Best show this year

I bought a Fever Ray ticket a while back knowing that I probably wouldn't have the opportunity to see her again. My affinity for Karin Andersson because of The Knife was up there and I thought Silent Shout was a decent album, but I definitely would not have put it at #1 back when it came out. All expectations were crumbled.

Fever Ray is haunting
Fever Ray is a dream world
Fever Ray is putting me in a trance

I had to be sneaky to take some pictures using the phone since the staff (at Karin's request) wouldn't let you take any pictures. I thought that was rather lame, but after seeing what the show entailed I now understand. Right now I'm in conflict in as to whether or not I want to divulge the scenery to you, dear reader, because I have never experienced anything quite like it. So, let's compromise.

Fever Ray - When I Grown Up

SPOILER ALERT


more photos

You will notice a multitude of things in this photo. Lasers juxtaposed with your grandma reading lamps, a man (#3 from left) with feathers protruding from his chest, a dark blob of cloth in the middle (Karin), and not noticeable is a man behind the lamp right in front of me. He has a large hat and seems like he is doing all the programming (maybe the lights too). Most of the show was enshrouded with fog which made me feel like I was on the Swedish tundra and then sneaking into a crystal concert hall watching some dark religion's evening entertainment. The scene, whether in my mind or on stage, was perfect for the pulsating music and lights combined with Karin's vocodered demon-voice only to be confirmed when the fog was blown away.

This thing was better than Of Montreal and on par with Flaming Lips or Super Furry Animals in terms of scenery and concept, but was the polar opposite in what in conveyed which I found refreshing. Fever Ray was uplifting not because it was fantastical and whimsical, but rather because it wasn't cartoonish and you could be sucked into it.

Stand in front and go see the show.

We've Been Waiting a While

Deep from within the crystal caves of southern France emerging from his cocooned chamber of foot-stomping, leg-writhing, positively asymptotic electric bliss comes Monsieur Arbenz, Mr. Vitalic. Oh my. There is a new album coming out and even though my foot is sprained and swoll from Logan jogging, it is going to fall off on November 3rd while my landlady next door complains to her upstairs neighbor about the bass for the second time.

Oh my.

Minimix preview. Clicky.

cred

Vitalic - Your Disco Song (Extended)
Vitalic - See the Sea Red

Worth Jamming

Eleni

Nothing overly underappreciative to say about these tracks other than some quick recent pieces that I've picked up:

A-Ha - The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (extended)

Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension

Vicious Pink - Cccan't You See <--

Actually, the Vicious Pink track I've been searching for a while now after hearing it on a random mix. I feel like it's a worthy addition to the fag jams. The repetitive sample contrasted with the smoothed out backing vocals always works. One of these days I'll put together a song just to show off all the things I've learned about making pop music. Contrasting, combining, and juxtaposing a 'smoothed out' sound rather than one that is more staccato is a fantastic effect that Vicious Pink did very well here. Exhibit 2:

Soulwax - E Talking (album version)

Notice the bongo's and synth chords with the over-emphasized, crescendoing sustain for ~16bars and then go into the jug-jug-jug-jug base line. Just before the transition they reduce all the other parts of the track to ~solo the sustained synth. That's hot.