Record Review: Lotus Plaza

Lotus Plaza
The Floodlight Collective
[2009, Kranky]
3.5/5

Well, this took long enough to get posted. I had my initial review mailed back to me because of the similarities it bore to marc hogan's pitchfork review. We had different arguments, but used a lot of the same examples, and he published his first. So, this is weaker than the original version I submitted. I was really torn on a 3.5 and 4 bubble rating...Read my thoughts on this album HERE

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Only Shallow

All that I know about Nadja is that Aiden Baker, one half of the doom metal/dark ambient/shoegaze duo, collaborated with one of my favorite electronic/drone/ambient producers, Tim Hecker, on last year's great Fantasma Parastasie. To pay homage to their influences, the duo (consisting of Baker and Leah Buckareff) is releasing When I See the Sun Always Shines on TV, a covers record. The two tracks released thus far sound what you'd expect doom/dark ambient versions of popular songs to sound like -- plodding tempi, droning guitars, and vocals with more reverb than Panda Bear, Fleet Foxes, and My Morning Jacket combined.

"Only Shallow", the propulsive opener of My Bloody Valentine's seminal album Loveless, is a fantastic song, despite my typical dislike of Bilinda Butcher's breathy vocals. Though it's not quite as good as the MBV original, Nadja's heavy, slowed down tribute to those shoegaze progenitors is a notable effort, and worth checking out. Compare!

Only Shallow - My Bloody Valentine

Nadja's cover

Record Review: The Sight Below

The Sight Below
Glider
[2008, Ghostly International]
3.5/5

Full review HERE. Glider is a promising debut from the reclusive, Seattle based producer, The Sight Below. It's a dark album, but there are some optimistic moments. Really gorgeous textures. My only complaints: he hasn't quite forged his own identity, and the entire album feels very similar. Still, a good debut no less. You can get his debut EP, No Place for Us, FREE from Ghostly International's website. I suggest you do that.

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Record Review: School of Seven Bells

School of Seven Bells

Alpinisms

[2008, Ghostly International]

4/5

I've been wanting to post this review for quite some time, as I've been enjoying the album since I received it way back in September (I can't believe how far back that feels now). Here it is. A great debut full of lovely harmonies and lush soundscapes, with some really transcendent moments throughout. I highly recommend this album; If the TMT ratings were based on a ten point scale, I'd give it an 8.5. Favorite tracks: "Half Asleep", "Connjur", "Iamundernodisguise", "For Kalaja Mari".

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