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MAGICAL CLOUDZ
Straight out of music, culture, and art capital of Canada, Montreal, comes a duo of electronic-indie songsters who are ready to bring their brand of sample-fueled indie pop to the masses. Partners in crime Devon Welsh and Matthew Otto use loops, synths, samples, and noise to create tunes that are simple yet laye...
SCENE UNSEEN
FREE WITH RSVP
*No backpacks allowed*
*Entry valid with a print-at-home confirmation email
**You must print your confirmation email and bring it to the club
MAGICAL CLOUDZ
Straight out of music, culture, and art capital of Canada, Montreal, comes a duo of electronic-indie songsters who are ready to bring their brand of sample-fueled indie pop to the masses. Partners in crime Devon Welsh and Matthew Otto use loops, synths, samples, and noise to create tunes that are simple yet layered. Welsh, son of actor Kenneth Welsh aka Windom Earle of “Twin Peaks” fame, is the songwriter. But when Otto is added to mix, you have a powerful duo.
Majical Cloudz have a strangely confessional body work for an electronic artist, with personal lyrics sung in Welsh’s confident baritone and backed by Otto’s mix of sounds and synths. In fact, compared to most electro-indie records, Majical Cloudz’s Impersonator is downright calm–but that doesn’t mean it’s not emotional. Welsh channels his inner Elliott Smith as he sings about loss, love, and all the big ticket sentiments that young musicians focus on. “Childhood’s End,” which is definitely not named for Arthur C. Clarke’s award winning novel, describes a child witnessing his/her father getting shot. It’s backed by dark and ominous synths that don’t overpower the vocal performance.
The band is on Matador, one of the premier indie labels in the US–home to Pavement, Kurt Vile, and Interpol. The intensity of the band cannot be overlooked. Words like dark, ambient, and intimate immediately come to mind. This is the type of music to play in your gloomiest hour, it might even make you feel better if you thrive on dark beats and introspective lyrics.
As a live act, Majical Cloudz frontman Welsh is an earnest singer (the kind that makes frightening eye contact) and is gently backed by Otto, who stands guard at his rig of synths, effects, and electronic music gadgets and sings backing vocals. The emotion runs high when Welsh sings on stage. The two Cloudz men don’t provide much movement to distract from the stark songs, though Otto sways slightly as he pushes out sounds. Be prepared for dark, thought provoking performance from these two Canadians. LAUREN ROSENTHAL
MR. CARMACK
Hip hop mixmaster, dance and world music producer, Mr Carmack has been not-so-quietly making waves from his home base of Honolulu since self-releasing a series of critically acclaimed EPs that make you move and make you think. His latest, the Dimebag LP, released on the first of this year, takes the game to the next level, utilizing traditional instruments and jazzy arrangements with an electro flair that has propelled the passionate young artist into one of most sought after MCs in today’s ever evolving hip hop scene. CHARLES SWANSON
KELELA
Kelela Mizanekristos is a singer based in Los Angeles. Her heritage is Ethiopian, and as a teenager she was voted Most Likely to Be a Pop Star.
Kelela’s mixtape CUT 4 ME was released on October 1st, 2013 on producer Kingdom’s Fade to Mind label. Of her mixtape, she says to Rookie Mag, “I will work with all of these producers for all of my life. This mixtape is the first time I was ever able to say exactly what I meant to say. It’s a statement.”
SUPREME CUTS
supreme cuts are the chicago-based production duo mike perry and austin kjeultes; having recently announced news of their debut album for memphis industries, they now reveal full details of ‘divine ecstasy’ – due jan 27th 2014.
the forthcoming album (their first to be released in europe) extends their productions into the worlds of house music and footwork whilst experimenting with array of different pop structures. a host of stellar vocalists feature on the record, including label mates poliça’s channy leaneagh, up and coming french singer mahaut mondino, 16 year old barbadian wunderkind rapper haleek maul and rising portland r&b crooner shy girls.
‘divine ecstasy’ works both as a fully immersive experience, designed to be listened to all the way through and also as collection of killer singles each one different from the last. an exercise in transcendent song writing, the album addresses the diverse strata of human experience and interaction from the mundane to the supernatural and everything in between. the title is a reference to an infomercial in which a pastor named peter popoff peddles a miracle water that will deliver free money and immerse the buyer in a “divine trance”; infer from that what you will.
“the album operates on three levels,” perry says. “the mundane (taxes and parking tickets), earthly pleasures (sex and drugs), and the higher (god and the universe). the music and lyrics are meant to operate on whichever of those levels you feel comfortable identifying with.”
early twenty something’s mike and austin started making music together in 2011. the pair cite influences as diverse as neo-classical composers william basinski and phillip glass as well as herbie hancock, prince and much of chicago’s musical cannon; sam cooke, r kelly, do or die, green velvet, frankie knuckles, dj funk.
the old house, booty house and footwork scenes. chicago’s current ‘drill’ hip hop scene is also a constant source of inspiration as well as the music that inspired it; mannie fresh and master p era southern rap – it’s no surprise supreme cuts turn out consistently eclectic and fresh material.
the album is preceded by new single ‘gone’, due november 17th. introducing the talents of french singer mahaut mondino, ‘gone’ showcases just how far the duo’s sound has evolved. twinkling piano keys and propulsive beats are the perfect pairing to mondino’s sensual vocals.
supreme cuts’ live experience is way more physical than most electronic acts, with both members actively triggering samples and playing complimentary instruments shrouded in projected light and shadows alternately. having just finished supporting alunageorge on their headlining us jaunt, their debut european dates will be announced imminently.