It seemed impossible to top Charlotte Adigéry's previous single, the tribal-beat throbbing, highly entrancing "Paténipat" which sounded unlike anything else we heard throughout 2018. Now the Belgian-Martiniquaise singer, also known in muso circles for her side project WWWater, is enticing us with another song announcing the release of her 2nd EP "Zandoli" scheduled for 8th Feb via DEEWEE. "High Lights" is an entertainingly eccentric ode to synthetic wigs in the form of a kooky synth-pop number which is strangely catchy in its own unique way. What better a tune to revive my Club Bizarre thread with.
And here's "Paténipat" again in case you missed it...
Onuka are back with a brand new single. The high-powered "Xashi" is such an unanticipated treat considering the Ukrainian electro-folk band have only just released their latest album "MOZAЇKA" back in spring. "ХАЩІ" is an energy-dripping aural concoction of electronica, synths, Kraftwerkian vibes, trombones and the compulsory Ukrainian folk instruments. Onuka is strengthening their established position among the most original acts of the European continent with a devoted following going beyond Central and Eastern Europe at this stage. Attracting audiences with their sleek image paired with the instantly recognisable visual aesthetics of their music videos and live shows, their signature sound fusing various genres, styles and influences and finally with what seems like an unstoppable stream of excellent releases, Onuka are on top of their game!
The enigmatic Galleriet - California based Swedish interdisciplinary artist and electronic musician, has recently self-released one of this year's most distinctive EPs "Send Me Your Daughter". Katharina Stenbeck, the visual artist behind the project, channels her work through soundscapes of synth-pop, experimental pop and electronica which happen to be right up my musical alley. "Senga" and "Signorelli" - two stand-out tracks among this captivating selection, float aurally between the cold synth waves of early Eurythmics and the avant-pop excursions of Róisín Murphy's "Hairless Toys" era. Pop Art à la 2018.
The eccentric German duo Easter are back with yet another culinary-themed underground gem "Cuppa". Ever since I came across Stine Omar & Max Boss' debut album "The Softest Hard" back in 2012 I knew we were about to be immersed into something unique, uncompromising and bold. The strange concoction of poetry, minimal synth production, cuisine references and the pair's striking, cold, almost unapproachable presence create an incomparable visual and sonic experience. "Cuppa" is right up there with "The Heat", "Pillo", "New Cuisine" and "Alien Babies" among Easter's most engaging songs to date.
I have also recently stumbled upon Easter's live performance for Boiler Room which solidified my fascination with this truly unconventional duo:
Jazzy cream is how Nathy Peluso intriguingly describes her music. This Argentinian genre-bending performer will soon be the talk of all the blogging musos, always hungry for fresh, unique sounds. The seductive mixture of meaty beats (produced by Madrid based Oddliquor), slow tempo rhythms, exaggerated vocal acrobatics, urban rhymes and clever samples all interweave to create a one of a kind soundscape which floats somewhere between the artistic galaxies of FKA Twigs, Bahamadia and Fatima. It's future soul, it's experimental Hip Hop, it's a Latin flavoured trip-hop extravaganza. "SANDÍA" is where Peluso's concept reaches new highs. It's both completely hypnotising and boundary-pushing for the more conservative music lovers out there. A rare and eccentric jewel.
The ever so trendy VHS-style video for "SANDÍA" was directed by Sandra Iglesias Rey. You can purchase the song on Bandcamp.
The producer of the track, Oddliquor has also just dropped his own new single "Sweet 90's" and what a sweet tune it is indeed:
I first stumbled upon the enigmatic K Á R Y Y N reading about Björk's inspirations in the Guardian last autumn. The Syrian-Armenian-American artist is paying a hauntingly elegant homage to Aleppo, her childhood hometown with this uncompromising slice of electronica, echoing some of FKA Twigs' most ethereal aural escapades. "Aleppo" comes from K Á R Y Y N's double A-side single "Quanta 1" and the song is accompanied by VHS home footage from her time in the Syrian city. The singer's breathy vocals, combined with the minimal, unnerving production, create an unforgettable atmosphere. K Á R Y Y N lists Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, Kendrick Lamar and Lebanese diva Fairouz as her biggest musical influences in this interview for Phoenix Magazine.
One of the Queer Hip Hop movement's most prolific figures, the multi talented Cakes Da-Goodie Goodies-Killa is about to release his debut album "Hedonism". The record is promoted by an explosive collaboration between Da Killa and Peaches - the explicit club-ready hip house anthem "Up Out My Face". This undeniable club banger was produced by Jeremiah Meece, known for joining forces with another avant-garde rap aficionado - Mykki Blanco.
