TD :: Albums of 2011

The year is coming to an end, and I thought i'd share with you my final installment of lists; the albums of 2011. This list includes my top twenty mixtapes, EPs, and LPs of the year. Also, I've included another list of notable releases that didn't feel right to rank but were equally as amazing as the top twenty. Purchase them, download them, dance to them, dream to them, and most of all listen to them closely...

20. Sahel Sounds - Music From Saharan Cellphones Vol.2

19. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Unknown Mortal Orchestra

18. Laurel Halo - Hour Logic EP

17. Toro Y Moi - Freaking Me Out

16. The Caretaker - An Empty Bliss Beyond This World

15. The Field - Looping State Of Mind

14. Atlas Sound - Parallax

13. Nicolas Jaar - Space Is Only Noise

12. Long Arm - The Branches

11. Oneohtrix Point Never - Replica

10. Bibio - Mind Bokeh

9. Clams Casino - Instrumentals

8. Peaking Lights - 936

7. Austin Peralta - Endless Planets

6. Andy Stott - Passed Me By

5. Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact

4. John Maus - We Must Become The Pitiless Censors Of Ourselves

3. A$AP Rocky - LiveLoveA$AP

Ethereal rap? Harlem rapper, A$AP Rocky, makes his debut appearance with his highly notable mixtape, LiveLoveA$AP. The mixtape formulates its ethereal vibes and drugging beats from its finest of producers on the tape, Clams Casino. While sustaining the raps of ASAP Rocky's pretty villain rhymes and his hoodlum leaning associates, each number resonates with a raw and gritty tone that works ever so complimentary with never before heard rap. ASAP stands his ground and is the 'prettiest mother******' in the game. Take a load off and let go, LiveLoveA$AP. Download the entire mixtape for free over here.

2. Doldrums - Empire Sound

It’s been a while since I’ve heard an entire solid release with which each song on that release was equally as good as the other. Doldurms’, Empire Sound EP, does exactly that for me. He gives you each of his tracks in full and raw form, not afraid to take a step out of the boundaries and stray away from the norm. With tracks like “Lost In My Head”, he showcases an obtuse amount of cascading loops and samples that all intertwine into each other to build a monstrous collage of abstraction and experimentation. These monstrous sound collages made by Mr.Woodhead find their way in a post-pop realm, where neither sound structures or commonly executed rhythms have a role. He’s a force to be reckoned with, and has a vital sound to be heard. I’d describe this EP as a gift of many more great things to come from him. Purchase the entire release here.

1. Desolate - The Invisible Insurrection

Drawn in by its utterly moving and cinematically easing tonality, Desolate’s, The Invisible Insurrection, articulates the luring post UK bass sound in great succession. Weisemann aka Desolate definitely carries a similar sound to that of Burial’s but he exceeds those accusations by his ability to organize his instruments into masterpieces of beautifully recorded spatial soundscapes. Puttering post-garage rhythms that are caught in the undertow of overwhelmingly drawn out synths and fluttering piano rifts. Desolate uses subtle tones and textures within each of his pieces, to work in effect with the dark broken story the entire release trails. It meditates itself on mobile orchestrations, which play a perfect role for background music, whenever lost in deep thought or focus. Scenically gorgeous release from beginning to end. Purchase it over here.

Honorable Mentions ::

Cloud Boat - Lions On The Beach

Braids - Native Speaker

Falty DL - Atlantis EP

Yoko Duo - Behaving Like A Widower

Steve Hauschildt - Tragedy & Geometry

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Previously :: TD // Albums of 2010

TD :: Songs of 2011

It has been a great year for new sounds to proliferate and defy existing sound structures of the rapidly-growing and vast musical gambit. There has been an emergence of an eager bass-tone that stretches the boundaries of works from some of the finest artists of this past year. Artists such as D'eon, Blawan, St. Vincent and Little Dragon take this new tone of bass and inject it into their electrifying and earnest post-pop, rock, and house compositions. They have set new standards and reached new heights. Based on immediate favorites and the amount of feelings I had towards each track, I assembled my year's top song list with careful thought and aggregation. These are the tracks that clicked, vibed, and jived with me. Attached is a zip file with all these top-hitters for you to add to your music library. E N J O Y!

