From the ashes of Desolation Wilderness rises Nick Zwart’s new solo recording project Electric Sunset, who’s debut self titled album is set to be released on K Records on September 7th.
While it’s obvious from the first single, “Soda,” that Electric Sunset is farther than a stones throw from Desolation Wilderness, but once you look a little bit deeper I start to see aspects of that shoegaze band that I’ve pined over for the past couple years.
“Soda” is an ambient pop jam that starts with the slow pulse of electronic drum beats leading into wavering tones creating a perfect vehicle for Zwart’s soft sweet vocals. The guitars kick in you witness the coming together of the two styles as the wall of sound of shoegazey guitar meets ambient electro pop creating a delicate but jangly noisy back drop. Zwart has created something new and unique with aspects of eltronic pop and psychedica using synthesizers, guitar, modified samplers and computers…something that will appeal to fans of Desolation Wilderness and the Postal Service a like…and that is a large gap to bridge.
A full review of this album will be posted once I let it settle, but I really like what I’m hearing…and that being said I’ve listened to it like three times today.
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Electric Sunset has a couple West Coast tour dates lined up too:
07/07 – Berkeley, CA 2703 Fullerston w/ St. Stag Hare & Gkfoes vjgoaf
Last year I did a list of twenty five albums, and I began to think that the rank ordering no longer meant anything once I hit a certain number. This year I thought I was going to do a top ten with a not so short list of other albums, but then I decided that would be the same thing as a top twenty five.
I feel like I settled in the middle. I was able to narrow 2009 down to fifteen albums, and no short list. These are my favorites. If you haven’t heard them check out the mp3, and if you like it buy the album…you won’t be disappointed. Cheers.
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The Great Pumpkin’s favorite albums of 2009.
15.) Screaming Females- Power Move
Hearing this record for the first time was like the first time I heard Dinosaur Jr. Power Move was released by Don Geovanni Records.
13.) Alex Bleeker and the Freaks- Alex Bleeker and the Freaks
Classic Rock for my generation. This record gets more powerful with each listen. Released via the wonderful Underwater Peoples Records. Their cover of “Animal Tracks” is just as good as the original.
Sonny and the Sunsets made the perfect warm weather pop album that it transcends seasons. I find that even on a morning as cold as today Tomorrow is Alright can make me feel warm inside. Sonny is part of the Endless Nest Collective, and if you know what is good for you should have your eye on the nest…so many great records came out of this group in 2009. Tomorrow is Alright was released by Soft Abuse Records.
This is an album of psychedelic dance jams and not necessarily the dance music you would hear in a club, but more what you want to chill out with at the end of the night. This record was released by Human Ear Music / Gloriette Records.
9.) Julie Doiron- I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day
While she is known for her sad songs this album shows her lighter side, and that is something that I really enjoy…and she can totally wail on that guitar too. Released by Jagjaguwar Records.
As far as I’m concerned these two should have been a double album. I have a hard time thinking about them separately. Ducktails in a sense gave birth to Real Estate, and possibly this whole thing chillwave thing. Ducktails came out via Not Not Fun and Lanscapes via Olde English Spelling Bee.
This man is a constant inspiration to me. This record is just one of three albums that he made this year that I fell in love with. Released by K Records.
The first full length form this Sacramento band, and it was pretty much perfect. The LP was released by Weird Forest and CD by Woodsist (who will be repressing the LP).
4.) TOM: WFMU’s the Best Show’s Tribute to Paul McCartney’s RAM (various artists)
The Best Show put together the best tribute album ever. If you are unfamiliar with RAM it is the only album I have ever heard of by Paul McCartney refered to as dirty (and that is a very good thing). Released as a DJ Premium for donating to WFMU… Sad that it was so exclusive. The moral of this story is…DONATE TO WFMU!
I haven’t really listened to Danielson over the past couple albums, but this cover makes me want to rethink that…one of my favorite tracks from this album, and one of the best covers I have heard in a long time.
Oh and if you don’t already have it…buy Paul McCartney’s Ramhere (or used on LP here).
3.) Mount Eerie- Wind’s Poem
I am a long time fan of Phil Elverum, and on this album he took me to a place I never imagined I’d go. Dark and beautiful…seeing it performed live gave me the best halloween I’ve had in years.
After this record I will be on the look out for anything Julian Lynch ever releases. Orange You Glad has moved me. Released on Olde English Spelling Bee.
more on Julian Lynch (mp3s, video, pictures, reviews, more) can be found here.
