CMJ » Lotte Agullo-Collins

Warpaint – The Fool

Lotte Agullo-Collins — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:16:40 +0000

Though Warpaint’s actual debut was 2008’s Exquisite Corpse, the quartet has truly come into its own on The Fool, its first LP for Rough Trade. Loaded with effect-riddled guitar lines and hypnotic drum patterns, the all-girl group’s haunting vocals evoke a pseudo-psychedelic feeling (think Au Revoir Simone with a dark secret and more minor key signatures) that aligns itself with a grungy early ’90s aesthetic. Songs run the gamut from minimalist acoustic productions, like “Baby,” to tracks that incorporate reverb-drenched guitars in a far fuller production, like the self-titled “Warpaint.” With a sound that comes off as natural, Warpaint represents a much needed departure from the ubiquity of synth-pop, and The Fool is a welcome detour.

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Von Pea – Pea’s Gotta Have It

Lotte Agullo-Collins — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:26:19 +0000

After working as one third of the critically acclaimed rap trio Tanya Morgan for the past seven years, MC and producer Von Pea now emerges with a debut solo album. Relying heavily on funk, jazz and horns, the 17-track effort showcases a thoroughbred hip-hop pedigree that’s borne out of a ’90s-style melting pot of musical influences. Songs like “Open School” are like the more earnest endeavors of De La Soul with a slow and steady vocal delivery and a far more relaxing tone than we’ve become accustomed to this decade. While Pea cites Big Daddy Kane, Busta Rhymes and Biggie as a few his strongest influences, his productions seem to bear a far stronger resemblance to groups like A Tribe Called Quest and the Native Tongues movement—hardly a bad thing for this up-and-coming rapper.

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Hello Music Showcase @ Ace Of Clubs, October 20

Lotte Agullo-Collins — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:00:23 +0000

Hello Music is yet another wonderfully altruistic music company “dedicated to connecting today’s best independent musical talent to real industry opportunities, because we believe that all great music deserves to be heard,” and last night’ s showcase was a prime example of how much talent there is in the world of independent music. Featuring sets from the Bamboo Kids, Gamble And Burke, New Look, Ben Talmi and Casxio, the night was a medley of different styles and genres—each one entertaining within its own right.

L.A.-based Casxio quickly became a personal favorite of mine with their sweet-talking, comedy-infused stylings. Featuring funk-based songs like “I Just Wanna Have Sex With You” and “ Where Were You,” these guys are like the real-live version of Flight Of The Concords—and I mean season one FOTC, not even season two—with comparisons to the New Zealanders’ hit “Business Time” more than welcome.

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