iTunes Single of the week #14

Hi,

This week's free download was "Feel of love" by Tensnake & Jacques Lu Cont ft. Jamie Lidell.

Tensnake is a 38 year-old house and electronica music producer and DJ from Germany. Jacques Lu Cont is a 36 year-old electronic, synthpop, house and electroclash DJ, songwriter and record producer from North Yorkshire, England. Jamie Lidell is a 40 year-old soul, funk and electronica artist from Cambridgeshire, England.

Review:
This funky, electronica track is constructed with layers, adding on more slowly but surely. The steamy beats with electronic 'noises' behind the start off, then adding electric bass bringing more melody and variation. The alternative-techno vocals are brought in next. The tone of them are not to my taste as they are too high pitched, undefined and warble-y. They don't sound like they are quite right, or like thy have found their proper style yet. As there isn't much vocal melody, they aren't the main attraction which is fine when you have a strong backing to fill out the spaces and cushion the lyrics. This track doesn't have either. This is very much a '90s techno-pop track which doesn't really appeal to me.

Overall, I think this song hasn't got much cop but isn't un-listeninable. 5/10

iTunes Single of the week #10

Hi,

This week iTune's free single of the week was "Gone (feat. Mahut Mondino)" by Supreme Cuts.

Supreme Cuts are a pair of electronic, dubstep artists from Chicago. They have on album "Divine Ecstasy" and one EP "Trouble" on iTunes. Mahut Mondino is a singer/songwriter from Paris. She has two singles out on iTunes, not including this one.

Review:
This track is electronic-pop but has indie hints to it. The intro is so beautiful, a piano playing gorgeous moving chords over a simple twinkly melody is just unbelievably wonderful. I kept rewinding the song and listening to it again and again. Listening to it you think you're in for a gentle, beautiful piano ballad, but soon the singer and electro beats bursts through which I find ruins the moment. The piano is kept all the way through but overshadowed by electro-pop beats, which is a shame. The rest of the song is much the same, the singer is talented and the vocals are great but is high pitched all the way through and can get irritating. Her first note escapes through the soft piano with airy, light softness but we also hear the strength of her voice. Mahut Mondino is one to watch I think but this whole track is too electro-pop club beat-y for me!

Overall, purely for the piano and the vocals, I will give it 6/10.

iTunes Single of the week #9

Hi,

So this week's free single of the week was "Dripping Down" by East India Youth.

East India Youth has one album: "Total strife forever" and one EP: "Hostel". He is William Doyle, a 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist from Bournemouth.

 Review:
This track is an indie-grunge with electronic tones. I really like the vocalist, he has a deep but soft and gentle voice. Although he can get a bit monotonous at times, we hear his talent when he moves pitches. About three quarters of the way through we think the song has finished but it carries on with the backing removed but we hear gorgeous harmonies, these are haunting and so well written with beautiful changes in chords and dynamics. I could listen to those as a whole song! The song starts off with the vocals sung relatively high, but these are soon brought down again to the nasal slightly samey tones of the rest of the track. I love the harmonies behind the main vocalist. The backing is electric and with Caribbean drum beats, I like this but only with the more indie-grunge vocals.

Overall I would give this song 7/10, for the beautiful ending.

ACADEMIC_

Hi,

So today's post will be about an artist called "Academic". I'll be telling you about my favourite two songs of his: Bye Bye- HERE and Prelude to a dream- HERE

Background info:
His name is Tyler Matthews and he is a 28 year old electronic artist from Columbia, SC: home of Hootie and the Blowfish, Toro y Moi, & Washed Out. He left the finance world to focus on his music. He makes music for tv & movie soundtracks as well as commercials. He's planning to begin a regional tour in the Spring of 2014.

Review:
Bye Bye has nice strong intro beats, it's clean and sharp which is nice to hear. This is electronic, but not too poppy and in that respect  breath of fresh air. There are some really interesting changes throughout this track which give your ears something to hold onto. Some nice beats and added electro "twinkles" are a nice touch. Personally,  find this 4 minute track a bit boring for the whole thing, but that is my techno-resenting opinion. It is worth a listen.

Prelude to a dream has an interesting start. The short tapping beats are a nice addition and the far out noises are lovely. The added moving pitches give a nice effect, overall I like this one better.

So I hope you can all find time in your busy schedules to listen to "Academic Beats", it's worth it! HERE is his sound-cloud link so you can listen to more. There are a couple of free downloads on there if you want! Follow him on twitter @academicbeats. Thanks for reading!