I didn’t begin this show well. Stuarto had a pre-recorded spot and, given it was only my fourth show, I didn’t realize the little button up top where it said “iPod” needed to be on. This led to a little stumbling in the beginning on my part; I mumbled a few words then played several promos. After I realized the error of my ways (kudos to Stuarto), the show went off without a hitch. And it was a good one.

Lots of great tunes, many from Sweden, most with an electronic vibe. I launched into everything with a few songs that I dubbed as “haunting.” Here we go.

“Silent Shout” by The Knife off Silent Shout
“Concrete Walls” by Fever Ray off Fever Ray

“The Dwarf and the Horse” by Sleep Party People off Regnsky
“Fail Forever (Nicolas Jaar Remix)” by When Saints Go Machine of Fail Forever
“Running Out Of You” by Keep Shelly in Athens off In Love With Dusk EP

“Cannons” by Youth Lagoon off The Year of Hibernation
“Black Hills” by Gardens & Villa off Gardens & Villa
“Arena” by Suuns off Zeroes QC
“Moon Child” by M83 off Before The Dawn Heals Us

“Unessa” by Regina off Soita Mulle
“Bad Street” by Twin Sister off In Heaven
“You And I” by Washed Out off Within And Without

“Round The Moon” by Summer Camp off Young
“Show Me Your Plans (Le Sport Remix)” by Unarmed Enemies off Show Me Your Plans
“Forget Me Not” by Thieves Like Us off Immersed In Waves

“Castles In The Snow” by Twin Shadows off Forget
“It’s Not The End Of The World” by Le Sport off It’s Not The End Of The World
“Come Rain, Come Sunshine” by Pallers off Come Rain, Come Sunshine

“Give You Everything” by Blackbird Blackbird off Give You Everything (7-inch)
“Mouth Cancer” by Daycare
“Heart” by The Legends off Facts And Figures
“In The Water” by Beat Connection off Surf Noir

A few days ago I wrote a piece on Beat Connection’s new LP, Surf Noir, which coincidentally went live a few hours ago. Shortly after wrapping that piece, I discovered their video for “Silver Screen”, crafted by Seattle’s DUMB EYES. Peruse DUMB EYES’s library of videos and you’ll find some pretty trippy stuff. But none, in my opinion, top their work on “Silver Screen”. Dizzying, kaleidoscope-like footage blended with video of the Beat Connection duo is what we get. That and a lot of flashing lights and layered footage, all of which complement Beat Connection’s style of psychedelic loops and chillwave. (more…)

They call it “chillwave,” a term that has come to define this style of electronica meets psychidelia. The term is fitting, and of late has come to encompass a different side of beach-style pop thanks to the various effects and loops involved. It’s all quite hypnotic. I think the first band fitting the bill (the bill being beach-worthy chillwave) I really got into was Washed Out. Neon Indian followed, but with more experimentation. So the style has become prevalent of late, and Seattle band Beat Connection has created its own style somewhere between those to aforementioned bands. (more…)