Tag Archives: electronic

electronic, High Tempo, Music to write to, pop, Uncategorized

The Postal Service – Give up

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This is a light slice of dance electronica which is a tonic for the soul. It shimmers and grooves, and although others may dispute this definitely a case where the sum of the parts is greater than the individual pieces. Although many of the songs are sombre the overall mood of the album is upliftting, feet tapping perfect for deadlines or when you want a lift.


This was an unlikely and uplifting collaboration between Ben Gibbard vocalist for Death Cab for Cutie an Indie band, worked with electronic musician Jimmy Tamborello who is known as Dntel. A back and fourth exchange of sending each other CD’s as one then the other would cut paste and add either vocals, drums, harmonies or other instruments, cutting and posting and trading ideas and finally finished things. This exchange via post gave rise to the name The Postal Service.I’m not sure whether it came as a surprise when the US Postal Service tried to get them to can the band name, but a settlement was reached including them playing at a conference.

In the early to mid noughts this was one of the albums that was playing in every coffee shop in Newtown. I can almost equate this music to coffee, the light buzz and rush of energy it gives you, queue end of coffee analogies as it doesn’t give you bad breath or make you anxious if you have too much of it

Released
2003

Lyrics
Yes, the whole time, but they are beautiful, light male vocals.

Mood
By turns melancholy and uplifting,  a perfect meld.

Good to work to
Great when you need something breezy and by turns melancholy. The constant beat means your word count won’t falter and you’ll keep knocking out the words.

Like
This is a like a disco pop scene. I’m thinking it’s a bit LCD sound system, a little post Kraftwerk, mixed in with some weird way with Shugo Tokumaru. Not sure if that’s a long bow or not.

If you like this I’d also recommend the Shins, a great pop band who released a lot of great music at the time.

The Artist/s
Ben Gibbard vocalist for Death Cab for Cutie an Indie band, worked with electronic musician Jimmy Tamborello who is known as Dntel. Jenny Lewis from Rilo Kiley also does backing vocals, as does Jen Wood, while Chris Walla plays piano on one track.

Perhaps the reason why the Postal Service is so delightful is the different approaches. Gibbard and Tamborello were the main players on this project. I have no idea why they haven’t followed up on one of the most popular albums their album Sub-Pop have put out.

Other works
Believe it or not they haven’t released anything else, well not unless you count the EPs they released that feature cover versions of some of their best songs by other indie darlings Sam Beam aka Iron & Wine and the Shins.

I can recommend Dntel although I’m not as big a fan of Death Cab for Cutie, but that is of fourse entirely subjective as Death Cab have many die hard fans.

Where Can I buy it, and in what formats
This has been repressed a few times now. A pop masterpiece. I’d go vinyl because that’s my favourite, but you can get it everywhere and of course on iTunes.

The Verdict
Hurry you need to buy this album immediately. It is liquid energy, but not in a distracting way. Liquid energy that lets you keep on moving.

electronic, Groove, instrumental, Jazz, vocal samples

DJ Shadow Entroducing

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Entroducing – DJ Shadow
If you need to send your brain to disneyland while you sink into some seriously deep grooves this is the album for you. Either way, it’s one of those albums that changed music, and showed what was possible when an amazing DJ flexes his mixing muscles, but serves the music.

Like most great albums and ones you can work to it takes you on a journey. It starts with samples and an introduction that might make you think it’s going to be a schizophrenic musical odyssey just before you hear, “Building Steam with a Grain of Salt.” When the bass kicks in a most relaxed way, you get a feeling for the  groove that marks this album out like an albino at a tanning salon.

A mix of hip hop, samples, ambient, and light electronic. The whole album was recorded at DJ Shadow’s house, with minimal technology, before he finished it off at the studio of Dan the automator.  Now this kind of mix of genre and beats is commonplace, but at the time was a landmark of groove and production. The album is a stand out and has not aged.

