Last week, I stumbled upon the musician/digital artist, Ultre. His latest release, The Nest and the Skull, is a beautiful blend of acoustic instruments and electronics. The abstract tracks feature an array of instruments including guitars, pianos, violins and cellos. The music is accompanied by electronic beats, sampled sounds, breaths, hiccups and manipulated beat boxing rhythms. The sound is thick and atmospheric, similar to Burial’s 2007 album, Untrue. A lot of records sound dead and cold when too many electronic elements are used, but The Nest and the Skull utilizes nice, warm production techniques. Similar artists include Autechre, Dntel, Cex, Mouse on Mars, Prefuse 73, Access to Arasaka and early Telefon Tel Aviv.

This release is going to join my collection of “work albums.” Among the others are Funki Porcini’s Fast Asleep, and FFWD’s self titled album. They’re perfect to listen to when I need to sit down and design/code for hours.

To view artwork and videos by Ultre, visit Ultre on MySpace. The Nest and the Skull is available from Amazon and other online music retailers for a special price of $5.99.

MP3: Ultre – Struggle and Nothing

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A few weeks ago, I was checking to see if Tipper was working on any new material. I found out that he recently mastered an album called Zoomorphic by Spoonbill (aka Jim Moynihan), so I decided to check it out. I figured if Dave Tipper was involved in something it’d be good, but I didn’t expect it to be this good. It’s wild!

It’s a sound designers dream come true. Wobbly bass, foley sound effects, cartoon samples, warped synths, organs, flutes, kalimbas, trombones, slide guitars, broken egg shells, ping-pong balls, crunching food… you name it, it’s in there. Somehow, Moynihan is able to cram hundreds of sounds into each track while retaining structure, catchy melodies and sick beats. Zoomorphic can’t be pigeonholed into a single genre. It’s a mix of glitch-hop, IDM, dubstep, abstract electronica, folk and a touch of bluegrass.

A bit off topic… but about 10 years ago, my friend Liz and I were smoking in the dorm bathroom, looking out at the Philadelphia skyline. We were talking about the worst possible ways to die. For some reason, I thought that dropping acid at Zoobilee Zoo would be the worst way to go. Zoomorphic would totally be the soundtrack to that experience… only without the dying.

Zoomorphic is Spoonbill’s third full-length release. His previous albums are abstract as well, but are better categorized as broken beat, downtempo and experimental. Definitely worth checking out. All Spoonbill releases are available from Amazon and Addictech.

MP3: Spoonbill – Feather Leather

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After years of hearing snippets of Two Fingers’ tracks in live DJ sets and internet leaks, the debut self-titled album is finally here. This is undoubtedly one of the best collaborations of the year. Producers Amon Tobin and Joe “Doubleclick” Chapman have created a sonic tornado that rips through musical styles including hip-hop, grime, dancehall, dubstep, glitch and drum & bass. The result is a thrill ride through a futuristic urban landscape. It transcends genres and pushes the limits of hip-hop and electronica. The LP is scattered with elements of world percussion, twisted samples, heavily distorted bass riffs and enough chopped up beats to keep dubstep and drum & bass fans drooling. If Bladerunner had a hip-hop soundtrack, it would sound like this.

The MCs include UK rapper Sway, Philadelphia’s Ms. Jade and the dancehall artist Ce’Cile. Sway’s talents are unmatched as words effortlessly roll off his tongue at 120–145bpm. Ms. Jade’s cocky style is a perfect compliment to the rough bleacher beats on “Better Get That.”  On “Doing My Job,” she easily adapts to the slow sensual bass drops and ensures the track will be a club hit.

Overall, the MCs add a creative element to the album, but hip-hop fans will probably be disappointed with the disconnection between Sway’s lyrics and the music. The rhymes take a backseat to the glitchy beats and waves of alien soundscapes. It’s hard to sympathize with gangster life when we’re listening to music suited for a field trip into outer space.

We can expect to hear a lot more from Two Fingers in the future. They have released numerous unofficial remixes including tracks by Spank Rock, Missy Elliot, Kelis, Ciara, Busta Rhymes, J-88 and Kool Keith. In an interview with URB, Doubleclick said that Two Fingers was both a recording act and a production team. He promises “We’re going to make tracks for as many acts as we can.”

The LP and digital files are available throughout the UK/Europe from Big Dada Recordings. All formats of the LP will be available in the U.S. on April 14th via Paper Bag Records. To order CD, MP3 and vinyl bundles, visit the Ninjashop. Also available at Amazon. Support your local record shops if possible!

MP3: Two Fingers – Not Perfect (feat. Sway)

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