So the only time previously I got to blog about ONUKA was winter 2014 when I discovered their charming slice of pop "Look". And I was already late then. A similar case with today's post. My muso friend Alex introduced me to their deliciously bizarre electro pop moment "Vidlik" a couple of months ago but somehow I am only getting around to writing about it today. Better late than ever I suppose and the more people get to explore this truly memorable track, the better. Fittingly intense in both visuals and musical production, the song apparently is dedicated to the Chernobyl disaster, its influence on Ukraine and the whole world, as I read on beehype. A sophisticated aural hotchpotch of traditional, ethnic instruments, electronica and haunting spoken word elements create a unique atmosphere, impossible to forget. If you haven't seen or heard this one yet, it will most likely stay with you for a long time. One of the 2016 videos of the year too, big time! Directed by Anna Buryachkova.
My fellow music blogger Pyrotek from No Snobs Allowed introduced me to this rare gem. Think early Jimi Tenor, psychedelic POP, Sébastien Tellier with a solid portion of Krautrock influences, some disco friendly riffs and a healthy dose of sonic insanity. Sung in German. Made in Switzerland. Sounds intriguing enough already? Just press play and get enchanted by Klaus Johann Grobe's "Geschichten aus erster Hand". One of the most original tracks I was lucky to discover so far in 2016. Excellent!
One of the most intriguing Hyperdub acts - Jessy Lanza, returns with the first single announcing her 2nd LP "Oh No" scheduled for 13th May. "It Means I Love You" establishes the Canadian singer's artistic versatility even further, the throbbing composition lies somewhere between the South African Shangaan Electro beats, Olof Dreijer's (The Knife) remixes, minimal electro, the ultra trendy PC music and Lanza's own signature aura of sonic mystery. In comparison with Lanza's cosmic disco affair with Morgan Geist (check out The Galleria's excellent "Calling Card" and "Mezzanine" here) and the electronic soul of "You Never Show Your Love" featuring DJ Spinn & Taso, "It Means I Love You" is a completely different story. I suppose we can begin counting the tunes towards this year's Best of 2016 as of now. Produced by Junior Boys’ Jeremy Greenspan this track is an instant Club Bizarre anthem.
Kedr Livanskiy (Russian for Lebanese Cedar) represents the Russian underground electronic scene, a scene with which we are yet to become acquainted. Her debut single, the incomparable "Sgoraet" ended up at #28 on my annual #Top100 list of the greatest tracks of the year in December. Now the uncompromising producer announces the release of her first EP "January Sun" which you can pre-order via 2MR. The second taste of this truly unique material is "Razrushitelniy Krug (Destructive Cycle)" which sonically lies somewhere between the recordings of Glass Candy, Nite Jewel, Appaloosa and Fischerspooner, even though the artist lists Autechre, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada and Mazzy Star as her major inspirations. The lo-fi sounds, the startlingly unpredictable production, Kedr Livanskiy's mysteriously unsettling vocal laments, the analog synths and the melodic abundance of Russian language all combined, make for one of the most memorable releases in months. I adore to be taken by surprise me.
I have put these two tracks together based on one simple rule. They are the two most original, unclassifiable, genre-bending and categorisation-defying songs I came across in the last few weeks. Instant Club Bizarre essentials too!
First up, all the way from South Africa Okzharp featuring his Johannesburg based dancing muse Manthe Ribane and their fruitful collaboration sung in Tswana "Dear Ribane". Inspired by South Africa's thriving house music scene, "Dear Ribane" mesmerises with its exotic cocktail of tribal beats, unevenly pulsating rhythms and exotic rhymes. Hyperdub has always been unparalleled when it comes to discovering and supporting striking, up and coming artists (Burial, DVA, Ossie, Jessy Lanza to name just a few) but Okzharp's throbbing "Dumela 113" EP could be easily considered one of this prolific, London-based record label's best releases to date. "Dear Ribane" is a surprising, sublimely produced and irresistible invitation to dance.
Where do I even begin with Aïsha Devi's fascinating "Mazdâ"... The Swiss-Nepalese underground producer/conceptual artist has just released her debut LP "Of Matter And Spirit" via London’s Houndstooth label. The record is an uncompromising experiment of abstract electronica, industrial synths, witch house, dark ambient, noise, noir electro with some Oriental reminiscences ("Initiation to an Illusion") and echoes of The Knife's epic "Silent Shout" ("Kim and the Wheel of Life"). Does it sound avant-garde enough to you? Here's what we read about "Mazdâ" in Dazed which premiered this unquestionable contender for the video of the year, directed by Chinese artist Tianzhuo Chen, earlier on this week:
"High-pitched, candy-coated vocals, shimmering synth lines and heart-thumping bass are stitched over images of near-naked people wearing rubber masks, drooling at each other or munching on the carcass of a raw chicken in this completely off-the-wall music video for Aïsha Devi’s electro masterpiece “Mazdâ”."
