twistin' by the pool

muses, music, discoveries
Here it is: Twistin’ by the Pool mix #1 - The Benefits of Humming http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?e5ft76gxcu1x715Tracklist: Eden Ahbez - The Wanderer The Books - Smells Like Content Lotus Plaza - Dusty Rhodes Juana Molina - ¿Quién? (Suite) Sun Araw feat. The Congos - Invocation Ephat Mujuru - Imagination Coleco - Martyr Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin - Modul 52 The Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble - Bop Twin Shadow - Castles in the Snow Portico Quartet - City of Glass Letta Mbulu - Qonqoza (Knock)… Some explanation: This blog is now to be something different Twice a month or so, a group of music idolists from the greater Cape Town area get together and share the music they love. We’ll be releasing a mixtape after every gathering, so everyone can take part. We won’t be releasing links to download the music (that sort of thing is up to you), but a full mix with a tracklist will always be provided, if you hear anything you like. These mixes are not meant to be coherent bodies of music with a particular vibe. Due to this thing’s nature, the music will be a variety. And if this first mix is anything to go by, a variety of really good shit.Enjoy!

Here it is:

Twistin’ by the Pool mix #1 - The Benefits of Humming

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?e5ft76gxcu1x715

Tracklist:

Eden Ahbez - The Wanderer
The Books - Smells Like Content
Lotus Plaza - Dusty Rhodes
Juana Molina - ¿Quién? (Suite)
Sun Araw feat. The Congos - Invocation
Ephat Mujuru - Imagination
Coleco - Martyr
Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin - Modul 52
The Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble - Bop
Twin Shadow - Castles in the Snow
Portico Quartet - City of Glass
Letta Mbulu - Qonqoza (Knock)

…

Some explanation:

This blog is now to be something different

Twice a month or so, a group of music idolists from the greater Cape Town area get together and share the music they love.

We’ll be releasing a mixtape after every gathering, so everyone can take part. We won’t be releasing links to download the music (that sort of thing is up to you), but a full mix with a tracklist will always be provided, if you hear anything you like.

These mixes are not meant to be coherent bodies of music with a particular vibe. Due to this thing’s nature, the music will be a variety. And if this first mix is anything to go by, a variety of really good shit.

Enjoy!

Nicolaas van Reenen (Bateleur/Spoek Mathambo) releases Wrestlemania! EP

Yoh yoh yoh yoh yoh

Nicolaas van Reenen, guitarist and more for Bateleur and Spoek Mathambo, has just released his first solo EP. I’ve known him for a while, and he’s been making sweet sweet music his whole life. But this is the first proper release with his name behind it. I’m glad he took his time.

The 5 tracks on Wrestlemania! display a wide range of emotional complexities in such a short time - in 15 minutes I feel elated, nostalgic, excited, calm, a bit scared, and, yeah, well, cool, I guess. Nic plays/programmed/created all on this, showing what a great musician he is as opposed to just being an adept instrumentalist. The tone on the guitar (his main instrument) is crisp, clear and beautiful, the product of years of concentrating on making his harp sing. Same can be said for the overall production on the EP - nothing here relies on reverb. Synths are used sparingly and intelligently, and the beats, oh the beats. Complex, but they groove so hard (cf. the second track Floating in Windows ‘95)

Despite (or maybe testament to) it’s genius, Wrestlemania! feels a bit like an exhibition. The 5 tracks don’t seem to function as a contained pieceof music. Rather, I feel like I’m listening to the start of great things to come. It’s over way too soon, but that makes me listen to the whole thing again, and again, and again though. So yeah, if Nic did this on purpose, who knows.

I’m not going to give a track-by-track breakdown, because listening to it is much more fun.

Nicolaas van Reenen is meant for great things. But don’t take my word for it,

CHECK IT OUT:

http://smacmusic.bandcamp.com/album/wrestlemania
http://smacmusic.bandcamp.com/album/wrestlemania
http://smacmusic.bandcamp.com/album/wrestlemania

Also, for the other bands Nic plays in:

Bateleur:
http://www.facebook.com/bateleurband
http://www.myspace.com/bateleurr

Spoek Mathambo and Mshini Wam
http://www.myspace.com/spoek/


New Daniel Rossen (Grizzly Bear) Ep in the works!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PJ5C8qYlavE

The furry genius that is Grizzly Bear owes a lot to this guy. Same with the feathery wonder that is Department of Eagles.

Rossen’s solo EP Silent Hour/Golden Mile (dunno if that’s the full name, or if he’s still just indecisive about what to call it) is due some time soon. This track bodes well. Reaalllllly well.

PS: it’s only sound, so it’s not too big. Precious cap is safe.

make sure you have proper headphones on

this is off the new album, mentioned earlier. it’s really, really great.

Portico Quartet - City of Glass (by JimmyGr90)

christ almighty

OK Go - Needing/Getting - Official Video (by OkGo)

efterklang #1

porticoquartet:

New track ‘Ruins’ from our upcoming album out January 2012 on Real World Records.

not good. amazing. in the truest sense of the word.

(by thehypnoguy1)

argentine wonder. this is all I’ve been listening to for the last couple of days. in fact, it sort off shook me out of a bit of musical ennui (how does this happen? i blame ipods)

the above video is of the first track of the album Un Dia. The rest of the album just gets better and better.

MORE:
http://www.juanamolina.com/

do i need to say anything?