Ben Exhale: Music Thoughts

“Run Into Flowers” by M83 is one of my all time favorite tracks. One of my favorite remixes of all time (and possibly the greatest remix of all time) is a remix of that track known as the “Midnight Fuck Remix” By Jackson. I share it with you now.

Björk - Náttúra (Switch Remix) This track is HOT.

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:04:38 -0400

Björk - Náttúra (Switch Remix)

This track is HOT.

New album from The Field will be played on repeat for weeks the second i get it. Prepare yourself.

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:57:37 -0400

I. Am. So. Fucking. Excited. About. This. Album.

Go here to stream a track from Yesterday and Today. It’s worth it, i promise. And if for some reason, you haven’t heard the Field before, go get From Here We Go Sublime. It won’t let you down.

If you like Röyksopp and have 15 minutes, you should watch this.

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:31:35 -0400

But just a heads up, it’s kind of weird. However, also hilarious.

From The Journeys Of Röyksopp from Röyksopp on Vimeo

I'm a little late to the Bat for Lashes party, but it's okay, because the party is really just getting started.

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:21:00 -0400

So i’m finally biting into the Bat for Lashes Two Suns apple to see what the big deal is. So far it tastes fucking delicious. The single, “Daniel”, especially is a good jam.

Bat For Lashes - Daniel (HD)

I am musically diverse.

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:56:38 -0400

I’ve been listening to Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Webb Pierce, and other old country stars for about a week now. Well, the streak is ended, and i’m now listening to the new Venetian Snares, which i am REALLY excited about.

Here is the first track. It is entitled “Deep Dicking”. I’d be lying if i said that i didn’t think it was cool that i can go from “Coal Miner’s Daughter” to “Deep Dicking” without blinking. I am musically diverse.

Deep Dicking - Venetian Snares

Highlights from my 2 day Honky Tonk/Old Country marathon

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 21:28:00 -0400

For the past two days i’ve listened to nothing but the Webb Pierce box set i just obtained entitled The Wondering Boy. This morning i finally broke it up by playing some Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton at Octane this morning. Here are some highlights from the past few days.

“There Stands the Glass” by Webb Pierce

“When I’m With You” by Webb Pierce and Kitty Wells

“Wings Upon Your Horns” by Loretta Lynn - Pretty sure this song was banned when it first came out.

“Jolene” by Dolly Parton

Not only a great song, but an awesomely suggestive video. Saw it...

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:38:00 -0400

Not only a great song, but an awesomely suggestive video. Saw it last year, but decided to post it today upon my recent rediscovery..

Vimeo page here.

THRU YOU | Kutiman mixes YouTube

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:08:12 -0400

THRU YOU | Kutiman mixes YouTube:

This guy is unbelievable. “Babylon Band” is my favorite. I could go for a whole album of this. Warp Records, sign him please? This is right up your alley.

Paavoharju is definitely my favorite Finnish band of the moment....

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:20:49 -0400

Paavoharju is definitely my favorite Finnish band of the moment. This a track from Laulu Laakson Kukista, my number 3 album of 2008!

Vimeo page here.

The original video was good, but this one might be better. Vimeo...

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:37:00 -0400

The original video was good, but this one might be better.

Vimeo page

Play-by-play of the new Röyksopp

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:31:00 -0400

I realize this is coming late, but in my defense i’ve been really busy with work and weddings and travel and haven’t had a chance to absorb Röyksopp’s new album, Junior, yet. I’m finally caught up (almost) now and as you all know IT’S FUCKING SICK. (Check out their MySpace to stream part of the album)

Here’s my play-by-play or whatever you want to call it, as if it were my first listen, which it is not. But it seemed like a fun blog premise….

Track 1: Happy Up Here

Yes! Classic “happy-go-lucky” Röyksopp track right here. Pumped right now! This album is going to be great. Oh, and there’s a video for this track which puts a classic video game in the real world? Yes, please!

Happy Up Here from Röyksopp on Vimeo.

Track 2: The Girl and the Robot

Whoa! This is a sick, dark Depeche Mode kind of beat. Wait…. is that Robyn!?!? Hell yes! Please transport me to a cheesy Euro night club right now!

Track 3: Vision One

Mmmm…. Nice and chill. Good. I’m still trying to recover from the Robyn track. Oh, wait… didn’t see that coming. This is funky. Marginally obscure Norwegian pop singer Anneli Drecker on vocals? Cool, i’m diggin’ it.