I have first become acquainted with Jimi Tenor back in the mid-90's when I discovered his innovative and electrifyingly eclectic records "Intervision" and "Organism", both of which I cherish to this day. All through the years the Finnish wizard of electronica, as I like to sometimes call him, experimented with various musical genres and styles, focusing more and more on nu jazz and afro beat, however it was always his aural excursions into electronica that kept me the most absorbed. Following his latest house project with his wonderfully talented wife Nicole Willis - Cola & Jimmu, Tenor is now featuring on "Party Girl" which could be easily described as the greatest track on Claptone's debut album "Charmer". The Berlin based dj & producer caught my attention previously with his first-rate house records "The Music Got Me" and "She Loves You" and now the artist has also invited Jay Jay Johanson, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Young Galaxy, Peter Bjorn & John and Jaw to partake in making Claptone's first full album.
Here are Jimi Tenor and Claptone separately with my favourite tracks of theirs respectively:
I would file this curious collaboration between the garage producer Lxury and the enfant terrible of musical eclecticism LA Priest somewhere between The Miracles Club's underground house delicacies and Seven Davis Jr's gritty modern funk. Sounds pretty intriguing already? Listen to this latest addition to my "Club Bizarre" thread below, bearing in mind this hypnotising house gem does not go away that easily. "Show" is out now via Greco-Roman.
Here are the reminders of my previous favourite tracks by Lxury and LA Priest individually:
Le1f. Sophie. Le1f and Sophie together! 2015's most bonkers single has just arrived. One of the pioneers of the ever so expanding Queer Hip-Hop movement - the sensational Le1f teases us with the first single taken from his first full length and as he calls it himself "proper" album "Riot Boi". Terrible Records have scored the undeniable privilege to release this much-desired record which follows Le1f's 3 electrifying genre (and gender!) bending mix-tapes: "Dark York" with the ubiquitous "Wut", "Fly Zone" with the sweaty "Spa Day" and "Tree House" which included FaltyDL produced "Jack" among others. "Koi" was produced by PC Music's prime ambassador, the enigmatic Sophie who was previously responsible for the blogosphere's favourite "Bipp" and arguably Madonna's best single since "Get Together" - "Bitch I'm Madonna". On top of it all, Simon Ward directed this kitsch infused feast of a video which will leave you gasping for more of Le1f's vogueing. I am yet again in awe with this boy.
And here are the other 3 tracks mentioned above to quench that thirst for more from Le1f while we anticipate "Riot Boi"...
This one goes for all the musos on a constant hunt for dancefloor oddities, bizarre one-off's and electronica obscurities. Our favourite Estonian experimentalist and underground pop enfant terrible Maria Minerva joins electro forces with Cherushii - a San Francisco based, Detroit techno-Chicago house-classic rave inspired musician who has just released her latest EP "Memory of Water" on cassette via 100% Silk. Think cacophonous disco, multi-layered "synthscapes", warped house beats and intertwined vocals. This is club bizarre at its most fittingly peculiar.
Let's just say no one has been as convincing and original in the whole Future R&B movement since FKA Twigs' first EP's as Abra. I've already been singing praises to the inescapable "Roses", easily one of the greatest tracks to emerge so far in 2015 and the time has now come for the next single from Abra's impressive debut album to hit our radar. "U Kno" is a downtempo, moody affair marrying soulful vocals, urban beats and eerie electronica to astonishing effect. I am more and more blown-away by this gifted artist. The fittingly edgy and visually intriguing video was directed by Ramez Silyan & Christine Lai.
4AD's protégée Megan Remy a.k.a. U.S. Girls continues to tease us before the release of her latest album "Half Free". This new single "Woman's Work" sounds like a collage of Glass Candy's dark take on Italo Disco, Nancy Nova's early 80's "disco-not-disco" pop experiments and Linda Lamb's one-off electro clash underground classic extraordinaire "Hot Room". The album drops 25th September and judging by "Woman's Work" and the fantastic "Damn That Valley" we might be receiving one of this year's most memorable records the very same day.
Finnish duo Femme En Fourrure intrigue me more and more with every next release, kaleidoscopically balancing between genres, styles and moods, they never fail to surprise. The latest offering from Juuso Malin and Sandra Tervonen is "Smell EP" consisting of 3 brand new excellent tracks with a remix by Inga Copeland. Layers of cold, crystal clear synths, distorted vocals, Fever Ray-esque vibes, broken beats and Femme en Fourrure's signature otherworldly production is what makes this EP such an exciting aural escapade. I've had "Shores" and 'Blossom" on repeat all morning.
"Smell EP" is available now on a very limited 10" clear vinyl and cassette at the Helsinkian band's official store.
4AD have been pioneers in discovering unique musical talents for almost 4 decades at this stage. This British independent record label introduced me to Cocteau Twins and Gus Gus, two of my most beloved bands. Joining the extraordinary palette of their currently signed artists, the likes of Bon Iver, Ariel Pink, Grimes and Gang Gang Dance, is the mysterious U.S. Girls. Oscillating between bizarre pop and wonky dub with a solid dose of sweet cacophony and punk aesthetics, “Damn That Valley” easily finds its spot among this year’s most uncompromising and fascinating singles to date. You’ll either adore it immensely or it’ll annoy the hell out of you at first listen. Fashionably off-note and wondrously intense.
