TV on The Radio

Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the garden… is the latest instalment in composer, improviser, saxophonist, and visual artist Matana Roberts’ visionary project exploring African-American history through ancestry, archive and place. Weaving together elements of jazz, avant-garde composition, folk and spoken word, Roberts tells the story of a woman in their ancestral line, who died following complications from an illegal abortion. At a time when reproductive rights are under attack, her story takes on new resonance. “I wanted to talk about this issue, but in a way where she gets some sense of liberation,” Roberts explains. By unpacking family stories and conducting extensive research in US public archives, Roberts has created a rounded portrait of a woman who is, as their lyrics put it, “electric, alive, spirited, fire and free.”

The National - High Violet (2010) {4AD CAD 3X03CD}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 313 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 112 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 14 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2010 4AD Records | CAD 3X03CD
Rock / Indie Rock / Alternative / Chamber Pop / Sadcore

The National have worn a lot of hats since their 2001 debut, but they’ve never been able to shake the rural, book-smart, quiet malevolence of the Midwest. The Brooklyn-groomed, Ohio-bred indie rock quintet’s fifth full-length album navigates that lonely dirt road where swagger meets desperation like a seasoned tour guide, and while it may take a few songs to get going, there are treasures to be found for patient passengers. The National's profile rose considerably after 2007’s critically acclaimed The Boxer, and they have used that capital to craft a flawed gem of a record that highlights their strengths and weaknesses with copious amounts of red ink.

Though it was technically a surprise drop, Jay Z and Beyoncé’s joint album Everything Is Love was a long time coming. It’s no secret fans have spent the last several years holding their collective breath for the collaborative project, enduring countless rumors, teasers, and the occasional letdown. But just when many of us started losing hope, the Carters came through and abruptly dropped the long-awaited project exclusively on Tidal, reminding their battalion of stans that “all good things come to those who wait.” And god knows we’ve waited long enough.

Following a busy recording year in 2009, Scott Herren focused on collaborative projects in 2010, flexing his production muscles via dates, remixes, or cameos with everyone from Zach Hill to Oneohtrix Point Never to TV on the Radio. The Only She Chapters continues the familial feeling, with a wealth of features for female vocalists, which on the surface makes this Prefuse 73 record sound more like it came from Herren’s Savath & Savalas project. Still, it shows his production style has changed slightly. First, there’s little to no evidence of a hip-hop influence, or even electro for that matter…

In a world turned upside down, The Secret Machines are back, and looking for light in the chaos. Awake In the Brain Chamber, the band’s fourth LP and first recorded output in more than ten years, is the sound of things falling apart, with the hope of dawn touching the horizon. If there is a crack in everything, Curtis and Garza are more interested in the light coming in. Curtis’ darkly prophetic lyrics speak of isolation and fear, while Garza’s frenetic, pounding drum beats sound of the four horsemen. But just when things look their worst, the Machines’ beautifully ethereal space-rock takes us away to a different, safe destination: A place with angels, where dreaming is alright, and life blooms from a new disaster.