I'm Not a Gun, "Mirror" (Palette)
Hyped on: Resident Advisor; Danceblogga
Official site
Who: Techno producer/DJ John Tejada met Japanese guitar virtuoso Takeshi Nishimoto in Los Angeles in 1998. They began making music together as a collaborative experiment, practicing once a week (hence the title of their second album, “Our Lives on Wednesdays”). Their first three albums were released on German label City Centre Offices; this fourth effort comes courtesy of Tejada’s own label, Palette Recordings.
What: Tejada is one of the most underrated producers in the game; he brings an almost pointillist attention to detail in his programming and beats, and the soundscapes he crafts for INAG’s instrumental excursions are as painstakingly sculpted as his best tech-house singles. But the real star of the show here is Nishimoto and his gorgeous guitar work, which recalls everything from the jazzy, splashy tones of Pat Metheny (“Lacuna”) to latter-day axe abstractionists like Kaki King (“Ghost Has Gone”). At its best, as on the haunting, luminous “The Dance,” the interplay of Tejada’s crisp electronics and Nishimoto’s evocative seven-string (yes, he plays with one extra) expresses more than any lyrics ever could.
Made for: Adventurous jazz-heads and progressive beat junkies. Chill room DJs looking to add a little more organic instrumentation to their latest mix. Anyone with a subscription to Modern Guitars magazine.
X-Factor: Several of the best tracks on “Mirror” feature a secret instrumental weapon—live drums, skillfully played by Tejada, who’s been pounding the skins since the age of eight. – AH
Pendulum, "In Silico" (Atlantic)
Hyped on: extrawack!; manalogue; [redthreat]
Official site
MySpace
Who: Try as you might, don’t credit Australia’s dance-rock scene (see Cut Copy, the Presets) for fostering Pendulum. The group, which originated in Perth, moved to the more beat-friendly environs of the U.K. in 2003, eventually releasing two albums, 2005’s “Hold Your Colour” and their recent breakout, 2008’s “In Silico.”
What: With the music world’s re-embracing of Daft Punk still in effect, it was only a matter of time before the Prodigy became the next retro influence. “In Silico” has as much rock in its veins as it does drum ‘n’ bass—possibly due to the group’s more traditional band line-up (frontman, MC, guitarist, bassist, drummer, DJ). Psychedelica and distorted guitars permeate “Different,” while “Showdown” rocks out like an electro-fied Wolfmother; meanwhile, U.K. top ten single “Propane Nightmares” grooves along over mariachi horns, ELP-ish keyboards and an unshakable pop chorus.
Made for: Those of us who still rock out to “Firestarter.” Open-minded Aussie dance parties. Coldplay haters (see below).
X-Factor: “Violet Hill” non-fans, take note: Pendulum’s latest single is a cover of Chris Martin and company’s recent hit, transformed into an enjoyably thrashy (as in metal) jam. – KM
The Phenomenal Handclap Band, "The Phenomenal Handclap Band" (Common Folks)
Hyped on: Brooklyn Vegan; Music Snobbery; tintin américain
MySpace
Who: Daniel Collás and Sean Marquand are two New York DJs and producers who, over the years, have made friends with some of the city’s favorite soul and indie rock acts. We suspect one of them must have one of those cool home bars or a 72-inch plasma, because when recording for this album started last year, a whole lotta boldface names showed up to their studio. A sampling: Patrick Wood (Oakley Hall), Jaleel Bunton (TV on the Radio), Luke O'Malley (Antibalas), Bart Davenport (Honeycut), Aurelio Valle (Calla), Reno Bo (Mooney Suzuki), Jon Spencer!
What: Though the contributors represent a Pitchfork homepage’s worth of genres, PHB is rooted on the dance floor, a spinning—sometimes mellow—dance floor fueled by disco, prog rock, soul and hip-hop. Instant banger “15 to 20” has booty bass flygirl Lady Tigra rhyming “Schoolhouse Rock” style over a funky break, while “You’ll Disappear” is a straight-up prog synth jam, laser effects included. Blues rocker “Give It a Rest”—possibly a tongue-in-check remark about the track’s non-stop cowbell—has Jon Spencer singing like Clapton did on the steps of 461 Ocean Boulevard.
Made for: Those not ashamed of listening to “Fragile” over and over again. Fans of a disco comeback, but who didn’t get into that Hercules and Love Affair album.
X-Factor: Collás and Marquand have produced albums for veteran soul artists Joe Bataan and União Black. – MR
