Reviews

Moon Safari by Air, their studio debut, is a mesmerizing journey into atmospheric electronic music, effortlessly blending ambient soundscapes with smooth, sophisticated melodies. Tracks like the dreamy “La Femme d’Argent” and the iconic “Sexy Boy” capture the essence of the album, creating a laid-back yet engaging vibe that feels both cinematic and intimate. The album’s sound is timeless, with lush production and subtle grooves that invite listeners into a world of sonic exploration.

I was lucky enough to experience Air live at the Ghent Jazz Festival, where their performance was nothing short of spectacular. The Belgian audience’s energy combined with Air’s magnetic presence made for an unforgettable night. The performance was an exhilarating experience, full of… More

Charlotte Gainsbourg’s 5:55 is a stunning album that blends ethereal beauty with understated elegance. Produced by Air, the album’s minimalist arrangements perfectly complement her subtle, haunting vocals. Standout tracks like “5:55” and “The Operation” showcase her ability to convey deep emotion with restraint. The delicate, almost dreamlike quality of “5:55” contrasts with the darker, more urgent tone of “The Operation,” making them key highlights. Her later work, Stage Whisper, continues this exploration of intimacy and vulnerability, further cementing her ability to craft captivating, introspective music. 5:55 remains a solid, more-than-just-comforting masterpiece in her discography.

MTV Unplugged in New York is an acoustic masterpiece that captures Nirvana at their most vulnerable and powerful. The album’s marvelous atmosphere is built on the intimate setting of the performance, which allows Kurt Cobain’s raw emotion to resonate in every note. Songs like “Pennyroyal Tea,” “On a Plain,” and “Lake of Fire” take on new depth in this stripped-back environment, showcasing the band’s incredible range. The cover versions—particularly the poignant “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”—add further emotional weight, blending perfectly with Nirvana’s haunting sound. This album is a true testament to their versatility and legacy.

Uno de esos discos que, si pudiese, votaría negativo.

Review of Torso by Soap&Skin

With Torso, Soap&Skin once again proves her mastery in transforming familiar songs into deeply personal interpretations. This cover album is a bold and hauntingly beautiful journey through reimagined classics, all filtered through her unique artistic lens.

The album opens with Mystery of Love (originally by Sufjan Stevens), where her ethereal voice brings a tender intimacy to the already poignant track. Voyage, Voyage, previously explored on Narrow, returns with even more depth, its melancholic undertones elevated in this version.

Her take on David Bowie’s Girl Loves Me is daring and hypnotic, pushing boundaries with its raw intensity. And then there’s What’s Up, the iconic anthem by 4 Non Blondes—… More

With slight undertones from Editors, White Lies is this a dark album full of massive songs. Although it sounds familiar IST IST really got their own style and puts the songs right where it belongs: somewhere between your heart and brains

Lovetune for Vacuum is a stunning debut that showcases Soap&Skin’s exceptional talent for creating deeply emotional and intricately crafted music. The album strikes a powerful balance between fragility and intensity, blending minimalist piano arrangements with haunting electronic elements.

Anja Plaschg’s voice is nothing short of breathtaking, carrying a raw vulnerability that transforms each song into an intimate confession. Her interpretation of themes like grief and longing is not only heartfelt but also displays remarkable artistic depth.

A standout track is “Sleep,” where her expressive vocals and poignant delivery shine the brightest. It encapsulates the album’s essence: emotional in an elaborated form, drawing the listener into a beautifully melancholic world.

While a few moments might feel… More

I'm enjoying digging into this one while going back and listening to the original work in tandem. It's a pleasure as a listener but also fascinating to think about as a creative exercise. It doesn't operate like a re-mastering, remix or even a re-recording of a work by the same artist. It's a kind of re-creation where it's given to room to transform into something else while maintaining the same DNA as the 2002 recording.

There's an eerie unsettled vibe that looms throughout the rapid 17 song 32 minute album. Is it the quavering warping of the lo-fi cassette media? the distressing soul revealing words? or the feeling that you are standing outside a therapy session voyeuristically eavesdropping?

Whatever the experience is; I've never listened to music that has given me an anxiety headache the way that Hi, how are you? did.

Happy to have listened to such a seminal album. But not an album I will be returning too any time soon.

Soap&Skin is back with her album "Torso". Very melodic again and that incomparable voice. Her own songs and cover versions in her own version create a harmonious picture.

Her beautiful voice in her self-written song "Gods & Monsters" or the cover of "Voyage, Voyage" originally sung by Desireless.

I'll definitely listen to it more often.

I will be honest, up until a year ago I hadn’t given Father John Misty much thought, actually ignore that, I had given him a lot of thought and decided I found him quite pretentious so decided to pay no mind to his music. That was until I saw him open for Lana Del Rey in Hyde Park and had what could be described as a spiritual revelation because unfortunately he has some insane level rizz. Believe the cult leader moniker, it’s a real phenomenon, and it changed my life (for better or worse).

