The Predatory Wasp
Following a limited two-track vinyl edition earlier this year, The Smile have now officially released Don’t Get Me Started alongside The Slip, now accompanied by a typically hard-to-watch-without-your-eyes-melting music video from audiovisual artist Weirdcore, who has previously created videos for Charli XCX, Radiohead and perhaps most strikingly Aphex Twin.
Yetsuby is the solo experimental electronic and ambient-focussed project of South Korean artist Yejin Jang who also records of one half of the excellent duo Salamanda. If I Drink This Potion is taken from her new album, b_b, her debut release on Seb Wildblood’s all my thoughts label; a striking mini LP that features some of the most arresting, engrossing and detailed production of any I’ve heard this year.
The prolific, multi-aliased producer on life-changing impact of a song by Yumi Arai
The premise of One Track Mind is pretty simple: I ask artists to pick one track that means a lot to them – either something they’ve discovered recently, something that’s been with them for years, or one that reminds them of a specific time in their life or career – and tell me what makes it so special to them. I get to talk to the artists I love, and they get to talk about the artists they love. Love all round!
Ludvig Cimbrelius is a versatile Swedish musician known for his expansive and emotive soundscapes across a wide range of aliases, each reflecting a unique aspect of his artistic vision. Perhaps his best-known alias, Purl, focusses on music that evokes the serenity of nature, while Illuvia explores ambient jungle and drum & bass realms. Eternell delves into meditative and ethereal compositions, and Abraço de Vapor delves into deep, immersive soundscapes. Other aliases include Alveol, Ziyal, and Surr, showcasing his wide-ranging talent across ambient, electronic, and cinematic music.
Released back in June, his latest album as Illuvia Earth Prism is a masterpiece, and one of my favourite LPs of the year so far; an escapist joy with atmospheric pads and lush melodies combined with lo-fi drums filtered almost out of existence. Ideal listening for anyone who misses the glory days of ‘intelligent’ drum and bass but doesn’t have the energy to go out raving anymore.
For his One Track Mind selection, Ludvig has picked out supremely joyful track that never fails to bring him to tears.
Reunion Island is Ashley Leer, Matt Leer, and Brad Loving, and that’s about as much information as I can find out them. Their second (I think) album Night Words came out last month, and it’s really very good; ambient techno one minute, shoegaze the next, and various things in between. Lost New is dubby, hypnotic techno, as soothing as it is stimulating.
JPEGMAFIA may be too creative for his own good. Often his tracks have more ideas in them than entire albums from other artists. Sometimes this results of works of genius, at others it makes his music hard to keep up with; an overwhelming assault of samples, glitches, changes of direction and genre clashes. For me, his new album I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU is too much like hard work, but it does have its moments. either on or off the drugs is vibey, soulful bliss.: just don’t expect the rest of the album to sound anything like it.
https://jpegmafia.bandcamp.com/album/i-lay-down-my-life-for-you
As recommended by Philip Sherburne in his excellent Futurism Restated newsletter, Total Blue is a the Los Angeles-based trio of Nicky Benedek, Alex Talan, and Anthony Calonico whose self-titled debut album came out earlier this month. Working with digital synths, an Akai EVI wind synthesizer, fretless bass, and guitar, the trio masterfully balance texture and colour, evoking expansive vistas and crafting a supremely chilled vibe.
Triumphant, emotionally resonant techno from JakoJako’s eagerly awaited Segmente EP which is out today on NovaMute.
Mica Levi makes their Hyperdub debut with the 12-minute slob air, an amalgamation of dream pop, post rock and shoegaze and among the most accessible, warm pieces of music they’ve ever produced. As you’d expect from someone renowned for soundtrack work it has a cinematic quality, but it also sounds contained and personal; a little nugget of time and place that calls to mind both Dean Blunt and John Murphy.
It’s Friday, it’s blazing outside, and there’s new music from Pale Jay about hanging out in his garden. Life is good! Taken from his upcoming LP Low End Love Songs which will be released later this summer.
I’ve spent a few weeks with Mabe Fratti’s new album Sentir que no sabes now, but it’s just not really doing it for me. Her last couple sounded like nothing else I’ve ever heard, properly visceral and overwhelming in parts, whereas this one just kinda of bobs along. Almost everyone disagrees with me, so maybe I just don’t get it. Enfrente is pretty great though.
https://tinangelrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sentir-que-no-sabes
The Predatory Wasp 