Seein' Doubles [2020 Repost]

NOTE: Hi there! I'm going through the backcatalogue and re-publishing all the posts I can find. I'm re-posting them as new articles too just so there is visible content going up. This post is originally from May 2015.

Enjoy,
-CVF

Over the last week or so my mouse has picked up the annoying quirk or double clicking when I press it once. Not terribly inconvenient but still irritating. To counteract this I've been changing up everything to be doubled, from music to visuals and all sorts. Enjoy!

Chris Cunningham - Still from New York Is Killing Me (2010)

Starting off with an often overlooked instrumental from the Gorillaz's debut. It's not hard to see why, in a sea of solid tracks a tune that's entirely instrumental save for Damon popping in to say "All of which makes me anxious, at times unbearably so" would be the one to lose out. Still a nice tune, and it nicely captures the Gorillaz vibe of Phase One.



More from Pretty Lights. As I said this tune like many others feels right at home in Los Santos. I almost feel like it drags its heels a little, but just as I'm mulling over whether its overstayed it's welcome, the killer cuts on the outro sell me on it once again.



And finally more from my new favourite Swede since The Knife split. I can't get over the intro for this one, as soon as that thick bassline hits I know I'm along for the ride. Like most of Viklund's tracks it knows how to leave you wanting more, and it mostly delivers on that promise I just wish the intensity of the outro didn't end in a fade out.



-Claude Van Foxbat

Long Weekend End

Patrick Caulfield - Weekend Cabin (1967)

Hope y'all over in t' states had a god time with your long weekend. And I hope you don't mind I took an extra day off from posting too even tho I'm in entirely the wrong country. Regardless I've been up my usual chill tree so let's get stuck into what I have on offer. Currently in love all over again with this reverb soaked beauty, and it only gets better as it goes on. A tad on the short side but that just keeps it sweet.



Keeping things on the short front with Short Change fittingly, clocking in at 1:41 it's even shorter than Around. This one's also a contender for longest tune in my collection, I musta picked it up at some point in the early 00's, but back then it was a shitty 96kbps version because I didn't know any better, It's since been replaced with a decent quality version between then and now however.



And some Pretty Lights for the first time in what feels like forever. Still more of a fan of the hip op sample fuelled stuff from the first half of Filling Up The City Skies than the direction it takes later on. And this one should be a perfect example of why it's real smooth to listen to and is just well put together overall. A real dream for you out there into sample spotting too.



-Claude Van Foxbat

Real Adult Things

It's time, I've done fired out some apps to some production companies in the hoes of becoming a responsible human being. It's pretty scary as the first step onto the professional creative ladder is likely to be but I'll survive. Here's some songs.

Pam Glew - Furs (2013)

You've probably come across a few tracks in my writing history that I says have taken time to grow on me. This one kinda fits that bill, it's a two parter hence he title, but while part 1 doesn't really do much for me, the transition into part 2 around 2:54 and everything after it is golden. It doesn't fit with the rest of the moody trip hop on the LP, but it's a nice change of pace for sure.



More Pretty Lights to go with today. Far from the summery vibes of July though. Coming from the more Hip Hop / Trip Hop side of the album (and frankly the better of the two) come Pop Quiz whose intro always makes me ting I've suddenly picked up some Spaghetti Western soundtracks along the way somehow.



And finally one of my all time favourte instrumentals from an EP that has had tons of play from me. It was my first exposure to Blockhead though I never knew until I checked the liner notes one day. It'd be a fitting end to the EP but it makes a lovely midpoint song as it is. Along with Daylight from the same EP it continues to be among my favourite instrumentals ever and will continue to do so until I find somethin' that scratches my itch better.



-Claude Van Foxbat

Seein' Doubles

Over the last week or so my mouse has picked up the annoying quirk or double clicking when I press it once. Not terribly inconvenient but still irritating. To counteract this I've been changing up everything to be doubled, from music to visuals and all sorts. Enjoy!

Chris Cunningham - Still from New York Is Killing Me (2010)

Starting off with an often overlooked instrumental from the Gorillaz's debut. It's not hard to see why, in a sea of solid tracks a tune that's entirely instrumental save for Damon popping in to say "All of which makes me anxious, at times unbearably so" would be the one to lose out. Still a nice tune, and it nicely captures the Gorillaz vibe of Phase One.



More from Pretty Lights. As I said this tune like many others feels right at home in Los Santos. I almost feel like it drags its heels a little, but just as I'm mulling over whether its overstayed it's welcome, the killer cuts on the outro sell me on it once again.



