Germany’s Niklas Nähring is back with a new, well-timed EP called Winter. He’s delivered five lovely downtempo tracks with unexpected beats and charming spoken word additions. It’s good enough to be one of only a couple of December releases on my 100 favourites of 2018. The young electronic music producer first caught my attention with … Continue reading dopeman – Winter EP
Category: Downtempo
Best of 2018 – D to G
The Best of 2018 – A to C is here. Ana Dall’ara-Majek – Nano-Cosmos Dalot & Sound Awakener – Little Things Sarah Davachi – Let Night Come On Bells End The Day Dopeman – Winter EP Emanuele Errante - The Evanescence Of A Thousand Colors Fred Everything – Long Way Home Fennesz – Station One … Continue reading Best of 2018 – D to G
Various Artists – HH100
Warm congratulations to Seattle’s Hush Hush Records on the release of its 100th title. HH100 pulls together 14 tracks featuring the work of big talents like Shelf Nunny, Lowhitey and more. It’s been just half a dozen years since KEXP’s Alex Ruder decided to “collaborate with a friend to help share their music with the … Continue reading Various Artists – HH100
Midday Static – Dreamcatcher
After producing a trio of richly sentimental discs under the titles Kodachrome, Ektachrome and Verichrome, Dylan Boyd has emerged from his Tulsa, Oklahoma darkroom with a hypnotic new album. Dreamcatcher offers up the same wistful, tranquil beats that have made previous works such easy listens. While its cover fits neatly with past work, the music’s … Continue reading Midday Static – Dreamcatcher
Test Card – Rediffusion
Vancouver-based Lee Nicholson has joined forces with the terrific Greek label Sound In Silence. His second LP under the name Test Card is a polished downtempo effort that, despite its complexity, demonstrates a wonderfully light touch. Nicholson’s sophistication is hard earned. In the 1990s, he fronted an English indie band called Formula One. Subsequent projects … Continue reading Test Card – Rediffusion
Shelf Nunny – Little Time We Have
Talk about a velvet touch. Seattle’s Christian Gunning is back with a second release under the Shelf Nunny brand. This five-track EP is among the best downtempo releases to cross my desk this year. Available from local favourite Hush Hush Records, the EP’s promo sheet describes Gunning’s “exploration towards pop territory.” This is both an … Continue reading Shelf Nunny – Little Time We Have
Manny Marko – Flips4Lyf
Historians will write about hip hop music with a primary focus on its lyrical content and social influence. Rightly so. The impact of the genre runs deep and worldwide. It continues to inform pop music styles and youth culture to an extent few imagined back in the 1970s. But as penetrating as that influence has … Continue reading Manny Marko – Flips4Lyf