TD :: Songs of 2011 (download)

25.St. Vincent - Surgeon
24.Blue Sky Black Death - And Stars, Ringed
23.dBridge - Knew You Were The 1
22.Little Dragon - Precious
21.Robot Koch - Bugs
20.Bilal - Levels
19.King Krule – The Noose of Jah City
18.Oneohtrix Point Never - Up
17.Nicolas Jaar – What My Last Girl Put Me Through
16.The Weeknd - House Of Balloons // Glass Table Girls
15.Clams Casino - Drowning
14.Four Tet - Pinnacles
13.Bibio – Saint Christopher
12.Actress – Harrier ATTK
11.The Field - Is This Power
10.Daphni - Mapfumo
9. H-town – They Like it Slow (Star Slinger Refix)
8. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Ffunny Ffrends
7. Blawan – Getting Me Down
6. Dirty Beaches – Lord Knows Best
5. Julian Lynch - Terra
4. ASAP Rocky - Wassup [prod.by Clams Casino]
3. Gang Gang Dance – Glass Jar
2. John Maus – Quantum Leap
1. D’eon – Transperency
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Previously :: TD // Videos of 2011

The Range - Big Dip

Hailing from Providence, RI, James Hinton aka The Range unleashes his album entitled, The Big Dip, on the wonderful Astro Nautico label. The 8 track release submerges its ways under the atmospheric bass trends with its playfully intricate rhythms, clicks, chimes, and heavy foundation of resonance. Simply catchy and capturing with chopped up r n b vocals layered upon a wave of bass that weaves the listener in and out of its grooving sensation. The whole release endorses a very precise and clinical bopping feel that sets free in it's range curing space. Get this for free download over at the label's bandcamp and have a listen below...

Life Crushed x That's Deck presents :: Universal Hymns

A couple months ago the dudes over at Life Crushed (Brian and Olin) and I started to brainstorm for this compilation we entitled, Universal Hymns. We wanted to bring you a humble and talented set of artists that push a sound that is ever so spatial, explorative, and above-beyond expectation. The compilation ranges from Life Crushed's heavy set of artists in which they've constantly supported throughout on one side while on the other I give you a shorter set of tunes from former DECKastees and liked artists from this past year, that have participated with new and old gloriously constructed pieces. These are a collection of perplexing sounds that Life Crushed and I are really faithful towards, supportive of, and clearly can't get enough of at the moment. All these producers, experimentalists, and inventors from different regions of the earth, unite to bring you hymns that can universally be heard and fed into the depths of your ear drums at anytime of day or night. Download both our sides to the compilation below...

Side TD (download HERE)

1. Warm Thighs - Diva
2. Thought Tempo - Core
3. Rekchampa - No Help
4. Space Ghost - My Bed
5. Nifkin - Spirit of Rudebwoai
6. Sir Influenza - Chimes
7. Tony Devotion - Red Couch

Side LC (download HERE)

1. KamiKapnobatai - Feels Like Dope
2. Placeholder – Librarian
3. Mosis – Possi
4. real - whoever said…
5. Grobbie & Yoin - Just Begun
6. Runamucker - Dreams of Bergen
7. Nowahuta- Kingdom at Every Corner
8. Smoke Room - Temple
9. Ramphastos - Spellbound
10. IVVVO - You Make Me Fall
11. Chainless - Monolith
12. Bruises - Sailing Stone
13. Idea3 - Love You
14. Hwood - Escaping the Storm
15. R.T.S. - We’re Alone

DECKast #22 x Hollabec

I first came across Ms.Verschuur aka Hollabec when she added me on Last.fm a while back. I find it really interesting when you come across another person from an entirely different region of the planet that is listening to the same artists or sounds as you are currently. She recently has had some small shows in Melbourne, Australia, and more are to be on the way; so if you are in the area, check her out! Be sure to have a listen at her previous mixes and sound pieces she's done up on her soundcloud. I appreciated Bec's taste in music so much that I asked her to mix in for this issue of the DECKast. In return she fabricated a drippy set of soulful knicks and knacks that carry an easy breathing down-tempo vibe that is quintessential to her varying music library. Thanks for sharing this one Bec! Here's what she had to say about the mix...