Jonny Greenwood from Radiohead have cited it as a key influence on the making of OK Computer. This is an album a lot of musicians love, so it inspired a lot of the music of the late nineties. Entroducing made it bigger in the UK than the US, but has grown as a classic album beloved by many, including critics.

There was talk of it being the world’s sample only album, but there are spoken word parts  that have not come from samples. It sampled  David Axelrod, Nirvana, Bjork, T-Rex, Marlena Shaw, and Twin Peaks to name a few.

Released
1996

Lyrics
No only samples. Shadow’s aim was to make a completely sample based piece of music, and it makes do with only a few vocal contributions from Gift of Gab and Lyrics Born.

Mood
Slow groove music, instrumental hip hop, electronic

Good to work to
This is a slow groove album. One I love listening to, and takes me into a relaxed place. For listeners who aren’t used to listening to any hip hop, or sampling, i.e. Not listening to music in coffee shops, the samples may grate to some extent to some extent, but they are purely part of the musical journey, and can help provide mini-breaks or re-sets in your thinking.

Like
While this kind of album that is commonplace now, at the time it was groundbreaking. It’s  still a classic album. This genre of instrumental hip hop and house music is very main stream now. I can see aspects of this in artists like Bonobo, and lots of mood DJs like Wax Tailor. DJ Shadow takes it to a darker place.

The Artist/s
DJ Shadow aka Josh Davis is one of the world’s most influential DJs.

Other works
It’s a great mix with samples and nods to tracks such as Tears by Giorgio Moroder in Blood Donor. It leads to a lot of music, but this is perhaps what I’d see first.

The story is that after this album he realised that most of the money was going to the many people he had sampled when it was a high selling album. DJ Shadow followed it up with “The Private Press” another well received album, although his later output has not scaled the same heights as Entroducing.

Lovers of the slow groove may also like Bonobo, but Entroducing is definitely the superior album

For some reason this album reminds me of the Bitches Brew, a similarly dark cut and paste album you can read about.

He has some good albums, but his latest is my favourite  at the moment. The Mountain with Fall, a different style album with tracks with collaborators like Run the Jewels rapping on the second track.

 

Where Can I buy it, and in what formats
You can get this album anywhere. I’ve had it in multiple formats, I love my vinyl copy, but iTunes is as good a place as any to get a copy.

The Verdict
I can’t recommend this album enough, but it’s not going to work as a writing album for everyone. You’ve got to be able to relax into these grooves for it to work for you. For me it takes me to another place.

electronic, Folk, Groove, magical, Music to write to

The Beta Band – The Three EPs

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Definitely coming under the ‘not for everybody’ category, if you don’t hate this you’ll probably think it’s the genius. I’t been labeled trip hop, folktronica and a number of other things, none of which quite prepare you for the journey that is the three EPs. At it’s heart this is a band who play some very enjoyable jams and weave together some honey sounding vocal melodies. When you throw on top all of the fun experimental stuff they put on top, you get the whole picture.

An intriguing mix of sounds that can sound like honeyed folk one moment, then acid and electronic tinged folk, to hip hop and Beatlesque number nine like flights of fancy on tracks like the 15.48 minutes “Monolith.” I think this album just gets better as you listen to it.

They never made it super huge, but they’ve been name checked in movies like Hi Fidelity as the album you put on when you want to sell five copies of an album in a really short time.

Not surprisingly it is made up of the first three EPs to be produced by the anglo scottish Beta Band. The EPs are in order Champion Versions, The Patty Patty Sound, and Los Amigos del Beta Bandidos. You’ll probably have your own favourite one even if you listen to it as one. My favouritee is the Patty Patty sound that goes a little crazy in a good way.

Released
1998

Lyrics
Yes, and they are great. Also quite a few samples thrown in as well.

Mood
This is a fun album, lots of folky very rhythmic folky sing along, wight eh trip hop and a bit of weirdness throw in. I find this a really enjoyable piece of music as a whole. Really I’m a big fan. This would be one of my all time favourite albums if I’m being honest.