1.) So Cow- So Cow
By far the record I listened to most this past year. The pop catches you, but the guitar and lyrics keep you. I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to Tic Tac Totally Records. If you didn’t catch So Cow when they were in the states last year their 2010 American Tour starts in less than two week! Tour dates can be found here.
more on So Cow (reviews, posters, mp3s, pictures)can be found here.
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Thanks for reading my best of lists. I’m pretty sure this is the end of it…my goal was to get it up by February 1st, but I ended up one day late…I’m ok with that.
You can find more of mine, and some of my special guests, best of lists here.
Desolation Wilderness released a wonderful droney shoegaze pop album last year titled White Light Strobing, on K Records. I picked this up after hearing their first single, and I have been following them since. I’m extremely excited that they have not only released a new 7″ in 2009 (No Tomorrow on K), but they also have a new full length album coming out too: New Universe.
I’m am increasingly becoming interested in Daytrotter. They continue to give great recordings from bands across the spectrum, and I noticed that Desolation Wilderness did a session with them back on March 6th. In this session they played two tracks from their upcoming album (as well as several from White Light Strobing), at that time it was still untitled. I have heard the recorded version of “No Tomorrow”, and the live Daytrotter version is equally pleasing…they also provided a track that I had not heard, “Venice Beach”. Both of these tracks are from their Daytrotter Session.
Both off of New Universe. “No Tomorrow” also on a 7″, buy it here.
While I enjoy these wonderful live recordings the vocals are highlighted, but they are not the main focus of the bands recorded material. It is a different view of Desolation Wilderness, and if you enjoy it I highly recommend checking out one of their records where the doney pop bends together seamlessly. You can kinda see what I mean here (off of White Light Strobing):
My research of their yet to be released new album was sparked by the commercial that their friend, Wes Currie, made. The video is short, and a sampling of several songs on the album. Almost as if a radio was set on scan, and every station was Desolation Wilderness with a little video to accompany it.
Buy other Desolation Wilderness releases from the K Records Mail Order Department. New Universe will be available here on August 8th, 2009.
They also have a huge tour lined up, and three amazing looking NYC shows!
Aug 15 2009 Olympia, Washington @ The Northern w/ Moon Runners, Lusty Leaf
Aug 19 2009 Tacoma, Washington @ TBD
Aug 20 2009 Anacortes, Washington @ Department of Safety w/ Karl Blau
Aug 21 2009 Seattle, Washington @ TBD w/ Herr Jazz
Aug 22 2009 Chehalis, Washington @ Helsing Junction Farm
Aug 23 2009 Portland, Oregon @ The Wail w/ Hornet Leg, Metal (7pm sharp!)
Aug 24 2009 Boise, Idaho @ TBD
Aug 25 Salt Lake City, Utah @ Kilby Court w/ Navigator, Stag Hare
Aug 26 2009 Ft. Collins, Colorado @ TBD
Aug 27 2009 Denver, Colorado @ Rhinoceropolis w/ Milton Melvin C. III, M. Pyre
This list has taken much longer than expected. There were a bunch of albums that I liked in 2008, but I feel that this is pretty comprehensive, but the ones that made this list I truly liked from beginning to end…in my opinion solid records.
For example, I really loved the No Kids record (Come into My House), but I was much more into the R&B songs versus the world music songs…and for that reason it didn’t make my list.
Some things got left off because I didn’t get them til early 2009 (examples are Wavves- s/t and Castanets – City of Refuge), but somethings that I didn’t get into until the end of 2008 shot up to the top ten (mainly Grouper). I was going to do a top 10, but I have been into the blogging and I wanted to do something bigger (also see my best of 7″ and 12″ singles of 2008).
Link Navigation tips:
artist’s name= artist’s website (or about the band if I couldn’t find a website)
album name= a place to buy the album
record label= record label’s website
the white lodge is a photography collaboration between klk and myself. We specialize in analog photography using both 35mm and medium format film. Please check out our flickr.
i occasionally post mp3s and videos on this blog for the sole purpose of promoting artists that I believe deserve attention. all songs are for sampling purposes only, if you like it there will be a link to buy music from the artist (or tour dates...go see them!). if by chance I post an mp3 or video with audio that you own, and you would like me to take it down please let me know. you can reach me at:
(tom at gprecs.com)
in this instance i am very sorry.
it's a slippery slope. RT: @mattlemay: This whole "hit the 'like' button to access this content" thing on Facebook is incredibly obnoxious.about 14 hours agofrom Echofon
