AltFreq Weekly Planner (1/25-1/28)
–Written by Kevin Madert
It’s nearly impossible to keep track of all the events going on in the area, so we’re here to let you know what’s happening in live music over the next few days. Watch out on Thursdays for the “Weekend Planner” where we’ll cover the most important 72 hours of the week.
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Weekend Wind-Down No. 14: Sung to Sleep
–Words & list by Kevin Madert
Remember childhood? The scale balancing your life experiences and your understanding of them was tipped decidedly in the direction of the former. No matter your upbringing, there were plenty of times when you were confused – even scared – of what you did not know or comprehend. That’s where the adults in your life came in, whoever they were; in my case, it was my mom. I’d lay down to sleep with thoughts swirling around my head, but she knew just how to handle that. Sometimes she’d sing – I still know every word to Peter, Paul & Mary’s “500 Miles” thanks to her – while other times she’d simply hum unintelligible, soothing melodies. Any worries I possessed would fade with my consciousness as I’d drift off to sleep.
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Weekend Warm-Up No. 14: Mixed Bag #2
–Words & list by Kevin Madert
Sometimes it’s good to take a step back and remember getting amped up doesn’t require a specific genre or style. Snoop Dogg, Jack Beats, Tipper, and Goldfish all know plenty about the topic – even if they have different ideas about how one gets there. Now, I’ll stop talking so you can start listening.
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AltFreq Weekend Planner (1/22-1/24)
–Written by Kevin Madert
It’s nearly impossible to keep track of all the events going on in the area, so we’re here to let you know what’s happening in live music over the next few days. Watch out on Sundays for our “Weekly Planner,” where we’ll cover the remaining four days of the week.
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New Tune Tuesday (1/20/15)
–Written by Kevin Madert
Dreamt – Perpetrators (Wessanders Remix)
It’s often said the only guarantees in life are death and taxes. I’d like to petition the powers that be to add a third clause to that cliché: “Wessanders putting out quality music.” The Boston native is back again with another massive rework, convalescing several styles into a smorgasbord of delicious, deep bass music. He builds the track slow and steady, utilizing the original track’s instrumentation and vocals to compliment his augmentations rather than as a way to get from point A to point B. Once he’s eased you in, the wave breaks and the drop cascades around you, subtle in sonics yet sweeping in scope. There are a myriad of minor things going on beneath the main thrust of the track that tell me Wessanders is a hell of a producer – something I already knew, but don’t mind being reminded of – and if you’re like me your cursor will be hovered over the repeat button long before the final notes pulsate into the ether.
Above & Beyond – We Are All We Need
They’re not reinventing the wheel, but damn are they good at manufacturing them; Jono, Tony and Paavo (together, Above & Beyond) have finally delivered the long-awaited follow-up to 2011’s genre-defining Group Therapy. While We Are All We Need doesn’t hit home quite in the same way – and let’s be honest, how could it? – it’s still a solid collection of vocal trance and progressive tracks. WAAWN features familiar contributors on some of its best songs; “Sticky Fingers” is a dark, electro-tinged number with vocals from Alex Vargas, and it’s hard to pick my favorite vocal contribution from longtime collaborator Zoe Johnston, although the title track is an especially emotional one. Most importantly, there’s surprisingly little filler for a 16 track steady-beat album, and one playthrough has me itching for my second. While A&B didn’t go out on any crazy, experimental limbs on this album, they succeeded in adding another high-quality piece of work to their already impressive catalog.
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