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CROSSWHEN EPISODE 1.1 : Ship of Theseus

It’s a cause for celebration when I discover a new album to fall completely head over heels with and it is with great happiness that I announce the 2017 album from Visible Cloaks entitled ‘Reassemblage’ as the next album I’ll obsess over for months.

What with my returning to the Land of Milk and Honey known as my Parents’ basement I’ve been in dire straights when it comes to new music but no longer! Reassemblage is a hard album to describe without using that awful word that begins with an A and rhymes with Bambient but with my distaste for popular electronic music nomenclature aside this album kicks ass. Emotional, dissonant confusing and elegant are my adjectives of choice in describing this body of work. I was considering doing a show dedicated to this album and this album alone tonight but there was also so much other fantastic music I discovered this week that I’ll have to save that for a later date.

In semi-related affairs, I’ve spent the better half of this morning listening to Holly Herndon (another feature on tonight’s show) and Mat Dryhurst’s podcast titled ‘Interdependance’ . If you have any concerns or speculations regarding AI, music in a post dot come bubble world, crypto, culture, internet etc. I highly recommend this podcast. Herndon and Dryhurst are incredibly intelligent but don’t present their show in any way that could be perceived as standoffish or pretentious.

I am also, and have been for a few years now, a massive Holly Herndon fan who thinks that she is the future when it comes to not just electronic music but the idea of music as a whole. I could gush about PROTO and SPAWN for forever so I’ll save you some time and brain matter by redirecting you to their patreon.

I hope you tune in tonight, great show lined up. As always you can reach me here through the ask section on my blog or via email at nico.pablorock@gmail.com

Stay Safe

Nico Rock

“Now begin in the middle, and later learn the beginning; the end will take care of itself.”  

- Harlan Ellison

SETLIST

Cokiyu - Cloudburst

MOTTRON - Noon

Visible Cloaks &  Miyako Koda - Valve

Holly Herndon - Chorus

Visible Cloaks - Bloodstream

Amnesia Scanner - AS Rewild

Blanck Mass - Please (Zola Jesus Remix)

Pharmakon - Autoimmune

Jenny Hval - Female Vampire

Puce Mary - Red Desert

Pan Daijing - Lucid Morto

Croatian Amor - LA Hills Burn At The Peak Of Winter

Ariel Kalma - Manege

Laurel Halo - Carcass

Lucrecia Dalt - Esotro

Maria Arnal i Marcel Bages & Holly Herndon - Cant de la Sibil-la

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Top 30 Most Underrated Albums!!

My top 30 favorite albums that I think are lovely and should be praised WAAAAY more than they are! Everything on here is great and I recommend all these albums!

30. Bon Iver - 22 A Million

Bon Iver takes his sound to the most experimental. Vocoder passages are super dope, 715 Creeks is an insanely underrated tune.

29. Siriusmo - Mosaik

Great kitschy synth music. Catchy, lighthearted, sweet and playful.

28. Bones - Useless

Best underground soundcloud rap album in my opinion. Cavernous, edgy, loud and depressing.

27. Mellowhype - Numbers

For an album with what I consider to be one of the best Frank Ocean features ever I hardly see it talked about in hip-hop circles. Great album.

26. Justice - Audio Video Disco

Grossly overshadowed by it’s monolithic older brother Cross, Audio Video Disco still serves bangers. Civilization is one of my top 10 songs of all time but On’n’on, Helix and New Lands should not be overlooked!

25. Gesaffelstein - Aleph

If I had to describe Aleph in a single word it would be brooding. Runners up include expensive, violent and scary.

24. Duck Sauce - Quack

If anything proves that we are long overdue for a full length A-Trak solo album, it’s this.

23. Yung Lean - Unknown Memory

Cloud rap pioneer Yung Lean’s opus. Volt, Sunrise Angel, Sandman and Blinded are all incredibly ahead of their time.

22. Playboi Carti - In Abundance

This one comes with a bit of a caveat considering it is a fan-compiled mixtape and not an official album but many of the songs on this project in my opinion stack up against highlights from S/T, Die Lit and WLR.

21. Dead Can Dance - Within the Realm of a Dying Sun

Referring to this album as moody and ambient don’t do it justice but for the sake of keeping  this list concise it will have to do. Dead Can Dance deserve the highest order of praise for this medieval epic.

