Welcome to NEOLOOP


Step in to the Neoloop, have a look and listen!

You'll find a cornucopia of tasty tunes to bounce off your eardrums. I update with new tunes, art and photography every week, depending on what I'm doing and listening to at the time, old and new. I'm based in London UK but I love to travel and discover new music along the way and share my musical journey on neoloop.

Please support the artists and buy their music. If you are or represent an artist being featured on here and want me to remove something, email me.

Happy listening!

Neo

Email: neo@neoloop.com
  Heavy Rotation
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  Albums of the year
May 30th, 2011 23:45pm

The ever unique sound of the Battles returns, experimental left-field music doesn't often sound this good.

Four years on from their critically acclaimed Mirrored, Gloss Drop is the title of the New Yorkers second LP and it's a belter. A cacophony of sounds with everything chucked in and it's as barmy as we've come to expect. Much has been talked about the newly-refined three piece following the departure of vocalist Tyondai Braxton, but this is no bad thing in my opinion as it now makes way for a more eclectic array of vocal talents.

We kick off with the instrumental arrhythmic strings of Africastle, before the first guest vocal leads the way - the human instrument, Kompakt artist Matias Aguayo with first single Icecream, a fairground of organs and pounding drums collide with loud wonky guitars and Matias' unique voice. This is followed by three further instrumentals, steaming in with the propulsive funk of Futura, Inchworm (you half expect the Beastie Boys to come in at any moment) and chaotic cartoon mash-up of Wall Street. Next guest up is electronic pioneer Gary Newman on the relentless drive of My Machines, this is followed by another steel pan driven interlude Dominican Fade before clanging in with Sweetie & Shag featuring the sweet vocals of Blonde Redhead’s Kazu Makino, the steelpans continue with gusto while Kazu's voice make Battles sound like a new band and sounds incredible. Here the LP then takes a darker turn with sinister B-movie interlude Toddler followed by the massacre Rolls Bayce. White Electric is an angry bantering of drums and bass clabbering for a sweet melody that it eventually finds in the last minute courtesy of a monkey's organ.

Finally the epic ending - Sundome featuring BoredomsYamantake Eye, as mad as it gets whaling organs and chopping synths lead us out to another world, three minutes in and beat takes us further into the unknown. A circus of sounds made to blow the top! Despite it being a challenging listen, I think this is more accessible than their debut. Highly Recommended! Out on June 5th on Warp.

Get the full lowdown on bttls.com

 

May 30th, 2011 23:38pm

New from London producer Deadboy is this stomping garage jam Down on My Mind

The easy discoid sound samples from Bon Iver‘s Woods the same track sampled by Kanye West for Lost In The World.

Categories: Electronic
May 28th, 2011 19:21pm

World Unite! Lucifer Youth Foundation!

Wu Lyf are set to release their debut album Go Tell Fire To The Mountain on June 13th. The reclusive Manchester based band continue to intrigue with their secrecy while the music is of explosive quality.

Go Tell Fire To The Mountain is undoubtedly one of the year's most anticipated releases.

Get the lowdown here wulyf.org


 

Categories: Alternative, Leftfield
May 28th, 2011 17:09pm

Gil Scott-Heron RIP

(April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011)

It's sad day for music after Gil Scott-Heron died yesterday afternoon (May 27, 2011) at St. Luke's Hospital, New York City, after becoming sick upon returning from a European trip. It's unclear at this stage as to the cause of death. Gil will always be a legend, from his early humble beginnings, his music has influenced so many artists. He was attracting a new generation of fans following the release of his amazing comeback album I'm New Here last year and the excellent follow-up We Are New Here with Jamie xx.

Gil has made some incredible albums, most notably Pieces of a Man and Winter in America in the early 1970s, influenced and helped engender later African-American music genres such as hip hop and neo soul. This track Save the Children has alway been a favourite taken from the Pieces Of A Man LP.

Public Enemy's Chuck D stated "RIP GSH..and we do what we do and how we do because of you."

 

May 21st, 2011 19:05pm

A new album from Bon Iver, there is no doubt that Justin Vernon makes beautiful music and if your looking for the ultimate soundtrack to an exceptionally relaxing evening then you could do no better.

Full of intricate details of subtle light and shade with Vernon's angelic falsetto floating over the caressing music. Minnesota, WI the second track is an incredible composition with a whole host of instruments coming in and out the mix. This track Holocene is stunning, as Vernon sings "I can see for miles miles miles" the sound swells, sways and builds with a martial drum beat. Towers is another highlight with its feel-good melody and rousing chorus. Michicant has a unique sound of glitchy stabs and moody brass while following track Hinnom, TX leads with a piano and echoing voices into a sparse and lonely place that fades to nothing. Wash. hypnotises with a piano loop while lush stings wash over the subtle Hawaiian guitars and Vernon's captivating falsetto positively soars. First single Calgary is a defining highlight, before the album closes with the soft-rock MOR ballad Beth/Rest, perhaps the most commercial song Bon Ivers has produced.

Since Vernon's Bon Iver debut he's collaborated with Kanye West on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, side project Volcano Choir and soft-rock supergroup Gayngs. Quite a departure from Bon Iver. This album returns to what we loved about his debut, that amazing voice. Each track is named after various city's around the globe even though the whole record was recorded in Vernon's own home-made studio named April Base, a remodelled veterinarian clinic in Fall Creek, Wisconsin. Bon Iver's second, self titled LP is another triumph that will sit nicely next to his debut album For Emma, Forever ago. Highly Recommended. The album is released on June 21st via Jagjaguwar.

