Domino

Rustin Man – Drift Code

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Art Pop, Chamber-Jazz

Vibes: Autumnal, Sombre, Introspective, Vaudeville, Lush, Sentimental, Theatric, Surreal, Storytelling, Haunting

Julia Holter – Loud City Song

Styles: Art Pop, Progressive Songwriter, Ambient Pop, Chamber-Jazz (Influenced)

Moods: Nocturnal, Surreal, Elegant, Ethereal, Observational, Flowing, Alienation, Cryptic, Disaffected, Lonely, Longing, Melancholy, Mysterious, Poetic, Romantic, Winter

Musical Qualities: Lush, Orchestral, Progressive, Vocal Harmonies, Lyrical, Dynamic, Complex, Studio-as-an-Instrument

Instrumentation: Keyboards, Piano, Upright Bass, Violin, Cello, Drums, Saxophone, Trombone, Percussion, Group Vocals

Robert Wyatt – Ruth is Stranger Than Richard

Style: Canterbury Scene, Jazz-Rock, Progressive Pop

Moods: Surreal, Playful, Warm, Cryptic, Bittersweet, Eccentric, Imaginative, Meandering, Bright

Musical Qualities: Suite, Melodic, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Progressive, Experimental Vocals

Instrumentation: Piano, Trumpet, Vocals, Electric Bass, Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Drums

Richard Dawson – Ruby Cord

Style: Progressive Songwriter, Prog-Folk, Art Rock

Moods: Sombre, Epic, Lonely, Futuristic, Dystopian, Cryptic, Melancholy, Poetic, Mythic

Themes: Alienation, Apocalypse, Medieval, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Qualities: Progressive Structures, Lush Arrangements, Storytelling, Suite, Conceptual, Complex

Animal Collective – Feels

Style: Neo-Psychedelia, Psych Pop

Moods: Hallucinogenic, Warm, Eccentric, Uplifting, Whimsical, Comforting, Spring, Playful, Romantic, Messy

Musical Qualities: Dense, Melodic, Dynamic, Rhythmic

Alex G – God Save the Animals

Style: Neo-Psychedelia, Singer/Songwriter, Art Pop

Moods: Uplifting, Heartfelt, Spiritual, Warm, Introspective, Wholesome, Eclectic, Colorful, Cryptic, Ethereal, Joyful, Longing, Bittersweet, Psychedelic, Sentimental, Tender

Musical Qualities: Lush, Melodic, Vocal Effects, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Catchy, Polished, Progressive

Avey Tare – Cows on Hourglass Pond

Style: Psych-Pop, Neo-Psychedelia, Acid Folk

Vibe: Aquatic, Ethereal, Peaceful, Hallucinogenic, Reflective, Hypnotic, Mellow, Surreal, Uplifting, Warm, Existential

Musical Qualities: Catchy, Soft, Melodic, Atmospheric, Vocal Fx, Analogue Recording

Richard Dawson – 2020 [Review]

Style: Progressive Songwriter, Art Rock, Progressive Pop

Vibe: Satirical, Depressive, Anxious, Dystopian, Bright, Eccentric, Existential, Longing, Pessimistic, Urban, Storytelling

Musical Qualities: Complex, Dense, Progressive, Intricate, Dynamic, Conceptual

Robert Wyatt – Shleep

Style: Surreal Pop, Imaginative Singer/Songwriter, Prog-Pop, Canterbury Scene

Vibe: Dreamy, Ethereal, Airy, Floating, Surreal, Eclectic, Introspective, Complex, Mellow, Imaginative, Atmospheric

Musical Attributes: Progressive, Melodic, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Active listening, Jazz-Influenced

Robert Wyatt – Old Rottenhat

Style: Experimental Singer-Songwriter, Art Pop, Canterbury Scene, Jazz-Rock

Vibe: Political (Anti-Capitalist, Anti-Imperialist), Satirical, Conscious, Melancholy, Hypnotic

Musical Attributes/Instrumentation: Sparse, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Layered Vocals, Digital Keyboards, Drum Machines, Percussion, Synthesizers, Piano

Julia Holter – Have You in My Wilderness

Style: Chamber Pop, Art Pop
Vibe: Lush, Ethereal, Imaginative, Sensual, Storytelling, Surreal, Intricate, Airy, Dreamy
Instrumentation: Vocals, Keyboards (Piano, Harpsichord, etc), Upright Bass, Strings, Drums, Saxophone

Alex G – Beach Music

Listening to Alex G, one might imagine a young alien sitting alone in his martian bedroom baring his angsty, teenage confessions to his 4-track tape recorder. Yet, at the core of his music, underneath layers of psychedelic guitars, weird pitch-shifted vocals, and occasional lo-fi hiss, lies some genius pop songs that feel simultaneously adolescent and mature.

Recommended for fans of lo-fi experimentation and bedroom pop. Alex seems to pull influences from all over and channel them through his own unique personality and penchant for odd, psychedelic production. Recalls Elliot Smith’s loner acoustic songwriting and drum machines pulled from 80?s pop songs; there’s even a fucked up jazz piano ballad thrown into the mix.

Four Tet – Pause

Style: Glitch-Folk, IDM

Vibe: Autumnal, Peaceful, Warm, Uplifting, Nature, Love

Musical Attributes: Electro-Acoustic, Sampling, Melodic, Repetitive

Mike and Lal Waterson – Bright Phoebus

Style: British Folk, Country-Influenced
Vibe: Contemplative, Earthy, Introspective, Melancholy, Rootsy, Rural, Storytelling
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Vocal Harmonies, Lyrical, Melodic, Simple, Sparse

Four Tet – There is Love in You

Released in 2010 on Domino Records Format: LPx2 Recommended Tracks: Angel Echoes – A1(Mellow, Hypnotic, Lush) Love Cry – A2 (Dancey, Groovy) She Just Likes to Fight – D2 (Peaceful, Happy, Meditative, Lush)

Avey Tare – Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is a beautiful, enveloping excursion of aquatic psych-folk characterized by flowing, hallucinogenic instrumentation, atmospheric production, nature field recordings, and ghostly background vocals from one of my favorite singers, Angel Deradoorian. Avey Tare’s introspective and intimate lyrics mix psychedelic revelations, reminiscing, surreal imagery, and nature/water themes, often leading to profound realizations of a very personal sense of spirituality. The lush orchestrations are arranged by the amazing and unique violist Eyvind Kang, which include woodwinds, horns, strings, and pedal steel slide guitar from Susan Alcorn.

For fans of Animal Collective’s “Campfire Songs” and the slow portions of “Feels”.

Click for full review

Julia Holter – Aviary

Released in 2018 on Domino Records Format: LPx2 Includes 12″x12″ glossy lyric and photo booklet Track Listing *A1 – Turn the Light On (Bombastic, Energetic, Cathartic A2 – Whether (Pulsing, Driving, Staccato) *A3 – Chaitius (Ethereal, Atmospheric, Ambient, Progressive) -long floating, atmospheric intro with wordless vocals -becomes jazzy and cosmic as it builds -loose and …

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Jon Hopkins – Singularity

Dynamic and uplifting house music characterized by filtered drums and enveloping synth textures. With its driving arpeggiations, danceable 4-on-the-floor grooves, hypnotic build-ups, and soothing ambient tracks, Singularity is extremely well-paced, and it’s most beautiful moments full of sublime wonder.