Telefon Tel Aviv C/D

TTA came across as a groovier version of Slowdive with 2002 style glitch beats, without ever sounding forced. It was a sound for the moment, to be sure. I couldn't help but wonder though if the same group of guys wouldn't have written the same exact batch of songs in 1995 using scratchy trip hop loops, and if they wouldn't be writing a similar batch of songs in 5 years using whatever new software will be available at the time.

I would still recommend you buy the album, though. :)

As far as Hefty goes, they can be pretty hit-and-miss because of the wide variety of styles the put out. The 'Immediate Action' compilation is quite good and will let you know which bands you like. Also, you can't go to wrong by sticking with the Scott Herren stuff (Delarosa + Asora, Savath + Savalas, ...).

speaking of Hefty, i just picked up the Slicker (john hughes) album a few weeks ago and think it's kinda good. it's got a mixture of post-timbaland beats, afro funk, hip hop and experimental tendencies. i think a few of the guys from Slum Village (or just Phat Kat) are on it along with a bunch of guest vocalists.

I've been wanting to hear that Slicker album, sounds like I'll like it (not because of Slum Village though!).

some of the remixes on the new collection (called remixes compiled!) are very enjoyable.
it may be cheesy to some, but the epic orchestral track with oliver kelson sends shivers down my spine, and the air styled electro pop sheen on the american analog set is just gorgeous.
guess i should track down their proper, non-remix material.

I'm listening to the remix collection now and it's a treat. That said there's kind of a clear formula...still pretty great track by track though.

their remix of Apparat's 'Arcadia' seems equally as great as the original (and that's pretty great) - haven't heard many of their other remixes tho

New album will be on Bpitch Control, right? I liked their first album, never really checked them out past that other than the remixes which have been good.

I never really got Telefon Tel Aviv, but I'm digging this new album (leak) on first and second listen. Reminds me of New Order, guitar-free M83 and ambient Kompakt like pop. It's very dreamy. Like Jordan said upthread, 'some melodies to die for' on this.

yeah this album is really lovely.

Le Bateau Ivre, you couldn't have formulated your post better to sell this to me. Listening to Birds right now, and it is awesome.

I know! This totally caught me by surprise

New album so pretty. I can't stop listening.

It drifted over me a bit and not really in a good way. I'll give it another crack but it sounded kind of bland to me - I kept comparing it unfavourably to the last Apparat album. Which is maybe unfair.

ha, i kept thinking it was like a better version of that album.

Your review and reference to Walls turned me onto it, Lex, so thanks.

On another, entirely less happy note, this has been posted on their Myspace:

Hello, Everyone.

It breaks my heart to inform you all that Charlie Cooper, my better half in Telefon Tel Aviv, passed away on January 22nd.

We have been friends since high school, and began making records together a decade ago. We have been so fortunate to tour the world together, while at the same time having a massive amount of laughs at one another's expense.

Aside from Charlie's singular genius and musical gifts, I can tell you that he was a total sweetheart of a guy, and a loving friend and confidant to people everywhere. His musicianship was surpassed only by his greater gift to the world - his warmth, his generosity, his unquenchable humor, and his undying loyalty to those whom he loved. In the spirit of honorable mention, however, I should mention that he had a shoe collection that was marvelous, knowledge of hip-hop that was profound, and knowledge of wine that was subtle.

He is survived by a sister, a neice, a nephew, his mother, his stepfather, me, and more adoring friends than the Universe has dark matter. As such, his family and I ask for your discretion and consideration of our privacy during these extremely turbulent waters.

Yours in Music,

Joshua Eustis

Jesus...

Haven't heard anything off this yet though am keen to do so since I liked their previous album a lot (if only radio stations would play the bloody thing).

But yes, "Jesus..." indeed. Cancer?

No idea, it's all very vague. RIP.

The new album is like a blend of the aforementioned Apparat, recent M83 and Junior Boys. It's fantastic.

Just put the album on d'iPod yesterday. This is sad news, does anyone know what happened?
xpost.

that's very sad news, I really like the first tta album a lot

oh shit. :(

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/charles.cooper.musician.2.918857.html

:(

love the remix album, have been on the lookout for more ever since i heard it. very sad news indeed.

This is very sad news. I have always loved Fahrenheit Fair Enough and didn't really know anything more about them since that record, but it is a great record. How horrible.

their albums and singles have been going up in value lately. pretty crazy prices for their first 2 albums despite them being <10 years old.

weird. i've got fahrenheit fair enough on vinyl, come to think of it.

