Opiuo Traverses Sonic Terrain New & Familiar on “Omniversal” (Review)
–Written by Kevin Madert
Few artists have a hold on my heart (and ears) quite like Opiuo. His wobbly, wonky, oh so funky brand of deep bass glitch-hop reeled me in, and his ability to innovate sonically within his own creative space has kept me hooked ever since. It follows, then, that Omniversal shines as a fresh take on the themes and styles that have long defined the Australia-based producer’s work. Picking up this album equates to obtaining a ticket on the Mid-Tempo GlitchFunk Express – dress code casual, dance parties inevitable.
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New Tune Tuesday (7/28/15)
–Written by Kevin Madert
Ludge – Void EP
Kicking off this week is Ludge, a new favorite here at AltFreq. With crisp, clean sound design and technical prowess that often escapes producers of far greater experience and renown, the Philadelphia native is flying criminally under the radar. Perfect example? His latest effort, the deep and dark Void EP – self-released today. The three track offering is rife with slow-churning dubstep phrases and abrasive, staccato synths, held together by the constant presence of ominous atmospheric undertones that serve to further flesh out each tune. “Light Speed” features pleasant builds and bridges juxtaposed by futuristic dub breakdowns (with bonus points for a Dr. Dre sample that isn’t from “The Next Episode”). The title track is dark through and through (as the name might suggest), sporting the heaviest moments on the EP. And “Limbo” is future trap played through molasses, with subtle horn and hi-hat accents that keep it oozing in a forward direction. In fewer words, we love this dude – and you should too. Head here to download the Void EP for free, and be sure to connect with Ludge on all relevant social networks: (Soundcloud / Facebook / Twitter).
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In Case You Missed It: Sun:Monx Shine Bright On “Power Salad”
–Written by Kevin Madert
One of the strongest driving factors in my endless musical pursuits is interconnections. The always expanding universe of music and the musicians who inhabit it is like a four dimensional puzzle, each figurative piece interwoven with tens, hundreds, even thousands of others by myriad aural tendrils. More simply, music is a sprawling game of “Six Degrees,” – although I’d wager almost everything under the umbrella could be linked in far fewer steps.
Your move, Mr. Bacon
News: The Opiuo Band Announces First Round of North American Tour Dates
–Written by Kevin Madert
After months of jealously ogling the overseas exploits of The Opiuo Band, fans in North America will have a chance to see the live glitch-hop act for themselves. The initial dates for the group’s 2015 US/Canda summer tour were posted to Opiuo’s Facebook today with the caption “Making our debut! More to come…”
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News: Infrasound Unveils Phase 2 Lineup, Wins Festival Season
–Written by Kevin Madert
After Infrasound Music Festival dropped an initial lineup back in February adorned by an eclectic combination of broken-beat acts and dubstep heavyweights, they were presented with a difficult question: how do you go about improving on a lineup already crammed with so much talent? With the second round of artists announced Monday, they answered with confidence: cram in a whole bunch more.
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