I should probably disclose my relationship with Massive Attack. I discovered them as a companion to the mass amounts of Portishead I was listening to my freshman year of college. And a year later, they were the sole soundtrack to my life while I was engaging in “less than desirable” behavior. Once I shed my extreme debauchery skin, I found that Massive Attack may just be too dangerous to listen to. So, I shelved them for about 3 years, fearing relapse. Since then, I’ve found that I can dip my toes back into the troubled waters that are Massive Attack.
All that time, I was awaiting another album from the Britons ( at one time reduced to a single Briton). In 2006, I was teased with the single “False Flags,” thinking an album announcement was just around the corner. Instead, I got utter silence, and the trip-hop voices in my head began to demand satisfaction. Fast forward to 2009, and I’m teased yet again with the release of another proper LP. While the group now says “spring 2010,” they did deliver upon us the Splitting the Atom EP, which has raised more questions than answered.
The EP only puts forth two new songs, alongside two remixes. It’s safe to say, that Massive Attack are still able to produce that “sexy, slow crawl” trip-hop sound. “Pray For Rain” is a curious number featuring the vocals of TV On The Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe. The song is built around a strong, off-time drum beat, and features and excellent breakdown in the middle. It’s a definite slow burn, building up tension over it’s 6 minutes, before fading out at the end. It’s nothing really revolutionary for the genre. Actually, it sounds like it came off the stellar 1995 album Maxinquaye, by former Massive Attack collaborator, Tricky. Which, may not be new, is still a sound I’d love to welcome back into my life.
The title track, “Splitting The Atom,” is probably a better preview of what Massive Attack’s fifth LP will sound like. It’s shows us a Massive Attack that still builds a good atmosphere, but fails to really offer up any stand out moments. It’s a song that seems like it’s building up to a great pay off, only to simply end.
I’m still not willing to say that I’m disappointed with Splitting The Atom. However, it doesn’t exactly put my mind at ease. With the return of original member Mushroom, I still have hopes that a memorable Massive Attack LP is on the way. I’m just worried that they’re only shooting for middle rung material these days. But if 2010 passes us by, sans Massive Attack release, I’m probably just going to have to quiet those trip-hop ghosts and accept that Massive Attack just couldn’t survive in the new millennia.
“F**k It” by Revolucian
“Snoop Dogg Vs. The Cure” by Hollertronix (bootleg)
“Love Stoned (Kaskade Remix)” by Justin Timberlake
“Four To The Floor (Thin White Duke Mix)” by Starsailor
“Fire Fire Fire (DFA Loving Hands Mix)” by Dappled Cities
“Dare (Soulwax Mix)” by Gorillaz
“Let It Will Be (Paper Faces Mix)” by Madonna
“I Can’t Get Blue Monday Out Of My Head (feat Ulterior Motive)” by Kylie Minogue
“Ghettochip Malfunction (Hell Yes)” by Beck
“Slipping Away (Axwell Vocal Mix)” by Moby
“With Every Heartbeat (Voodoo and Serano Remix)” by Robyn
“Paper Planes (DFA Remix)” by M.I.A
I know, I know…it’s time for “summery” and “happy” music. This mix isn’t trying to shut the propane off at your drunken barbecue or anything, but even during these blissful months of hot dogs, water gun fights, and sweaty one night stands, you still need the occasional come-down.
Califone “Vampiring Again” from Quicksand/Cradlesnakes (2003)
-Portion of “Yoko Eyes” collage/painting by Chris Piercy
Periodically we will be offering you mixtapes* hand-picked by our staff for your listening pleasure. This first one was selected by me, and you will indeed be pleasured.
Remember, these songs are for previewing purposes, and if you like what you hear…track down the albums and buy them! Don’t be an ass.
*Called a “mixtape” because we assume that you will dub these from your Mac onto a C60 and go cruising around in an ‘82 Datsun.
Last night I was tipped off on a mysterious new project which, despite my best efforts, I’ve been unable to stop jamming. The anonymous party (parties?) responsible for Neon Indian are keeping a tight lip on his/their identity, a charming element of mystique which serves to enhance their already glimmering otherworldliness.
We may not know who is responsible for Neon Indian’s endlessly approachable groovescapes, but one thing is clear: this is some of the freshest, most invigorating new music I’ve come across in a good while. It’s lush, its infectious; it’s sexy, fun and meticulously crafted.
Throughout it all, Neon Indian manages to maintain a constant sheen of nostalgic bliss, of the youthful indiscretions of yesteryear combined with the malleable, imagined possibilities of the future. Lyrically, “Should Have Taken Acid with You” is equal parts missed opportunity and optimistic romanticism: “Should’ve taken acid with you / take our clothes off in the swimming pool / Should’ve taken acid with you / tell my parents that I’m staying with you.”
