Albums
John Luther Adams
Félicia Atkinson
Cardopusher
Matt Christensen
Enrico Coniglio
Coniglio / Under the Snow
Dakota Suite
Deadbeat
Deepchord
Vladislav Delay Quartet
DJ W!LD
Dreissk
Mark E
Marcus Fjellström
Fourcolor
Fovea Hex
Ákos Garai
Kreng
Lerosa
Machinedrum
Mem1 + Stephen Vitiello
Message to Bears
Novi_sad
Rick Reed
Alexander Rishaug
Jannick Schou
Secret Cinema
Seven Saturdays
Sleeps in Oysters
Sound People
Strom Noir
Ryan Teague
thisquietarmy
thisquietarmy + Yellow6
Amon Tobin
Alexander Turnquist
Damian Valles
Vetrix
Simon Whetham
Winterlight
Compilations / Mixes
Brownswood Electr*c 2
Laid Compilation
Prosumer
EPs
David Åhlén
Arkhonia
Bad Sector
Bengalfuel
Wil Bolton
Ed Cooke
Davis / Kleefstras
Detroit: DeepConstructed
d'incise
Final Cut
Gang Colours
Richard A Ingram
Pfirter / Dadub
Nils Quak
Rhythm Baboon
Rumpistol
Mark Templeton
Damian Valles
Josh Varnedore
Josh Varnedore:
186,000 Endings Per Second
Dynamophone
An appetizer for the projected summer release of Josh Varnedore's Seachild full-length, 186?,?000 Endings Per Second presents twenty-six minutes of heartfelt and expansive electronica in tried-and-true Dynamophone fashion. The title track begins with sparkling keyboards and the soft murmur of Lucé Cupery's speaking voice before a bass melody enters, marshalling around it additional forces such as percussion, strings, handclaps, and the angelic vocalizing of Rebecca Coseboom. The song's uplifting tone is very much reminscent of Sigur Rós, but Varnedore personalizes the material with a kaleidoscopic arrangement that downplays guitars for a rich blend of voices, keyboards, and synthetics—more Ulrich Schnauss than Sigur Rós, in other words. A glockenspiel traces an opening pathway into “Black Sand,” which then builds in intensity as a drum pattern and stately guitar theme move to the forefront. As it does elsewhere, a post-rock quality subtly emerges, tipping the balance slightly away from electronica in the pure sense. At EP's end, the becalmed meditation “Golden (Beacon)” paints a beautifully sonorous landscape dotted with ambient guitar shadings, piano accents, atmospheric tinkles, and Fonta Hadley's ethereal exhalations. If the release sounds like quintessential Dynamophone, it's no surprise that it does, given the involvement of Evan Sornstein (who added clarinet to one piece and also helped out with mixing), Ryan Coseboom (mixing too), and Rebecca Coseboom, all of whom have contributed in one way or another to many of the label's releases. But, as he's the composer, arranger, and instrumentalist responsible for the debut EP's dreamscapes, it's ultimately Varnedore's voice that rings out most of all, and it's a voice that promises much, based on the material presented.
June 2011