Let us speak on New Orleans. Within a fragmented infrastructure, talent struggles to keep from falling through chasms where artistic points of view fail to connect meaningfully, and while a series of dead ends frustrates the masses, the truly committed artists find themselves having to look inward. Released from any pressure to conform, these musicians can focus on the selfless pursuit of true creativity. That’s the beauty of the creative isolation small markets provide.
Enter Isle of Crete, reminding me that this form of creative development can be sustainable, quietly dropping a handful of surprising electro mini-bangers right under the feet of an unsuspecting New Orleans music scene. Imagine if Jan Hammer loosened up just a bit, experienced life outside of Miami and saw the world. Where The Buttons put out a rigid and determined brand of New Orleans electro, Isle of Crete finds themselves cast off into indecisiveness, more fluid than solid, but still managing to come off clean and catchy.
It’s time I start bringing some consistency to Deftjams. With that, here’s the first of what will be a weekly series(let’s say every Thursday, but that might change). This week’s Feel Good Jam of the Week is Javelin’s “Lindsay Brohan”. Appropriately titled for its summer ‘09 release, the name might not be timeless, but the melody sure sounds like it. “Lindsay Brohan” rides high, unwavering in it’s confidence, clear and calm with an assured step. Experience a higher consciousness in chillwave.
If you feel the safari coming on, don’t fight it. There’s a collective vibe here fueled by the will of the party people, and they must be satisfied. The urge is eternal; an inherent addiction, but more so a self-fulfilling prophecy. They believe so strongly the party is instilled in them that the party materializes around them. This is what they are listening to. (Via Big Stereo)
Coming off sounding this sorrowful must be hard for rich, good looking people. Nevertheless, Dead Man’s Bones pulls off the feat with surprising grace. Complete with Notebook star/Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling, the LA duo channel a much less dated Pinback overlayed with children’s choir in their catchy-ass single “Pa Pa Power”. (Via Shazam via WTUL)
Intermittent plumbing work and early morning metal sawing under my house has left me in a semi-psychedelic state. The strangeness is creeping in, and my tastes are changing to suit it. Somewhere between Sonic Youth and the Mamas and the Papas, Broadcast’s “I Found the F” brings on a less familiar nostalgia, connected to some time I never experienced, like an inherited memory. (Via Shazam via WTUL)
*I ganked this photo from an STL paper story about New Years 1999.
He’s jittery and he wouldn’t have it any other way. He get’s so high he sees stars on a regular basis. He’s also full of strange theories about cultural memes and friendship dynamics. Very, very strange. South Florida fixed-gear goonDS@STR just posted his live set from the last Electronic Takeover at Maison. DS@STR will be out in full force again Feb 6th for the next Electronic Takeover event.
I can start this post off by saying that it was difficult to shoot photos and drink at the same time. Throwback at Republic was packed as usual. G-Eazy’s live set vastly improved upon any of his previous shows, and the crowd response was crazy. Post show things got a hazy up in Republic. Props to the SWED Clothing dudes who came all the way in from somewhere west of the Louisiana Purchase. Check out all the photos HERE
The 5th Deftjams mix cd “Future Vice” has arrived(yes, mix cd, not dj mix) on the heels of some very cold winter travel. Upon arriving back in New Orleans, I found the weather not much more hospitable, and all the piping under my house broken after a very short freeze. 10 days and 2.5 showers later, I’m living and looking like a bum. Luckily I have internet(barely) for my sweet pre-Katrina PC laptop brah! Today I’m sending out a set of mix cds to a Cali peep. I wonder what California is like. Email me with your name and address so I can mail you a mix cd before they stop being FREE. Seriously. Look at that packaging. View all the Deftjams mix tracklistings HERE.
Late in A.Zabriskie’s “Pleasure Together” mix, a song drops that defies general electro convention and has bothered me lately as I struggle to make sense the strange mixture of Deja Vu and immediacy the track evokes. Hovering ghost riders bear down on an endless march and shed their appearance into something much more alien. Wind-slicked hair on a man with mission wavers under highway heat. Endless reminders from the pits of your gut. (Via Discoworkout)