The cover artwork is this beautiful painting from Minnesota artist Gregory Euclide. Check out more of his unique style at gregoryeuclide.com Pre-order the LP on iTunes, Bands place in MySpace

 

May 19th, 2011 01:11am

I got one desire and that’s to dance until you drop!

What a tune this is, an old favourite and a bona fide classic Boops! A great tune from the legendary Sly and Robbie one of reggae's most prolific and long lasting production teams. The rhythm section of drummer Lowell Dunbar and bass guitarist Robert Shakespeare started working together in the mid 1970s. This was a number 12 hit on the UK Singles Chart in 1987. Boops (Here to Go) features Bootsy Collins and vocals from Shinehead, it still sounds fresh today and appears on Sly and Robbie's 1987 album Rhythum Killers, which also includes a great version of the Ohio Players hit Fire. Love it!

Categories: Pop, Reggae
May 19th, 2011 00:29am

The superb St. Albans 3-piece Friendly Fires come storming back this week with second LP - Pala (Named after an island in an Aldous Huxley novel) the follow-up of their excellent eponymous (Mercury-nominated) debut album. The nu-rave grooves are back - tropical, balearic, euphoric, funky and drenched in sunshine. Macfarlane’s falsetto runs riot over the waves of lush hooks. The Summer starts here, Live Those Days Tonight, the first single is a blinder! Recommended. Even ?uestlove is a fan! 

Buy it on iTunes

 

Categories: Alternative, Electronic
May 15th, 2011 23:55pm

Brooklyn band The Antlers last album (third LP, Hospice 2009) was an absolute pleasure and now with their latest LP - Bursts Apart they continue the blissful journey into cult status. Originally the brainchild of Pete Silberman, The Antlers are now a 3-piece with Darby Cicci and Michael Lerner.

From the nocturnal and desolate dreamscapes of the opening track I Don't Want Love the sound is so lush and absorbing. But there are always some dark undertones creeping in and out the foreground and shards of beauty pierce through to expose an uplifting melody. This track Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out is full of twisted emotion, as is most of the LP - distortion and pulsing downtempo beats, devastatingly romantic poetry and breathtaking elegance. Recommended


 

Categories: Alternative, Chillwave
May 14th, 2011 19:46pm

Some more obscure shenanigans from the leftfield - Gang Gang Dance's latest offering Eye Contact is a another challenging listen. But continued plays will reap rewards. The album doesn't really throw-up any obvious singles and is better when played a one entertaining piece. The epic 11-minute opener Glass Jar slowly builds from a tranquil existence in some far away fantasy world with neon bugs and a smokey atmosphere, before transcending into an uplifting Eastern groove. 

Hot Chip frontman Alexis Taylor pops up to the mic during this track - Romance Layers for some R'n'B pop with a new-jack swagger. There are some weird influences melted together, you hear Kate Bush one second, then the Orb or Underworld, then its got a bit of Animal Collective.

The whole album has dream like state to it floating effortlessly through genres and time.

Buy it on iTunes

Categories: Leftfield
May 14th, 2011 15:26pm

The beating of a million drums!

The French electro-house duo Justice comeback! New single entitled Civilization. Been hearing this everywhere, not only because it features in the Adidas advert, but also getting plenty of airplay. Who cares if it sounds like Daft Punk, it's still good! Taken from their forthcoming sophomore LP.

Categories: Electronic, House
May 8th, 2011 23:30pm

Tropicália legend Caetano Veloso (Caetano Emanuel Viana Teles Veloso) has made some outstanding music and is most known for his participation in the Brazilian musical movement Tropicalismo which encompassed theatre, poetry and music in the 1960s, at the beginning of the Brazilian military dictatorship. Tropicália came from a Hélio Oiticica art installation of the same name.

This, the signature tune from the Tropicalismo movement is still fresh and relevant today as it was in 1968. Taken from Caetano Veloso's second self titled album. Also well worth checking out the the album that started it all Tropicália: ou Panis et Circenses, a collaboration by artists including Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Tom Zé, Nara Leão, Os Mutantes and Gal Costa and features arrangements by Rogerio Duprat.

Categories: Tropicália
May 8th, 2011 19:10pm

It's good to hear some new music from Beirut, sounding on good form on this cover of the Tropicália legend Caetano Veloso.

The first track from the Red Hot Organization’s sequel to their 1996 comp Red Hot + Rio, paying homage to Brazilian Tropicália. The album will also feature Dirty Projectors, of Montreal, St. Vincent, Neon Indian, Beck, Devendra Banhart, Madlib, José González, and John Legend. Quite the eclectic mix, Can't wait!

Find out the full lo-down on redhot.org

Categories: Chill, Folk, Tropicália, World
May 8th, 2011 18:19pm

Following Santigold's all-star appearance on the Beastie Boys new album, here she releases a new track 3 years after her debut album. Go is produced by Switch, Santi and Q-Tip with guest vocal from Karen O. It's pretty full-on, relentless pounding beats and hey hey marching chants make up a dramatic comeback!

Categories: Electronic, Hip Hop
May 4th, 2011 23:59pm

Outstanding new tune from The Beastie Boys new album Hot Sauce Committee Part 2.

Just can't get enough of this. Been listening to the new LP all week. Stay tuned a full review soon.

 

Categories: Hip Hop