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nathan k. | methodist girls

You won’t get to third base with these songs unless you’ve lived life, not unafraid, but unafraid to live.

 
A few hours ago my friend Nathan emailed to me gifts. Gifts of new music are always welcome around here (Thanks Mr. K). And as I ride eastward from Chicago aboard a bustling Amtrak train towards East Lansing Nathan’s latest release Methodist Girls is the perfect traveling companion.

Methodist Girls opens with Sloppy Love. For me this doleful beauty elicits a poignant depiction of our human hearts. How emotions get jostled from lover to lover. Eventually we grow jaded, lovelorn and even cynical. But we plod on hoping and searching for love, and at times we find it no matter how fleeting or lopsided. Continue reading “nathan k. | methodist girls”

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christopher norman & the reverb junkie // all the pretty people ep

I got the wonderful All The Pretty People EP in my e-mail inbox several days ago and I’ve been (hoarding) listening to it ever since; while running random and mundane errands aplenty. Christopher Norman & The Reverb Junkie (aka  Michelle Chamuel) are a match made in music heaven, and this EP is a living and breathing testament to how seamlessly their respective styles coalesce into a gratifying and wonderful sound. Although the EP contains only three songs and a couple of remixes a listener can easily envision something bigger and broader in the works from this talented twosome.

The opening track, “You Don’t Know” features the fantastically seductive vocals of The Reverb Junkie, it settles somewhere near your endorphin center and pretty much stays there. The following song “Keep Pace” finds Christopher Norman‘s voice matched perfectly alongside each note, with The Reverb Junkie offering glints and shiny facets along the way. But, when Christopher sings, “I was never good at staying put…” you get the feeling he isn’t speaking of geography. It is more than evident this artist is evolving, and continues to push into uncharted territory. The maturity is evident as both of these artists showcase their individual strengths as producers and songwriters.  On track number three we’re treated to more of what works well here, the beyond excellent singing of Michelle Chamuel swimming amongst the white-water electronic orchestration of Mr. Norman.

This in more than a debut release, it is a solid statement by the duo. It is the charming and beatific voices of Christopher and Michelle commingling and complimenting each other, but it is also a combination of slow-motion-dream and the frenetic-electronic-cloud rain dripping musically all over the place. It it both bright and clever. But this isn’t the stuff of trite and mercurial hipness, it is something more enduring. This collaboration is stalwart and self-assured, very easy to listen and dance to. I think this is the beginning of a wonderful musical relationship between Christopher Norman and The Reverb Junkie. Now, I’m just hoping they’re planning a full length LP in the near and dear future. Peace. Continue reading “christopher norman & the reverb junkie // all the pretty people ep”

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matthew dear // her fantasy (poolside remix)

It is some kind of wonderful when dj/producers like Poolside remix legendary dj/producer/ extraordinaire Matthew Dear. In this case listen to the track,
“Her Fantasy” and experience how good paying homage to a such a pivotal entity as Matthew Dear sounds. Her Fantasy is the first single from Matthew Dear’s forthcoming album Beams, look for it August 24th via Ghostly International. For more please check out and download the track In The Middle I Met You There. Peace. Continue reading “matthew dear // her fantasy (poolside remix)”

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chrome sparks // marijuana

I am always amazed by the skill of this up and coming creative force Jeremy Malvin better known in certain circles as Chrome Sparks. He’s a young loin from Ann Arbor, Michigan with talent galore. I’ve written about him before, and now with his latest, “Marijuana” prepare to be totally blissed-out with the unofficial video directed by the vigilante cinematographer David Burkhart. The song “Marijuana” is taken from the latest BRL MTN compilation AAURAL II. Peace. Continue reading “chrome sparks // marijuana”

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Nitelife // On The Run (Our Sunday Best)

Here in Michigan you kind of know what you’re getting into, we got four seasons. At times though, it seems there is only two; a hot, too muggy season, and a bitterly (schizophrenic) cold season. Pretty simple right? But when listening to the sunshiny music of Ann Arbor, Michigan-based electrolyte-synth duo Nitelife, it is easy to imagine tropical-esque weather the whole year round. Darin Rajabian and Caroline Myrick are the figurative gas and pedal propelling this bright shiny new musical vehicle forward. And as frontwomen go, it is easy to get lost in the flurry of sweetness that is Caroline Myrick’s vocals. Vocals I might add, which are perfectly counterbalanced by the clever and whimsical synth-work of Darin Rajabian. And with a sound reminiscent of 80’s electro-pop (think New Order meets Erasure), and add the echoing vocals of a 90’s Artificial Joy Club, but with the edges all billowy cotton-ball soft, and your pretty close. Regardless of musical references, you’ll not only like the first single release “On The Run,” but the whole kit and kaboodle of their Radio EP is not only good, it’s highly recommended. Check it out after the jump, and after you click play, this chilly Michigan weather will be a distant memory. Peace. Continue reading “Nitelife // On The Run (Our Sunday Best)”

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Christopher Norman // Connect Me

Born in Traverse City, Michigan but currently residing in Ann Arbor, MI the ingenuous and highly catchy music of Christopher Norman has burrowed its way into my head … and I like it. This bright new up and coming singer/songwriter/producer is well on his way to gaining, not only recognition here in Michigan, but he is more than poised to make a huge splash elsewhere as well. Want proof? Listen to his indie-produced single “Connect Me” and if it fails (it won’t) to get you moving and smiling, then you my friend may be in need of a defibrillator or an hearing-aid. Also, check out his sonically well-crafted EP2 released September 2011, this is 5-beautiful songs shot through with enough giddy frisson to last you long after the songs have ended. Yes, you may have guessed, I’m a fan. Peace.

“Connect Me” (2012)

EP2 (2011)

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chrome sparks | still sleeping | ft. steffaloo


 
According to Jeremy Malvin, bka as Chrome Sparks, life at the moment has its positives which include the following: His age, he’s barely into his 20’s. He’s a student, presently matriculating at the University of Michigan (Go Blue!). And lastly, his above average height, which I’m guessing is just over 6 foot (182.9 cm for those into metrics). Call it an unflagging modesty, but he failed to mention his ability to make astounding futurian-worthy music, seemingly out of thin air. For someone so young he is making quite a name for himself, both inside and outside of his Michigan, by way of Fort Duquesne environs (hidden history lesson). When he’s not deeply submerged in sub-space rearranging molecules into dreamy soundscapes, he’s moving crowds as DJ Professor Purple at local haunts like Necto. Also, he’s fresh from a Chicago date having shared the bill with Theophilus London. He’ll soon be sharing the limelight with Diplo protégé Rusko at Ann Arbors’ Necto. And for those lucky locals they’ll catch him with Nightlife and Alexis at Woodruff’s in Ypsilanti this Wednesday night! And be on the look see for Chrome Sparks forthcoming EP Surface Glows, no date as of yet, but rest assured I’ll keep you posted. Peace. Continue reading “chrome sparks | still sleeping | ft. steffaloo”