electronica – Page 9

May 24, 2008May 23, 2008

Ultra Cat – Orbiting The Earth

So who is UltraCat? Well, they are a duo of Yuriko Miyamoto and Jonah Dempcy from Seattle Washington. Together they produce really groovy house with a slight twist. For example, this track which has elements of 1950’s sci-fi mixed with a deep house groove.

Bio from thesixtyone.com

UltraCat is a house music project started in March 2008 by Yuriko Miyamoto and Jonah Dempcy. Yuriko has a background as an artist, designer and multi-instrumentalist. Jonah’s background includes the electronic-jazz project Revolution Void and collaborations with musicians such as Michael Shrieve (Santana) and Matthew Garrison (Herbie Hancock’s Future2Future band).

Together, they produce music which draws from house roots in disco as well as contemporary artists like Bob Sinclar, Daft Punk, Cassius and Basement Jaxx. By referencing classic funk, disco and house tracks and reinterpreting long-lost rare groove tracks, UltraCat brings a unique and refreshing sensibility to the realm of house music.

For more information, visit the UltraCat homepage at www.ultracatmusic.com.

Ultra Cat – Orbiting The Earth

May 10, 2008

Electric President – Monsters

Twisted soundscapes, electronic beats, and postal service-esque vocals fill up this track from Electric President. “Electric President is a Jacksonville, Florida musical duo started in 2003 by Ben Cooper and Alex Kane.” (taken from their wiki article).

Bio from last.fm

Electric President is the second of Ben Cooper’s projects, this time with Alex Kane. The sound is a mix with folk, pop, electronic, with a sound that would be very much like if you threw The Postal Service, The Decemberists, The Flaming Lips, and George Orwell in a large blender.

The songs are characterized by nasalized voices, acoustic riffs, MD-four tracks, SM58, and some computers.

Once upon a time it was the jukebox that made pop music. Or vice versa. Indeed, the vinyl-seven inch is romantic, a sentimental medium. And if one of those two Electric-President-singles were put in a jukebox the girls (and the boys) would dance. The buttons would soon be wellworn. Is it because the songs are romantic? Partly. It’s because the songs touch the very foundations of pop music: the storm and stress, the inwardness and the nonchalance, and melodies, melodies, melodies.

The universe of 24-year-old Ben Cooper from Jacksonville Beach/Florida is an echo-chamber with all kinds of doors that are open to small indie within big pop. All that can also be listened to on the self-titled debut (mm 062) that was published recently.

”You have the right to remain awesome, vol. 1” begins with the organic “good ol’ boys”, a carefully arranged juxtaposition of soundtracks and sound signals. A track that borrows its concentration on rhythm and its electronic oscillations from digital
music. A track that matures to analogue vividness — at the latest with Ben Cooper’s repetitive singing.

“Dotted lines” seems to be the exact opposite: almost a folksong, carried by an acoustic guitar and a likeable melody. Garnished with all interlocking and indulging that is so characteristic for Cooper’s arrangements. A soft but never sugary opulence.

Electric President – Monsters

April 27, 2008October 23, 2020

Carmen Rizzo – Ecounter (ft. Jem)

Looks like Jem is getting back to business with this new collaboration with Carmen Rizzo (well know producer / remixer as well as KCRW darling). Jem mentions on her site, “after some fantastic hibernation time, I’m ready to get back to bizness – regenerated, rejuvenated, and ready to rock. I couldn’t be more excited about the new album and I sincerely hope you’re all gonna love it too!” I’m sure we will, her voice is up there with Imogen Heap for my money! This particular track can be found on Carmen Rizzo’s latest offering called, “Ornament of an Impostor”, which can be purchased at itunes.

Carmen Rizzo – Ecounter (ft. Jem)