New Tune Tuesday (12/16/14)
–Written by Kevin Madert
Soohan – Made In Baltimore
DMV natives in the know are plenty familiar with the multi-genre hijinks of Soohan. He’s played more events in the area than can be counted. As the co-founder of Baltimore-based company Manifest, he’s been responsible for a steady stream of talent – from Ott to Moon Hooch and plenty in between – gracing venues in and around the city in the past few years. And this week he’s given us even more, in the form of his debut album Made In Baltimore. Labeling it is difficult, but if I had to generalize I’d call it intelligent booty bass – it’s a trappy, bouncy romp delivered with a self-aware wink. The eclecticism contained in these 11 tracks is commendable even for a man of as many talents as Soohan, and the sound design and sampling is consistently wonderful – borrowing from Mulan and Ace of Base in the same song is an instant win in my book. It’s free on Soundcloud and pay-what-you-want on Bandcamp; we encourage you to support local music and buy it if you can.
Tycho – Awake (Deluxe Version)
Awake is on our shortlist for albums of 2014, so it was a no-brainer to include the deluxe reissue on this list. While not a massive overhaul – the only addition being four remixes – this is a case of quality>quantity. Com Truise’s take on “Awake” augments the original with a glaze of 80s-synth sheen. The Beacon remix of “See” throws in a deep beat and adds vocals to pointed effect. Bibio’s “Spectre” rework is folksy, lo-fi bliss. And Christopher Willits’ remix of “Montana” is ethereal ambiance stretched across eight minutes. While we may have already heard these four tunes before, and while there’s no amount of new Tycho that’s enough for us, we’re certainly not complaining.
Friends With Robots – FWR03 (#TBT)
The nostalgia is palpable on the latest tape from our friends in FWR. These six remixes bring our musical tastes of the past and present into direct conversation with one another, and the result is a hell of a good time. The FSR x STEL*LEO take on “Run It” hit me harder than Chris Brown ever could (ha), and I had no idea I needed a wonky future bass version of “So Yesterday” in my life until I heard Wessanders and Micetro’s flip of the Hilary Duff staple. Be sure to check the whole tape on the Friends With Robots Soundcloud.
Le Moti – Hush Money EP
In terms of sheer up-and-coming talent, there are few cities as stacked as Pittsburgh. Remember Headphone Activist? How about Jax From The Future? Now comes Le Moti, a DJ/producer duo whose clear grasp of minimalism proves less can easily be more. Their latest, Hush Money, often showcases just the right amount of something backdropped by a whole lot of sonic nothingness – a tactic that makes this EP stand out amongst so many others in the crowded genre. On tunes like “Desert Sunrise” and the title track, a lack of excess allows what is included to shine that much brighter (and sound that much better). Bonus points for two solid collabs – a straight exercise in trap featuring Beedie (“What I Need”) and a soulful saunter co-credited to Knight Riderz (“Golden Boy”).