Knix Picks for Best Albums of 2015

The albums that represent the top picks for The Knix Mix for 2015 are a mix of treasures that have been overlooked by most media outlets and some heavy hitters, like Arca and Jamie xx, who seem to have gotten nods on every list I've seen. Of course, I'm more electro pop than experimental electronic on The Knix Mix as a rule. I'm also ridiculously sentimental, so music that is evocative of the alternative music of the '80s and '90s gets my attention. If it's danceable, even better. It's curious to see Leftfield and The Chemical Brothers - both formed in 1989 and a big deal in the '90s - appearing on a 2015 list. Welcome back, guys! New Order is on the list as well, and I dare you to listen to Motorama and not be reminded of New Order's first incarnation before Ian Curtis's death - Joy Division. So check it out and let me know what you think!  

Arca Mutant
Mutant is Venezuelan Alejandro Ghersi's second studio album. The album is unsettling and corporeal in its experimentation with sound and subject matter.

Big Data 2.0

American producer Alan Wilkis's project, Big Data, offers danceable hooks for the Internet age. Dangerous features New York-based quintet Joywave.

Björk Vulnicura
Vulnicura is the 9th studio album of the accomplished Icelandic songstress Björk. The album follows the arc of a relationship through a breakup. 

Bob Moses Days Gone By
Deep house meets live instrumentation in this debut album from the New York-based duo.

The Chemical Brothers Born in the Echoes
The duo's 8th studio album features guest vocals by St.Vincent and Cate Le Bon, among others. The title track, Born in the Echoes, has been on repeat play on The Knix Mix since the disc arrived in the studio. These old pros still have it going on.

Empress Of Me
This is Lorely Rodriguez's debut album using her "Empress Of" alter ego. The album is full of introspection and melodic vocals. With Rodriguez handling everything from songwriting to production, it really is the expression of "Me."

Étienne de Crécy Super Discount 3
The third installation of the Super Discount series from the French producer and DJ arrived a good ten years after the second installment. Well worth the wait.

FKA Twigs M3LL155X EP
The "Melissa" EP builds on British FKA Twig's earlier work replete with haunting vocals and commentary about femininity.

Grimes Art Angels
Grimes is the alter ego of Vancouver native Claire Boucher, who defies female pop vocalist convention by doing it her way.

Holly Herndon Platform
American Herndon is not only accomplished musically - she also happens to be a doctoral student in composition at Stanford. Herndon uses technology as a means of self-expression without being cold or impersonal.

Humans Noontide
Humans is the Vancouver duo of Peter Ricq and Bobbie Slade. The album is full of auditory twists and turns. Peter, who I had the pleasure of interview on The Knix Mix, brings a gift for the visual arts to Humans, which makes their videos well worth checking out.

Jamie xx In Colour
In Colour is English producer Jamie Smith first full-length album. Influenced by vintage club culture, it has elements of everything that has shaped Smith's sound.

Kate Tempest Everybody Down
The debut album from the English poet and spoken word artist. Tempest weaves a gritty narrative with hip hop influenced beats and a South East London accent honed by battle-rap practice.

Leftfield Alternative Light Source
I couldn't be more excited about the first Leftfield album released since 1999's Rhythm and Stealth. As innovative and relevant as ever.

Le Galaxie Le Club
This '80s influenced Irish electro-pop band's sophomore album features upbeat tracks that make you want to move your body and an album cover that screams Miami Vice. I kind of love it.

Motorama Poverty

This Russian band is a throwback to the post-punk era. Their cold wave sound is evocative of Joy Division. Motorama is a well kept secret worth a listen.

New Order Music Complete
Music Complete is New Order's 10th studio album. Despite the departure of Peter Hook and the ensuing drama, this album is a return to form for the reconfigured New Order.

Panda Bear Panda Meets the Grim Reaper
The fifth studio album for American producer Panda Bear. A contemplative and somewhat doom-laden album where electronic meets psychedelia.

Purity Ring Another Eternity

This is the sophomore album for the Canadian duo. Sweeping pop sound with emotive lyrics.  

