Independent Music Discoveries, Issue #23

*UPDATE*

The Forcefield Kids (Issue #5) - Hip-Hop / Alternative / Electronica / Northeast, UK
Due out November 2nd, the Forcefield Kids (Stain(ed) Art bringing the raps and Sleepy on beats) are releasing a new 5-track EP Harmony & Discord. Their socially-conscious delivery, sounding current with, and better than much of what's out there in the genre, in my opinion, modern hip-hop/rap, while retaining a distinct Britishness and blending it all together in a chill, lo-fi electronic atmosphere. "No Signal" is my favorite track here - grab it now!

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EDH - Electronica / Pop / Experimental - France
I became familiar with the Matte Black Editions label through my dealings with Dead Times, and was recently introduced to another recent offering on the label, EDH (Emmanuelle de Héricourt). EDH's New York Tracks 2001-2002 is available both for free and for purchase, is described as sometimes recalling the sounds of Nico, Lisa Germano, and The Cure, which isn't all that far off - in the midst of the free-form electronic expression and experimentation there is something haunting in the vocals and minimal synth-esque spacing, and yet still not altogether cold with spirited presentation overall. New York Tracks makes for an entertaining journey, with many of the tracks being one or two minutes long, brief punches of sound that beg for re-listening to properly digest. "Anyways" is a chief highlight here, though I'd highly recommend this entire compilation of tracks . Another favorite, "The Mirror of Your Soul", took me by surprise completely since the drumbeat in the back is exactly the same as a Casio keyboard I've had and played since I was 4 years old! As cool as New York Tracks is to listen to, I have high hopes for whatever EDH is cooking up in the future.

Rival Consoles - Electro / IDM / Techno - London, England
Rival Consoles (Ryan Lee West, who has also worked with The National, Björk, and Nico Muhly) is known as a "purveyor of intelligent dance music", which happens to be oddly fitting. "1985" from his debut album IO easily conjures up images dance clubs and quite possibly outer space, building up to a rather addictive chunky electronic sound - not a dull moment here, good stuff! DANCE!