Good to work to
Well I like slightly weird music so it’s always going to be good for me, but this album is folky and groove based so large parts of it will work for anyone. When it veers off and gets triply it’s not going to appeal to everyone, but those who like it will really like it.

Like
I know not everyone might agree but there is a bit of Beck in the folk hip hop electronic vibe of his earlier work that I’m reminded of. Maybe not the other albums on this site, but something like Beck’s Odelay.

The Artist/s
Hailing from Scotland, forming in 1996 and disbanding in 20014 the Beta Band are…

John Maclean
Richard Greentree
Steve Mason
Robin Jones
Gordon Anderson
Steve Duffield

Other works
This is one of those albums that herald the birth of creative genius where you think they are going to become absolutely massive, but never quite happens. The Beta band released 2 other albums Hot Shots II in 2001, and Heroes to Zeros in 2004.

While they received some critical acclaim, the three Eps is the stand out work in my mind. Steve Mason the Beta Band’s lead singer alson released music as King Biscuit Boy.

Where Can I buy it, and in what formats
The CD and electronic versions of the album have been in constant circulation. If you love vinyl the original three individual Eps have been re-released.

The Verdict
Pass the crazy pills this is a great album where folk and a big dollop of imagination combine

acoustic, Classical, electronic, Groove, High Tempo, instrumental, magical, Music to write to, World

Charanjit Singh – Ten Ragas to a disco beat

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Charanjit Singh – Ten Ragas to a disco beat
Disco and ancient indian music. A strange mix that’s not for everyone, but perfect for others. With a late eighties disco electronica sound it’s been called early acid house trance before it’s time. Well, it wasn’t very successful at the time, but it has been rediscovered by a later generation.

The story goes session muso Charanjit Singh thought he’d do something a bit different. He mixes traditional Ragas with a disco beat, and the results are a trippy, trancey, disco pop eastern masterpiece, with all the hallmarks of the technology of the time.

Released
1982, re-released in 2002 and 2010

Lyrics
All instrumental with just a smidge of vocoder vocals.

Mood
Upbeat electronica, with endless Raga grooves. Put this on your mixtape and you’ll definitely spin out your friends.

Good to work to
This album has a frenetic pace and is designed to either send you mad or kick you into a higher gear. For me I love it. It works like a charm for getting my fingers skimming over the keyboard,

Like
Amongst the music I’ve written about you might think it shares most in common with Ravi Shankar’s, Three Ragas album, but I’m not so sure. It has elements of trance and electronica. I wouldn’t really compare it to any of the electronica on this site, it’s got to much of an eastern feel. If you like this you might find Kraftwerk and Lemon Jelly too bland.

For me this album has more in common with Miles Davis’s Bitches Brew than any of the albums on this site. The music has the same power to melt your head and completely go through you. With that said it takes me to another place where the worries of the day can’t touch me and I’m free in my head to put words down.

The Artist/s
Charanjit Singh was a session muso on Bollywood films and albums from the sixties through the eighties. This album first came out on cassette which was cutting edge in 1982.

Other works
You can try Experiments in Calypso his later record. I haven’t been able to find it so good luck with that. I could affiliate this with other world music, but I’m not sure it fits.

Where Can I buy it, and in what formats
You can get this album on iTunes. I found the vinyl but expect to pay a premium if you want to get it on vinyl.

The Verdict
I love this, very trippy.

electronic, Groove, vocal samples

Lemon Jelly – LemonJelly.KY

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Lemon Jelly – Lemonjelly.KY
This is a light and fun electronica album pefect for bopping along to when you want to write. It’s also great album to bop along to while you’re cooking your dinner or even feeding the cat.

LemonJelly.KY was the first Lemon Jelly album, and is a mix of the first three EPs they released.

