Here at Blisspop, we aim to show our audience who’s making their mark upon electronic music culture today. We sort through the good and the bad, bringing you the latest sounds. Back at it again with the latest edition of our series, Feedback Friday. This week, our group of Blisspop contributors includes:  Alex Rubenstein, Jake Ramirez, Will Creason, and Justin Barini-Rivers. This week’s music includes tracks by selling, Uffie, Kasper Marott, Mokhov, and Petite Biscuit. Check it out below and send us your suggestions for future Feedback Fridays on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

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Selling – “keeping Txme”

Alex Rubenstein - This track is really quite sublime. The crystalline synths give me a sense of weightlessness. It’s almost as if I’m falling off the edge of a rainbow colored waterfall just never quite hitting the water below. It also has a good sense of forward momentum which is a rare accomplishment to have the track feel as if it isn’t moving at all yet propelling you onwards. I’ll be grabbing this album for sure. (8/10)

 

Jake Ramirez - I really love the textures on this song – the whistle tone on the high end, the tight buzz of the bass, the soft pads in the background. The little stutter between the kick and bass adds an off-kilter feeling that gives the track a sense of urgency that’s nicely balanced by how calm the rest of the song feels. There’s a lot of warmth on this whole album, but “Keeping Txme” feels particularly inviting and enveloping. (8.5/10)

 

William Creason - Wow, it’s nuts how much this sounds like the exact middle point between Simian Mobile Disco and Gold Panda. The sound couldn’t be more indicative of the people involved. This has endlessly pretty melodies and extremely well dialed-in, hazy synths. Great stuff, I want to check out the rest of the album now! (9/10)

 

Justin Barini-Rivers - Stay away from this track if you can’t handle beautiful electronic music. This reminds me of the old Cut Snake tunes. Floating on a cloud vibes in electronic times. A proper tune with hills and valleys. The production is phenomenal. I can’t emphasize enough the power of a solid track. This tune can take you to another place. This portal of a tune is worth a full play. This is easily digestible high brow electronica. (7.5/10)

 

Petit Biscuit – “Safe”

 

Alex Rubenstein - I’ve know lots of people are into Petit Biscuit, but this feels a bit tired doesn’t it? The vocal sample is fine and the drums are inoffensive and I did find myself bobbing my head at points, yet the stuttering synth work left something to be desired. I imagine this will be a hit either way. (5/10)

 

Jake Ramirez - Petit Biscuit? More like Petit Flume, am I right? Well, there are worse ways you can wear your influences on your sleeve (see: Pitchfork & Greta Van Fleet). My main knock on the song is that it’s, appropriately, too safe. Aside from the great cinematic intro section with the horns, I felt like I knew what was going to happen before it happened, and nothing leapt out as particularly thrilling. There’s a nice melody here, and it’s a fun song. I would listen to another Petit Biscuit song. (6.5/10)

 

William Creason - Maybe not my favorite style of music right here but the production chops are definitely on point. I see that Petit Biscuit is at Echostage this weekend – it makes me wonder if Echostage is now the spot for post-EDM emo harp drops. (4/10)

 

Justin Barini-Rivers - Petit Biscuit returns with a new EP containing two strong tracks. It was difficult to choose, but for me Safe was the choice. I am in love with all drums and the fills. That synth really pushes it into fifth gear. Beautifully written this song is versatile in its arrangement. The use of vocals also is lovely. Driven and pitched these vocals are pulling the feeling right out of me. I rarely venture out of my home, but I bet Echostage will be jamming. (9/10)

 

Kasper Marott – “Keflavik”

 

Alex Rubenstein - This shit right here? This shit right here! Kasper Marott delivers us a saccharine house roller that is guaranteed to produce those eyes closed and hands the air moments we all live for in the club. 8 minutes was not enough for me. This is the standout track from the recent EP in my opinion, but the other 2 tracks should not be slept on. More please. (8.8/10)

 

Jake Ramirez - I love how exuberant this song is. It absolutely rolls from start to finish. The kick and bass combo is absolutely massive, and there are some really great details interspersed, like the stuttered vocal sample that pans around on the back half of the song. There aren’t any cheap thrills, either – different rhythms emerge, basslines come and go, but everything builds very patiently. (8/10)

 