20. Porches - The House

A melancholy and personal look into Porches frontman Aaron Maine’s experiences with social anxiety and depression. It’s groovy and will have you dancing with tears in your eyes.

19. Oni Ayhun - Oar003

Only two tracks long which makes it the shortest album on this list, Olof Dreijer of The Knife, under the pseudonym Oni Ayhun, makes curious, twinkling techno on Oar003.

18. Amnesia Scanner - Another Life

Abrasive and glitchy, german electronic duo Amnesia Scanner’s first album is not for the feint of heart but anyone who decides to keep an open mind (and the volume knob sitting lower than usual) will find some truly captivating moments of electronic brilliance on this record.

17. Mr Oizo - All Wet

Absolutely fucking hilarious album. With features from Skrillex, Boys Noize, Peaches and even Charli Xcx. All wet is modern dadaism and if you don’t believe me make sure you check out No Tony and Chairs in particular.

16. Crystal Castles - Amnesty (I)

I do not understand why this album isn’t  considered more when talking about Crystal Castles’ discography. It sounds related to their self titled trilogy but takes the band’s style in a less dance oriented, more experimental almost instrumental hiphop direction. Edith Francis’ vocals are great and the songs Ornament and Fleece stand out in particular, not to mention that the bonus track Kept may be one of the group’s best.

15. Simian Mobile Disco - Murmuations

Very low-key electronic music from Simian Mobile Disco, Murmurations features some flooring choral pieces backed by soft dance patterns. Great relaxing listen for fans of Caribou, Jamie XX and Chrome Sparks.

14. Mdou Moctar - Ilana (The Creator)

Where to even begin with this one! Mdou Moctar is a guitarist from Niger and Ilana (The Creator) is in my opinion his best work. Fuzzy rock music that sounds like it’s being played from 50-foot monitors in the middle of the Sahara.

13. Chemical Brothers - Further

Chemical brother’s second sleekest album after born in the echoes, Further has glamour that you’re seldom able to find elsewhere.

12. Boys Noize - Mayday

Absolute fucking rager of an album. Featuring Policia, Remy Banks and Hudson Mohawke among others, Boys Noize is in your face and doesn’t give a shit on Mayday. The remix of Birthday released after the album with Danny Brown is priceless.

11. Nico - Desertshore

Break out the tissues if you plan on listening to Desertshore today, this album is unrelentingly melancholic. Nico’s vocals sound almost ghost-like at times and the instrumentals on here are gorgeous.

10. The Newcomer - Earth Motivation

Sopping wet with OPN influence, Earth Motivation is glitchy but retains an emotional quality that will sit with you for a while after your first listen. Perfect for fans of Autechre, Oneohtrixpointnever and Venetian Snares.

9. Tami T - High Pitched and Moist

High Pitched and Moist is definitely not for everyone, but if you like your pop smeared with autotune and in-your-face sexuality then Tami T’s 2019 album is perfect for you! I recommend this one for any fans of Fever Ray and GFOTY.

8. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Async

From the jump, Japanese avant garde classical composer, pianist, electronic musician and synthpop legend Ryuichi Sakamoto hits you where it hurts on Async. The first tune Andata is one of the most beautiful and soul crushing instrumental songs I have ever had the pleasure of hearing, but the quality remains consistent throughout the entire record.

7.�� Blanck Mass - World Eater

Holy. Fuck. Drop whatever you’re doing right now and listen to this album. I don’t care if you’re in a business meeting or getting lunch, World Eater demands the utmost attention. After hearing the transition from the end of Rhesus Negative to Please my life was never the same. I can’t sing Blanck Mass’ praises enough so you’re going to have to check this one out yourself but I guarantee you will NOT be disappointed.

6. Jean-Michel Jarre - Oxygene

French synth deity Jean-Michel Jarre’s intergalactic journey Oxygene is a record that soars above and beyond its compatriots (namely Mort Garson’s Plantasia and Jean-Jacques Perrey’s Moog Indigo) and will take you on an extra-planetary voyage from which you may never return. I recommend listening to this album with the best sound system you have available to really get the most out of it.