The thing that grabs you first about Lemon Jelly is the unique cover design. It’s no surprise that one half of Lemon Jelly is a graphic designer. You just want to play it when you see the brightly coloured looking cover which perfectly matches the music as well. It carries a real lightness about it.

It has been sampled and used in various soundtracks (Including one of my all-time favourite TV shows, SPACED) but this album works for anything.

Released
2001

Lyrics
Samples are used but it’s not a lyrical album. Sampes range from such great lines as ‘what do you do in the bath.’ Other songs like ‘the Staunton lick’ are pure instrumentals that work. One of my favourite’s Nervous tension uses samples from a South African psychologist’s album for relaxation.

The lyrics are of course quite incidental, so you will never have to worry that they will overwhelm you.

Mood
LemonJelly.KY and basically all of the Lemon Jelly music is great for doing anything. I don’t know anyone who doens’t feel lifted after they listen to Lemon Jelly. It doesn’t take over, but it definitely lightens everything up which is a good thing.

Good to work to
A very light album that works for everything.

Like
Upbeat house groove, and more generally electronic music. Obviously I’d say Lost Horizon the album by Lemon Jelly that came after this is in the same vibe, the other later albums (called 64-95) went in a more up-tempo direction, that is great but is not as friendly, which may be more helpful for wrinting. I’d say if you like this one,  definitely get lost horizon. It’s great.

I hesitate to compare this album with much else, as it has a real happy house, summer sound to it more than a particular musical sound.

The Artist/s
Lemon Jelly is Fred Deakin and Nick Franglen. They are both from London, and were in the same crowd without ever being mates until ten years later. Deakin started a graphic arts company and DJ’d, while Franglen worked as a landscape gardner then as a studio programmer for some big acts (n.b. no idea what a studio planner is).

There early Eps went well they got picked up by a label and discovered people really liked their music. The first album in 2000 was Lemonjelly.KY, the second was this one, followed by 64-95 which is music using samples from each of the years. They decided to have a break in 2008, and their website says they’s be coming back.

Other works
Lemon Jelly’s later album Lost Horizon fits in the same mould, and just as good. There other major album is called ’64 to 95’ an album that is great but has a very different feel to this and Lost Horizon. I will have to have a think about whether or not I would put it in this category of good work albums, but  don’t think it will make it.

There is one extra piece I would recommend which was a kind of sampler mix tape they put together. My lady friend happened to get a copy of when she met the graphic designer for there albums at a conference. I never found out what it was called and it’s more a party album than a writing album, but it is also great.

Where Can I buy it, and in what formats
You should be able to get this album on CD and as MP3 most places. I did at one stage search for it on vinyl, but this is another of those rare treasures that don’t last long on vinyl and are a gazillion dollars second hand. At this stage I don’t think it is going to be repressed any time soon.

The Verdict
Another album I absolutely love. It is very easy going and light. Certainly not the album I’d use to listen to for every type of running.

electronic, Groove, Jazz

Bonobo – Black Sands

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Bonobo – Black Sands – writing music
This is a contemporary electronic groove mood album that bubbles along. No doubt at some stage it will be considered cliqued along with its production values, but for me it works. It all fits together and despite the fact there is some cleverness the music fits together thematically and maintains the grooves that work for my brain to keep typing away.

This album is put together tightly and works without the kind of distractions that may throw you off track while you’re writing. There are lots of tight drums, keyboard, the occasional sample, violin, bleeps, but all very smoothly worked in.

Tom the french dude who works in my local coffee shop put me onto this album, and it is certainly flavour of the last few years, and prime grooving in the coffee shop kind of music. If this album were a colour it would be warm and tasty, kind of like caramel. It has good production, but it is quite subtle. Definitely not and in your face kind of album.

Released
2010

Lyrics
Some but not a lot of lyrics. There is the odd downbeat songs with lyrics, but not the kind where the vocals feature to an extent where they are used as much more than another instrument. Groove lounge music.