William Creason - This track has a cool sound to it. I really like the bassline arpeggio here, it’s a really robust patch and the slight flange keeps things interesting. I have to say that I’m not a fan of the amount of bent notes in the initial synth pattern which does fade into the background as the track ramps up in intensity. (7/10)

 

Justin Barini-Rivers – Once the lead came in I had an idea what I was in for. This is some nice melodic house music. I am going to avoid categorizing this beyond melodic because the melodies really do just bounce around your head. Although it does remind me of Kavinsky with his homage to Eighties cinema and sound. The arrangement is dope and keeps you excited throughout. When it ends I am a little sad, but I understand that these things happen. (7/10)

 

 

Mokhov – “Mega Moon”

Alex Rubenstein - Lush is the word that came to mind the first time I heard “Mega Moon,” the whole track feels like being pampered in an alien spa. The pads have an ethereal quality to them that just wash over you and cleanse you. Layered on top, we have some lovely, plucky synth work reminiscent of Todd Terje or Lindstrom. Some may find it a bit derivative, but I feel there is plenty of originality here for Mohkov to stand on their own. I’ll be on the lookout for more tracks on the horizon from this talented producer. (7.5/10)

 

Jake Ramirez - This is pretty inoffensive to me. The overall sound design is nice, but the general progression is forgettable, and the percussion feels a little tame. Still, as a simple, slowly evolving track, it works. While there’s not much for me to grasp onto during an active listen, the muted palette makes this perfectly pleasant as a backdrop. I could see this being someone’s thing, but it’s not for me. (5.5/10)

 

William Creason - Super tough SID chip retro sound on this one. I really like the swinging gated bursts of noise used for the hats, that New York / New Jersey garage house swing is something most Daft Punk emulating acts rarely get right. According to the description, this was made using only a Jupiter-6 – very cool! (7/10)

 

Justin Barini-Rivers - This house tune is drenched in the most lush pad. This is analog bliss. Beyond the pads this track is pure outside the box fun. All the sounds have a texture that builds well when all the tracks push on each other. The arrangement is a bit lacking, but that is made up for in vibes. I won’t take off points because with this tune it’s not really point. When this song finally breaks down it starts to gain that momentum back. This is nice tune to keep your vibes going while jamming in the house for sure. (6/10)

 

Uffie – “Paper Cuts”

 

Alex Rubenstein - The past 3 or 4 years have been the best years of Pop Music since the early 00’s if you ask me. Uffie returning to center stage is just another indicator of that being true. This track is almost kind of spooky and Uffie’s innocent sounding vocals have a dark undertone that I love. Her voice floats effortlessly over the instrumental. I need more Uffie in my life. (8/10)

 

Jake Ramirez - The thing I was struck by when listening to this song is how distinctly 2018 it feels. It’s the embodiment of a millennial ethos on social media where people refer to the state of this [gestures vaguely] as a hellscape because when you can call a spade a spade, you can at least move on. The sugar-sweet, glass-eyed performance by Uffie in which she dares someone to stab her with a knife to get closure is one for this moment. It’s distinct from when, say, Carrie Underwood keyed a car to get even. The bassline is killer, too. (8/10)

 

William Creason - An Uffie solo single! I had to look it just now: “Pop The Glock” came out 12 years ago! Amazingly this sounds exactly like an Uffie return should with her voice sounding exactly the same and a slowed and throwed boom bap rhythm cut from the classic Ed Banger sound set. Business proposal: Blisspop carries only Uffie related news from now on and is rebranded as “UffPost”. (8/10)

 

Justin Barini-Rivers - There is something about Uffie and her music that is always entertaining. This track is awesome. She brings it with her catchy vocal lines. The movement of the beat is just enough to let her do her thing. Honestly, that is all I want anyway. The bass and drums really lay a smooth, but powerful base. The hint of disco in the style makes sense and it only makes me love it anymore. It’s worth a listen just for the back end. A future bass arpeggio just drenches the track real quick before the end. (8/10)

 

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The Winners and Losers:

 

Selling – “keeping Txme” – 8.25/10

Uffie – “Paper Cuts” – 8/10

Kasper Marott – “Keflavik” – 7.7/10

Mokhov – “Mega Moon” – 6.5/10

Petit Biscuit – “Safe” – 6.1/10