Why Make Sense? by Hot Chip (2015)

Here is Hot Chip with their most analog and funky release yet, Why Make Sense?

If you're already a fan of Hot Chip, you probably won't have a problem getting into this. It doesn't stray too much from their past work (most of their stuff is very similar), but there definitely are noticeable differences here, such as the live instrumentation and disco/funk influences. For example, guitar on past Hot Chip tracks such as Over and Over are used much more for beat/rhythm; while the guitars on this thing are heavily soaked in funk and small wandering riffs, creating grooves and textures you might hear on a George Clinton project but with a modern electricity. There are also a lot of strings laden throughout the track listing, usually just peeking out in the background with something catchy to offer.

I definitely enjoy this album much more than their other recent efforts, it seems to embody a style and sound that is not yet campy but still self aware and playful. It's danceable, catchy, layered, bassy but not too 'bangin', and features a lot of arpeggiating melodies that really stick with you. It's also surprisingly consistent, I wouldn't be able to pick a favorite track if I had to, while staying (songwriting-wise) diverse and fresh.

If you enjoy synthpop, funky and groovy electronica, bands like LCD Soundsystem, Cut Copy or YACHT, you'll probably enjoy this.

DOWNLOAD
[zip mp3 128kbps (i'll post a better quality when one surfaces)]
https://mega.nz/#!EcQDGC5D!vXK67YI4YKPs1ssu5PsUhSEk-sRLYZ9d1nIW31C_uBg

Grandeur of Hair by The Goslings (2006)

Starting off with a classic and personal favorite, here is noise duo The Goslings' Grandeur of Hair.

Married couple Max and Leslie create really unique blends of garage rock, noise rock, shoegaze, and drone metal that is sometimes compared to Earth or My Bloody Valentine (although I think that one's a stretch). Their discography is pretty diverse, but Grandeur of Hair is definitely my preferred record of theirs. It's primitive, beat heavy, chorused distortion guitar with a very alluring and emotional vocalist.

The first section of Own a Car acts as a gatekeeper, inviting its guests in, as long as they can handle the stagnant gurgling of the present guitar. Then a deeper, much more dynamic line of noise billows, creating something too slow to bang your head to but too fast to simply relax to. Leslie's vocals on this album come forward in a way that make it seem as though they were always there, like you're hearing her scream and bolster her lungs as if she's combating the waves of noise covering her. Most of the lyrics are indiscernible but her delivery has feeling and melody. 

One of the definite strengths this thing has is its contrast, such as the cover portrays: when looking at the album art from far away it seems like the detail is elaborate and deliberate, while looking closely reveals that it is a scrawled and blotchy mess. On one of my favorite tracks, Overnight, this deadly churning contrast presents itself the most apparently. The first half of the song is primal with blown out kick drums, then suddenly out of the lush and dense warmth comes a melody. It doesn't feel gimmicky either, like they're pulling this opposites thing as a cheap trick, it feels genuine and natural as if the catchy harmonies were part of the song all along. 

If you enjoy noise acts like Yellow Swans or Lightning Bolt, this thing incorporates both dense drone and explosive, aggressive rock/metal live playing that results in one of my favorite experiences in music.

DOWNLOAD

[zip mp3 320kbps]

https://mega.co.nz/%23!2RZUVSKA!9CZ5iZLyik5QkgakynGLHcSTlktrRD2VtGt9KF6-D1M