♬ Erik Blood – Touch Screens
Until recently, I knew of Erik Blood only as a music producer, mixer and engineer, and he’s a wizard in the studio. His work with Shabazz Palaces and TheeSatisfaction is some of the most innovative (and trippy) hip-hop that I’ve ever liked. In fact I named Shabazz Palaces’ Black Up as my album of the year for 2011, in no small part because of the way that it was packaged on his end.
Not really all that different in some ways (atmosphere, attitude) from those aforementioned recordings, though also a completely different animal, Blood’s latest LP Touch Screens, is best experienced as a whole. Twelve cohesive songs about pornography from differing points of view that weave and flow in surprising directions, driven by forces ranging from lush string arrangements and dream-laden vocals to dance beats and psychedelia. KEXP’s Music Director Don Yates nailed a pretty tough one in just a few words again, describing Touch Screens as having “a varied, atmospheric sound ranging from blistering shoegazer psych-rock to hazy dream-pop, with jangly, effects-laden guitars, propulsive rhythms and soft, half-buried vocals.”
Touch Screens is gorgeously complex enough to listen to over and over again, yet equally appealing to those who “just want to hear something different and cool.” It’s also a one hell of a fabulously intriguing album-listening experience that just screams out loud to be heard on vinyl.
Touch Screens was self-released today digitally and on limited-edition light-blue vinyl with 4 interchangeable covers done by acclaimed artists Dumb Eyes on Blood’s website.
Been listening to this non-stop since you posted it. Fantastic!
This is awesome! Loved his last album too. You should definitely check it out!
I usually hate any kind of “concept album” but this isn’t the crusty porn-groove that I expected at all. This is thoughtful & thought-provoking and one of the best albums I’ve heard in a long time. Thanks for sharing this. You’ve got a new follower.