Superhumanoids Do You Feel Okay?
This LA trio's sophomore album is '80s synthpop inspired electro-dance. Do YOU feel okay?

 

Best wishes for an amazing and music-filled New Year! DJ Knix

Oh Land

Earth Sick

Brooklynese by way of Copenhagen, Nanna Øland Fabricius, better know as Oh Land, found her way to singing and songwriting after a serious back injury altered her plans of becoming a professional ballet dancer.  It is said that the most bitter of trails are often blessings in disguise.  Music gave Fabricius an outlet to express her grief and sorrow and quickly grew into a new direction for her life. Fabricius grew up surrounded by music:  her mother is an opera singer, her father an organist. Family lore has it that she was quieted by her mother singing the Requiem while still in the womb. She didn't always consider her unconventional rearing a gift, but the advice and support of her family has proven invaluable.  
Given her classic beauty and dance background, Fabricius could have taken the pop princess career path but instead chose the moniker Oh Land (derived from her middle name) to lend a bit of mystery to the person behind the music.  Fabricius says that the name gave her freedom from being cast into any cliche. Oh Land might be a band or a person, which leaves listeners curious but with no preconceived notions.  Fabricius isn't one to take her looks too seriously or cash in on her feminine appeal.  Instead she has a bit of fun changing her aesthetic from album to album as another aspect of the creative process.  For Earth Sick, she has a minimal cool girl chic vibe that makes me want to cut my hair short and rock a black catsuit.
The concept for Earth Sick came about when Fabricius watched a documentary on astronauts. Having dreamed of being home again, an astronaut has to contend with the irony of feeling ill upon their return to Earth.  The feeling of being far from home and longing to return is a familiar one for Fabricius.  Having moved to Sweden at the age of 15 to study at the Royal Swedish Ballet, she found herself living a life far from home at an early age and has since spent much of her career traveling and performing. Contemplating where she feels most at home - New York or Denmark - is a hard question for Fabricius to answer, but she says considers the stage a kind of home.  
"Head Up High," the first single from Earth Sick, is an upbeat track that disavows the listener of any gloomy mood they may be in.  I'm particularly smitten with the 80's club vibe of the CSS Remix of that track.  Not coincidentally, Fabricius said she wrote the song to cheer up a sad friend.  "That's why," says Fabricius about the nature of a song to change our mood, "We need music!"  One of her favorite tracks from the album is "Favor Friends," which is an ode to a friend who is there only there when she wants something.  If you listen, you can hear her mom singing opera on the track.  
For more of my interview with Oh Land, check it out here!


Check out Oh Land's website!
Oh Land on Facebook!

Q&A with Resistor's Steve Goldberg

It isn't every day that you come across an album that successfully combines pop music and parody as social commentary.  Like Devo with their satirical humor or Talking Heads with their deadpan Delphian lyrics. Then along comes Resistor with First World Problems.  The first single from the album, "Narcissist," was immediately on my playlist because of its irresistibly catchy refrain.  It's equally irresistible to picture the narcissist in your life while the song plays.  Doesn't everyone have one?  The video for the track has all the elements of a Saturday Night Live skit set to music.  Funny and with cultural references that you will surely appreciate.  Note the nod to the iconic Say Anything boombox scene but with a twist.  Brilliant!  Steve does the Star Wars sleeveless t-shirt and red jogging shorts justice, I must say.  The rest of the album is equally cheeky. You'll have to give it a listen to know what I mean.

Resistor, the nom de synth of Philadelphian Steve Golderg, arose from the ashes of a previous band, Goldberg's financial and emotional resources were low, and he needed a way to make music quickly and cheaply without depending on anyone.  He began writing songs with only his computer and his voice, and Resistor was born.
Resistor's debut full-length album, First World Problems, was released on May 20th.  With a synthpop sounds reminiscent of The Human League and OMD, the record was recorded and mixed by Jeff Zeigler (The War on Drugs with Kurt Vile) in Philadelphia.  While songs like "Narcissist" and "Choose Your Parents Well" are tongue in cheek, the core of the record is genuine.  Over a bed of New Wave synths, energetic drum machines and multilayered vocal harmonies, Resistor parodies the pursuit of fame and questions the meaning of artistic success.  He wonders "Why do I crave the spotlight?  Do I deserve it?  And why should anyone care about what I have to say?"

