New Tune Tuesday (1/13/15)
–Written by Kevin Madert
Jax From The Future – 3015
Many of us spend large portions of our lives worrying about “the future,” – this intangible period of time that’s consistently laid out before us but impossible to lay our hands on. Then there are those of us who possess such innate talent and tastemaking ability that such fears are rendered irrelevant. Friend of the blog Jax From The Future falls into the latter category, and his newest tune “3015” showcases not only his production range but his desire to dive headfirst into the unknown, leading the charge rather than waiting for another artist to pave the way. The four-minute tune traverses a taut tightrope, balancing the structural framework of future bass against subtle but present deep house stylings. The lengthy intro sees Jax testing out his MIDI drum prowess (a skill he’s recently added to his live arsenal), altering the feel of the tune multiple times without making any drastic shifts in tempo. By the time the drop kicks in with those quasi-upbeat, shuffling synths (think Two Fresh with darker intentions) you’re immersed in the sonic realm of the song, something he has a nifty knack for accomplishing. Because he calls home the place many of us fear, Jax From The Future gives us novel and forward-thinking music by default – a feat that finds bloggers like myself counting the days until his next release.
Various Artists – Lowtemporary Vol. I
The first in what will hopefully be a long and storied series of releases, Lowtemporary Vol. I is a collection of both familiar and unreleased material from artists signed to Gramatik’s Lowtemp Music label. In their own words:
“The first edition of a new series where you’ll hear what the label has to offer, but not only that. Our most recognizable and most played tracks are randomly mixed with previously unreleased material, exclusively heard on this series for the first time. Remixes, upcoming releases, one-off’s and some stuff that just doesn’t fit anywhere else – this is the place for them all.”
The previously released material includes recognizable tunes from Branx (the sultry “Smoove Operator”), Exmag (“Takin’ It To The Max”) and Gramatik himself (Perhaps my favorite off The Age Of Reason, “Brave Men”). The biggest stand-out among the new tunes by far is undervalued Marshall McGee’s future-funk statement “Ready For It,” which features frenetic fretwork and a deep, toe-tapping backbeat.
Sneo – Terra EP
I stumbled across Sneo back in September upon the release of his Contact EP. Spanning no less than four genres over seven tracks and managing to excel at all of them, the EP hooked me on the Los Angeles producer’s music. Fast forward a few months and Sneo is at it again, this time with the similarly diverse Terra EP. Described by its creator as a direct thematic follow-up to Contact, the EP features 7 songs that “represent the actual human exploration and interaction with this new habitable planet.” Lofty ambitions nonwithstanding, it’s certainly a sonic adventure through multiple genres executed with the skill of a far more established producer. The overarching cinematic quality of tunes like “Bioluminous” and “Jade” call up acts like Seven Lions, while the detail-oriented sections show off Sneo’s technical production prowess.
Inventions – Springworld
It’s no secret that Explosions In The Sky are one of my all-time favorite groups – their music is some of the most emotive and immersive music out there, and nearly all of it is done sans vocals. While the Texas post-rockers take the year off to write a new album, we’re lucky enough to hear the return of Inventions – a duo comprised of EitS guitarist Mark Smith and Matthew Cooper, the man behind Eluvium. “Springworld” is closer in style to the soundscapes of Cooper’s project, but those shimmering guitars so often appearing in the quieter moments of EitS records are on subtle, pleasant display. The cool, winter-into-spring atmosphere draws the mind unconsciously to the Icelandic tones of Sigur Rós (minus those indecipherable chants) without sounding in the slightest derivative – no small task. Inventions’ sophomore effort, Maze Of Woods, is out March 17 via Temporary Residence.
My inner high schooler’s heart skipped a beat when this track from Baltimore-based pop-punk mainstays All Time Low popped up in my Soundcloud feed, but I quickly managed my expectations. At this point we’re three albums removed from the ATL I once truly enjoyed, given in its place an over-glossed ball of too-tight production and overwrought lyrics (even by the genre’s standards). “Something’s Gotta Give” is a lot of the latter, but it still highlights how good Alex Gaskarth and the boys are at putting together a catchy fucking song. It’s the first single from their recently announced sixth studio effort Future Hearts, and this hopefully points to an album somewhere in the middle of ATL’s present and past – not quite pop and not quite punk, but a healthy mix of both.