And finally more from my new favourite Swede since The Knife split. I can't get over the intro for this one, as soon as that thick bassline hits I know I'm along for the ride. Like most of Viklund's tracks it knows how to leave you wanting more, and it mostly delivers on that promise I just wish the intensity of the outro didn't end in a fade out.



-Claude Van Foxbat

Thursd'y Again

Oops, I was busy for a couple of days and forgot to post, lets fix that reet sharpish and hope that no-one notices, here's another dose of your (mostly) usually scheduled music things.


Keeping tabs on LIFU from the last post, digging his latest tune you can find above too, decidedly more laidback than the other Spitfire I have in my library courtesy of The Prodigy. First I've heard from him with vocal accompaniment, and I'm certainly looking forward to more.

Rex The Dog has come back swinging into my playlists again, he's dropped some new tunes as of late but I'm just itching for a follow up to the amazing The Rex The Dog Show. It's packed full of solid house tunes and sweet as synths, do yourself a favour and check it out!



Pretty Lights is also on a comeback for me, mainly because he's soundtracking me and my friend's antics around the sun drenched streets of Los Santos. As much as I say the more electro side of Filling Up The City Skies isn't as strong as the hip/trip hop side, it does have it's standout moments.



-Claude Van Foxbat

Typography Blues

To those of you out there with no experience in the world of typography, consider yourselves lucky. Nothing I know f in this world is as stressful as shifting kernings by fractions trying to get things looking nice. Even worse when it moves like in my videos! But I digress, I'm taking some time out to share some sound with you.

Edward Hopper - Western Motel (1957)

N.O.W has come back on me in a big way. I'm staggered by how good of an album In A Space Outta Sound is, it doesn't top Smoker's Delight for me, but it's a close bloody second. Many a time this tune has seen me home through the streets of Leeds.



Went digging up some DMX Krew earlier this year, and with it I found a new addition to my smooth synths section. I couldn't have done it without the original track that tipped me off to him, that is another remix from Music For Freelance. It's not much like the other's I've posted, it has a much more electronic edge. Get a load of that bouncy bassline though.



And finally another tune from Pretty Lights which accurately sums up my work ethic at least 33% of the time. Another solid addition to any playlist you may be prepping for the coming warmer months, as is any Pretty Lights really. Enjoy!



-Claude Van Foxbat

Post-Render Blues

Just finished up a big video project I've been working on for fellow writer Evan, and as much as I won't miss the ever increasing render times, conversions and compression, what I will miss is having it to do. I've been at it for nearly 4 months as of now, and I don't know what to do with myself, so I thought I'd share some tunes that are helping me cope.

Edward Hopper - Compartment Car

Working the last remnants of my latest cyberpunk binge with everybody's favourite Jazz cats from the 2040's The Seatbelts. If I were given it in a blind test I'd swear it was almost a Mr. Scruff track given that bassline and the overall feel. This one's a must listen for all you folks out there like me that like a bit of that Scruff style in our lives.



Not gonna lie, I'm kinda feeling all things Hip & Trip Hop right now, and its been a long time since I've had the pleasure of Pretty Lights' debut. It's up and down gorgeously done, shame he moved away from the style so quickly, guy's got a knack for instrumentals and I'd love to hear more.



And finally, the unsung heroes of trip hop in my collection, The Deadbeats (or just Deabeats, as they were on this first LP). I dig their style a whole bunch, the album this is from, Lounging certainly lives up to its name, it's a lovely little time capsule back to the turn of the millennium, so whack this on and have a lazy day like it's 2000 again.



-Claude Van Foxbat

Renewed

Sorry about the wait, I just had the domain renewed for another 2 years, so the ilictronix train will keep on rolling until 2017! And with that out of the way I am clear to post again without worry of the site going down. Here's this week's jams.

Tom Wesselmann -Interior #2 (1964)

A pleasant surprise this morning as I sat down to edit, more Pretty Lights. His debut was by far my favourite but the follow up, Filling Up The City Skies does have it's moments that bring it up to that level. Take Change Is Gonna Come for example, I could listen to that intro forever, gorgeously smooth even when the beats come crashing in a 1:30.



Next is the song I had in mind when doing the renewal process. Much like the PL tune above, the intro for this one is lush, if a little quiet. Every time I turn my volume up to enjoy it only to jump out of my skin when the beats come in. Flashbulb records have been very hard for me to get a hold of, but when I do it's worth it.



