Burial + Four Tet, “Nova”
The haunting, indecipherable vocals and the deep, reverberating bass of this collaboration between producers Burial and Four Tet conjures up nostalgia upon the first listen of the track. Disorientating and hypnotic, this record – released two weeks ago – sets the bar for the sophistication electronic music has reached at this point.
James Blake, “Limit To Your Love”
James Blake released “Limit To Your Love” in October 2010 to much critical acclaim. Blake’s vocals dominate the record, in which he plays homage to his London roots in the dropped consonants of “waterfall.” Pauses between verses give the listener enough space to take in the magnitude of this seminal record.
Nicolas Jaar, “Colomb”
Chilan-American producer, Nicolas Jaar’s “Colomb” has the slowest BPM of all the tracks on this playlist. The French lyrics the sounds of rain and clapping make this record just as introspective as the music Jaar’s British counterparts are making.
Marcus Worgull, “Move On Me Edit”
Producing edits is as masterful in electronic music as making original material. Although the BPM on this track is markedly faster than Jaar’s and Blake’s, the mood of Worgull’s edit of Fink’s “Move On Me” is just as thoughtful. The lyrics remain the same as the original and the German producer allows plenty of room for the piano solos.
Dauwd, “Whats There”
Another producer incorporating indecipherable vocals in his disorientating records is Dauwd. The English producer pairs heavy basslines with light lyrics that nod to his 2-step and garage influences.
Koreless, “4D”
Koreless also makes lofty tracks that have a distinctively urban UK sound.
Face + Heel, “No Stars”
The bassline on this track is very similar to that on Dauwd’s and Koreless’, but here understanding the lyrics is possible. Themes of nature and space pervade many of the tracks on this playlist. This is an example of these motifs being overtly used in an exploration of identity.
Gui Boratto, feat. Luciana Villanova, “This Is Not The End”
Luciana Villanova’s lyrics, which play with themes of journey and discovery, feature on this track by Brazilian producer Gui Boratto. Like Face + Heel, Boratto creates the same melancholy and introspection that resonates in all the tracks by making clear lyrics the focal point of his record.
Voices of Black, “Fo Porter”
Voices of Black, the New York-based duo, make use of playful synths and RnB-style vocals in “Fo Porter”. Like the other tracks that err on the dancier side of the spectrum, there is softness in this record despite its upbeat tempo.