Music

Zero to 600, Part 1

Music has been a central part of my life for as long as I can remember but I didn’t start seriously listening until I started middle school. Seemingly all at once, I became intensely aware of who I was, how I acted, and most importantly what I listened to. For whatever reason, I was vehemently anti-pop during this time in my life. I felt that the music I liked (and disliked) was a reflection of myself, my musical identity. Why listen to the radio if that’s what everyone else is listening to? While everyone else was trying to “fit in”…

by Ben Heels August 21, 2022August 21, 2022

Various Artists – ~ fleeting moments ~ (2017)

~ fleeting moments ~ is the latest project from DESKPOP, whose creativity shines on compilations like these. To see what I mean, check out DESKTAPE, Summer Solstice (with Galaxy Swim Team), and most recently, CURSED TOGETHER (with Fright House). DESKPOP’s formula works for a couple of reasons. Artists that release EPs and albums on the label are given creative freedom on their solo projects. For compilations, however, the key to success lies in their carefully curated track order and unified theme. As the name suggests, ~ fleeting moments ~ is about impermanence, as each song is less than two minutes…

by Ben Heels August 4, 2017August 15, 2022

Top 50 Albums, Favorite Albums from 2016

A couple of weeks ago, I threw together a chart of my top 50 albums. For the most part, they’re in no particular order aside from being lumped together as “Top 4,” “Second-tier classics,” and “Other favorites.” I admittedly had some difficulty compiling this list; the more I dug through my iTunes and Spotify libraries, the more I became aware of the fact that my taste has changed — and will continue to change — over time. A couple of months ago, I would have included several other albums on this list: Sufjan Stevens’ Illinois and Carrie & Lowell were…

by Ben Heels December 31, 2016August 15, 2022

Jan Jelinek & Masayoshi Fujita – Schaum (2016)

Jan Jelinek and Masayoshi Fujita first worked together in 2010. Since then, they have performed a number of live electro-acoustic shows across the globe. Jelinek and Fujita’s music is almost entirely improvised. Fujita’s setup consists of a vibraphone prepared with various percussion instruments, objects, and toys; Jelinek works entirely with electronics, tinkering with analog synthesizers and samplers. Jelinek and Fujita’s latest collaboration is entitled Schaum, German for froth or foam. The duo’s collaboration is a fascinating one. The vibraphone’s pure tone — modified, distorted, and joined by other objects — make up the florid and natural side of the music.…

by Ben Heels November 1, 2016August 15, 2022

That Andy Guy – Oh No, Not That Andy Guy (2016)

I first heard That Andy Guy on “A Leisurely Stroll,” the opening track to last year’s DESKTAPE and have been excitedly waiting for more material ever since. That track now finds itself neatly woven into his latest project, Oh No, Not That Andy Guy. Oh No comes from DESKPOP, a distinctly unique label that focuses on experimental electronic music. DESKPOP consistently releases music that brings something new, and Andy’s latest album fits right in. It’s lighthearted, poppy, and lined with subtle details. The album is self-described as “post-chiptune,” joining elements from early video game music with more contemporary electronic music. While…

by Ben Heels September 27, 2016August 15, 2022