Feedback Friday is Blisspop’s weekly exploration of the latest tunes being released both in the mainstream and underground electronic scenes. Our dedicated team of virtual crate diggers rotates each week to offer their unique takes on the newest house rollers, techno stompers, experimental cuts, bass rattlers, disco hits and beyond. No matter if the track has 6 plays or 6 million, breaks new ground or retreads the same tired tropes, is an instant add to the playlist or the catalyst for inventing time travel to be able to un-hear it – Blisspop is on it.
We are back at it again and this edition features our contributors: Alex Rubenstein, Justin Barini-Rivers, Aeron Premo, and Marshall Stukes. This week’s music includes tracks by Sébastien Tellier, Against All Logic feat. FKA Twigs & Estado Unido, Black Noize, and Sam Goku. Enjoy and let us know your thoughts on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
Sébastien Tellier – “A Balletâ€
Alex Rubenstein – First off, I love this music video. It reminds me of Blac Youngsta’s “Booty†video which gives it major points. I can’t help but feel the track plays it a bit too safe. We have all the hallmarks of your standard downtempo track here with words like lush and dreamy coming to mind. This certainly has its appeal, I just kept waiting for greatness to appear. (6/10)
Justin Barini-Rivers – This song opens strong with a superb analog drum set and some sensually vocoded vocals. The arrangement keeps moving and sucking me in deeper. Smooth hip hop drums fill the spectrum as the vocals develop. The saxophone hits on the break, adding some nice textures. This song is simple, but gets the job done. I’m impressed with how much I like this song. Sebastien hit this vibe so well, I can’t be mad. I was expecting something a bit different, but this is a gem worth a listen. (6/10)
Marshall Stukes – “A Ballet†is such a sensual song with an equally funny music video. It makes me want to do that slow, standing worm dance with the rotating hands unironically. And that sax is just killer. (9/10)
Aeron Premo – It’s been a good while since we’ve had an original release from Sebastien Tellier, and after taking a listen to his latest track, it is safe to say he hasn’t lost any of his magic touch. “A Ballet” is filled with his trademark lush, downtempo electronic style and brings back the feel of his 2008 masterpiece, Sexuality. The dreamy, hypnotic synth pads mesh well with Tellier’s effects-processed vocal, and the intricate melody does a wonderful job of holding all of the production elements together. Welcome back, Sébastien! (8/10)
A.A.L. (Against All Logic) – “Aluciano†(feat ESTADO UNIDO & FKA Twigs)
Alex Rubenstein – One of my favorite things about Nicolas Jaar is his ability to subvert whatever expectation you might have about what his next project is going to sound like. Coming off the soul-infused house of his 2012-2017 project under the Against All Logic alias this new material feels both raw and refreshing. We’ve got distortion all over this track on top of militarized drums and a hypnotic mix of vocals from Estado Unido and FKA Twigs. This should be played at high volume, preferably in a residential area. (8/10)
Justin Barini-Rivers – This is an underground masterpiece. The drums are beyond wild, hitting from any and every direction. They along with the synths have me rolling so hard. The warmth on the whole tune is awesome – I feel as though I would be missing a lot of top end textures and grit without it. When the vocals finally drop in this truly hits me in a special place. The mix is dirty and raw and so is the vibe. It’s hard to do, but when done properly it’s one of my favorite sounds. Blast this on your ride to work and get the day started right. (7/10)
Marshall Stukes – The main thing that grabs me with this song is it’s distorted nature. It’s ever-present and borderline untamed. I wish I had some more distinction on who was singing as I would not have known who was who unless I looked at the lyrics. The track does seem long in the beginning, but that feeling subsides a bit after the drum variations come in. (7/10)
Aeron Premo – The intro promises us a very ominous feel, with hard hitting beats and high pitched synths that squeal. However, I felt that the track in general was too long. The intro dragged for over two minutes and the vocals should have been introduced earlier. I think the production is strong overall, the melody is interesting, and the processed vocals actually work quite well with the arrangement, but overall, the track’s length kept me from truly enjoying it. (4.5/10)
Black Noize – “Smoke and Mirrorsâ€
Alex Rubenstein – It’s nice when a song sets the tone for what’s to come immediately, and “Smoke and Mirrors†does just that. As soon as you hear those synths you know it’s gonna be hazardous from that point forward. The little breakdown in the middle is a nice touch to keep it from getting stale. This one definitely hits hard but it lacks that special sauce to take it to the next level. (6/10)
Justin Barini-Rivers – This track is off the EMBRACE DESTINY EP by Black Noize. “Smoke and Mirrors†is an epic, industrial, experimental banger. The deep kicks and the droning siren immediately had me dancing. The detail in this song deserves a few plays. Black Noize controls the entire space in this tune; you are under the control of the track. If industrial techno is your thing, then I would check out the EP. Each song is unique, yet they are all so cohesive. Overall the sound that Black Noize has is more impressive than any one song. (10/10)
Marshall Stukes – I love that this track gives me old Gesaffelstein and Brodinski vibes. The screeching strings, reverb laden percussion and the distorted lead are good, but I wish they did a bit more to make it a great song. (7.5/10)
Aeron Premo – Starting out with the creepy synth lines was a great touch. It sets the tone and lets you know immediately what type of track this is going to be. All of the elements blend well together, and the track is solidly produced; the fadeout at the end is quite cool. On the other hand, I thought there wasn’t much melodically. It felt like the track just coasted along with the buildup taking too long to execute. Also, to my ears, it felt like it needed more elements to make it stand out. (5/10)
Sam Goku – “Zero One Lotusâ€
Alex Rubenstein – This one really hits on that feeling of night turning to day with its balance of light and dark. There is a good mix here of airy sounds with an industrial tinge that really keeps this interesting. Sam Goku is certainly one to watch after hearing this tune. (8/10)
Justin Barini-Rivers – This is House on steroids. It starts out building and seems to harness that momentum to push through the entire song. The mix is lovely, as well. I can hear sounds really push into some cool territory with how busy this tune becomes. Everything has its space, yet you still need to pay attention because sounds just seem to pop out from anywhere. The drums have got me looking back and trying to figure out how they fit all of those sounds in there so well. This is a roller of a tune. (9/10)
Marshall Stukes – This track is a bit long, but I think it works to its advantage, allowing the listener to wrap themselves in what this track has to offer. It is a slow build coupled with big production value that sets you in a chill, danceable vibe. The pads set the tone right, and the soft kick keeps this track going without being overbearing. (8/10)
Aeron Premo – This is an interesting little deep-meets-tech-house number. While the main melody has repetitive elements and is sort of bland throughout, it is the production flourishes that make the track intriguing. The main synth line is prominent but is produced in such a way that lets the synth squeals that pop in and out throughout shine. The atmosphere also evokes a nighttime feel, which is something that I love. Overall, a very strong effort. (7/10)
Sam Goku – “Zero One Lotus†– 8/10
Sébastien Tellier – “A Ballet†– 7.25/10
Black Noize – “Smoke and Mirrors†– 7.1/10
A.A.L. (Against All Logic) – “Aluciano†(feat ESTADO UNIDO & FKA Twigs) – 6.6/10