They'll never make me stop believing in you, Father.

感觉是包含了hiphop 发展至今风格的大杂烩，有几首喜欢的。

还可以

Dark Ambient. Perfect for running through the woods at night with a headlamp. Only you, the sound of your breath and Bibio's Music.

This is quite a nice, Hollywood-but-not-plucky-strings-predictable type of Hollywoodesqueness that could have been the case. I like a lot of the 'aaaaaaaaAAAAH!' human-voice breathy things that come and go. Kind of reminded me of Diamanda Gàlas's vocals in the 'Dracula' film by Francis Ford Coppola.

The Quietus wrote nicely about this album.

If you love the title track from the new Father John Misty record, man, do I have an album for you

Ha intentado la Quique González vía y bueno

Highly recommend listening to this on a boat as it’s approaching a mysterious island

Brittany Howard is undefeated. I may come back and change this to 5 stars depending on how much I replay this.

edited: 11.22.24
5 stars

Time to update your Tinder profile again: I hope you realize: I’m not for Christmas, I’m for life. 

Just in the first few listens, but thoroughly enjoying the world she's creating here with all the delicate details. I'd love to hear this accompanying the film but it's also doing so well accompanying my life on the rainy autumn west coast of Canada at the moment.

I have to say, I love the album titles and the song titles. Witch house is not dead!!111one

This is a lovely and weird mix between oddness and pop. It's composed and constructed a bit like a...Tetris game. ProTools-ed out, but in a good way.

The album starts out like something by Alessandro Cortini: slow-building, electronic, analogue, and then, in the second track, going into pop.

That kind of set me up for the album.

OK, I've heard it once, but I have to hear it again. This is a lovely album that can sate an unruly soul. I dig the orchestral bits, by the way. Feels like this duo like to collaborate with others and are really playful. I dig this.

Uno de los discos de ¿hardcore? del año. Aquí cabe todo, rock, punk , post punk, melodías tarareables, delays a lo U2 en las guitarras y agresividad a partes iguales. Si en directo cumplen, un grupo a tener muy en cuenta.

This album suffers for having to follow her first album. I think I would have liked Motomami better without El Mal Querer setting such an impossibly high bar, but that one was the album of a lifetime and this one feels only okay in comparison. It's solid, but I don't feel the urge to listen to it endlessly.

Sad that this is their last album, because it is definitely the best and most well thought-out. Filled with quirks and twists and turns without abandoning their central identity, this album is a pleasant listening experience. I think they make great use of their features, which cover many genres all within a post-punk heart. There are definitely a few rawer points and a few duds, but overall, they managed to put something together that matches my expectations of their potential. I love "Body Shock" with Lianne La Havas, especially in context with the Janet Planet and Coucou Chloe features.

Here before he blows up

them dropping their best album seven years and eight albums in is one of the craziest things I can think of

it's on me for even bothering to listen. I'll do better.

Jangle pop australiano, the gift that keeps on giving

really surprised by this one, was recommended it by a friend. not usually what i listen to but really loved it front to back. rachel chinouriri's got an almost late 00s indie pop sound that i can't quite pin but it makes me nostalgic for college nonetheless

I think I like a lot of the same music this guy likes, but the way he's channeling that stuff here feels bloodless and limp. Like he's an undercover cop trying to figure out where all the coke is coming from and bringing back this type of electroclashy stuff was the best idea they had down at the precinct.

That's harsh, I suppose. Some of these songs are really catchy and fun! But once you get past the hit ("Girls") the album's a little on the flat side. I think The Dare can (and hopefully will) do better next time out... because deep down, even if this particular record isn't doing it for me the way I want it to.… More

Literally every time I heard Chappell Roan in 2024, I thought to myself "it would be better if this were The Last Dinner Party."

Shopping at the mall, scrolling through TikTok, walking through the park while other people have their bluetooth speaker blasting... every "Hot To Go" meme... I just wish all those people were listening to The Last Dinner Party instead. I'm sure they'd dig it, assuming it really is about feminism and pageantry as much as they claim it is and not just "it's popular."

Come to think of it, let's all just go back and listen to The Long Blondes again.

this album is pretty cool

At its best, I’m reminded of Linkin Park’s earlier releases. At its worst, I’m reminded of Linkin Park’s earlier releases. There will be no shortage of commentary on the new vocalist, and the immense task of stepping in following the loss of Chester Bennington. The inevitable next tour will sell well, I’m sure of it.

best album with a replacement singer ever? could that be true?

Como será de forte o da nostalxia dos primeiros 2000 que ata Jack White sacou un disco que paga a pena escoitar

Metronomy knows they're as big as they will ever be so they might as well have as much fun as possible. Catchy stuff.

One big hook made out of a thousand mini hooks. Ultraloving this.