Re: What electronica is inspiring you

[Rick Walker <looppool@cruzio.com>]

Matt wrote:
"I found a real catch this week in Caribou's new album "Swim
is the first album I've bought by this band.
It's definitely dance music- I'd go so far as to call it house music.
However, there's a nicehomemade personal appeal to it.
Lots of weird lo-fi sounds and thesinger sounds like he could
be your buddy next door. I'm sure itwasn't recorded on a 4-track cassette,
but it has that kind of warmth.Definitely appealing to people who aren't
normally dance music fans."


Thanks, Matt,

I'm listening to "Swim" as I write this and really enjoying it.
Coincidentally, I was listening to their CD, "Andorra" (his last
I think) earlier this week.   This is a very creative band.

I was reading up about them and it says that the creator,
Dan Snaith,  a Canadian had put out two bands under the moniker
"Manitoba"  but was sued by "Handsome Dick Manitoba" of the 80's
band, the Dictators and had to change the name to 'Caribou'.

Saliently, it says he does not use samples which I find refreshing.
Being a found sound guy, I'm really liking his use of found
percussion and an almost naive sense of syncopation........
it's decided lack of perfection is obviously intentional and
is a nice juxtaposition to the four on the floor mentality of
a lot of the loops (or sequences).

Also,  I see what you mean when you say that it's definitively dance music.
My take, however,  is that though he's obviously heavily influenced by
dance music and everything
is in four on the floor mentality ( though he frequently eschews
a kick drum which I really find refreshing) I wouldn't consider it
dance music.

Just because I go out to dance clubs a lot,  I find that it will appeal
to a dance or even house crowd as a listening experience but I don't 
ever see it being played in
them..........it's just not quite heavy enough to make it great dance 
music.


******
Just out of curiosity,  have you heard the Dutch pop duo called
the "X X" ?     I'm really liking their minimalistic take and their 
sparse arrangement
ideas with a male and female lead singer.
There's a little Young Marble Giants vibe to their stuff (another of my 
favorite minimalist
bands from the 80's).

Also, have you heard  'Fever Ray'?      This is the freshest and weird 
take on singing
in pop music since Bjork burst on the scene.   Very cool stuff and a 
fantastic
live show (saw her in SF a few months back).