Any special talents?  Immense physical strength.  My best squat, bench and deadlift to date are 405 lbs., 290 lbs., and 525 lbs., respectively.  By powerlifting standards those aren't elite or anything, but I think by like synthpop or hipster standards they are.  There are probably a lot of guys in metal bands who lift a lot more though.  Also I'm good at JavaScript; check out my 100% hand-crafted artisanal website http://resistorsings.com/.
Favorite movie?  Is it still okay if I say Annie Hall?  Woody seems like he's probably messed up IRL, but it's still a great film.
What did you plan to be when you grew up?  I really wanted to be an actor when I was in high school. Making the music video for "Narcissist" was a great opportunity to show off my acting chops, just really get into character and do some method acting like back in the day.  Plus it was my debut as a serious filmmaker. Look for my entry next year at Cannes.
Favorite funny story about you?  So a little while back I took part in this "fitness transformation" contest on the Internet where you had to post 12 week before and after photos.  I had taken my "after" photos flexing in a pair of Star Wars tighty whities and put them online for the contest.  Some months later, a friend told me that they'd seen my Star Wars undies photos on the Tumblr of Wil Wheaton, the actor from Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Big Bang Theory.  It turned out that a random Internet person had posted them on his gay beefcake Tumblr, then they got reblogged on a satirical Tumblr called "Fake Geek Guys," then Wil Wheaton reblogged them, and then tons of other people did.  I just checked and the post has 11,176 notes, mostly from gay porn Tumblrs.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.  That's probably been the peak of my fame to date.  Also, I didn't win that round of the transformation contest, but I entered it again the next time and took first place.  (Way to go, Steve!)
If you were an animal, what animal would you be and why?  "Probably a shark riding on an elephant's back, just trampling and eating everything I see. Because it's sink or swim out there."
What three words would best describe you?  Curious / Sensual / ECMAScript compliant
What makes you laugh?  I like the Mel Brooks saying, "Tragedy is when I stub my toe. Comedy is when you fall down a manhole."
Favorite food?  Gonna go with the Shooter Sandwich. Check this shit out!
Do you have a nickname?  Some people call me "The Space Cowboy." Just kidding.  Nobody has ever called me that, but I probably wouldn't mind.
What was the first band you saw in concert?  I think it was Blink 182 at The Electric Factory in Philly.  I was really into Enema of the State.

Halloween Costume Ideas Inspired by Gary Numan

Gary Numan circa 1980

If you're looking for inspiration for a Halloween costume, Gary Numan's long and illustrious music career is a virtual gold mine of looks.  You need not be a fan of Numan to recognize the definable eras of electronic music in his incarnations over the years. Numan's style ranges from late 1970's punk, during his early Tubeway Army days, to 1980's New Wave, which has seen a resurgence in popular culture, to his current steam punk incarnation for his newest LP, "Splinter."
Science fiction, a desire to appear cold and unemotional, and a robotic stage presence shaped Numan in his early career. Interestingly, the look that most people associate with Numan, from the early 80's "Republicas" era, was purely accidental.  Just before an appearance on Top of the Pops in the UK, a make up artist put a layer of white make up on Numan's face to cover his "spots," otherwise known as acne.  His eyes looked like "pissholes in the snow," so they were lined in black.  And viola!  The Numanoid look was created.
Over the years he's had an all white with blue hair look, an all black and skinny tie look that screams 1980's, a suit and fedora look, an industrial look that is all about the 90's, possibly inspired by his admiration for Nine Inch Nails, an all leather look, a military inspired look, a goth look and a hip rocker in a black tee and jeans look.  I'm always interested to see what he's going to come up with next.
Enjoy taking a walk down electronic music history in the Numan photos below.  I've also included some photos of Numan's vixen of a wife, Gemma.  She supplies some female specific costume inspiration., not to mention great concepts in hair color.

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Gemma