And once again the opening track for Shobaleader One continues to be one of my all time favourites coming up on 5 years since it was released. Other than the mastering being a little quiet there is not much I can fault it for. I may be a little biased because I love me some vocoders but still, check it out if you're interested in what 'Pusher can do when he puts aside the Amen Break and sets his site on Space R&B.



-Claude Van Foxbat

Weekend Waitin'

So my Dissertation is pretty much ready to be handed in. I was gonna pop in today to double check and see about handing in my actual work too but Uni is closes early on Saturday and isn't open Sunday so I'm stuck until Monday. While I'm here I might as well knock up a post then.

Tom Wesselmann -The Smoker (1971)

I'm in need of more stuff in my collection, shuffle doesn't seem to be cutting it as much these days but it occasionally serves up summing good. Case in point: the Pretty Lights I have tucked away in my libary that harldy comes up. Taking Up Your Precious Time is the better album, but the follow up, Filling Up The City Skies has it's own moments too.



Another bit from the FlyLo demo tapes floating around the net. A much more conventional side to Lotus you may not have heard before, even at this early stage you can tell he's got good production chops. It's just a shame it's a little short, I'd love to see more of the half baked ideas FlyLo has on his hard drive.



Digging Mr. Scruff out for some listening rotation since my last post was a good move, after being away for so long I'd forgotten he has some solid tracks in there. Falling in love with this one all over again right about now.



-Claude Van Foxbat

Busy Ain't The Word

Yo. Apologies for no updates in a while, shit is crazy when handins are about. And even though I have a hand-in tomorrow I'm gonna spend a lil time and send some tunes your way. Standby for aural.

Ivan Shishkin - In Winter (1883)

Funnily enough been mad into Moby this winter so far. Had to catch up from the way back where I was at in Play/18 territory. Those are still more than solid albums, deffo check them out if you missed them in the last 15 or so years they've been about.



Also dug out my old Pretty Lights stuff. Even tho I remember his second effort being a lot lot weaker than his first (mainly due to the amount of tracks, stretched waaaay too thin). Not to say it doesn't have it's moments. This one's been surprising me a lot lately on shuffle.



Winter mainstays the 'Sopp continue their dominion in my playlists. The Undertsnading Seems to be might overlooked outside of the (admittedly amazing) single What Else Is There?. Deffo look the rest of the album up tho, it's perfect for this time of year and is still solid nearly 10 years on.



-Claude Van Foxbat

Another Rainy Saturday

As is often the case in England, it's been raining all day but I don't mind too much. After 20 years you kinda just accept it. Anyways I'm back again for the usual tunes & rt combo, here we go!

Gustave Caillebotte - L'Yerres, effet de pluie (1875)

Dug out Little Dragon's debut again, wish I'd have heard of them around the time, for a first album it's very solid. There's not any tracks I could do without, which is unusual for a 12 tracker. It's chock Full of well produced numbers like this one.



Omni Trio remains one of my favourtie all time producers of D&B, I've got a collection of his stuff dating back to about 1993 and the fact he's managed to keep me interested all that time is no mean feat. The subtle evolution in his style is pretty great to follow, moving from the hardcore/jungle vibes of old into more chilled sounds such as this:



Another debut now, with the also brilliant Taking Up Your Precious Time from Pretty Lights. Full from end to end of sample infused chill hip-hop vibes. It can be a bit daunting to listen to in full at 15 tracks, but as individual parts they're all incredibly sweet. You can still pick this album up for free over on the Pretty Lights website too!



-Claude Van Foxbat

Lazy Days

Preparing for the end of my second year at University, still pretty chilled cos I don't have to commute into town every day these days. As such I wasn't feeling my usual electronic modus operandi so instead scratched my hip hop itch again.

Edward Hopper - Sunlight In A Cafeteria

Starting with more Pretty Lights. Most of this album errs more on the upbeat side of things but this one right here strikes a nice balance between the two, I could pretty much listen to this all day, that vocal sample is just brilliantly selected.



A bit of a rarity, the one and only EP by Walking Endustries is very elusive with only 500 copies floating about (and no rips on the net). It's a real shame because from what little I've heard it's absolutely gorgeous. Luckily Miss Kittin has one of those 500 and included it on her compilation Radio Caroline Vol. 1.



And sending us off, homegrown talent The Deadbeats with the final tune from their second LP Made In The Shade. Honestly a prefect ending, it fully encapsulates the vibe the 'Beats lay down and is deliciously smooth. Get yourself lost in this one, because it's almost over too soon.



-Claude Van Foxbat

Revisiting

Dug out some albums from days gone by, and you can pretty much track my reaction to them through my posts on here, so where are they now? still in rotation ocassionally actually, here's a quick sample.

