DELTRON 3030 RECOMMENDED: MOBY ‘WAIT FOR ME’
Moby hasn’t been relevant for quite some time so i figured why not talk about his most recent album. “Wait for Me” came out at the end of 2009, a full ten years after his breakthrough shining moment, 1999’s “Play.” After “Play“, Moby released three other albums that, according to Pitchfork, wouldn’t have added up to a 10. They can be quite harsh at times. Sadly their scoring does change the way the music loving population looks at an artist. Because of these failures, ”Wait For me” went largely ignored. Present company included. Truth be told “Wait For Me” would still be unnoticed on my iTunes if I hadn’t gotten tired of my sleep play list. You see i suffer, like most people I’m sure, from the inability to sleep in a silent space. Some people uses fans for ambient noise, other people use the gentle caress of a TV. Those wouldn’t work for me. I get cold and distracted easily. (Goodfellasis on AMC! Hmm, I own it on bluray..and this is edited and full of commercials, but what the hell! Why not?!) Me? I use a specially crafted iTunes play list. My rules are simple: It has to be seven and 1/2 hours long (as that is how much I’d like to sleep) and it has to contain full albums. No singles. The jarring changes would throw off my REMS (not of the Michael Stipe variety). After growing tired of Sleep Mix #1 (Antlers – “Hospice,” Beck – “Sea Change,” Bon Iver – “For Emma,” Pink Floyd – “Animals,” Cass McCombs – “Catcacombs,” etc) I created Sleep Mix #2, highlighted by JJ, Jonsi, Beach House, and Johnny Cash. When I needed to flesh it out to the appropriate length I blindly threw Moby’s “Wait For Me” in for filler. After doing that I found myself stirring from my sleep every morning while the play list was was playing at almost exactly the same spot. My subconscious was hearing something and responding to it favorably. I’d get up to check my iTunes to see what was causing this reaction and every time it was Moby. I hated myself for it. What can I say? There is no Pitchfork in dreamland. I’ve since gone out of my way to listen to the album while I’ve been wide awake and it holds up! Strings wail like tortured souls on “Shot In The Back Of The Head” and I’m reminded that I’ve been told I’m a fan of downer music. Perhaps that’s what resonates with me on this album because it is an epic downer ride full of soul and heartache cut to the most beautiful ambient soundscapes. This album deserved my attention and my subconscious knew it. Now I’m letting you know it. Let us not forget this is the same guy that created ” God Moving Over the Face of Waters” so you owe him a second chance.
Highlights: “Shot In The Back Of The Head,” “Mistake,” “Division,” “Study War”
The Robotanists EP Release Party Downtown LA 04/10/10
(click on images to enlarge)
Ever since I got ahold of their new EP, “Shapes and Variations,” I’ve been a huge fan of the Robotanists. Sure, it hasn’t been a long time, but it’s been a whirlwind of a romance. If you’re a regular TRAffIK reader than you’ve read my glowing musings about Sarah, Daniel, and the rest of the Robotanists. If not, you should do yourself a favor and go read it now before you continue. Go ahead. I’ll wait…..
OK, now that we’re all up to speed….I saw them play this past weekend in a loft setting straight out of “How To Make It In America.” The Robotanists failed to disappoint…unlike that awful HBO turdfest. (Seriously, did we really need an East Coast Entourage) The band’s set list mixed in some old tracks, covers, and a new track that highlighted their rich pop driven sounds and unique arrangements . I expected to enjoy their set, and I did, but after sitting through it I went home with a newfound appreciation for the band. When listening to their recordings it is easy to get lost in Sarah Ellquist’s magnetic voice so it was refreshing to see them live and have other members stand out along with her shining vocals — most notably the driving rhythms Preston Phillips drums and Daniel de Blanke’s guitar solos. Don’t believe me? Check out the video below of them covering the INXS classic “Never Tear Us Apart. (I was going to yell out “Suck on that, Beck!” but I thought better of it. Beck seems like a guy who holds grudges and I didn’t want the Robotanists getting in the middle of that.) They rocked their set and on top of that they couldn’t have been nicer people.
I expect this band to really take off in 2010. If anyone deserves to “Make it in America” it is the Robotanists
Set list:
1) “Close Down The Woods”
2) “Never Tear Us Apart” (INXS Cover)
3) “Lack There Of”
4) “Dance Dance Dance” (Lykke Li cover)
5) “How We Met Before’
6) “Wait A Minute Here”
7) “Subtlety is Underrated”
They’ll be playing a free set @ Spaceland at the end of the month. Go! For all you less frugal/lazy WestSiders (I too used to be like you) you can check them out at the Dakota Lounge on 10th & Wilshire (used to be the Temple Bar) on May 23rd.
Misc Notes:
If you’re looking to become their #1 superfan it is too late. The position has already been filled by the girl who danced throughout the entire set and belted out all the words to EVERY song and coupled them with heartfelt hand gestures that may or may not have been sign language.
The Atlantic Line followed the Robotanists and they were the pleasant surprise of the night. Check out their site where you can download their album for free
The least pleasant surprise of the night: The Blame Andy.Com guy with the shady mustache getting angry with me when I returned form the bathroom and told him he was in my seat. Imagine the Jamie Kennedy bush exchange in Harold and Kumar. It was as awkward as that. I’m still not very sure what www.blameandy.com is and I really don’t want to find out.