"Just a little collection of some tracks that I've been playing over and over these past few months that have kept me on my feet.
Fresh emotional beats (old and new), that have inspired me. I think these are going to continue to stay in my heart for a little while. Enjoy x"

DECKast #22 - Hollabec mix (right click + save)

Tracklist ::
1. Intro
2. Thinking We Still - Rekchampa
3. Your Two Choices - B.Lewis
4. Beat Imperial - Kelp
2. Early Ideas - AFTA-1
3. Don Barzini - Jimmy Pé
4. Gene Kelly - Handbook
5. LeT'M Do - Mind Touch
6. Appreciation - TEKST
7. Sleepless feat. Antony For Cleopatra - Flume
8. My Love Pt.II - Vanilla
9. Look of Love (JayLotus Remix) - J Dilla
10. Centuries Passed - AiS
11. Honey - Galapagos
12. Top Notch - Dibia$e
13. Anrdomeda - Pavel Dovgal
14. Kassie - Fitz Ambro$e
15. Metal and Wood - Crewdson
16. It's All Good - Falty DL
17. Stolen Dog - Burial
18. 1998 (Interlude) - Sango
19. Sticky - Amenta
20. Marie - Divine Interface
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Previously :: DECKasts #1-21
DECKast #21 - Nicco mix

TD :: Videos of 2011

In no particular order, I present to you some of my favorite official and unofficial music videos of 2011. Visually striking, DIY, cinematic, and moving music videos. The top 11 that stuck...

Jeremiah Jae - '$easons'

Sebastian - 'Embody'


Azealia Banks - '212'

Sepalcure - 'Pencil Pimp'

Bjork - 'Moon'

Avey Tare - 'Oliver Twist'


St.Vincent - 'Cruel'


Thought Tempo - 'Soft Day'

Bibio - 'Saint Christopher'


Beyoncé - '1+1'


Psychologist - 'Propeller'

Video :: Unknown Mortal Orchestra - 'Bicycle'

Brain Mist - 'c_g2'

[via]

The uncanny, Brain Mist, recently showed up on my radar with some beautiful sounds to offer. The unshaken reverb recluses find an avenue of complete glimmering bliss that trigger those stress ached issues in the brain to the thin airy mist. Give way for the mind to unwind. He currently only has two tunes up on his soundcloud, but more are to be on the horizon. In the meantime excessively repeat the following two, they will not disappoint...

Brain Mist - c_g2

VCE_002 by BRAIN MIST

DECKast #21 x Nicco

Long time friend and radio host/dj of Beat Surgery over at KUCI; Nicolas aka Nicco created a mix for this issue of the DECKast. Collaging some laid-back feel-goods and soulful bass bangers, this mix takes a leisurely stroll and has the momentum to keep the mind relaxed throughout. So vibin', short and to the point. Thanks for sharing this one bro. Here's what he had to say about it...

"This mix is an array of dance oriented tracks that I've been feelin' lately. I love blurring the lines and hopping between genres on a whim. You'll find bay area rap, garage, slo-mo house, soulful beats, and some post-dubstep. Enjoy."

DECKast #21 - Nicco mix (right click + save)

Tracklist ::
1. G-Side - 24 Eight
2. MΔRRI$ - Rashida Jones
3. ill.sug - When Melancholy
4. Dauwd - What's There
5. Rekchampa - Like You
6. ANGO - Better For You
7. Dominic Pierce - You & Me (Dancefloor)
8. DJ Q - Brandy & Coke
9. J. Stalin - Draft ft. Sonny Blaze
10. Knxwledge - Kerrapin
11. Supreme Cuts - Trouble
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Previously :: DECKasts #1-20
DECKast #20 - TineZ and Alexander mix

Live :: Deviation String Quartet x Burial - 'Shell Of Light'

DEVIATION STRING QUARTET: BURIAL - SHELL OF LIGHT from Deviation on Vimeo.

This is taking Burial to new heights. Chills throughout my body. Wow.

Video :: Dibiase x VERSIS - 'Fly Me t'The Moon'

Sina. - 'Remembrance'

Sina. recently debuted his EP, From Love To Dust, on the Project Mooncircle label and it's another one for the books. The EP accentuates and capitalizes the beauty of this broken post-electronic sound that is ever so vast and minimal, making each instrumentation used have a feature role in its scenic synchopation. Words cannot explain how grateful I am for labels like Project Mooncircle that pushes an unheard dimension of electronic music. Mad love to them and mad love to Sina. for creating this beautiful piece. 'Remembrance', stretches its blissful meditations to the highest of heavens and sheds light on a dooming feel-good soundscape that underpins a golden sense of etherealness and focus. Easy-listening at its finest. Stream and purchase the EP at its entirety over at PM's bandcamp.

