Kosmische music heads across the Eastern seaboard are peeing themselves today as the almighty Cluster have been announced as headliners of No Fun Fest 2008. To be completely honest, I’ve wet myself twice already.
It was thought that the line-up was solidified for the five-year-strong experimental noise festival (May 16, 17 and 18) with Japanese noise veterans Astro and American minimalist Tony Conrad, among others, but festival head Carlos Giffoni has certainly outdone himself with the addition of the German duo of Hans Roedelius and Dieter Moebius.
Roedelius and Moebius have been in the news of late with a reunion show last fall in their homeland, and with the announcement of a reunion for their other classic Kraut group, Harmonia, sometime this year. Add to that the extensive reissue treatment to the entire Cluster and Harmonia + solo catalog and the last few years have been a dream for fans of the two electronic pioneers.
The most sincere record of the year. Despite it’s pasted-together ambiance, Magic Flowers Droned is a meticulously-crafted manifesto against the mundane, the disposable, and the transparent. Mr. Whitehurst is at once the most detail-oriented and haphazard person I know.
Beautiful and uplifting without overstatement, Noah Lennox has trumped every dream-pop or collage-work record over the last fifteen years, including his own band’s best work, with Person Pitch. The most forward-looking album of 2007.
True postmodern psychedelia. Guitar, keys, some pedals and a Walkman are all this duo need to create a 21st Century Atlantis. It’s like the bong is taking hits from you.
The Ed Banger hype finally culminates stateside with this French duo’s debut. House grooves, hi-jacked funk, disco strings, a Devo video sample…this is a rare dance record that will stand the test of time.
Primal screams from Kevin DuBroux, the Midwest’s finest post-hardcore singer/songwriter (don’t call him that to his face). Rumors that he might end the PR book have me bummed.
Never-wave jams outta Monterrey, Mexico. This one climbed up my list as ’07 rolled along, its scuzzy vibes finally able to penetrate my dense skull.
I would probably put this in my top two or three if a) it were a tad longer, b) the drummer wasn’t my brother and c) they didn’t have the album of the year ’08 coming out in a little more than a month. Still, a huge piece in the TNV puzzle and the most bang out of fifteen minutes ever.
As big a breakthrough for dubstep you’ll see in the US, Burial takes a dated artform (minimal breaks) and somehow makes it vital again.
Not quite your older brother’s Kiwi Pop. DFA compiles the best from Nick Harte’s two Flying Nun albums to make this domestic long-player. Love the live feel of these recordings.
Read my full review of this 
Read my donewaiting.com review of Entrance 
I wish Kels would serialize “Real Talk” like he did “Trapped in the Closet”. And isn’t it time he got his own reality show?
A human pulse for adderall-fueled robots. Warmth + repetition = ecstasy.
SC4 are a French group that play spirited garage in the VU/Kinks vein. Fun stuff, I’m really kicking myself for missing not one but two shows in Columbus this Fall.
Sublime Frequencies’ first foray into new, album-length releases, Guitar Music showcases Doueh’s virtuosic string talents. This is their first official release outside of Morocco and deserves a much wider edition than its 1000 copy, vinyl-only run.
