Weekend Wind-Down No. 5: Post-Rocking
–Words and list by Kevin Madert
We’re pushing the chill envelope (chillvelope?) this week with a collection of instrument-centric tracks the genre gods term “post-rock.” Snatching elements of ambient, rock, jam, and even a hint of classical, these ten tracks are just as much about the journey as each individual moment. When the final arpeggiating guitar cadence of “Your Hand In Mine” comes to a close it feels as though you’ve accomplished something.
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Weekend Wind-Down No. 4: Illusion of Speed
-Words and list by Michael Hogan
This was one of those concepts that sounded great in my head. When it came time to explain what I was trying to accomplish, things got a bit cloudy. This isn’t a drum ‘n’ bass playlist, and it’s not quite a downtempo playlist either. I suppose it’s a bit of both. It’s got mellow, melodic leads over drums that are consistently fast-paced and yet never once make you feel rushed. They simply provide a constant support for the track, pulling you along with it without dragging you forward.
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Weekend Wind-Down No. 3: MelodicDub
–Words and list by Kevin Madert
In the dubstep realm, “filthy drops” and “sick wubs” often overshadow the sonic landscape. EDM buzzwords aside, there are plenty of nooks and crannies at 140 beats per minute, and this week’s wind-down is dedicated to melodies and intricacies. While songs like Enigma Dubz’ “Make Up Your Mind” and Blackmill’s “Let It Be” could serve as definitions for the subgenre, others barely feel like dubstep at all – Phaeleh’s rework of Ludovico Einaudi’s “Walk” is so nuanced you’ll barely notice the sub-bass brush strokes.
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Weekend Wind-Down No. 2: Piano-Driven Tracks
-Words and list by Michael Hogan
Musically, I’m a sucker for two things: songs in 6/8 – widely agreed upon as the most epic time signature ever – and a good piano-driven track. Pianos add a certain degree of weight to a song, transforming the latent emotion contained within and allowing it to resonate in sparse, clear, reverby notes. A good piano part can work wonders on a song; give it a swing, drive it forward, or provide the perfect amount of melancholy as each note rings away into nothingness.
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Weekend Wind-Down No. 1: Trip-Hopping
–Words and list by Kevin Madert
Here’s the first in a series of playlists we’ll be running weekly via Spotify: our Weekend Wind-Downs. In the words of the oft-marginalized Semisonic, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” No matter the amount of debauchery, the number of mistakes, and the richter-scale magnitude of your hangovers, weekends end (hell, it’s in the name). We’re here to take that back-to-reality transition and make it a bit smoother for you in ten-song, hour-long segments.
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