Dave Smolen / Hair_Loss - s/t (Bruxist/Injections Limited, 2011)

Dave Smolen / Hair_Loss – s/t
Bruxist/Injections Limited 2011

“A split record between live hardware rhythm constructors, Dave Smolen and Hair_Loss. The LP features new solo material from both artists and includes a collaborative track from a session in summer 2010.”

“Bionisensitivity”, while composed of the Philly duo’s established analog synth, noise rhythms, incorporates more long form and crackling, droning synths that loop in intonation. “Stitchglide” and “Manual Control (III)” utilize staccato, static-y, hard edged synth rhythms. The beats are in your face and aggressive in form. It’s dance music that I imagine would be difficult to dance to, because of its constantly shifting and experimental nature. I suppose one could dance to anything though. “Eyes Up To the Glass Bottom (Feat. Ebony Ampere)” is composed of relatively softer, free form layers of synth pulses jumping around and modulating. After listening to this album you would begin to think that Smolen and Hair_Loss might be twins because of how similar their musical style is. “Window Over Yellow” begins quite anomalously featuring more drone-y ambient synth work that is gritty and distorted but still sounds warm.

LP for purchase: http://injectionslimited.bigcartel.com/product/s-t-split-dave-smolen-hair_loss

Cream Juice - s/t (Orange Milk, 2012)

Cream Juice – s/t
Orange Milk 2012

Cream Juice is Keith Rankin (Giant Claw) and Seth Graham (Henry Dawson – formerly Quilt). This is their debut full-length. Track 1 begins with blippy, synth layered wash and then quickly softens its tone and enters a more long-form, drone section with slow, light, synth pulses. The drones turn into beautiful, harmonious arpeggios rising up and down and become filtered in more synth wash, blips, and pulses. There is definitely a sense of freedom, independence, and improvisation heard in the music as the synths quickly and unexpectedly shift in texture. Their more improvisatory side can be noticed especially on Track 3, featuring an a-rhythmic, synth solo mixed with more noisey, explosive synth. Track 5 begins with queasy, wavering, new age synth drone, transitioning into bubbling, synth pulses very condensely packed, meaning lots of pulses in a small space. Throughout the album there is a great deal of synth exploration and experimentation.

Cassette for purchase: http://www.storenvy.com/products/230657-cream-juice-self-titled-cs

Softoft Techech – s/t (Alchemist, 2012)

Softoft Techech – s/t
Alchemist 2012

Softoft Techech is Paul Slocum, who is a programmer and musician based in Brooklyn. "Sonic Tooth" begins with a bassy dance beat with a very short loop of something vocal and maybe a synth. Mixed with this are some synth drones and chords slowly being played. Another vocal clipping layers on top, creating a rather glitchy aesthetic. The song ends quite coldly and doesn’t feel fully realized or developed, but it still sounds good nonetheless. "Exp", starts off with a short loop of two synths playing a few notes slightly in sync with each other. A few seconds later a drum machine enters playing some poly-rhythms as a queasy synth drone overwhelms the initial synth loops. A more standard 4/4 bass beat enters in the mix and an electric guitar melody enters also, looping. The piece gets progressively more glitchy as many different short vocal loops, which are really quite beautiful, enter and exit in a short amount of time. "Moon Patrol Remix" enters with a distorted, poly-rhythmic drum track of electronic bongos. On top enters a pretty funky, distorted, Latin American sounding melody maybe coming from a synth. This loops as some light, ethereal, delayed vocal chanting enters, in addition to some wavering synth drones. The drones drop out as some more aggressive synth sounds spurt out in quarter notes in sync with the beat. "PlentyC Remix" starts with a rather low, distorted synth drone and a couple poly-rhythmic, digital drum tracks. The 4/4 bass beat enters again, along with more light and gentle vocal loops. Eventually the drums cut out and the listener is just left with a beautiful, looping, vocal drone and some harmonious synth drones looping as well. "Spa Basics" begins with some distorted synth wash as a dancy drum machine beat enters. It sounds like a looped guitar or synth comes in a bit later as well as some new-agey synth drones over the dance beat.

Cassette/digital download for purchase: http://alchemistrecords.com/releases/softofttechech.html