Little White Earbuds August Charts


Chart courtesy of The Economist.

01. Matthew Styles, “We Said Nothing” [Diamonds & Pearls] (buy)we said nothing
So far I’ve managed to look past Matthew Styles despite the sheen of buzz around him, but “We Said Nothing,” the lead cut from an EP of the same name, is utterly impossible to ignore. The dense and flashy percussion cuts a path for the snaking acid progression, all the while female and tar-pitted male vocals invoke chaos in the tightly structured piece. It’s prominently featured in Âme’s forthcoming Fabric CD, and is sure to wreck a little havoc on dance floors. Mr. Styles has my attention now.

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02. Matias Aguayo, “Minimal” (DJ Koze remix) [Kompakt] (buy)minimal
Sure, the lyrics are inflammatory (“people don’t dance, ‘cuz that music’s got no groove, got no balls, no man”), if not outright sarcastic (especially coming from half of Closer Musik), but the breezy sunshine DJ Koze injects into Matias Aguayo’s “Minimal” can assuage even the most inconsolable critic’s qualms. More in line with his work with International Pony, Koze threads a funk guitar needle through soothing Rhodes pads, leaving only the jangling percussion of the original to penetrate the mellow vibe. Yet another incredible production from the vaunted DJ Koze, a radio edit of which can be downloaded here.

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03. Brendon Moeller, “Electricity” [Leena Music] (buy)
While so much of dub techno is content to hang in the air like cumulus music, Brendon Moeller is one of the few producers to persuasively toughen things up to delight DJs and dancers. “Electricity” aggressively proves the point with a hard percussive shell, from which dub reverberations stab pointedly or flare up like a sudden tidal wave. So for DJs who would rather see bodies moving instead of pinned to couches, this cut off a great EP is the one for them.

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04. Solomon, “Explicit” [Four:Twenty Recordings] (buy)explicit
Solomun’s stature as an excellent producer only grows faster as he steps further away from Diynamic and its hallmark aesthetics. “Explicit,” a hidden gem of a b-side to the well-charted “International Hustle,” maintains his carefully groomed balance of melody and organic percussion. The plucked progression at its core is delayed such that it could be echoing through a lengthy alley, and its looming pads color the long shadows. It’s also a treat to mix with.

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05. Portable, “Release” [Perlon] (buy)portable
It’s hard to think of a label with better and more consistent taste than Perlon, and the past 12 months have only bolstered its already impressive reputation. Their 70th release yields some of Portable’s best music to date, the incredibly soulful and demented “Release.” Alan Abrahams’ multi-tracked vocals plead from the center of a twisted city which bends and arches around determined 808 stabs. If you’re craving something deep and housey that avoids indulging in all the oft-repeated cliches, pick up a copy of “Knowone Can Take Away” pronto.

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06. My My, “Everybody’s Talkin'” [Playhouse] (buy)
07. Nekes, “Waitin” [Oslo] (buy)
08. Henrik Schwarz, Âme & Dixon, “D.P.O.M.B.” (Version 2) [Innervisions] (buy)
09. La Peña, “Untitled 1” [La Peña] (buy)
10. A Guy Called Gerald, “In Ya Head” [Perlon] (buy)

Joe  on September 10, 2008 at 1:02 AM

“and is sure to wreck a little havoc on dance floors”

already has! matthew styles kills it, great record. try the Sources EP too if you want something a bit deeper (especially B2)
http://www.discogs.com/release/1167299

and that a guy called gerald is mighty fine…

hutlock  on September 10, 2008 at 7:03 AM

The lyrics in “Minimal” are in Spanglish… so it’s not “no man” it’s “no me hace” etc.

Also, am I really the only one who likes the original version better than the Koze version? Damn.

And yeah, swap the places on the Gerald and the Portable! :-)

Sam  on September 10, 2008 at 10:15 AM

Hey!! The funk is back in the building!

All great tracks, except #5, which to my ears is just OK (haven’t heard A Guy’s version though).

And really – I love that Koze mix! The use of that funky loop and the general “vibe” seems a bit ironic to me, given the songs title and subject matter…too funny.

Sam  on September 10, 2008 at 10:17 AM

Sorry – scratch that – I would switch #5 with Gerald too, is what i meant to say…

Joe H  on September 10, 2008 at 10:32 AM

Nah keep #5 where it is Gerald is good but Portable is better.

snag  on September 10, 2008 at 12:05 PM

yey portable made a chart, release is excellent
quite atmospheric

sky  on September 10, 2008 at 2:08 PM

Damn, August was a great month for us music fans, wasn’t it. And so much good music was left out simply as a matter of space.

tibal  on September 11, 2008 at 4:55 AM

what a great month! Amazing! Alan abrahams track “release” #1 for me…killer track!

jeremy  on October 12, 2008 at 11:59 AM

i didn’t fully appreciate portable’s “release” until i heard it live last night. it destroyed!

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