God is an Astronaut

If you were to look at my last.fm (listed above), only P.O.S. (Hip-Hop) and Dance Gavin Dance (Post-Hardcore) would trump God is an Astronaut in terms of plays. God is an Astronaut has so many plays because the band can give you do many different sounds. Most of them are built on a foundation of soundscapes that sound out of this world and visual to go with that. I have never seen them live but those who have rave about their ability to but as stunning visually as they are musically

My favourite release of there is All is violent, all is bright which is also their most critically acclaimed album. It include Remembrance Day an awesome that just sounds like it was made to explain visuals in space.  The slow start and strong build-up leads to an epic conclusion thst must be checked out.

This is night drive music. Night drive music is wind-down to the point of relaxation but still awareness. I feel like God I an Astronaut can make any student need. Their recent stuff is a little less relaxing than their earlier stuff but I could see if someone views their stuff opposite I do. Either way check out the band and please enjoy.

Below are full streams of THREE albums. Please enjoy. I know I have.

Age of the Fifth Sun - Download

All is Violent, All is Bright - Download

Far From Refuge - Download

God is an Astronaut - MySpace - Last.fm - Facebook

Dark Ambient

I will be the first to admit Dark Ambient is not for everyone.  Dark Ambient is a self-explanatory genre as it is a type of Ambient music that is meant to have an ominous and ark tone about it’s sound. In some cases this can mean a slightly less creepy form of Halloween music; and I don’t mean the Monster Mash.

The band I specifically love from this genre is Bohren & der Club of Gore. And especially their album Black Earth, the mixing of some brass instruments along piano and drums is as relaxing as many of the bands already posted. You can also check the playlist I made that included their song Maximum Black.

What adds to the instruments is the creepy ambience that sounds the beautiful instrumental arrangements. The album actual feels like it is a soundtrack to a movie about a Thriller. As a student I think you can best use this as a homework album to move you along as you work through whatever the problems you have are. I would probably lean towards math as specific subject it’d be best for but I have used it to work on surveys as well as essays.

Below is just a sample of what is on the album

Black Earth – Download

Bohren & der Club of Gore -  Website - MySpace - Last.fm - 

7 Years Ago - Rip Dilla

Time to pay tribute to a Hip-Hop Legend. J Dilla, James Dewitt Yancey, passed away 7 years ago on February 10th. He passed away 3 days after releasing the critically acclaimed instrumental hip-hop album Donuts. Whereas This Will Destroy You got me into ambient music, J Dilla revived my love for music in general. How so many simple samples create such beauty is awe inspiring.

Yancey made the album in a hospital bed before he passed away. Artists I would enjoy after listening to J Dilla who have different styles became so much more enjoyable because of the knowledge I believed I gained from J Dilla. Artists such as Killer Mike, POS, El-P, and Atmosphere are among the many that were the next step for my music development J Dilla paved the way for.

It is a shame I cannot find a YouTube full album for Donuts, but this album is worth the purchase. Below are a few of my favourite songs on the album.

I mean we’ve heard the phrase going out on top. J Dilla did.

Download - Donuts

J Dilla - Last.fm - Website - MySpace - Facebook

Late Night Listening

To end the week I thought I'd give you guys a list of some of my favourite late night songs. These are ones I have been listening to recently.

Click Picture for YouTube playlist

Side note: I used to work on Victoria Avenue (down the street a bit), so this view is quite common of a summer night.

Artists: Massive Attack, Kerretta, Bohren & der Club of Gore, Consider the Thief, God is an Astronaut, DJ Shadow, American Dollar, Burial, SBTRKT, Flying Lotus, Deaf Center, Nick Arundel

90s Influence: Massive Attack

Rediscovery is a beautiful thing. Massive Attack's Mezzanine (pronunciation) used to occupy a much smaller part of my defined and appreciated music library than it does now. Once I developed a more ambient and atmospheric aspect to my music listening patterns, Massive Attack went from middle tier to god tier. Most of the albums I will post are vocal free or minimal at best; Massive Attack is an exception. 

The opening act, Angel, is one of my top 5 favourite all-time songs. It is the perfect trip-hop/downtempo song. I think Amy Hansen explains why I believe this. Also, any reference to Snatch is a great reason to listen to Massive Attack. The third track Teardrop is also quite familiar to television fans.

For students this album is incredible for winding down either before or after a big test. I would drive through the town of Niagara Falls at night blasting this album. The album also forced me to focus and essentially drown out irrelevant noises.This album is best at night and the vocals are why. Deep and dark, almost creepy and it is perfect this way.  

I hope you love it as much as I do.

Below is the full album with track listing (and time when song begins on video)

1 - Angel (0:00)
2 - Risingson (6:19)
3 - Teardrop (11:17)
4 - Inertia Creeps (16:47)
5 - Exchange (22:44)
6 - Dissolved Girl (26:58)
7 - Man Next Door (33:04)
8 - Black Milk (39:00)
9 - Mezzanine (45:18)
10 - Group Four (51:17)
11 - (Exchange) (59:29)

Video Credit: John Pap

Download: Mezzanine

Massive Attack - Website - Myspace - Last.fm - Twitter - Facebook 

Emancipator - Dusk to Dawn

Small blog entry here but I thought I would inform you of a release from one of my favourite trip-hop/downtempo artists, Emancipator

Doug Appling released Dusk to Dawn on Tuesday and while it doesn't reach quite what his first release could, the album is still worth a listen.

You can download the album from Loci Records's BandCamp as well as iTunes

Check out the music Video for Minor Cause as well.

Emancipator - Last.fm - Facebook - Twitter - Myspace - Soundcloud - BandCamp