Check the new cd: it’s hot, and masterfully mixed.

Enough said, shut up and dance:

How long? Until One: is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Nite Jewel

Woah- what a killer lineup!  This Wednesday, June 30th, KZSC Welcomes: Nite Jewel & Harlequin Baby at The Crepe Place in Santa Cruz.  Nite Jewel is Ramona Gonzalez, a composer and songwriter from Los Angeles, CA.  Nite Jewel’s music has been said to be a part of the new electronic chillwave genre.  Joining Nite Jewel is local favorite, Harlequin Baby!  This show will be so much fun.  Oh!  And be sure to stay after Nite Jewel’s set for a very special Nite Jewel DJ set featuring Ramona and Cole from Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti!

Advance tickets are available on Ticketweb and at The Crepe Place.

KZSC Welcomes: Nite Jewel & Harlequin Baby is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

KZSC recently received a copy of Mike Preuss‘s self-made album “Big Sur“. In it’s very homemade CD sleeve was this note:

“Dear KZSC,

This album was created by Mike Preuss alone in the wilderness of Big Sur, CA during a four month long creative camping trip with one microphone and a van chock full of instruments equipped with a solar panel.”

This album is shockingly fun, as if Preuss totally escaped the Walden-esque stories of man’s torture and love of the nature + isolation concept. Instead of creating a Microphones-esque album that sounds like a straight reflection of thunder and dark trees, Preuss made an album so pretty and icy cool that it sounds like coconut popsicles (oh my god those are good). Ignore the connotation that “alone in the wilderness” has with giant redwoods and jump straight into a lake during summertime and you have Preuss’s Big Sur.

The song “Brooklyn and Miky” is an absurdly sweet summer song that makes me unbearably happy (and played with volumes far too loud) when I play it on Pockets Full of. A good second best is “Six Pack With Change”, of which we have a special video for you (see below! as above!). I and fellows at the station have been listening to the album all day and I can’t name one person who hasn’t walked in and said “What is this??”. It’s quickly become a favorite amongst us, and I really suggest you dive into it. It’ll enrich all of it (every corner of your soul), I promise.

Electronic music from the center of Isolation is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Top plays! is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Casey and Shawn in an ice palace

Really really really. If you don’t remember le grand White Hinterland, their last album “Phylactery Factory” came out in 2008 and featured a lot of boring piano-based songs sprinkled with a few gigantic gems (“Napoleon at Waterloo” and “Dreaming of the Plum Trees” are so overly gorgeous that it makes the whole album close to incredible). So histories aside, WH came out with a new album this month: “Kairos”. It’s shockingly better than the last album. Lead singer Casey’s voice is similar to Lykke Li’s, and the music is a crystalline ice palace of electronic beats and Casey singing like bird-meets-wind.

Amsterdam from Michaela Copikova on Vimeo.

Since listening to the new album, I’ve visited their myspace and website and am hideously impressed with their interests and style. This stuff is great, please sample! AND if you really like it, call in tonight for Pocket Full of Seahorses and request it!

White Hinterland’s “Kairos” is to die for. is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Riding high on the ‘chill-wave‘ movement of this past year and late 2009 comes Toro Y Moi‘s latest offering – Causers of This.

Toro Y Moi is one Chazwick Bundick from South Carolina. I don’t know what kind of weather they have in South Carolina, but that is all this record makes me think about – watching clouds, and the like. Its also characterized by a certain ambivalent malaise about the human condition (“i found a job / i do it fine / not what i want / but still i try”). He makes very pretty music that could help you savor the maudlin auras of the Santa Cruz’s recent torrential downpours. Yet, come fabulous, fabulous springtime, these songs will definitely be the soundtrack to many a faded and nostalgic memory (maaaaaaaan) — riding bikes under an over-exposed sun, perhaps. Talk about bang for your buck! If you’re a fan of Neon Indian or Memory Tapes, you will definitely love this album.

Toro Y Moi, probably listening to Toro Y Moi (and what you'll be doing in ~3 months)

While offering sounds typical to the chillwave style – faded, spaced out vocals; wandering, hazy and shimmering synths; and an underpinning, ubiquitous and catchy beat – Toro Y Moi still offers an intense, harder edge that fans of Bibio will appreciate.

Check his myspace: http://www.myspace.com/toroymoi to see for yourself!

Also, check this fantastic video that a friend tipped me off to on vimeo featuring the song Talamak with some white-knuckles driving through the streets of Paris:

Toro Y Moi – Talamak

‘Causers of This’ will be released on Feb. 23rd by Car Park Records. is out already in a record store near you!

How can I tell if I love you anymore? Nevermind, I know I do. is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

4. The Black Dahlia Murder – Deflorate (Metal Blade)
I was a little concerned with this album at first, thinking that TBDM’s overall sound would change considering they replaced their lead guitarist. Deflorate, while more technical, remains as brutal as TBDM can be, and still retains that signature TBDM sound. I do miss the solos a bit, but Ryan Knight is a solid replacement. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this album, and enjoy every track on it, a must have for every TBDM fan.

3. Lamb of God – Wrath (Epic, Roadrunner)
This album was a pleasant surprise after Sacrament. I thought LOG had lost it, but they proved me wrong this year, as this album kicks some serious ass!