Mood
This is a really chilled out groove album that is more reflective and downbeat than anything else. It’s not really the kind of music that is going to have you opening a vein, but don’t expect any chuckles. The whole reflective tone of Black Sands is exactly what you want when you are writing.

Good to work to
I got it as a safe birthday present for my brother and it works well for dinner parties and for writing when you are already on track and know what you want to write. Sometimes when you’re in the groove a metaphorical athletic support can help everything on its way.

This is a great album to work to for all styles of workers. It is an experimental style of music, but done in a very safe way. It might not sound that attractive, it’s something you could play for your mum without any fear of upsetting her.

Despite this mixed review, take it from me just plug it in and you’ll start working. It’ll get you tapping. The nice thing about this album is that it keeps moving. For me all that is important is to keep moving, keeping on typing and the music has done its job. You might even enjoy it after a while I definitely have.

Like
This is one of those albums that used to be included in ministry of sound compilations, that are played at groovy bars and coffee shops.

The Artist/s
Bonobo also known as Simon Green is an English DJ.  Bonobo has been releasing music side 1999. I have only known about him for the last few years, but that means nothing. His work has been described as trip hop electronica, and many other strange words, such as ‘new downtempo’.  New downtempo, give me a break!

Other works
Bonobo’s more recent offering is called “the North Borders’ is quite a good album also and comparaitive in quality for your writing aid.

Where Can I buy it, and in what formats
You should be able to find this everywhere. I’m sure this sounds great on vinyl, but I don’t know whether I’d bother, I like it but more in the background when I’m doing things.

The Verdict
This is a good one to listen to first before making the perfect. I think it works really well, but I don’t think this groove album is for everyone. Black Sands definitely takes you on a journey. It is a seamless journey but a journey nonetheless. I find this whole concept of a journey really important in an album I write to it gives my head some peaks and troughs. Who knows whether some of the sounds will appear dated in a few years, regardless I think it will still serve its purpose. The one thing I will say is that for some people this music will not different enough to take you into a different headspace.

electronic

Lemon Jelly – Lost Horizons

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Lemon Jelly – Lost Horizons – Best music to write to

With track names like ‘Nice weather for ducks’,  ‘The curse of Ka’zar’, and ‘Return to Patagonia’ you can guess this is a fun album. It moves along at a nice pace and is a pleasure to listen to. Lemon Jelly sound like they have a lot of fun making their albums. They throw in lots of samples and ideas and create fun grooves, that consistently keep you moving along and your fingers typing.

The most distinctive thing about Lemon Jelly before you have heard their music is their cute visual style. You would be pardoned for thinking albums with such cute looking packaging could not fail to be a bit ordinary underneath it all. Luckily this is not the case with Lemon Jelly.

This is Lemon Jelly’s second album, but the first album was their first three Eps combined, so their second is the first real album in one sense. I am not sure whether all the tracks are more connected or not or whether it is just my imagination as both are great listens.

Released
2002

Lyrics
No lyrics, but some of the tracks have quite a few samples

Mood
This album is extremely light, like the earlier album it is uplifting and happy. It is tempting to just use it as an album to listen to while wandering around the house or cooking, but it is equally effective to help you when writing.

Good to work to
Indeed, very long grooves that give you time to really get into what you are concentrating on. Not every track is light in mood although the early ones are, and I find this makes it easier for me to start writing without getting distracted. The vocal samples are more used as instruments than vocals, they are mostly spoken in any event.

Like
I can’t really think of a direct comparison, except for their first album LemonJelly.KY. There are lots of electronic easy listening albums, but Lemon Jelly inject a combination of lightness, with organic and electronic sods that feels unforced and like some people you’d like to hang out with having fun.

