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#164962
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ultrablue (12/17/2015) [-] 
Top Albums of 2015
#13: Tonik Ensemble - Snapshots
I'm definitely excited to share this one. Tonik Ensemble is an artist that I found through the label Atomnation. I didn't really even follow the label that closely (though I kind of do now), I just had one of their releases bookmarked on their bandcamp page. At one point I saw the artwork for Snapshots out of the corner of my eye and took a listen to a track or two. It impressed me enough to eventually give it a buy, and I couldn't have been more satisfied. I love getting releases on a whim and then falling in love with them. But enough of that, onto the music.
I like to think of Tonik Ensemble's music as a mixture of Lusine and North Borders era Bonobo; a delicious combo. Basically, it's electronic music, usually with these light, kind of subdued, not in your face house/club beats, but then he adds in live instrumentation and vocals. Mainly, he gives us a ton of string work, which is a great companion to those sort of housey type beats I mentioned. Occasionally we get some sax in there, which is used just slightly enough to make it so pleasant every time you do hear it sneak in there. I definitely think the vocals are the shining star though. When I got this originally, I knew it had vocals on it, but I didn't realize that pretty much every song would feature them. He fits them in so well; they take the forefront at some points, but without totally overpowering the composition, so it never seems like it's just a guy or girl singing over some random beat, they feel like an equal part of a greater piece of carefully composed music... if that makes any sense. Again it's slightly reminiscent of how Bonobo uses vocalists, and most of them definitely sing in a similar style.
It's an all around exceptionally pleasant album, minimalist enough as to not be too much to process, but ingeniously complex enough to not get boring. themagicwizard, I've been wanting to show this to you for a good while now. I think you'll like it.
Best track: Imprints www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoxMPQMYxRk
#13: Tonik Ensemble - Snapshots
I'm definitely excited to share this one. Tonik Ensemble is an artist that I found through the label Atomnation. I didn't really even follow the label that closely (though I kind of do now), I just had one of their releases bookmarked on their bandcamp page. At one point I saw the artwork for Snapshots out of the corner of my eye and took a listen to a track or two. It impressed me enough to eventually give it a buy, and I couldn't have been more satisfied. I love getting releases on a whim and then falling in love with them. But enough of that, onto the music.
I like to think of Tonik Ensemble's music as a mixture of Lusine and North Borders era Bonobo; a delicious combo. Basically, it's electronic music, usually with these light, kind of subdued, not in your face house/club beats, but then he adds in live instrumentation and vocals. Mainly, he gives us a ton of string work, which is a great companion to those sort of housey type beats I mentioned. Occasionally we get some sax in there, which is used just slightly enough to make it so pleasant every time you do hear it sneak in there. I definitely think the vocals are the shining star though. When I got this originally, I knew it had vocals on it, but I didn't realize that pretty much every song would feature them. He fits them in so well; they take the forefront at some points, but without totally overpowering the composition, so it never seems like it's just a guy or girl singing over some random beat, they feel like an equal part of a greater piece of carefully composed music... if that makes any sense. Again it's slightly reminiscent of how Bonobo uses vocalists, and most of them definitely sing in a similar style.
It's an all around exceptionally pleasant album, minimalist enough as to not be too much to process, but ingeniously complex enough to not get boring. themagicwizard, I've been wanting to show this to you for a good while now. I think you'll like it.
Best track: Imprints www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoxMPQMYxRk
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teoyeezy (12/18/2015) [-] #13
Wax - Livin' Foul
So Wax is a rapper I've been following since the eighth grade. That's probably the longest I've consistently listened to a single artist, and I absolutely love Wax. His 2013 album Continue was pretty serious, and he followed it up with an album with variety, humor, dark moments, and something that seriously shows all of his versatility. Wax opens with a country influenced ballad rap called Scumbag, then goes into a really hard banger called Hypnotic right afterwards and it feels completely natural.
it's pretty clear Wax loves what he does, and he does this because he loves it. This album has songs that showcase just how strong he is as a rapper, and then songs that prove how fucking hilarious he is. I mean, No Smoking In The House is a 6 minute verse with absolutely no breaks. Listening to this album, it makes sense that he has a youtube series where he reviews fast food.
