I’m not gonna pretend to understand Japanese (in fact I get some words and basic expressions), so there won’t be any comment about the lyrics of this track. I just felt caught by its cool vibe and light atmosphere. If you understand japanese and want to summarize the track, feel free to comment once I wasn’t able to find the lyrics through google. I did find them on Spotify, but there isn’t any bio on their profile.
Well, I found this song in a “finger dance” video. For some reason I can’t remember, I searched on youtube for recent “finger dancing” posts to see if the movement was dead or alive. The first one I clicked was a performance of a dancer called Kasumi Sakurai…and bamm, the track got stuck instantly in my head. Repeat mode all afternoon. “Null” has a laid back feel which guarantees instant good humor to the listener. I’d say it also has soundtrack potencial once I’m always picturing cinematic situations in my head. At the same time I might have been influenced by the clip.
Waitttttttttt! I just realized that the “finger dancing” vídeo is the actual Hideyoshi Null’s clip hahahaha. So there you go…
Artist – Hideyoshi Song – Null Genre* – Japanese Alternative Rock/ Melodic Paradise to my hears =) Source – Youtube search for Finger Dancing
* It’s more of a guess…
“I’ve thinking about it…
I’ve thinking about it”,
so I decided to post about it.
I listen to Mesita work since his song Vigilant started to be John Hill‘s outro on Youtube. The second love became Somewhere Else from his “Here’s to nowhere” album, my usual gaming soundtrack. Damn, so many links… Anyway, that song is crazy enjoyable… one of those I listen to all day long in repeat mode.
And then Littleton came out in March. Naturally I hit play and expect some more greatness. You see, Mesita, which I wrongly pronounce (Mezita), is a classical example of great talent which the music’s industry didn’t absorb – yet. His seventh album, if I’m not mistaken, comes packed with a wavy journey with several different vibes throughout Littleton, smartly put together of course. After listening to it eight or nine times I had to write something.
As I’ve been a bit busy, I didn’t have the time to write an album review. Thus, I’m just passing by to show you “Yr Eyes”, my favorite song from it (currently in my headphones). Everything about it is awesome. In my opinion, this writing and singing structure you’re about to hear is what best suits Mesita’s style. I also appreciate what he did with the instrumental, creating little sections connected harmonically by rhythmic notes…the verse gets keys, the chorus gets guitar. I’m sure you’re also gonna like the details and atmosphere on it.
“Okay, what am I saying? Okay what am I but the” guy who brings the Songs I Find Out There:
Artist – Mesita Song – Yr Eyes Genre – Indie Rock / And IIIIIII Knoooow, we ain’t gonna meet in another life… Source – Youtube’s notification
The Tender Grasp EP is here, so let’s check it out. For those who don’t know, their track “Can’t Wait” was featured in the last post. This is my first review in a loooooong time… probably since the ones I did on Infektion Magazine. Yes… a metal magazine. Anyway, I’ll try to make this in a methodical way (would this be my academic heritage?). Once the project is only five tracks I find it is cool to go one by one.
What you need to know first is that Tender Grasp is a portuguese Future Funk duo from Lisbon, Iminente and Combo Capsule. I’m not going to explain what FF is, primarily because I did it in the previous post, and secondly due to my lack of confidence in explain it further than that. I’m learning ok? But music is music, so let’s take a look to this new EP.
Structure wise you get five tracks in the following order:
1) Online Crush
I find that this opening track was the best to fit the place. I know Portugal is still facing winter, but as I’m in Brazil, this speaks summer all over the place. The song is uplifting due to its tempo, vibrant brass and bass lines, and makes you want to dance… or if you’re like me, just shake your head back and forward. It’s cool to see little variations and details on the samples along the track, which are probably Iminente’s hip-hop background mischief. I just realized that this is probably a good motivation song for workout… but because I don’t do that shit I’ll wait for others to endorse that point.
Iminente
2) Can’t Wait
There is no point in making this long, once I talked about “Can’t Wait” in my last post. Thus, I consider this more of a night life track, with slower tempo than “Online Crush” but still a danceable vibe. We have, again, great bass line, atmosphere and sample trick-lining.