The Artist/s  
Lemon Jelly is Fred Deakin and Nick Franglen. They are both from London, and were in the same crow of friends without ever being mates until ten years later. Deakin started a graphic arts company and DJ’d, while Franglen worked as a landscape gardner then as a studio programmer for some big acts (n.b. no idea what a studio planner is). In their brief career they won some awards and their music was used in various tv shows including the brilliant Simon Pegg vehicle ‘Spaced’.

There early Eps went well they got picked up by a label and discovered people really liked their music. The first album in 2000 was Lemonjelly.KY, the second was this one, followed by 64-95 which is music using samples from each of the years. They decided to have a break in 2008, and their website says they’s be coming back.

Other works
Lemon Jelly’s earlier album Lemonjelly.KY is an amalgam of the first three EPs that the cup put out and fits in the same mould. I will also review this album in due course. There other major album is called ’64 to 95’ an album that is great but has a very different feel to the two earlier albums. I will have to have a think about whether or not I would put it in this category of good work albums, but  don’t think it will make it. There is one extra piece I would recommend which was a kind of mix tape they put together that my lady friend happened to get a copy of when she met the graphic designer for there albums at a conference.

Where Can I buy it, and in what formats
You should be able to get this album  on CD and as MP3 most places. I did at one stage search for it on vinyl, but this is another of those rare treasures that don’t last long on vinyl. At this stage I don’t think it is going to be repressed any time soon.

The Verdict
Definitely a great album to write to. Also a great album to bounce around the kitchen to.

electronic

LCD Soundsystem – 45.33

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LCD Soundsystem – 45.33
45:33 has a name that is a play on the 45 and 33 record speeds, the album is longer than 45 minutes and 33 seconds long. The composer is James Murphy the main cog in LCD sound System and DFA. It is a low key electronic odyssey.

This album was commissioned by Nike via marketing and PR firm Cornerstone to help its marketing for one of its products/brand. Nike promoted it as good to listen to when jogging, “to reward and push at good intervals of a run.” It was released originally in 2007 exclusively for Nike people as a gift for registered Nike+ users (whoever they are). It was also for sale on iTunes for a brief period of time and briefly released on CD.

Murphy is quoted as saying the tracks had been refined over several runs on the treadmill. Murphy later said that this was a lie and he does not jog. I find this lie endearing. Murphy was actually inspired by a long instrumental piece called E2-E4 (I assume a play on a chess board move) by Manuel Gottsching. Gottsching later said that 45”33 is more like a megamix of Murphy’s other work, but for all I know he loves Murphy’s other work and listen’s to the album when he’s jogging in his Nike shoes wearing a Nike headband, on his iPad, iPhone, and iBatphone when he’s making love (beep beep beep)

Released
2007

Lyrics
No lyrics in the main, but a few more used as samples than anything else. On the whole mainly just beeps and squeaks

Mood
Upbeat, and fast moving. This is an album that pushes you along.

Good to work to
Very good uptempo tracks

Like
Electronica, a slightly more beefed up version of the genre midway between Kraftwerk, Daft Punk, and acoustic, disco.

The Artist/s
LCD Soundsytem is the alter ego of James Murphy dance and rock collaborator. Some of the tracks on 45:33 are derivative of tracks that were, or were to be recorded by LCD sound system. I think there is no doubt that James Murphy is a talented artist with a great ear for a hook.

James Murphy – drums, percussion, drum programming, handclaps, bass guitar, guitar, vocals, glockenspiel, clavinet, organ, synthesizer, vocoder
Musicians
Alex Frankel – wurlitzer piano
Eric Broucek – programming
Jason Disu – trumpet
Carter Yasutake – trumpet
Terra Deva – vocals

Other works
Many others but none I would equate to having anything like the vibe of this album. That is perhaps a little hard line as some of the tracks on this album were later used in the LCD Soundsystem – Sounds of Silver album. The other albums of LCD sound system definitely don’t have the same vibe. I have friends who really rate LCD Soundsystem, I have never been such a fan. I do like this album to write to, and DFA which is basically Murphy do a great 10 minute+ long dance remix of the Gorillaz track ??? She’s com in up, she’s com in up with samples from the great Shane McGowan of the Pogues.

