Tag: Angie Veras

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Day – Land of 1,000 Chances album review

Although his name might not ring a bell to many underground fans, Palm Springs-based artist Day (previously known as DJ Day) has 17 years in the music business under his belt lending his talents to the likes of Aloe Blacc, Clutchy Hopkins, and People Under the Stars, to name a few. Day released his first album, “The Day Before,” in 2007 exposing listeners to his deliciously chill sound. His sophomore release, “Land of 1,000 Chances,” continues Day’s legacy in his most ambitious project yet.

Laid back, heavy, and melancholic: Day accurately summarizes the emotions evoked from this album upon the first 20 seconds into the first track. VQ and Mama Shelter sets up the jazz-influenced foundation for the album. Qualudde, FML, and Hopefully are notable interludes that are easy on the ear and warm to the touch. The title track “Land of 1,000 Changes” served as the peak of the album, providing a beautiful reminder of the jazzy hip hop days. Green Fin and Boots in the Pool are a melodic reminder of those lazy days in the summer spent by the ocean or pool. W-E-L-O-V-E brings the jazz influence full circle ending the album on a good note (literally).

“Land of 1,000 Chances” is a gem that is sure to please those who seek a warm, melodic reminder of the summer with an infectious hip hop beat. The album is painful reminder for music fans alike that in order to seek innovative sound, you must dig deeper into the underground.

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Lindstrøm – Smalhans album review

Norway isn’t well known to be one of the major centers of dance music in Europe. However, Lindstrøm rose to the ranks and quickly became one of Europe’s most respected producers. Born Hans-Peter Lindstrøm in a country suburb of Stavanger, Norway, Lindstrøm launched his own label Feedelity in 2002 which propelled him to become one of the staples of Norwegian dance music. Lindstrøm has released critically acclaimed gems such as It’s a Feedelity Affair, Where you Go I Go Too, and Six Cups of Rebel, which was released earlier this year. Smalhans, a six track EP, is no exception.

Lindstrøm serves up a smorgasbord of Norwegian dance hits, literally, since every song is titled with the name of a traditional Norwegian dish. The lead track, Rà-àkõ-st, reinforces Lindstrom’s “space-disco” brand, one that is very present in his previous work. Lindstrøm constructs soft and melodic sounds that draw you in, only to release a collection of beats that keep the momentum going, imperative for any dance track. Vos-sako-r and F??r-i-k??l are two of the most notable tracks that display this skill that Lindstrøm has mastered beautifully.

The EP was mixed by Todd Terje, another notable name in the Norwegian dance scene. Smalhans delicisiouly portrays the best of what Norwegian dance music has to offer. Lindstrom’s ability to serve you a delicious Norwegian dance dish will leave you wanting for more.

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Reviews

Vitalic – Rave Age album review

We are currently entering an era in music where electronic dance music is king. It seems that everyone is collaborating with DJs such as David Guetta, Skrillex, and countless others. However there are those that stood their ground when the genre wasn’t as popular. Frenchman Vitalic (neé Pascal Arbez) is one of them. Releasing his first single in 1996, Arbez was part of the underground electronica scene in Europe for the years leading up to the release of his first album Ok Cowboy in 2005. Four years later Vitalic released Flashmob (2009) which again, while underrated, was a great display of Vitalic’s fresh French electro sound. Vitalic’s third album is no exception to the rule. Appropriately-titled Rave Age, veteran French DJ Vitalic’s 3rd album offers an eclectic mix of French electro sounds for everyone whether you are a veteran fan of electronica or a newbie.

The album starts off with Rave Kids Go with vocals from Michael Karkousse of Goose attempts to take a stab at the sound that made Justice famous, but then adds an 80’s dance theme twist. Under Your Sun, perhaps the most pop influenced track on the album with vocals from Owelle, tries to appeal to the mainstream pop listener, yet may disappoint fans that are not used to listening to a softer side of Vitalic. Stamina, No More Sleep, and Nexus serve as a beautiful reminder to Vitalic followers of the Ok Cowboy and Flashmob days. Vitalic ends Rave Age with a bang with the harder house sounds of La Mort Sur le Dancefloor (with vocals from Rebeka Warrior) and Next I’m Ready.

Rave Age is refreshing due to its similarities with music from Justice and Digitalism. However, it seems as though Vitalic toned down his production from his previous work to appeal to the masses. Fans may find this disturbing. However, Rave Age reinforces, or rather, updates Vitalic’s version the signature French electro sound that made him gain a following in the first place.