New Tune Tuesday (12/2/14)
–Written by Kevin Madert
In case you weren’t aware, Tuesdays are a music lover’s best friend. Although some of these came out a little less recently than today, they’re all essentially new and they’re all definitely worth a listen. If you think we’ve missed something (and with the sheer amount of music released daily, we probably have) drop me a line at kevin@thealternatefrequency.com. Sharing is caring, after all.
Headphone Activist – Casper Clark
Every so often a song comes along that possesses an intangible yet enrapturing quality, one that sees you clearing your schedule to spend an unspecified amount of time listening and re-listening to it until you know it like an old friend. Today, Pittsburgh-based beatsmith Headphone Activist’s newest tune “Casper Clark” is that song. Crafted in a style he self-describes as “classical beats,” it’s perhaps the most emotive tune I’ve heard this year. To call it nuanced almost doesn’t do it justice – the melding of film-score quality instrumentation and subtle trap phrases borders on seamless. The restraint is admirable, the subtle touches are perfectly placed, and the sonic simplicity makes the whole thing shine all the brighter. Watch out John Williams; Headphone Activist is gunning for you.
Andrew Block – You Can Only Go Up From Here
Lowtemp – the recording label founded and headed by Slovenian glitch-hopper/internet freedom pioneer Gramatik – has built a small but commendable catalog in its short existence. Today they expand even further, releasing Andrew Block’s debut album. Nowhere amongst the nine tracks will you find wobbles, autotune, or electronic augmentation of any kind. What you will find are nine slices of feet-shuffling, mouth-watering, head-rocking funk courtesy of a New Orleans-based guitarist whose days as a relative unknown are surely numbered. Think of a more ragged Lettuce meeting a fast-paced version of Exmag, with just enough fuzz around the edges to lend it the live, loose, lo-fi feel all the best funk music possesses.
Wick-It The Instigator – No Ragrets
Nashville native Wick-It The Instigator has come a long way since I caught him headlining the official pre-party for Bassnectar’s first New Year’s Eve event in the city back in 2011. He’s released a ton of music, drank a whole lot of beer out of plastic flamingos, and steadily improved upon his already impressive skills in both production and DJ’ing. Today he adds another feather to his overstuffed cap with an all-original EP. The tunes range from classic Wick-It bangers like “Big Ole Cool Song” and the futuristic “He Gets Wick-It” to more unexpected offerings – “This Is MY House” in particular is a steady-bouncing change of pace, and “All In Together Now” is about as laid-back as it gets . The tunes are (as is always the case with Wick-It) free on Soundcloud, but you can also purchase them on a number of music platforms, and I suggest you do; if anyone in the EDM world has worked hard enough to deserve your money, it’s Nashville’s hardest hitting bass baron.
Thriftworks – Fadest
The final installment in the sprawling triple-album project from California native Thriftworks is also the most straightforward, sonically tucked between the often-glacial Fade and the more hectic and jittery Fader. In his own words, it “sounds like Thriftworks,” and I couldn’t put it better; there’s no shortage of unorthodox instrumentation, the tracks possess an undefinable energy even though they seem to glide rather than bounce, and the sound design is off the charts. The only negative thing about Fadest is that it concludes the trilogy – after being spoiled in the last month with music, it’s going to be difficult to wait for the next Thriftworks release.
Dirt Monkey & Tucker Kreway – Party Anthem (Ft. Turner Jackson)
Dirt Monkey has always managed to make tracks that are equal parts fun and fierce. From the carnival-esque rotating synths that open “Party Anthem” to the playful hip-hop vocals reassuring the listener it “ain’t no thing,” it’s clear he’s got the fun part down; as soon as the bass hits fierceness is crossed off the list as well. Bonus points for the extra crunch in the second drop and the good sense to know exactly how long this track needed to be – I promise it’ll have you headbanging into next week.
Kygo – Firestone
Tropical house upstart turned global EDM-star Kygo knows his way around a remix – his Soundcloud account alone features more than 20. With “Firestone,” he’s taken the leap of countless producers before him and forayed into original productions. Oftentimes this can separate those with a real knack for music-making from those who simply choose the right source material and skate on passable talent. In Kygo’s case, it’s a bit of a wash. The tune is certainly head-bobbing, with a nice vocal turn from Conrad, but the plucky island synths and overall concept are far too familiar to stand out beyond the prestige of the producer behind them. While certainly not bad, “Firestone” sounds to me like a tentative first step for a young producer seemingly capable of much more.