Lav's Music Corner

These are three electronic music projects that I have a lot of respect and admiration for. Had I not been so sick and busy I would have definitely covered these albums in full but I still want to get my feelings out there on all of them.  Three  - Four Tet Even though I've been a Four Tet fan for a long time it's been a while since I was truly blown away by something he released. He's pretty consistent, but I find myself always hoping for more high-end material. That seemed like it would continue to be the case when I came away from the record's singles feeling just okay. That was made even worse when I realized that my favorite Four Tet single in years, Mango Feedback , also wasn't appearing on the album, though it seems like elements of it were reworked into the single Daydream Repeat, although I'm not positive.  After beginning with a dancier cut in Loved  the album shifts its focus towards ambient. That's not a complaint as I've enjoyed quite a bit o...

One day late, sorry. Lav's quest for stable wi-fi is still an ongoing one and there were so many good songs it was hard to put it all together.  HM. Easy On Your Own?  - Alvvays Normally I wouldn't include an honorable mention on a list like this but I just couldn't leave Alvvays out. The bands turn into a far heavier and more shoegaze-inspired sound is a worthwhile one that I've now enjoyed for back to back tracks.  Listen 5. Saturdays  - Broken Bells Broken Collective? Animal Bells? The year of highlights for Animal Collective manifests itself in a very strange way here with James and DM taking on the band's trademark watery psychedelia and doing a genuinely admirable job of it. While it's far from what I expected I do think it's the best song I've heard from the project in a LONG time and did a significant amount to boost my excitement for their upcoming return.  Listen 4. I'll Fight You  - Open Mike Eagle Another lyrically sharp track from Open M...

Madlib is one of hip hop's all time great producers whose crate digging underground style became hugely influential in the 2000's. In the 2010's he continued to influence with a pair of massively acclaimed collaborative albums with Freddie Gibbs as well as being credited with production on tracks from a number of the daceded biggest rap records. While this is a record unlike any others Madlib has ever released under hit own name it is also a collaboration of sorts as co-production and mixing credits across the album are given to Kieran Hebden AKA microhouse legend Four Tet.  Review By Lav: I was excited for this record for a couple reasons. Obviously whenever Madlib puts his name to anything there is a quality standard you anticipate given his unmatched pedigree. But I was also excited that there aren't many albums you could consider true solo Madlib records and the prospect of him putting his own artistic vision to this records entirety entice me. Not to mention that I...

Four Tet is one of the monikers of British music producer Kieran Hebden who has been releasing records since the late 90's. He has released ten records to date but with a trio of singles and some promotional material it feels like Sixteen Oceans  is one of the biggest releases under the name in years. Review By Lavender: I've always enjoyed the music of Four Tet and when he gets it right he makes some of the most sincerely excellent electronic music of his time. Records like There Is Love In You  and Rounds  prove that at his best under the Four Tet name he is capable of incredible things. But more often than not there are some strong concepts or sonic experiments that dominate the records he releases and my enjoyment of them usually depends on my admiration of its concepts. After hearing some huge variety in the singles and seeing promotional campaigns for this record I anticipated it being his most significant release in years, and at 54 minutes and 16 tracks it ...