Rico Nasty, Boys Noize “H.O.T.”
These recent Rico Nasty and Boys Noize collaborations seem to be pushing for the same kind of business techno crossover gold that Peggy Gou struck with “(It Goes Like) Nanana.” I understand the importance of a great dance pop song, and I like both artists, so I keep clicking when a new track shows up. “H.O.T.” is the best one yet. It has a ‘90s electro feel, recalling freestyle, baile funk, and something more ravey. I hope to hear it banging out of a Honda Civic while I walk around Bay Ridge and drink an Orange Dreamy Creamy Sundae Dasher from Carvel.
a.s.o. “My Baby’s Got It Out For Me”
Breakbeats here, breakbeats there, breakbeats everywhere! In 2013, it felt like 808s were reaching their saturation point, and my “solution” was to make an entire faux-Dust Brothers rap mixtape full of drum loop mayhem. I really thought I was pushing it to the next level. It would be impossible to state just how wrong I was about that. Moving forward a decade, 2023 was a pretty good year for the humble breakbeat. Case in point: the acclaimed debut from Berlin duo a.s.o., a record that I slept on—hard. It’s one of the better examples of contemporary trip hop I’ve come across, for whatever the hell that’s worth.
Speaking of electronica, check it: “Roll & Rock” is a tranced-out acid stomper that samples Kool Keith. I don’t mean to harp too much on the middling A24 rave movie I’ve been writing in my head, an idea that I sort of forgot about for a minute but now am interested in exploring again, but “Roll & Rock” would provide a great backdrop for the party scene at the top of the movie, the scene where the naive 19-year-old protagonist gets hit in the eye with a laser for the first time.
Milly “Drip From The Fountain”
Look, I don’t mind zoomer shoegaze. I saw They Are Gutting A Body Of Water live last week. Good gig. The genre appears to be fairly amorphous, though—it feels as if some people use it as a catchall for any new music that is drop-tuned and distorted. In that spirit, Los Angeles rockers Milly’s new one hits the strike zone. It’s got a little more pop clarity than some of their contemporaries, and it sneaks up on you upon repeated listens. One for that big alternative rock radio station in the sky.
MURDER CLUB “MBV ‘SOMETIMEX X MURDER CLUB [2065]”
Now for another kind of shoegaze, found via the legendary Billdiffern, who uncovers so much good music that I don’t know how he has the time to listen to anything twice. The sheer volume astounds. This tune, however, is one I’m going to want to play on repeat. My Bloody Valentine has never sounded so banging, and I think a whole new subgenre of music could come out of one track. Unless “Jersey club shoegaze” is already a thing. Which wouldn’t surprise me.
MIX OF THE WEEK: DJ Abilities “Finally”
1998 was a great year to be a Midwestern backpacker. Here is a mix from Minneapolis legend DJ Abilities that provides proof. It’s full of hits from the era, both local and not: Jurassic 5, Mos Def, and, of course, the late Eyedea. May he rest in peace. Also: turntablism. Never forget that Doseone and Eminem once battled at Scribble Jam.