smogon already has its share of indie kids and metalheads, we need more sweaty electropunks!
Depth Affect - Arche-Lymb
http://www.myspace.com/depthaffect
Largely instrumental, hip-hop infused French electronica. Each track on Arche-Lymb is layered with synth melodies, crazy turntablism, breakbeats and chopped up hip-hop samples ranging from rapper Cyne ("One Day or So") to Old Dirty Bastard to Anticon's own Alias. As far as electronic music goes this stuff is pretty organic so if you're into rap and hip-hop then this album isn't too much of a stretch at all!
Eliot Lipp - Tacoma Mockingbird
http://www.myspace.com/eliotlipp
The album that started it all (at least for me), Tacoma Mockingbird is the epitome of digital electronica. Layers upon layers of synth swirls twist and wrap over breakbeats, shifting between abrasively electronic chord fifths to jazz scales and back. Each track builds and builds upon itself, each track is cinematic. Electronic music is all about layers and this album has that shit covered. Check out Rap Tight.
Marumari - Wolves Hollow
http://www.marumari.com/
This is one of my favorite conceptual electronic albums, if not just for the concept itself: Earth's wolves pitted against alien wolves in a war for Earth's supply of cow brains. Somewhat frustratingly, a few of the best pieces on this album are tantalizingly short, orchestral "intro" tracks which lead into sparse, ambient keyboard riffs (such a tease, but it doesn't detract from the album as a whole). Listen to this one in one sitting.
War of the Wolves.
Justice - Cross
http://www.myspace.com/etjusticepourtous
Two French dudes come together and play such aggressively clubby keyboard electronica that you can actually hear hipsters getting out of their chairs to dance. These guys have been touted as "the new Daft Punk" and with good reason -- they are extremely catchy. Although I hate the fact that this album is now so arbitrarily "hipster", there is no denying that it's good! The intro track, Genesis, is positively epic and the whole album just gets better from there.
Rjd2 - Dead Ringer
http://www.rjd2site.com
Similar to Depth Affect's Arche-Lymb, Dead Ringer is full of samples and real instruments (rather than just synth). Rjd2 takes his cues from hip-hop, RnB, jazz, and even monster movies -- the opening track "The Horror" features samples from 50's horror flicks. In fact, the whole album has a retro feel, from the energetic soul funk samples in "Good Times Roll Pt. 2" to the soulful "mmms" and "ahhs" in "Ghostwriter". Amidst all of the instrumental tracks are a couple of great rap tracks as well! ("Final Frontier", "F.H.H.")
"The Horror"
"Ghostwriter"
Other good artists:
Crystal Castles
http://www.myspace.com/crystalcastles
Raver kid plays his instruments through Atari 5200 while cute girl screams bloody murder. Loud, grating, and positively amazing.
I'm going to edit in some more artists because I am sure I forgot to mention some excellent stuff. I will definitely have to give Girl Talk, RJD2, and Blockhead a mention at least!
Depth Affect - Arche-Lymb
http://www.myspace.com/depthaffect
Largely instrumental, hip-hop infused French electronica. Each track on Arche-Lymb is layered with synth melodies, crazy turntablism, breakbeats and chopped up hip-hop samples ranging from rapper Cyne ("One Day or So") to Old Dirty Bastard to Anticon's own Alias. As far as electronic music goes this stuff is pretty organic so if you're into rap and hip-hop then this album isn't too much of a stretch at all!
Eliot Lipp - Tacoma Mockingbird
http://www.myspace.com/eliotlipp
The album that started it all (at least for me), Tacoma Mockingbird is the epitome of digital electronica. Layers upon layers of synth swirls twist and wrap over breakbeats, shifting between abrasively electronic chord fifths to jazz scales and back. Each track builds and builds upon itself, each track is cinematic. Electronic music is all about layers and this album has that shit covered. Check out Rap Tight.
Marumari - Wolves Hollow
http://www.marumari.com/
This is one of my favorite conceptual electronic albums, if not just for the concept itself: Earth's wolves pitted against alien wolves in a war for Earth's supply of cow brains. Somewhat frustratingly, a few of the best pieces on this album are tantalizingly short, orchestral "intro" tracks which lead into sparse, ambient keyboard riffs (such a tease, but it doesn't detract from the album as a whole). Listen to this one in one sitting.
War of the Wolves.
Justice - Cross
http://www.myspace.com/etjusticepourtous
Two French dudes come together and play such aggressively clubby keyboard electronica that you can actually hear hipsters getting out of their chairs to dance. These guys have been touted as "the new Daft Punk" and with good reason -- they are extremely catchy. Although I hate the fact that this album is now so arbitrarily "hipster", there is no denying that it's good! The intro track, Genesis, is positively epic and the whole album just gets better from there.
Rjd2 - Dead Ringer
http://www.rjd2site.com
Similar to Depth Affect's Arche-Lymb, Dead Ringer is full of samples and real instruments (rather than just synth). Rjd2 takes his cues from hip-hop, RnB, jazz, and even monster movies -- the opening track "The Horror" features samples from 50's horror flicks. In fact, the whole album has a retro feel, from the energetic soul funk samples in "Good Times Roll Pt. 2" to the soulful "mmms" and "ahhs" in "Ghostwriter". Amidst all of the instrumental tracks are a couple of great rap tracks as well! ("Final Frontier", "F.H.H.")
"The Horror"
"Ghostwriter"
Other good artists:
Crystal Castles
http://www.myspace.com/crystalcastles
Raver kid plays his instruments through Atari 5200 while cute girl screams bloody murder. Loud, grating, and positively amazing.
I'm going to edit in some more artists because I am sure I forgot to mention some excellent stuff. I will definitely have to give Girl Talk, RJD2, and Blockhead a mention at least!
