Rare Frequencies: Shiny new drones, analog overload, and pitch-black dubstep

Published Apr 08 2009, 12:10 PM by Susanna Bolle

It’s a record-release party of epic proportions this Sunday at Great Scott. Local sound artist BRENDAN MURRAY follows up last year’s acclaimed long-form drone fest, Commonwealth, with an untitled album of shorter, more delicate pieces. Brooklynite Daniel Lopatin (a/k/a ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER) has a beautiful new vinyl record of drifting, kraut-synth inspired works called Betrayed in the Octagon. And the elusive (and explosive) RED HORSE have finally put out their debut LP, re1007 — which alone is reason to celebrate.

Listen to two selections from Murray’s new record on his label’s Web site, and check out an exclusive excerpt from the new Red Horse album here.

Billed as a Boston-versus-Jersey soundclash, this Tuesday’s show at the Piano Factory features choice offerings of shrieking noise, weird folk, grainy phonographic drones, and analog-synthesizer overload. Representing the Mid Atlantic are speaker shredder 2673 and singer songwriter KING DARVES. Playing for the home team are harmonium player, turntablist, and field-recordings texturalist JAY SULLIVAN (in a rare solo set) and analog wunderkind BENJAMIN NELSON. Here’s an exclusive, unreleased track from Jay Sullivan.

Hyperdub labelmate Burial gets the lion’s share of the critical kudos, but for my money KODE 9 is dubstep’s most innovative producer. Although he’s still best known for his crackling, pitch-black atmospherics and yawning sub-bass, he’s recently gone through a stylistic shift, folding in elements from the more dance-floor-friendly house-music microgenre “funky.” His music is still as dark and apocalyptic as ever, but now it’s got a somnambulant swing. This Wednesday he makes his long-overdue Boston debut at Good Life. To get a sense of Kode 9’s new musical turn of mind, take a listen to “2 Far Gone” (below).

2 Far Gone - Kode9

Filed Under: Great Scott, Piano Craft Guild, Oneohtrix Point Never, Brendan Murray, Ghost Exits

Oneohtrix Point Never

Oneohtrix Point Never is Daniel Lopatin, a.k.a. KGB Man. He plays synths forever. www.pointnever.com www.myspace.com/pointnever

Ghost Exits

sexy vocals, heroin addiction, and a kick cover of she is beyond good and evil

Kode 9

This artist should be tagged Kode9 Kode9 is a leading figure in the South London Dubstep scene. As a producer and DJ he most known...

Great Scott

1222 Commonwealth Ave, Allston-Brighton

Great Scott’s décor is, in a word, random. International flags suspended from the ceiling, glossy...

Piano Craft Guild

791 Tremont St, South End

Good Life

28 Kingston St, LeatherDistrict

The Good Life has pulled a 180, shiftings its focus to contemporary artists and a cozy atmosphere. Downtown workers gather at the club’s posh vodka...