Recent Articles in CD Reviews
The Cannanes – ‘Small Batch’ EP
I keep thinking their name is The Cannabis because it’s written in a puffy, smoke-like font. But I digress… Sydney duo The Cannanes are by no means rock toddlers, having been an “anorak pop” style band since 1985…
Kitsuné ‘America’ Compilation CD
French label and fashion boutique Kitsuné has just opened its first preppy chic American outpost in the Flatiron district, and to celebrate, has released their latest comp, Kitsuné America, their first collection of strictly stateside tunes. Not every track is a keeper, but there are, god bless ‘em, more keepers than duds.
The Eastern Sea – ‘Plague’
The Eastern Sea, a young and rising Austin act (SXSW 2011 Showcasing Artist), recently announced the release of its debut album starkly titled Plague, out June 26th…
Sleigh Bells ‘Reign of Terror’
It hurt like going to the dentist, except that your dentist was Kanye West, except that Kanye West was produced by Crystal Castles, except that Crystal Castles has just revealed that they had been borne of the ashes and silt of the krautrock scene. My expectations and excitement were through the roof for this album, so it was easy to be let down (I was indeed). For all of the school-shooter imagery, the whole thing felt a little wrist-slashy…
‘WeAreTheWorksInProgress’ Japan Benefit Compilation (Sylvian, Maus, Dreijer Anderson)
The particularly freezing, slow ambiance on display here will heighten your synesthesia, without a doubt. The tones bleed together like oils on an expressionist palette, and you see them moving towards an abstract canvas to create a vivid image of raw, if subdued, emotion. Curated with expertise, the fade is perfect…
Prinzhorn Dance School – ‘Clay Class’
The cover art of Clay Class is a hint of the rich starkness inside. Cleverly named British duo Prinzhorn Dance School, (made up of Tobin Prinz and Suzi Horn), delivers a visceral slice of life with a slick bleakness that hasn’t reared its head this seductively since the first days of post-punk. This isn’t a dig; I’m addicted.
Sentimentalist Magazine Calls Out Top Twelve Releases of 2011
Why do the year-end lists always seem to come in tidy sums of ten, twenty-five, fifty, or a hundred? I would have gone and given you a baker’s dozen but I stopped myself at twelve, for fear of being overbearing. You know how overarching these lists can be.
Battle to the Top 5 Albums of 2011, Sentimentalist Mag Style
2010 was so much better,” I said throughout 2011, despite posting Salem’s “King Night” on New Years Eve to slam the door on that horrible chapter. I started dead-set on only doing a top five for a year where I barely spun anything released more than twice, but then I looked through my downloads and saw a lot of heavy-hitters…
Anomie Belle – ‘Machine’
Though the romanticized torch singer is a heavily-sought title for many contemporary female vocalists, few approach it through such an experimental lens. Anomie Belle’s collaborative failures (see: Mr Lif’s verse on the title track) and weakness of production all seem to fall short of, or even complement, the strength of her uniquely apposed voice.
Zomby – ‘Dedication’
A masked man’s efforts should be shifty, menacing and comforting at once. Zomby’s latest, the exquisite producer’s first release for fab label 4AD, is like sitting at home and hearing the dark, interactive play Sleep No More come to life in your headphones…