3) Right on Time
Let me brag a bit about “timing”, once Sifot got previous access to the EP… I’m listening to it continuously. Moving on, this track is the one I liked the least. I recognized the potencial in the idea, with all those breaks and stuff but, what could have been great, and I mean the constant changes which create several different sections on the same song, was just ok and not that inspiring. I also feel that, although all seems in place, there is a lack of harmony between the samples used and the beat. Some of those look a bit thrown into the multitrack to fill in. All and all its a decent track, but not as striking as the others on the project.
4) Megane (featuring Lé Real)
Combo Capsule
For me this is their most radio track… What before were details of Iminente’s background on hip-hop is now a more notable choice on the sample cuts and bass line pattern. The rapper Lé Real entered in the flow of Combo Capsule’s beat that brings you back to that FF feel. This could be Tender Grasp’ signature, mixing both producers backgrounds regularly to create something with a stronger identity and, at the same time, less generic.
5) Joy
Maaannn, this is my favorite by far! First, the structure… This song is almost divided in three. The first part goes until around the minute mark, giving you a solid work in similarity of what was done in tracks as “Online Crush” or “Can’t wait”. Then it migrates to a more breakbeat feel with awweeesome use of the samples. You get a sort of bridge/chorus and then, around the 1:50 mark, a new variant of the track appears. Now more obscure with minimalist drums and post effects on the samples. Fucking love it! The downside of this song is not being twice as long, but hey… there’s always the repeat mode. It works for me.
Other stuff…
For what I heard of this genre, Tender Grasp has enough to make something great. It doesn’t run away from the genre but it doesn’t stay still either. In just five songs they’ve made familiar FF but also mixed things up. The quality is there. On the other hand, I would say that tracks as “Online Crush” and “Megane” ended a bit on the uninspired side. There were better options than a simple fade out, specially in the latter. But these points are totally minor.
Grade: Go listen to “Joy” in repeat mode!
The whole playlist can be listen for free here:
You can download for free (or by choosing to donate whatever amount you want) on their Bandcamp page. You can also follow Iminente or Combo Capsule individually.
Today I learned about a new music genre through the song I bring you today. To be fair, it’s rare the occasion when I’m sure about a music genre definition, and what makes it what it is. Categorizing what we’re normally listen to won’t be that hard, but I’m sure we follow artists and listen to songs without even imagine the culture and specifications behind them. Being concerned with assigning the right labels to music isn’t something very useful to the common audience anyway. But there is always a reason (I hope) behind these names, which normally provide cool insights about what you’re listening. Labeling music is an interesting topic for discussion, but let’s get right into the track of today’s post.
“Can’t Wait” is the first release of Tender Grasp, a portuguese Future Funk duo. A “future what?” I asked myself… Apparently there isn’t a single definition of it. After reading some posts and comments about this topic, it seems Future Funk is a sub-genre of Vaporwave (another thing I had to google, because I had heard of it but never listened to). FF has it’s roots in Funk and Disco, and fall back on the use of samples (love it) around the 70’s and 80’s. There is also some sort of connection to Japan that I couldn’t figure out properly. I would be interested in learning more about Future Funk, so add what you know down in the comments if you want.
Anyway… The track I bring you today is quite uplifting and light, what it seems to be natural characteristics of this sub-genre. “Can’t wait” screams night life and fun moments. Just take a look at it and tell me if you agree. I listened to it in repeat mode for and hour or two…
Artist – Tender Grasp Song – Can’t Wait Genre – Future Funk / Disco Funk / Show me those samples! Source – While talking with Iminente
This should be the 10th time I tell myself I’m going to relaunch and dedicate to this site… well, maybe this is the time it will happen. I changed the layout because the other one was absolutely ugly (including the “logo”). This is a temporary free layout until I get one better and find someone to do some logo design for it…
To make sure I’ll have time for this project, I’m thinking about different types of posts: long and short. Thus, if something happens which prevents me from writing a normal post, I may have other and fun options. Until then, and I hope it takes no more than two weeks to happen, I prefer not to post something just for the sake of posting.
As I’ve been a bit busy, I didn’t have the time to write an album review. Thus, I’m just passing by to show you “Yr Eyes”, my favorite song from it (currently in my headphones). Everything about it is awesome. In my opinion, this writing and singing structure you’re about to hear is what best suits Mesita’s style. I also appreciate what he did with the instrumental, creating little sections connected harmonically by rhythmic notes…the verse gets keys, the chorus gets guitar. I’m sure you’re also gonna like the details and atmosphere on it.
Sifot 