5. The Knife - Shaken-Up Versions

Technically The Knife’s last album before their retirement (not counting the Terminal 7 Live album), Shaken-Up Versions sees Karin and Olof Dreijer metamorphosing songs from all across their discography into dancefloor fillers. Electronic musicians retooling their material into more danceable, DJ set ready tracks is nothing new (See Alive 2007 and All Across the Universe) but the Knife’s catalog is already so impressive that hearing classics transmogrified like this is a phenomenal experience that I don’t want any dance music fans to miss out on! They reworked Silent Shout for christ’s sake how can you not love this.

4. Geinoh Yamashirogumi - Ecophony Rinne

Katsuhiro Otomo famously tapped Geinoh Yamashirogumi for the soundtrack to Akira, but what some of you may not know is that, while working on the Akira manga, Otomo was listening to this record in particular which inspired him to collaborate with the collective for the Akira film. Ecophony Rinne is like nothing I have ever heard before or since. It’s got a tectonic quality to it that makes you think you’re witnessing an extinction event or the birth of a new universe while listening which is an experience I highly recommend, ESPECIALLY for fans of the Akira manga and film; this album sounds like how Akira looks and Akira looks damn good.

3. Buy Muy Drugs - Buy Muy Drugs

Slept on in every regard, Buy Muy Drugs is a triumph of experimental and industrial hiphop. The duo made up of rapper Denmark Vessey and producer Azarias are welding together grime, bass music and afro-cuban percussion into a dystopic and pummeling listening experience that gets better and better with every listen. To quote JPEGMAFIA, “Death Grips can’t do this shit”.

2. Susumu Hirasawa - Technique of Relief

This album is jaw-dropping. It’s pop, ambient, traditional-Japanese experimental choral synth music delivered with soaring, regal grandiosity. One of the closest things to musical perfection I can think of, Technique of Relief is an album that even now I am having a difficult time describing. Intensely emotional yet hopeful; groovy but substantive, Susumu Hirasawa penned an oeuvre with this record.

1. Daft Punk - Human After All

The number one spot goes to the black sheep of the world’s most beloved electronic music making androids’ discography. Panned on release for being “spread thin” and “too minimal”, (The Village Voice went so far as to call the album “ a bad record whose details rarely merit further thought “) Daft Punk’s third album Human After all is definitely different from it’s rhinestone studded predecessor but in the absolute best way possible. It’s groovy, dark, emotional, tragic, minimal, distorted and it yields some of the robots’ best tracks (Human After All detractors seem to forget that Technologic, Robot Rock and the title track do not actually stem from the Alive 2007 Coachella set but rather find their home on this album). Sleeper gems like Make Love, Emotion, Television Rule the Nation and Prime Time of Your Life range from introspective and moody RnB that would not feel out of place on a Sebastien Tellier record to blown out, gravelly rock oriented tunes that remind the listener of Daft Punk’s roots as french garage rockers. Phenomenal album, criminally underrated.

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HOT BUTTERED SOUL 21/01/2021

George Clinton - Bullet Proof

Ohio Players - Runnin From The Devil

The Brothers Johnson - Dancin’ And Prancin’

Al Green - Full of Fire

Solomon Burke - Go on Back to Him

The Platters - Sleepy Lagoon

Teddy Pendergrass - If You Know Like I Know

Peaches & Herb - Close Your Eyes

The Gap Band - Messin’ With My Mind

The Chi-Lites - Stoned Out Of My Mind

Michael Henderson - Won’t You Be Mine

Lamont Dozier - Fish Ain’t Bitin’

My next show is Hot Buttered Soul on Tuesday February 2nd at 12:00 PM !! Don’t miss out!

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HOT BUTTERED SOUL 19/01/2021

Zapp - Do You Really Want an Answer?

Roger - Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag

Curtis Mayfield - Eddie You Should Know Better

Bootsy Collins - Munchies for Your Love

George Clinton - Sloppy Seconds

Funkadelic - March to the Witch’s Castle

Lakeside - Something About That Woman

Lakeside - The Songwriter

Prince - It’s Gonna Be Lonely

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THE BUZZ 13/01/2021

Y.O.G.A - Your Devotion (SebastiAn Remix)

Wrecked Beach - Day Destroyer

Blanck Mass - Starstuff

Kite - Hand Out The Drugs

Jean-Michel Jarre - Equinoxe 4 - VR Live

Ben Iwa - Great Day (Remix)

