By Vlada Stark
A series in which I ramble about music I have been hyper-fixating on. March: Sleek. Sexy. Spring.
Playboi Carti – Playboi Carti
Every spring, I have a few weeks when all I want to listen to is Playboi Carti. This has been made fun of by my friends who follow me on Spotify and Airbuds (even to the point I had to turn off the “share listening” feature). It could be 7:30 am on a cold March Wednesday, and my sleep-deprived self will still put on “Location” by Playboi Carti, the amazingly-produced opener from this album.
Though I have a lot of love for Playboi Carti’s other albums, what I love about his self-titled is the various obscure samples thanks to the producers he worked with: Pi’erre Bourne, Harry Fraud, etc,. “Location” samples Allan Holdsworth’s “Endomorph,” “dothatshit!” samples “Căutări” by Cvartetul de jazz Paul Weiner, and of course the recognizable The Jamie Foxx Show sample whine that’s played throughout the tracks of the album.
re – damon r.
If you’ve read my other articles on Astr0mag, (“The Hellp Review, a Personal Essay, and a Forewarning), you’ve come to know my annoyance at the term “indie sleaze,” a simplified commodification of the neo-electroclash genre, an addicting amalgamate of punk and electronica revived from the original late 2000s movement.
re, a compilation of damon r’s previous releases, is a “return to sexy” project that has been missing since the recession pop era. “just obliterate,” “weekend warrior,” and “zero dark flirty” are polished tracks, yet with enough messiness and pumped-up bass, suiting for any house party or ear-blasting car ride this upcoming summer.
“A Horse with No Name” – America
“Bohemian Revival” or “Coachella Girl,” I’m not exactly sure what label Tiktok has given to this fashion phenomenon, but the 70s are back: fringe, flared jeans, clogs, etc., Folk rock is the obvious next step in this culmination.
Often made fun for its ramble-esque lyrics, “There were plants and birds and rocks and things,” and “The heat was hot and the ground was dry,” “A Horse with No Name” remains a staple in 70s folk and your dad’s dusty vinyl collection. So, put on your bellbottoms, prim up your hair, and put on some good ol’ classic America.
“1992” – No_4mat
A sleek, hypnotizing mix of house and techno. A single that truly made me catch onto the accelerating No_4mat hype.
Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) – Yves Tumor
I took a small trip to L.A. for my last spring break in college, and during my downtown discovery day I bought myself Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) by Yves Tumor on vinyl (limited edition yellow by the way.) On the drive back, with the utmost love and caution, I wrapped it in my jackets and kept it secured in the passenger seat. With a warm cup of coffee, I played it the next morning, sinking in how the already-perfect album sounds even better with the warm tones of a record player.Yves Tumor is an artist who sticks from the first note you are introduced to them. From their more lo-fi beginnings, noise-esque eras, and their recent evolution into neo-psychedelia, Yves Tumor grows with you throughout the years. Their latest release really is an album you can chew on.
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