Filastine Dirty Bomb

With ears increasingly opening to the emerging electronic sounds of the third world, globetrotting beatmaker Filastine should have been poised to make a gritty, bass-heavy, sonically multicultural opus. Instead, Dirty Bomb is a bit of a schizophrenic mish-mash. With sounds from the Middle East, Latin America, the Balkans, and beyond, it’s clear that Filastine went to great lengths to cull samples and collaborate with artists from the far corners of the planet. Yet that only makes his failure to synthesize that raw material more disappointing. Even on tracks where the dubstep-flavored production is on point (“B’talla,” “Con Los Manos En La Masa”), the guest vocalists’ sub-par performances quickly sour things.

Pauline Oliveros Four Electronic Pieces 1959-1966

Oliveros was among many composers and scholars who spent much of the ’60s exploring the then-exotic sounds of electricity flowing through enormous, clunky machines called synthesizers. Four Electronic Pieces 1959-1966 documents some of her early synth- and tape-collage works. Half of the CD is best left for the lecture hall, as “V of IV” is a punishing synth blowout whose buzzing tones sound like a clogged lawnmower, while “Once Again/Buchla Piece” has enough shrieking hits of noise to rival Merzbow. The relief is “Time Perspectives,” where Oliveros creates an otherworldly atmosphere by tweaking the tape speeds of recorded clacks, rumblings, and deep breaths. Her sources? Nothing more than a table knife, soup ladles, and her voice.

SXSW Full Lineup Announced

The reason there isn’t a really long list of artists below, detailing just who’ll descend on Austin to perform at SXSW 2009, is because this year’s lineup—announced in full today—is so extensive it requires an entire lunch break and then some to click through (assuming your lunch breaks are 15 to 20 minutes long).

We will tell you a few of the artists we’re particularly excited to see down in Texas this year, among them, Boys Noize, Jeremy Jay, Late of the Pier, Tanya Morgan, The Death Set, Drop the Lime, Busdriver, and Vivian Girls, who will perform in various venues around the city. Peruse the massive list, which also includes MP3s from a large number of artists, for yourselves.

SXSW takes place March 18 – 22.

Pictured: Busdriver. Photo By Zackary Canepari.

Gui Boratto “Take My Breath Away”

There are still several weeks until Gui Boratto finally takes our breath away with a follow-up to 2007’s Chromophobia. In the meantime, relax your ears with this soothing, melodic techno jam off the new album.

Take My Breath Away is out March 23.

Photo by Nino.

Gui Boratto – Take My Breath Away

Gui Boratto – Take My Breath Away

PPP Abundance

Three years after their critically acclaimed debut, Motor City thoroughbreds Waajeed and Saadiq deliver a sophomore release in a surprisingly about-face fashion. The duo all but abandons its hip-hop leanings here for a decidedly R&B/soul sound. With melodious vocal assists from new recruits such as St. Louis native Coultrain, Texas songstress Karma Stewart, and Brooklynite Jamila Raegan, Abundance brazenly explores Latin-soul fusion (“The Ghost of Aveiro”), Charles Stepney-esque balladry (“Sanctuary”), and throwback soul (“On a Cloud”). Abundance also finds PPP introspecting, engaging in sociopolitical commentary (“American Pimp”), and musing on the proliferation of poseurs and culture vultures (“Smoking Mirrors”). Although fans of the duo’s MPC boom-bap may be left scratching their heads, PPP’s allegiance to the groove should soothe all doubts.

Artist to Watch: Crystal Antlers

The past year has seen an onslaught of “Crystal” bands, but it’s easy to remember that Crystal Antlers are the one band in the bunch that rocks. Crafting a unique brand of organ-drenched punk, Crystal Antlers are further anchored by the raw bellows of frontman Jonny Bell. The quintet formed in 2006 and dropped a few 7” singles and an EP before hooking up with Touch & Go, who will be releasing the band’s forthcoming full-length.

Listen: “A Thousand Eyes”

Download This Track

Watch: Crystal Antlers Live on Fuel TV

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Lars Horntveth Kaleidoscopic

The simple fact that Kaleidoscopic consists of a single, 37-minute composition makes this an intimidating record. Admittedly striving for grandiosity, Horntveth has created something that, purely in terms of scope, quickly surpasses his debut album, Pooka, and his usual work with Jaga Jazzist. This is post-rock writ large… and created in collaboration with the 41 members of the Latvian National Orchestra. Yet this is no classical bore—more akin to a film score, the emotive string arrangements, serene clarinet melodies, and other orchestral flourishes beautifully fill out the composition. More than anything, Kaleidoscopic is a pleasant listen—kudos to Horntveth for going big without going over the top.

Tempo No Tempo “Medicines”

Fans of Deerhoof, The Mae Shi, or post-punk in general should enjoy this track, the first offering of 2009 from Oakland, CA-based trio Tempo No Tempo. Rumor has it that big plans are afoot for the band this year (which include SXSW appearances), but in the meantime, keep this guitar-laden track, along with 2007’s Repetition EP, on rotation.

Tempo No Tempo – Medicines

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