Alex Bent - Thank Ya

Alex Bent - 2 Sides

CRITTER - Shift & Drift

Raised by Swans - Half The Battle

Priors - Videodrome

Thomas Meleteas - Shapeshifting Wizard

All tracks are linked to Bandcamp or Youtube

Next Show: Tuesday January 19, 2021 Hot Buttered Soul 12-1pm see you then :)

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RCMP 12/01/2021

CRITTER - All Better

CRITTER - Do They Know? (Creep)

Modeville- Mia

Band of the Hawk - Fragments of Memory

Handsome Furs - Evangeline

Women - Black Rice

Death From Above 1979 - Freeze Me

Death From Above 1979 - Dead Womb

Crystal Castles - Untrust Us

Ryuichi Sakamoto - Andata (Electric Youth Remix)

Holy Fuck - Birdbrains

MSTRKRFT - Easy Love

Swim Good Now - Grand Beach

Born Gold - Hunger

Girlsareshort - Osaka

All links direct to Bandcamp and YouTube! If you have the money you should think about supporting your favorite artists directly through Bandcamp and their stores so they can keep bringing you the music you love!

Next Show: The Buzz (All New Music) 5pm Cst on Cfcr.ca or 90.5 Fm in Saskatoon Wednesday January 13th

Tomorrow’s show will feature new music from Priors, Kite, Wrecked Beach and Blanck Mass! Don’t miss out :)

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Top 50 Songs of 2020

This year sucked blah blah you know the deal

Here are my favorite songs of 2020

50. Rico Nasty - Iphone

49. Jackie Extreme - Bizarre Love Triangle

48. Tuna Display - Inability To Think Coherently

47. Desire Marea - You Think I’m Horny

46. SALEM - Starfall

45. RMR - Rascal 

44. Deftones - Knife Prty Purity Ring Remix

43. Charli Xcx - Claws

42. The Scotts - The Scotts

41. Thundercat - Fair Chance ft. Ty Dolla $ign & Lil b

40. Action Bronson & The Alchemist - Dmtri

39. Tony Velour & Dylan Brady - EURO PLUG

38. Kenny Mason - Firestarter

37. Fraxiom - Scawy monstews and nice spwites :3

36. JPEGMAFIA - Cutie Pie!

35. Pop Smoke - Shake The Room ft. Quavo

34. Zack Fox - The Bean Kicked In 

33. Yung Lean - Hellraiser

32. Lil Wayne - Mama Mia

31. Car Seat Headrest - Can’t Cool Me Down

30. The Strokes - Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus

29. The Avalanches - Music Makes Me High

28. Nicolas Jaar - Menysid

27. Grimes - Delete Forever

26. Mac Miller - Blue World

25. Arca - Time

24. William Basinski - The Wheel of Fortune

23. Lil Uzi Vert - Secure the Bag

22. Travis Scott - Franchise ft. Young Thug & M.I.A

21. Guapdad 4000 - Lil Scammer That Could ft. Denzel Curry

20. 100 Gecs - gecgecgec remix ft. lil west & Tony Velour

19. Dorian Electra - F The World

18. TOBACCO - Motherfuckers 64

17. _by.alexander & Irina Shayk - THE MONSTER & THE MUSE

16. The Garden - AmPm Truck

15. Four Tet - Baby

14. Porches - Rangerover

13. Amnesia Scanner  - AS Tearless ft. Lalita

12. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Straws In The Wind

11. The Weeknd - Heartless Vaporwave Remix

10. SL - Bad Luck

9. Food house - mos thoser

8. Slowthai - Bb Bodybag

7. Sega Bodega - Raising Hell

6. Caribou - Home

5. Lil Baby - The Bigger Picture

4. AG Cook - Animals

3. Ty Dolla $ign - Lift Me Up ft. Young Thug & Future

2. Yves Tumor - Gospel For A New Century

1. Oneohtrixpointnever - Nothing’s Special

All tracks are linked to either YouTube or Bandcamp, I recommend supporting all the individual artists when and if you can.

I’ve already heard such great new music in 2021 and I’m already looking forward to next year’s list.

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January 12th!

The fact this month is already almost half over is surreal and non-euclidean, but the shows must go on.

And go on they will! Tune in to cfcr tonight at 4pm CST to hear me spin all Canadian music. It’s a fun set list, you won’t want to miss it!

Track list with bandcamp links will go up around 5pm cst.

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