Andreas Nilsson - Landskaps

Ladytron's debut exists in a weird place. It gets lumped in with electroclash a lot, while it is from that era and it shares the same old school synthpop revival sound, it's really hard for me to put it with tracks like Miss Kittin & The Hacker's Frank Sinatra or Peaches' Lovertits cosnsidering how light hearted it sounds in comparison. Still check it out for a fairly unique vibe.



I got talking to Adam about Bibio yesterday, funnily enough when I went to Bleep to get me that new Squarepusher EP I found the lovely folks there had given me some free Bibio downloads for my birthday about 3 years ago: A demo version of Take Off Your Shirt and the original version of Excuses from the single. I remember falling in love with the video and it's hazy vibes back when it came out, and the tune's still as class as it was then.



And finally Pretty Lights. Guys been on the up & up lately, but I burned myself out on his albums long ago. Taking Up Your Precious Time is still as good as ever, but the follow up Filling Up The City Skies was a little too ambitious in all honesty. It's a 2CD release and the first half is definitely much stronger than the second, granted there are some good tracks on there, but the hip hop vibes are just much better executed. Case in point:



-Claude Van Foxbat

Voyages of Bass

I have an interest in Australian history, particularly pre-federation. I was just going through things, when inspiration struck for my next themed post. It came when I was researching the exploration of the coastline, and when I saw this.

So now we get to the good bits, tunes with lovingly crafted bass. If you don't already have them on, now would be a good time to get some good headphones on.

I generally use this as a test track whenever I have access to a sub woofer, just to see what it picks up. The sway between too much synth and too much orchestra really gets me uneasy, but I'm willing to concede all my nit picking just to hear that bass line on a good theater system.




I'm quite certain I've posted this before, but for those who missed it, you have another chance to hear how bass lines should be done. One of my favourite bass lines, and it's such a well produced track too, with clarity in every frequency.



The reason I started listening to electronic music; Crystal Castles. I'm not sure if the bass in this is classified as a kick or not, but it's a good test for any speakers.



I'm sure many people will listen to this and remember why they don't like rap. If you're one of those people, just block out the lyrics and enjoy those delicious clammy waves.



Can't really talk about great bass without mentioning Gorillaz. Clear predecessor to their hit Dare, and apparently they liked the bass line so much they used it twice.




-Sulphites

Sir

Just some tunes, a bit of text, and this picture.
Apparently this post needed a title, so I gave it one.

My personal favourite from Cyanide Sisters.

Kid Koala, Dynomite D and two former members of Wolfmother got together and created The Slew. The Slew created an album called 100%. The whole album sounds like a bad-ass walking around the wild west dishing out justice on a grand scale.


Easily in my top five electronic albums. edIT also celebrated a birthday recently, so happy birthday edIT!



Half the remixes of this album were dub-step, but that's a good thing in this case; it makes the good remixes stand out more.

ODESZA · Pretty Lights - One Day They'll Know (ODESZA Remix)

Fresh from Tomorrow's Harvest.



I'm not a big fan of Justice, but if I had to pick one song it'd be this one. I personally prefer the live versions over the studio versions of every Justice work. This and Final are the only two Justice songs I've found and not instantly wanted to escape  from.

JUSTICE · Justice - Stress

-Sulphites

Tron Legacy : R3C0NF1GUR3D

Hi everyone



I finally managed to listen to Tron Legacy R3C0NF1GUR3D, I'm not gonna lie, I was disapointed by the remixers list.

The whole album is not bad, but there is too much average tracks. Nothing really creative, people sticked to their style.

My personnal top 3 would be The Glitch mob, Teddybears and Pretty Lights remixes.

1.Daft Punk - Derezzed (The Glitch Mob remix)


2.Daft Punk - Fall (M83 Vs. Big Black Delta Remix)


3. The Crystal Method - The Grid

4.Daft Punk - Adagio for Tron (Teddybears Remix)


5. Ki:Theory - The Son of Flynn
6. Paul Oakenfold - C.L.U.
7. Moby - The Son of Flynn
8. Boys Noize - End of Line
9. Kaskade - Rinzler
10. Com Truise - Encom Part 2


11.Daft Punk - End Of Line (Photek Remix)


12. The Japanese Popstars - Arena
13. Avicii - Derezzed


14.Daft Punk - Solar Sailor (Pretty Lights Remix)


15. Sander Kleinenberg - TRON Legacy (End Titles)

Hope you liked my little selection.

3nj0y -Here