There was a 45:33 remix album re-released in 2009 but I have not heard it, sorry. I like working to it but I don’t find it groundbreaking enough to go and find everything associated with it.

Where Can I buy it, and in what formats
Originally only released on iTunes, now rarer but available in other formats. I have seen it for sale on various sites on vinyl.

The Verdict
I am not sure whether it is because of it’s links to Nike that is limiting my praise. This is a little hypocritical as if you didn’t know of the Nike link you would judge it on its merits. You don’t judge Shakespeare more harshly because some of his plays were commissioned by royalty with some commercial and health related parameters on what could be said.

This is a good album to listen to if you want to get typing quickly. It is not going to send me to the metaphysical depths of my brain pan, but realistically for a lot of the things I write I don’t need that level of inspiration, and sometimes even for the writing I care the most about, I just need to pump out some words.

electronic, High Tempo

Kraftwerk – Man Machine

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Kraftwerk – Man Machine – music to write to
Man Machine is classic Kraftwerk German electronica. From the opening track ‘We are the robots’ the tempo is set. Beeps, whistles, and seventies pseudo computer sounds create a memorable and ground breaking album that set the scene for much of the music to come over the next forty years. This album takes a lot of beating as a writing album. It is cohesive, fun, speedy, and great to drive your fingers as they tap away at the keys.

Kraftwerk were unique at the time and even with the passage of time the quality of their work is not diminished. This is one of those great albums where even the artwork is laid out to  enhance the listening experience. The album cover as above is another reflection of the tracks on the album that pull you along with a thematic experience of the man machine.

They actually designed and created some musical instruments to enable them to record their albums. They also conceptualised their music as a response to technology and modernism. The red and black cover with the whole band in matching uniforms is inspired by Russian artists of the Suprematism movement, in particular El Lissitzky. Suprematism is based around geometric forms and a limited palette of colours. Suprematism refers to ‘the supremacy of our artistic feeling. The movement was born around the time of the start of world war one, but with the development of the Russian revolution developed artists were pushed into conforming. Like many artistic movements it foundered but gave birth to further art movements that I also know little about. To the outsider the symbolism looks purely authoritarian and also shares the nazi colours. This album grabs the iconography of extremes, super imposes the world of machines and industrialism, and isolation, to make a great cohesive album. It was massive at the time and will be one of those timeless album that is always around.

They are as you would imagine by looking at the artwork on their albums, eccentric visionary chaps. They are notoriously reclusive. The standing information that they hand out about contacting them is that they have set up the phone in their studio so it does not ring so they are not interrupted when they are recording. They advise of a time when the phone will be answered.

Coldplay apparently asked to use a sample and had to write several letters through their lawyers to the Kraftwerk lawyers to get into contact. Apparently they received a handwritten letter with a single word written word. I can see a certain synergy there as Coldplay also write music as if it were written by robots, although it is written by humans.

Bottom line, a great album to write to.

Released
1978

Lyrics
Yes, but not that money. As you listen to this album the only lyrics sounds more like electronic directions for how to use the dishwasher than song lyrics.

Mood
Mechanical and speedy. Not quite inhuman, but it certainly has the feel of people trying to sound like computers, but just before the era when it would have been possible for them to actually make the entire thing with computers.

Good to work to
Yes, Man Machine puts you in the mood to do something quickly straight away. The album is melodic in a really simple minimalist way, but it is the insistent tempo that keeps you working.

Like
There was a veritable plague of German electronica in the seventies with bands like Can and Nue, so much so that the term Krautrock was coined as a result.

The Artist/s 
Kraftwerk are one of the most influential electronic bands in the world. Kraftwerk mean power station in germ on.