Sina. - Remembrance
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Previously :: Sina. - 'All Alone'
Sina. - All Alone

Samson Stilwell - 'Flutter & Fall'

I enjoy things that are straight and to the point. I received a track in my email from L.A. virtuoso, Samson Stilwell, whom I don't know much about but is the carrier of this sound that is so simple and raw; it cuts straight to the details. 'Flutter & Fall' weaves in and out of this minimal night-waving mantra that has Samson's fluttering vocals rise and fall off of. It's a very intriguing melody that can easily be repeatable. Cannot wait to hear more from this guy. In the meantime...

Samson Stilwell - Flutter & Fall

DECKast #20 x TineZ and Alexander

A month or two back I received an email from the very talented, Martijn Tinez Vogelaers, who is the art director and designer at Uber and Kosher over in Antwerp, Belgium. It was to my surprise that someone as great as him would approach a blog like mine, and to that I am ever so grateful. Martijn has been curating mixes and art while pushing the underground electronic sound in Antwerp for the past 10 years now. He was generous enough to take sometime out of his busy lifestyle to fabricate the 20th issue of this DECKast. TineZ has teamed up with partner Alexander to create this mix, which explores some of the finest down-tempo electronica and hip-hop jams in their books. Be sure to check out TineZ's collection of incredible art and mixes over at his personal site. He's truly an inspiration. Here's what TineZ had to say about the mix...

"I only recently picked up mixing digitally and have been mixing strictly vinyl for about 17 years. It's because of blogs like That's Deck that I caved in and started mixing digitally... Not being limited by vinyl releases only changed the atmosphere of my mixes intensely. Where as I mainly used to mix vintage dance music (new wave, electronic boogie, italo disco, proto-house...) I now tend to dig a little more into my hip hop roots and combine that with down tempo electronics. I love to blend different genres. Like Digital Underground used to preach > "Doowutchyalike!"
I teamed up with dj-homie Alexander to make this mix extra special. Alexander and me used to organize underground electronic parties here in Antwerp for over more than 10 years together. We discovered That's Deck simultaneously. So when I told Alexander that Saish asked me to make a DECKast it was obvious that this homage would be a colab."

DECKast #20 - TineZ and Alexander mix (right click + save)

Tracklist ::
01. Dan Lacksman Association - Cycles
02. Samename - Nightfall
03. Chrome Sparks - Be My Private Dancer
04. Suff Daddy - 4 My Holiks
05. Salva - Komodo
06. Lloyd Banks feat. A$AP Rocky - Make It Stack
07. Lasership Stereo - Riviera
08. Quelle Chris feat. Denmark - Symbolic
09. Om Unit vs. Kromestar - Merkabah
10. Ray Nitti feat. Young Oki, Ray Rizzy, Alesia Nicole - Damn Girl
11. Dabrye - Get Dirty (instrumental)
12. J Dilla feat. Common - E=Mc2
13. Die Antwoord - Very Fancy
14. Deekay Jones - New York New York
15. Tony MF Rock - I'm That Type Of Nigga
16. James Pants - Cosmic Rapp
17. Ford & Lopatin - New Planet (instrumental)
18. 100 Akres - A Life is A
19. Don Trip - Pistols In Paris
20. Iggy Azalea - Pu$$y

Also :: Relisten to all the DECKasts in full stream form over at the new mixcloud page!
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Previously :: DECKasts #1-19
DECKast #19 - Nifkin mix

Oneohtrix Point Never - 'Up' (Napolian Remix)

Napolain takes heed on Oneohtrix Point Never's new album, Replica, and reworks one of my personal favorite tunes off the joint. "Up", is transformed into a ravetronic conglomerate that glides its filthy blood-pumping bass into a mario-kart highway to heaven. He did the tune some incredible justice. Also, check out this teaser off Napolian's forthcoming EP, Rejoice, over at his soundcloud.

Oneohtrix Point Never - Up (Napolian Remix)

Original ::

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Previously :: DECKast #16 x Napolian
DECKast #16 - Napolian mix