Take 'Em High, Kosmonaut!

Kösmonaut is a one-man kosmiche machine outta Texas who has seen fit to flood the market with not one but two full-term releases. These bestial cosmic hypnotic-hymns are mind-numbing in their insistent synthetic drone, fidgety like a glue-fuelled red/blue nightmare about stop-motion worms. Tangerine Dream, Heldon, Cluster - they are all littered throughout Emanations and Voyage of Time. The former is a little darker, steeped in the psych end of the spectrum, whilst the latter is definitely an acid reflux version of much of the 80s synth moodpieces (and the way better release in my opinion). its pretty incredible stuff, to be honest. I am not a usual fan of this stuff - well, not enough for it to be on constant rotation - but if you have good headphones, and like chilling out in the middle of the night, this is the soundtrack. Im not suggesting anything else need accompany this trip - Ill let you improvise on that length - but suffice to say that this is transportation music to the nth degree. Highly recommended.



Kösmonaut - Monad (From Emanations)
Kösmonaut - Voyage of Time (From Voyage of Time)

Caribou + Silver Columns = why hasn't this happened earlier?

Those who follow us here at Sonic Masala will have picked up on Ani's predilection for refined electronica. In her eyes (and admittedly in mine), acts such as Caribou and Four Tet can do no wrong. A track came across my desk this week that managed to marry most of Ani's faves, so I felt compelled to impart it onto you.

Silver Columns is the current project of folkified Adem (also of Fridge, the post-rockish outfit with Four Tet's Kieran Hebden) and the man behind the Pictish Trail, Johnny Lynch. Caribou's Swim is a SM fave for album of the year. These two have come together as caribous has remixed Silver Column's 'Always On', almost 9 minutes of elegaic plinkings and meanderings that serves to heighten the original track.

Hope you enjoyed the weekend - SM will be back on track this week I promise!

Silver Columns - Always On (Caribou remix)

Caribou remixes Four Tet's forthcoming single, Angel Echoes

First of all, thanks to Bren for holding the fort at Sonic Masala while Paul and I were going a little nuts at Primavera Sound... We'll soon give you a download of it all, from the craziness of Monotonix, the awesomeness of The Oh Sees or Health, through to the ridiculousness that was Gary Numan (or should I say his terribly poor and clichéd attempt to emulate Trent Reznor...)

Although still in recovery mode, I couldn't stop myself from sharing the news that the masterminds behind two of the best albums so far this year, Dan Snaith aka Caribou and Kieran Hebden aka Four Tet, are collaborating on a track.

Four Tet's releasing "Angel Echoes", first song on his latest full length, There Is Love In You, as the new single. Both CD and vinyl versions, available from July 19th through Domino Records, will include remixes from Caribou as well as Jon Hopkins.

I've failed miserably to manage to cach Four Tet play live so far this year -other than his outstanding DJ set at Fabric on January 22nd - so I can't wait to see him, albeit behind the decks again, at Caribou's show at Heaven on June 16th. Or at least I'm hoping so, as there is a little bit of confusion on this one. Caribou announced in March that Four Tet would do DJ on June 16th after he had to cancel his appearance at Corsica Studios earlier this year. However, every other site mentions the original line up (ie Mt Kimbie and Patten as support acts). So, what's it gonna be??

You can't see the daggers for the swords...

Forest Swords is a one man band - an enigmatic producer and musician who hunkers down out Wirral/Liverpool way. His musical leanings are indicative of his geography - the dark stringwork and guitar at times akin to F@A! era Godspeed! You Black Emperor, reverb soaked vocals, dub-step sampling, tribal drums, all providing a cold, enveloping presence. Its actually quite brilliant. He has just released his first LP, Dagger Paths, which includes this amazing cut, 'If Your Girl', which according to the Fader is an Aaliyah cover. Interesting. He also put out a mixtape, which had remixes of Burial+Four Tet and Wild Beasts, which is well worth a listen. I really really like this album - source it out. Its haunting and quite dark, yet utterly addictive. Also below is one of a 'triptych' of Forest Swords' videos, all available on Vimeo.

Forest Swords - If Your Girl

Forest Swords - Glory Gongs from OESB // FUTURE SOUND on Vimeo.