit frazzled) vocals from House Of Tapes. Yet it’s less dream-worthy and a bit more muddled, at least until late in the song, when it opens up and House Of Tapes’ synth melodies really get a chance to shine. Listen below.
New House Of Tapes: “Dark Lands”
Nothing says “abnormally warm October day in Japan” like some ominous electronic music. Yet Nagoya’s House Of Tapes does it well, and “Dark Lands” pulls out yet another switch-up from a producer who was recently getting back into crowded sounds. Here, though, space is ample — “Dark Lands” moves along, letting the synthesizers and drum machine beats fully establish a shadowy mood…and then letting the subsequent unease come through clearly thanks to the attention allowed to them. Listen above.
New House Of Tapes: Nu Tears
Nagoya’s House Of Tapes releases music at a fast clip, but credit to him for also keeping listeners on their toes. His latest album, Nu Tears, moves away from his recent return to crushing noise to embrace something that, while still cacophonous, hides something more dynamic within. Nu Tears mixes more earnest, soft moments with the fuzz, highlighted by the twinkling echoes and fidgety electronics of “Cure” or the squiggly whiplash of “Need Sucide,” a song running through at least three distinct sections. Of course, noise appears plenty too. “Hopefully Piece” smashes from the beginning, while even the semi-spacious “New Dawn” pulverizes. Get it here, or listen below.
Electronic Round-Up: Pavilion Xool, AVV And House Of Tapes
We spent the weekend at Summer Sonic, and are still catching up on new music. Here are three notable uploads from the last few days.
— Pavilion Xool caught our attention thanks to “I Still Smoke,” a number featuring an appearance by Osaka’s Yunovation. But the Tokyo producer mostly works solo, and “At 2am” highlights his more beat-minded headspace. What elevates it above backdrop-in-waiting is the way Pavilion Xool develops the track, going from smoky vocal-anchored thing to something a bit more complicated, letting the number slowly morph…including spacious passages. Listen above.
— AVV (And Vice Versa) keeps busy, and latest number “Taking You” shows off his more active side. Recent track by the Osaka artist have been a bit headier — a bit cloudier, with fogged-over vocals — but “Taking You” is relatively direct, featuring bass squelches, a rumbling beat and pretty clear samples pushed up front. Listen below.
— Now this is some classic claustrophobic House Of Tapes! The Nagoya producer goes back to the heavy stuff on “Dystopia,” which blah blah blah something about reality blah blah. The key though is this is just a great bit of crushing sound. Listen below.