Sample : www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLdloTXNC1U
Wax - Livin' Foul
So Wax is a rapper I've been following since the eighth grade. That's probably the longest I've consistently listened to a single artist, and I absolutely love Wax. His 2013 album Continue was pretty serious, and he followed it up with an album with variety, humor, dark moments, and something that seriously shows all of his versatility. Wax opens with a country influenced ballad rap called Scumbag, then goes into a really hard banger called Hypnotic right afterwards and it feels completely natural.
it's pretty clear Wax loves what he does, and he does this because he loves it. This album has songs that showcase just how strong he is as a rapper, and then songs that prove how fucking hilarious he is. I mean, No Smoking In The House is a 6 minute verse with absolutely no breaks. Listening to this album, it makes sense that he has a youtube series where he reviews fast food.
Sample : www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLdloTXNC1U
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ultrablue (12/18/2015) [-] In comparison, I only just heard about Wax a couple months ago from a friend lol
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themagicwizard (12/18/2015) [-] #13
BOTANY - Dimming Awe, the Light is Raw
Ultrablue overlap #2. You're probably the only one reading these posts too. Unfortunately I found out about Austin, TX resident cool guy, BOTANY a few months after I was in Austin. I never had the chance to praise him in person. Dimming Awe is a lo-fi (in the way that BoC is lo-fi, which is to say not really) trip of a beats album. There are meandering ambient interludes, rap features and beats to blow your booty off. Matthewdavid and Milo show up to provide the only 'real' vocal-led tracks. They strike a balance with the instrumentals that doesn't draw attention away from them and that's exactly the way I like vocals to be. Most of the tracks are brief, between 2 and 3 minutes long. It's all a continuum of distorted synths and effects so it doesn't feel like you're jumping around to all these different musical ideas. I've been listening to it more recently and I'd probably put it higher than this on the list, but I've felt like that about almost every one of these. I like all of them so much.
Favorite track: Jotu
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlS1w6O4fzw
BOTANY - Dimming Awe, the Light is Raw
Ultrablue overlap #2. You're probably the only one reading these posts too. Unfortunately I found out about Austin, TX resident cool guy, BOTANY a few months after I was in Austin. I never had the chance to praise him in person. Dimming Awe is a lo-fi (in the way that BoC is lo-fi, which is to say not really) trip of a beats album. There are meandering ambient interludes, rap features and beats to blow your booty off. Matthewdavid and Milo show up to provide the only 'real' vocal-led tracks. They strike a balance with the instrumentals that doesn't draw attention away from them and that's exactly the way I like vocals to be. Most of the tracks are brief, between 2 and 3 minutes long. It's all a continuum of distorted synths and effects so it doesn't feel like you're jumping around to all these different musical ideas. I've been listening to it more recently and I'd probably put it higher than this on the list, but I've felt like that about almost every one of these. I like all of them so much.
Favorite track: Jotu
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlS1w6O4fzw
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ultrablue (12/18/2015) [-] I'm pretty sure there's only gonna be one more overlap
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teoyeezy (12/18/2015) [-] Um excuse me I also read this, kid
I love these weird vocal samples in the background. reminds me of eno and byrne, HAVE YOU LISTENED TO MY LIFE IN THE BUSH OF GHOSTS? I RECOMMENDED IT LIKE FOREVER AGO
I love these weird vocal samples in the background. reminds me of eno and byrne, HAVE YOU LISTENED TO MY LIFE IN THE BUSH OF GHOSTS? I RECOMMENDED IT LIKE FOREVER AGO
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themagicwizard (12/18/2015) [-] How dare you... these posts are PRIVATE!!!!!
I haven't, I'll dl it right now.
I haven't, I'll dl it right now.
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themagicwizard (12/18/2015) [-] This one sounds absolutely dank. Also, thanks for posting this right after I went to work so I couldn't dl it and listen while I was there.
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ultrablue (12/18/2015) [-] It's a creamfest, I'll tell you that much. Like you with Botany, I was very tempted to put it higher on my list.
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ferrettamer (12/18/2015) [-] #7 hip-hop: A$AP Rocky - At.Long.Last.A$AP
I want a Aesop album called at.long.last.aesop now
Sample: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEG2VTHS9yg
I want a Aesop album called at.long.last.aesop now
Sample: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEG2VTHS9yg