Track 4: This Must Be It

Wow, the title of this track is very intense. What does it mean? Is this a track that Karin from the Knife is on? Is this Junior’s response to The Understanding’s “What Else Is There” which pretty much changed the course of my musical future? Is this a track that i’ve been dreaming about for the better part of 3 years? THIS MUST BE IT.

And she must have looked like this whole recording this track:

Track 5: Röyksopp Forever

I’m emotionally drained from “This Must Be It”. That’s a lot of expectation and satisfaction for me to comprehend. I need the equivalent of cuddling and and building me back up again to where i can absorb more of this album. I think “Röyksopp Forever” is up to the task. And yes, Röyksopp is forever….

Track 6: Miss It So Much

Karin’s and Robyn’s vocals have definitely blown my mind early on, but i feel like two Swedish female vocalists isn’t enough for this album. A Lykke Li track would be ideal. I just need that “cutesy” touch. Oh cool, “Miss It So Much” is just what i’m looking for. Yeah, this is working for me A LOT. It’s like a Röyksopp produced version of “Little Bit”. Definitely falling in love with Lykke all over again. This keeps popping into my head:

Track 7: Tricky Tricky

WTF! You mean i get TWO Karin tracks on one Röyksopp album?! Sick. *Listens…* Hmmm….. you know, it’s not a big deal…. especially since the first Karin track was so amazing…. but “Tricky Tricky” not doing a ton for me…. Is this one of those tracks that has to grow on me? I hope so…. Eh, no worries. Moving on.

Track 8: You Don’t Have a Clue

I was wondering if Anneli was going to make another appearance. Here is it. Just as lovely as “Vision One” minus the funky. I’m getting a little bit of a Liz Fraser vibe here and i have to say i’m REALLY into it.

Track 9: Silver Cruiser

I feel like Röyksopp are trying to break up with me on this track. Like the album is going to end soon, and they’re telling me everything will be fine, and they’ll be back again one day with another album…. And i know it’s true, but i just want there to be a couple more jams to remember them by until the next album. Is that too much to ask?

Track 10: True To Life

Oh, what’s this? Is this another jam for me to remember them by until the next album? I believe it is. They even brought Anneli back to ensure the quality of the jam. Sick.

Track 11: It’s What I Want

What the hell are they saying? “All I want is keeping it easy”? Really? Okay, guys, let’s keep the broken English lyrics to Karin. When she uses poor English grammar, it’s cute, but when you guys do it, it makes me think that i’m probably only going to listen to the first half of the album next time.

Stream the entire new Neko Case! (If you haven't already downloaded the leak)

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:15:59 -0500

Stream the entire new Neko Case! (If you haven't already downloaded the leak)

I’ve created a lot of good Pandora stations in my day, but “Theme from Ernest...

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:05:54 -0500

I’ve created a lot of good Pandora stations in my day, but “Theme from Ernest Borgnine” by Squarepusher is by far the best.

New Röyksopp playing in Octane right now!

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:11:11 -0500

My friend Mark, who works for Paste and thus has access to new music early, has decided to reach out to us commoners and let us play the new highly-anticipated Röyksopp in Octane right now!

First impression: AWESOME.

I wish when i was 6 months old, someone had taken a cool picture...

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:32:44 -0500

I wish when i was 6 months old, someone had taken a cool picture of me spinning records (like i did for Judah here)

I'm on the fence about the new Neko Case... for now...

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:03:03 -0500

I’m a pretty big Neko Case fan. I’ve been looking forward to Middle Cyclone for a while now, and a couple days ago i finally obtained it.

I’m about 3 or 4 listens deep and while the album is getting better the more i listen to it, as of right now, my official review is an unenthusiastic “It’s good.” Don’t get me wrong, a “just good” Neko Case album is better than most other albums, but my standard is a bit higher. Blacklisted, Furnace Room Lullaby, and Fox Confessor Brings the Flood have raised the bar in my mind so high i guess there was bound to be a let down sooner or later.

I’m curious to see how i feel about this album in a month. At least i know the album cover can’t get any more amazing.

Here are a couple tracks to give you a taste.

Middle Cylone - Neko Case

People Got A Lotta Nerve - Neko Case