2. Conducting From The Grave – When Legends Become Dust (Sumerian)
I found out about this band just a few months ago and if it weren’t for Creature, this album would be number 1. These guys have tons of talent and I look forward to their future offerings.

1. Within The Ruins – Creature (Victory)
Just found out about this band but definitely my favorite album of the year. Their creativity and uniqueness has made it next to impossible for me to take this album out of my cd player.

Scrambles the Death Dealer’s Top 10 Part 2 is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

9. Adagio - Archangels In Black (Listenable)
Adagio is a great power metal band that I think might get overlooked at times because of their similarity in name to that of Brazilian power metal band, Alagio. However, this album proves that they are definitely different.

8. Stratovarius – Polaris (Edel, Ear music)
I was shocked when I heard this album, it didn’t really sound like Stratovarius at all. Quite heavy, not what I was used to for them, but it was a pleasant surprise.

7. Sonata Arctica – The Days of Grays (Nuclear Blast)
I’m pleased to announce that Sonata hasn’t lost anything by replacing their guitarist. I was worried that it wouldn’t be the same Sonata Arcitca that I had grown to love, but this album is very good, and so long as Tony Kakko is still in the band, they’ll be fine.

6. Dream Theater – Black Clouds And Silver Linings (Roadrunner)
Dream Theater is my favorite band, and they would have gotten the number 1 spot, because I love this album, but I felt that other bands were more deserving, so here they are. If you don’t have this album already, get it.

Scrambles the Death Dealer’s Top 10 Part 1 is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Come getchyer Hottmess Holiday

That’s right sisters, and they’re here to knock the monochromes offa your outfit and offa your face. Harlequin Baby is the name of the fantastico: 2 girls, 1 guy, no baby, and notso gruesome. They make an edible brand of electronic music that is all crystals all candy all icecream all sexycute. ANDDD big news: they’re returning from their no-show vacation this Thursday. It’s a house show, boos, you know how we do, and it’s going to make you dance dance sweat sweat super happy happy meal. Got it?

Instructions:

1. Head to their hosted colorful land

2. Listen to their jamz, get jamming.

3. Come to the show: This THURSDAY 11/19 … 6:35pm sharp … 215 Storey St.

Local greats San Narciso (space) and Starcircleanatomy (space) will both also be playing, come love them!

There’s local electronic bands in SC? Mm quaa?? is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Chromeo, DJ-Kicks

Now is a good time for Electronic Music at KZSC. We have a bunch of new stuff goin’ on goin’ on, including the New Boys Noize, Metronomy, as well as some home-brewed local electro/experimental/psych from New Bengal Spice…

With the latest influx of brown envelopes came some pretty strong adds to the Electronic Music Department this week. Here’s the stuff I’m most excited about:

1. Zoot Woman: Synthy electroclash coming out of Britain, this group seems to stylistically tip their hat to the likes of Cut Copy and Grafton Primary. Grungy, yet catchy, something that you will definitely find yourself tapping your toes to.

2. Chromeo – DJ-KICKS: The 80′s disco revivalists put together a compilation of artists that they enjoy and are inspired by. So it comes as no suprise that this album is chock-full of delicious disco cuts. Check out ‘Toba – Movin’ On Up’ and ‘Donna Allen – Serious’ as well as a new cut from Chromeo themselves, ‘I Can’t Tell You Why.’

3. Metronomy – Night’s Out: Although this record has been flying all around the blogs the past few months, we’ve finally got it here in the station. Keep your ears peeled for the dark, melodic, synthy tracks coming from this band in the coming weeks.

4. New Bengal Spice- Wave Voltage: LOCAL! This guy was playing at Metamusic in Santa Cruz when I saw him. An absolutely stunning record replete with lush, electronic soundscapes, haunting vocals, and even, at times, pop sensibilities. Check out his myspace! http://www.myspace.com/newbengalspice

And now, the Electronic Music Weekly Top 10:

1 CHROMEO “Night By Night” [Single]
2 LA ROUX La Roux
3 LUSINE A Certain Distance
4 WALLPAPER Doodoo Face
5 INFECTED MUSHROOM Legend Of The Black Shawarma
6 BOYS NOIZE Starter [EP]
7 CHROMEO DJ Kicks
8 NADIA ALI Embers
9 HEALTH Get Color
10 ADRIANE LAKE Morning Glow

As you can see, Chromeo is up there twice. We’ve also got their EP, “Night By Night” in anticipation of their full release later on. To hear any of these great new electronic tunes, keep your ears and mind and radio dial tuned to 88.1 – specifically to any one of our great electronic shows! You can scope the schedule & playlists tab, but I’ll write them out here for your convenience:

Mondays @ 12-2pm: Techno Logic with Adam

Wednesdays @ 3-6am: Casa! Maison! House! with Vector C, then @8:30-10:30pm Wandering Stars with DJ PassiveTheory

Fridays @ 7-8:30pm: Recycled Air with Yours Truly!

Saturdays @ 2-4pm: Sleep Around the Clock with Galina

Cheers.

Electronic Music Weekly + Charts! is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz