It's been a while so I'm officially giving an explanation for my down time.

This past May I moved to San Francisco for a pretty demanding job. Though most non-professional bloggers I know of are also busy as all hell and I've actually been going to more shows than I ever did in Providence or New York, I haven't found the effort to post. It's obvious to me that blogging just isn't a top priority right now, and I've been avoiding writing this sort of message because of this comic.

Anyway, in case you were interested. I have been listening to a load of music. I've been loving (along with everyone else) Washed Out and his new EP, Life of Leisure, I adore what I've heard from DMST's upcoming album, Other Truths, and seeing Dirty Projectors, Japandroids, and Oneida has made my last few months.

Out

Obviously Bitte Orca is a triumph, but I've been swept off my feet by its centerpiece. It's the cornerstone of ethereal vocals that glues the album and spouts its namesake. Every time I listen to Useful Chamber it's rejuvenated and enjoyable. It's wonderful to feel my mind tugged by chords and melodies that have little in common with those of pop and rock, and when the catchy synth line from the opening of the track is reimagined through Angel and Amber's voices I can't help but bask in the gust of sound.

Bitte Orca isn't for everyone, and neither is Useful Chamber. But the track is unique in a time when so much of what we hear is repackaged and regurgitated. I love remixes and cliche chord structures, but it's the progressive sounds that give me shivers.

Dirty Projectors - Useful Chamber.mp3 more

Never has something reminiscent of The Final Countdown stole my heart with a swift death punch to the chest a la The Temple of Doom the way Double Dragon's To Be a Hero! did yesterday (unless you include The Final Countdown). Thanks to B for making me listen. With my brain thoroughly blown, I went on to listen to the track, Perdu, and was sadly disappointed. Though the track is fun (my favorite pathetic adjective), it's a pretty big rip-off of one of my other favorite dance tracks, Phantom pt. II.

Still, this doesn't matter much. It's the regal synths and pounding guitar of To Be A Hero! making me want to bounce up and down like a boxer that hold Double Dragon's potential. Now I'll just have fun going through all their recent remixes (and maybe waiting for an LP).

Double Dragon - To Be A Hero!.mp3

Up until yesterday I hadn't been transcribing at all, but something bit me, and I got to notating my favorite M83 song, Too Late. As an added bonus, I finished the piano loop from Four Tet's Unspoken which I now can't stop playing over and over.

Both of these are on my sheets page so download and play'em if you're intersted.

This weekend was the warmest of the year by far in Providence (or maybe the whole Northeast). Now everyone is down to one layer, shades, and a smile, and I'm repeating one of Passion Pit's newest bits from their yet-to-be-released album, Manners. Hopefully it won't be long until we can the whole thing's streaming.

The three songs I've been able to hear so far offer more danceability but maintain the retro yet refreshing synths that created the backbone of Chunk of Change. It's obvious that Angelakos has had a chance to focus much more energy on songwriting+production this time around. The pieces span a larger scope using choral vocals and wide synths. Little Secrets is the most fun of the bunch and I can't help but think that Passion Pit has some musical humor. According to a survey done for the musical project, The People's Choice Music, most people absolutely hate children's choirs. Kudos to Passion Pit for adding one then (it's more KidzBop than DANCE). It makes me chuckle a bit every time I hear it.

Passion Pit - Little Secrets.mp3 more