This news is a heart-breaker :(

Had been playing "My week beats your year" all of last week - for the 1st time since it came out :-(

I know I'm paranoid and conspiracy-theory-prone, but the album's called "Immolate Yourself" - and then that CBS2Chicago article mentions he'd threatened suicide before, and then I suddenly remembered The Dwarves, and I don't know, these guys wouldn't, would they?

True fact: the opening notes of "Fahrenheit Fair Enough" are my computer startup sound.

no. i think "depressed musician comes up with depressed album title" is the simple explanation.

show in London tonight was pretty good. started off just nice, pleasant and Schnaussy, got more bangin later esp. THE BIRDS and the one with the 'Take On Me' style beat. then they covered 'I'm On Fire' o_O

Bruce's "I'm On Fire"?! How does he tour now, is he alone on stage?

nah there's another dude but don't know who (i didn't know what Joshua looked like til tonight either tho so).

and Bruce's it was indeed

other dude is called fredo apparently. it was a good show.

I love this band, esp. the new one; thanks ILM for turning me on to it!

how the hell have I gone this long without hearing this band

want them to remix Depeche Mode

this is aggressively pretty music with fantastic song titles ("You Are The Worst Thing In The World" lol)

holy crap. I'm a big fan of 80s style gloom synth and Home Video were doing that for me, but these guys had somehow escaped my notice. Wow. Listening to "Immolate Yourself" now and it is fantastic.

Keep coming back to Immolate Yourself. One of those records where awesome and beautiful things keep happening bar after bar.

It is seriously doing my head in with awesome. this is freaking brilliant.

I have to get this on headphones tomorrow, I bet it will give up even more gems.

And to think one of the band has passed away... it makes me think on how we should all leave something of a footprint behind before we go. Because what else is there?

Yeah, it's great on headphones, so much detail! Still get goosebumps listening to 'The Birds'.

They do have a very similar compressed production like M83, and a feel of that teenage omg life is awesome joy.

Just listening to Alive, Joshua's new album under the Chaim moniker.
It's awesome. Some of it comes across as a less glacial Luomo, of that makes sense.

are you sure? it seems like this is another guy who is actually from tel aviv.

Huh? Shit you're right. Quickly scanning the RA blurb about the album mentioning bpitch and tel aviv probably set off some dyslexic association process. My bad! Great album though!

this isn't new or anything but https://soundcloud.com/sons-of-magdalene/chrono-trigger-corridors-of-time enjoyable

http://www.factmag.com/2014/06/23/stream-sons-of-magdalenes-move-to-pain-the-new-album-by-telefon-tel-avivs-josh-eustis/ this is good. crazy ass picture tho.

tta x belong = second woman http://editionsmego.com/release/SP-042

love this record

this one is great: https://soundcloud.com/selftitledmag/second-woman-100407jd7

i just heard Map of What is Effortless for the first time today and WOAH O_O

The "I Lied" video is mesmerizing. A few years ago, listened to this album every night as I went to sleep.

for a period of several weeks, I mean...

I didn't like this album at the time, and I'm still not sure about the vocals, but it certainly sounds like it could have been released yesterday. Prefigures the current wave of pop/r&b over pretty trap beats by a decade at least.

I like the new album a lot

i didn't realize he was still recording w/out cooper - or are these older recordings released for the first time?

incidentally immolate yourself is on my top 50 00's ballot

Brand new (haven't listened yet, except for the single, which was good)

I think the passage of time and the idea this is TTA material is the reason for a new album under that name

if you haven't checked it out, Josh Eustis has done a lot of production/remix work in the intervening years, Sons of Magdalene being a solo project and Second Woman with collaborator Turk Dietrich

TTA came across as a groovier version of Slowdive with 2002 style glitch beats, without ever sounding forced. It was a sound for the moment, to be sure. I couldn't help but wonder though if the same group of guys wouldn't have written the same exact batch of songs in 1995 using scratchy trip hop loops, and if they wouldn't be writing a similar batch of songs in 5 years using whatever new software will be available at the time.

i've never heard these guys / this cat before but i find the new one really impressive, just the opposite of this superficial modernization old timey ilm poster above is talking about.

i've sampled several elaborate indie-poppish vocal-focused albums this year and last, on the strength of their reviews, the kind of thing where they talk about how the production is so intricate and 80s inspire and &c &c &c, and it's getting tedious finding yet again that it sounds like overwritten rootless 21st c. goop

as opposed to 'dreams are not enough', which sounds like the product of an actual musical conception, perceptive ideas about sound design, and a real patience and ability to self-edit and make committed, coherent decisions when confronted with infinite studio possibilities