The Kraftwerk line-up that created Man Machine were
Ralf Hutter – album concept cover, keyboard, synthesiser, vocoder, voice etc
Florian Schneider – album concept, electronics, synthesiser, vocoder
Karl Bartos – electronic drums
Wolfgang Flur – electronic drums

Other works
They have a whole set of great albums, you aren’t going to find a big difference in sound between these albums but a whole

Where Can I buy it, and in what formats
You can get Kraftwerk everywhere in all formats

The Verdict
Perfect for writing, a steady pace and active tempo to work to.

electronic, Folk

Best music to write to… Goldfrapp – Seventh Tree

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Goldfrapp – Seventh Tree
There is a gentle beauty to this album that makes my toes tingle with pleasure from the opening acoustic guitar riff.  Alison Goldfrapp’s sings with a mixture of exquisite high harmonies and the best sexy breathy James Bond theme chanteuse style. She had me from about 15 seconds into the first track, ‘Clowns. The simplicity of this album, combined with the orchestration, tight arrangements, and deep warmth combine to create a beautifully soothing listening experience. How does folk electronica sound?

This album is a complete departure from Goldfrapp’s previous albums. This album was inspired by an acoustic radio set the two played. They were enchanted by the warmth of the sound and decided to incorporate it into their next album. They haven’t completely abandoned the studio wizardry, but any cool sounds have been okayed down so they don’t distract from the soaring harmonies.

Goldfrapp tested a new look to take away from the overtly sexy look that was distracting from the music. I don’t know how successful that tactic was. The music is a beautiful mixture of acoustic, organic and the traditional percussive elements that are signature to the Goldfrapp sound.

They have said the album was inspired by paganism and surreal English children’s books. I really like the way how the whole artwork package and accompanying mini films that go along with the album work. A mixture of clown and owl imagery is going to grab me every time. If you buy it on vinyl you also get a really cool poster, I might be a sucker for the merchandising, but it’s pretty cool

Below is a brief collage of tracks on the album to some film put together by the artists. It gives you an idea of some of the treats.

Below is a short film with some clips from the album and the artists explaining how they made it. Warning – it may come as somewhat of a shock hearing the breathy beautiful voice of Alison Goldfrapp out of context with her native accent.

Released
2008

Lyrics
Yes all over the album, throaty breathy beautiful lyrics.

Mood
Warm, meditative music that would suit a warm bath and a glass of red wine as well as anything else. The vocals and instrumentation have a real depth that I really like.

Good to work to  
This album calms me down and lets me relax. Maybe that’s not good for every kind of writing but it is certainly the kind of album that can relax me. It is a melodic album, one that vibrates with joy, sombre thoughts, and self-reflection. Although there are lyrics I don’t find them distracting at all and I find listening to this album quite soothing all of which makes it easier for me to write to it.

Like
This album is a combination of styles, variously called folktronica, dream pop and various other meaningless words made up by music journalists.

The Artist/s  
Goldfrapp are an english duo, Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory. They were introduced in 1999, who had heard one of her demos. Gregory was a composer while Alison Goldfrapp had been a backing/guest vocalist on tracks by Orbital and Tricky. Their first album together was 2000’s Felt Mountain. This was followed by Black Cherry in 2003, and Supernature in 2005. They received acclaim and some success with their earlier albums most notably with Supernature, before the change of direction that was heralded by the release of Seventh Tree. There latest album Tales of Us was released in 2013, but I haven’t heard it.

Below is a short film with some clips from the album and the artists explaining how they made it.

Other works
I have heard most of Goldrapp’s albums but I am pretty sure this is the only one they have in this style. All of the others are gorgeous electro pop and atmospheric jewels. Not that you couldn’t work to their other albums, but they aren’t of the same style. The rest of their output is distinctly more electro ambient albums.

Where Can I buy it, and in what formats
You should be able to get this everywhere. My vinyl version is one of my favourite albums. It has this lovely artwork and posters.

The Verdict
This is a big winner. It has a calming effect that is sure to make you happy while you are productive.