WRUV Reviews

WRUV has received some various singles from artist Michal
Menert and here’s the review.  The music is
a mix of Disco and Dance with some minor hints of Dubstep.  It sounds like a recipe for disaster but
Menert brings it all together to produce a sound that is chunky and funky and
perfect for the dance floor.  See him
with Bassnectar at Memorial Auditorium on April 24^th 2013< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Tracks: All Good

Wakin On A Pretty Daze, the fifth album from Kurt Vile, is arguably his best. His last album, Smoke Ring For My Halo, was a reflective record that showcased some of his best guitar work. This time, he’s focused on the swirling psychedelic sounds he can pull out of his guitar. On the stunning 9 minute opener, “Wakin On A Pretty Day”, it instantly becomes clear how effortlessly he can shred. The most radio-friendly (in terms of length) is “Never Run Away”, another wonderful nugget of psychedelic pop. This is a gorgeous record that evokes the essence of spring, and should be played as often as possible.

FCC: Clean!
RIYL: The War On Drugs, Woods, Atlas Sound, Real Estate
Play: 2,4,5,10

The latest from Chico Mann is titled Magical Thinking.  The music is upbeat Disco/Nu-Disco with elements of 80’s Funk, Boogie, Merengue and Afro-beat.  This is a perfect album for these warm spring days.

Tracks: 3,4,6,8,11,12

Debut album from Wiping out Thousands is titled This Came First.  The music bounces around a bit but it all is pretty hard-edged.  Industrial, Big Beat, IDM, and Electroclash are some of the genres you hear but there is a solid dance vibe to the tracks balancing out the sound a bit.  Vocals from Alaine Dickman temper the sound but she can also belt it out when she wants to.  Overall an interesting debut that feels a little clunky but has a sound that is original and raw, not something you see much of these days.

RIYD: Nitzer Ebb, Noisia, Boyz Noize

Tracks: 2,3,4,5

Mull is an Ep from Alex Fin.  The four tracks on the Ep have an upbeat tempo yet there is  a chilled out vibe to it.  Fin’s falsetto vocals sound similar to Thom Yorke which adds even more smoothness to these already sleek tracks.  Upbeat R&B Downtempo or Electro Emo Rock?  Listen and judge for yourself.

RIYD: Radiohead, Jamie Woon

Tracks: All Good

The latest from Chicago producer Dolor is an album titled Misteria.  Similar to Lorn (who he has collaborated with) the music is dark, brooding Bass Music with some Electro Hop and R&B mixed in.  The sound has a post-apocalypse/dystopian/urban decay (you pick) feel, the tracks full of beats and menace.  You can imagine rain coming down from dark oily clouds as street dwellers in goggles claw at you as you make your way through streets of this decaying world.  This is a hard-edged album that has a few soft touches to balance things out but overall this is gritty and raw, the pounding beats tempered only by the razor sharp synth hooks.

RIYD: Lorn, Burial, Kid Simpl

Tracks: 1,2,3,4     FCC: 5 

El Ten Eleven’s album Transitions has been remixed and is now called Transitions Remixed.  Remixers include Com Truise, Odd Nosdam, Krueger, and Max Tundra to name a few.  The tracks are a mix of Deep House, Electro Hop, Nu-Disco, IDM, and Heavy Bass.  Lots of variety here and the flow from track to track is smooth and makes for a great mixtape feel.  Check it out.

Tracks: 1,2,6,7,8,9

Plays Electronica By One Cello is the solo debut from Finnish cello player Max Lillja. Lillja’s music has taken many forms throughout his career beginning with his training at the prestigious Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.  From there he joined the Heavy Metal band Apocalyptica, then hooked up with Hevein and finally worked with former Nightwish singer Tarja Turunen before striking out on his own.  Lillja has taking a different turn with Plays Electronica By One Cello, exploring the electronic side of music with his cello.  The music is Dark Ambient and has a strong Gothic feel with hints of Industrial and IDM mixed in.  There is also a Kraftwerk feel imbedded in the tracks, a sharp electronic sound that adds another dimension to the music.  Lillja has done a good job of creating an album that showcases the cello without overwhelming the listener.  He has drawn upon his previous experiences to create an electronic album that is dark and sometimes foreboding but also is elegant and beautiful as well.  This album proves you can merge an ancient instrument with modern electronic music to produce a new and innovative sound.           

        Tracks: 1,3,4,5,8,9,10

From Niger, Omara “Bombino” Moctar is a remarkable guitarist who plays in the “ishoumar” style - the music of the Sahara Desert Tuaregs. Those who saw him at Higher Ground on his first US tour in 2011 will recognize his exotic, trance-inducing, desert blues style in this new recording. Produced by The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach. Really good!

Release teaser

The story behind the CD release

“A Bombino Morning in India” - an acoustic solo performance

From the Grammy nominated Malian n’goni griot (master), inspired by the intense political turmoil in Mali in 2012, this is far more energetic than Bassekou’s earlier CDs & features not only masterful instrumentation but also stunning solo & choral vocals singing messages of peace and tolerance. Recorded in Bamako Mali. Features Khaira Arby, Zoumana Tereta, Taj Mahal, Kasse Mady Diabate, & others. Wow!

Watch this video for a taste of the magic