Most of this weeks discoveries have been House or a derivative of. Which as an opening statement is oddly fitting considering we watched ‘The Big Short’ last night; a pseudo documentary on the sub-prime housing crash that practically bought the global economy to its knees in 2008. A darkly amusing film, with numerous outstanding performances that will get you thinking on how those with too much influence and money care little for doing whats right, unless of course doing what’s right happened to make them billions of dollars. Even the characters within the movie that claim to be above such deplorably corrupt and collusive behaviour ultimately find their souls being tricked by the lure of money, money, money. I write this whilst Nils Frahm ‘Zwei’ provocatively reverberates within my studio (bedroom), its resigned feeling of hopelessness and futility fueling the gathering malaise of a world long teetering on the edge of the abyss. Yet ‘Zwei’ has a sense of soul, unlike the individuals described above, and although dark in intonation the bright keys and beautiful melody have a sense of spring and new beginnings about them. Its a delicately elegant record once again illustrating the irresistible almost redemptive world of Nils Frahm.
Nils Frahm Ode – SHEETS ZWEI
The second record to ensnare our imagination comes from the Melbourne based Aussie duo ‘Sleep D’. Despite our love for vegemite and Paul Hogan we have never before, until today, encountered the Australian born pair. They are like the antipodean equivalent to Mathew Jonson, loads of kit, like a good jam and have a knack, based on this evidence, for composing trippy progressive yet purposeful beats. Admittedly the clip posted below is essentially beat free, however you only need to check their 2014 Boiler Room to know these boys like a good kick drum also. Live at the Fairfield Amphitheatre Part 1 Clip 1 is our pick of the LP, with its woozy arpeggiations urging us, without further delay, to book a flight to some uncharted party island paradise.
Sleep D – Live at the Fairfield Amphitheatre Part 1 Clip 1 (Analogue Attic Recordings)
Liked these then check: Olafur Arnalds & Nils Frahm ‘Trance Frendz’ // Mathew Jonson Fabric 84