For the purposes of trite classification, I’m thinking Orange Juice (the band) on a night drive through the city. Or the unassuming electro-charm of Future Bible Heroes meets New Order for an after-school heavy petting session under the bleachers. The beauty of Neon Indian, though, is not so much that it resists classification, but rather that it somehow manages to be everywhere at once. Feast on a couple gems of auditory ambrosia below:
Every week, a Wolf Parade side project releases a new album*. Sometimes they are really good. I’m still digesting this one, but it has synths. And I like synths.
How do you feel about unbridled subconscious terror filtered through the icy synthesizers of yesteryear and an unsettling but strangely appropriate displacement of self? How about putting all that in the context of an awkward, contemporary R&B-studded middle school dance? If your first thought was “sign my ass up!” then you’ll need to head over to Gorilla vs. Bear and check out the new track from Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti’s ‘Can’t Hear My Eyes/Evolution’s a Lie’7″, out now on Mexican Summer. You can groove on it here.
I’m not as versed in his back catalogue as many hyper-obsessed AP fans, but “Can’t Hear My Eyes” features the cleanest production that I’ve heard on an Ariel Pink track. Many may still prefer the muted lo-fi beatbox funkscaping of his earlier work, but — according to the man himself — “everything you think you know [about Ariel Pink] is WRONG – DEAD WRONG. THIS is me, naked, without the buffer of awful tape noise drowning out any lack of vision” (via).
“Are You Gonna Look After My Boys?” from FF>> (2002):
Here’s a Brazilian interview with Kurt Cobain in which he spends the last minute or so enthusiastically talking about one of my favorite bands, Os Mutantes:
Os Mutantes were a psychedelic Brazilian band that were formed during that country’s Tropicalia movement in the late ’60s. Their music was a thorn in the side of Brazil’s stifling political system and has been a treasure sought out by record collectors the world over. David Byrne later helped expose the music to a larger world audience and they have gone on to perform alongside The Flaming Lips, a band that shares more than a few sonic similarities. Here’s a song from the band’s debut album:
Favorite Older Songs of the Moment: for the moment — one big holiday:my morning jacket (my ringtone since forever and so i kept it from aaron’s list) — ceremony:joy division (this song comes on and so much emotion is evoked i literally feel like i may split in two–everysingletime— scenic world:beirut (again, kept from aaron’s list because i love it so much-and it ties with after the curtain falls because something about that tune…) — tom sawyer:rush (i get all hyped like a h.davidson fan with waay too much testosterone and alcohol)
Favorite New Band or Older Band You Recently Discovered: fav’rit new bands – beirut (love first album best), erykah badu (not new herself but love that album), meiko… older recently discover’ds – talking heads (all over again) michael jackson (um…so you wanta be startin’ something; you gotta be startin’ something)
Favorite Song Ever: “yeah right”…diddo
Best Recent Concert: i was really into the band of horses show
Last Great Film I Saw: i have same trouble picking film like music. so i am just going to put the last one i watched, Michel Gondry’s Be Kind, Rewind. He is a twelve year old. and it works. Made me go home and want to remake Ghostbusters
Last Great Book I Read: on beauty
First Album You Remember Buying: i know the first single cassette was “waterfalls” by TLC (girl, you know that’s right) and first full album cassette was Live and first cd was Toadies.
Favorite Band to Hate On That All Your Friends Heart: i dont hate–and i love the smiths/the cure
Best Purchase of the Last Year: Led Zeppelin tickets (i beat all of you suckers!)
Best Thing I Did This Year: working on that now ain’t i?
Favorite Recent Drunk Moment: was recently, mambo taxi anyone?
Favorite TV Show at the Moment: dont watch tv really
Favorite Video Game at the Moment: screw it
Most Commonly Eaten Food Product: peanut butter
My Ringtone: one big holiday: my morning jacket
bonus mp3:
Joy Division – Ceremony from Still (Collector’s Edition)
Silence in Architecture is a blog about transient gumbo recipes (and salsa!).
It is written by three guys who pretend to know what women look like. We love country music, football, pork, and America.
The artwork used to create this blog's header was created by Chris Piercy, so don't front.
I should probably disclose my relationship with Massive Attack. I discovered them as a companion to the mass amounts of Portishead I was listening to my freshman year of college. And a year later, they were the sole soundtrack to my life while I was engaging in “less than desirable” behavior. Once I shed my extreme debauchery skin, I found that Massive Attack may just be too dangerous to listen to. So, I shelved them for about 3 years, fearing relapse. Since then, I’ve found that I can dip my toes back into the troubled waters that are Massive Attack.
Photo by Chris Piercy, summer of 2006
