Pantha Du Prince is a German minimal techno/microhouse/call-it-what-you-want artist, made famous (to me) for the heart-stoppingly beautiful Asha on 2007’s This Bliss. Previously on microhouse hero Lawrence’s Dial label, Pantha has relocated to the very not-techno Rough Trade for this, his third record. Featuring contributions from Noah Lennox (which should hopefully provide some clues to the direction of the upcoming Panda Bear record) on Stick To My Side and Tyler Pope (of LCD Soundsystem, !!!, and corrupting high schoolers fame) on The Splendour, this album is a musical creation in a world of its own. Layered yet minimal, the sound is so uniquely delicate that I must let Pantha Du Prince speak for himself:

“music slumbers in all matter; any sound, even silence, is already music. The mission, then, must be to render audible what is unheard and unheard of: black noise, a frequency that is inaudible to man. Black noise often presages natural disasters, earthquakes or floods; only some animals perceive this ‘calm before the storm.’ Black noise is something archaic and earthy. The music on Black Noise balances precariously on the slippery threshold between art and nature, between techno and folklore, which lends it a certain spectral and intangible aspect.”

This is electronic music and also much more.

If you listen to one techno release this year, nay, one electronic music release, have this be it.

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This is endlessly entertaining. From the oh-so-repetitive water droplet beat to the progressively ludicrous storyline, there is something here for everyone (unless you’re under…13, let’s say). I heard at one point they were developing this into a full Broadway musical, but plans seem to have stalled, either due to the economy (although the entertainment biz always does pretty well in recessions), or due to R. Kelly’s underage sex and child pornography trials. Listen to it if only to hear R. Kelly’s ridiculous attempt to imitate the voice of a hick white woman (named Bridget). Oh, and there’s a midget. You can’t make this stuff up.

Chapter 1-12

Chapter 13-22

I saw this album cover on some Russian warez forum and immediately downloaded it. Inside is some shocking, thrilling, exhilarating, and shamelessly silly porn music (not sex music, porn music). I recommend downloading it, if only to fill the spot of “eternal non sequiter” in your dance party mixes.

I posted this for two reasons: the album cover and the opportunity for me to finally include the tag “porn groove”

Suggested tracks: Give Me Anal Pleasure Please, Half An Hour Is For Free, Hatesex

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….off the top of my head:

Arcade Fire
Broken Social Scene
Goldfrapp
LCD Soundsystem
Panda Bear and Daft Punk (thanks, Marc!)
Radiohead (is this true? if so, awesome)
Gorillaz (full of awesome guest artists)

It’s like high school all over again!

Include your most anticipated albums in the comments. This post will be updated as I do more research and expand my musical horizons.

I’ve posted about Bullion before, but only recently did I find this remixtape he made laying his beats on top of the The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds. Given the relatively recent surge in popularity of The Beach Boys (due in no small part to the success of artists such as Noah Lennox, whose vocal style is indebted to Brian Wilson’s genius harmonies) it is interesting to see a much different contemporary take on The Beach Boys influential sound. “In The Key of Dee” is an obvious reference to pioneering hip hop producer J.Dilla, and Bullion takes his cue by cutting up delicious vocal samples from both Pet Sounds and the outtakes from the recording sessions. J.Dilla’s work was groundbreaking for two reasons: the beauty and eclecticism of his source material, and the skill with which he manipulated it. Here, Bullion matches his skill with some endlessly creative and inspiring source material, and creates some pretty jaw-dropping tracks. Equal parts lounge and summer cruisin’, this is like a soundtrack to the coolest beach party you’ve never been to.

Best tracks: I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times, God Only Knows, Wouldn’t It Be Nice

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