New Music: Domestic Blend Vol. 1, Cyann & Ben

You know how some days you just feel like taking a step back and rocking out? Like just putting on a totally sweet record of yours and letting it mercilessly assault your ears? Today was that kind of day for me. Here's a thorough list of what I did, not necessarily in order of importance:

1. Surfed the Internet when I should've been doing work
2. Listened to These Arms Are Snakes

But I came home this evening and, somewhere around the ninth time through "Your Pearly Whites," I decided I'd gotten my fill of post-hardcore (...for today). I needed something a little calmer, a little more contemplative, a little less abrasive. Also, I need two full albums worth of material to do this job.













Ill Padre - Thief of Tranquility (Inner Current 2007)

Akello Uchenna - Been So Good (Inner Current 2007)

Various Artists - Domestic Blend Vol. 1 / Inner Current

That's when Inner Current slipped in almost unnoticed (or maybe my hearing is just that bad now). Everyday we the good music-lovers are bombarded with new names dropped by what must be some sort of 24-hour news service streaming from Brooklyn: If it's not the latest signing by somebody affiliated with the great resurgence of "indie-rock," it's 50 Cent and all of his cronies in a beef with one talentless hack or another. As best I can tell, that's pretty unfair. There's a lot happening in Brooklyn right now that is hip-hop and, more importantly, that isn't associated with the DFA that deserves to be highlighted.

I recently read over at the Brooklyn Record that the burrough's hip-hop guiding lights are going by the wayside. The argument in short is that there's nothing new worth looking at. For those only concerned with Top 40 rap tripe, that may be true... But sometimes you have to dig a little deeper into your own neighborhood to find the good stuff. It's like a record store with the best vinyl as the dustiest, upside down, and misplaced in the back. It's there, you just have to have the energy to keeping digging.

You shouldn't have to go digging too far for Inner Current, though. The two guys behind it - Rick Diaz Granados and Inoel Miranda in case you're checking up on your neighbors - only just got this thing off the ground in 2005. And to be even more frank, Domestic Blend Vol. 1 has actually been out and about in one form or another since last August or something, so this isn't even really that new for anybody who's had their ears to the ground. I think it's important to highlight this label though, because in the wake of DJ Shadow's disappointing The Outsider last year, I found a lot of people were looking for some kind of replacement to fill in the gaps while RJD2 prepares himself for a critical backlash with The Third Hand and Madlib (apparently) continues his work on the third part of the Beat Konducta series. Basically: Instrumental hip-hop needs some positives right now, because '06 was ugly and 2007 doesn't look much better.

Look no further: As Ill Padre's "Thief of Tranquility" and Akello Uchenna's "Been So Good" aptly demonstrate, the collection of artists for Inner Current (11 strong at the moment and including the likes of Tundra and Glen Porter) all take a great interest in Mo' Wax and Ninja Tune's finest moments with a pinch of Blue Note for good measure. In other words, a healthy helping of hip-hop, a dash of dub and downtempo, a jiggle or two of jazz: This is right up there with the best spinners at the moment and smooth as silk. At 18 songs and featuring some really solid beats I was starting to feel fresh out of, Domestic Blend Vol. 1 is a perfect introduction for your special lady to your, um, crib. Sounds horribly awkward, but rest assured that these tracks have all been laid out smoother than you could ever hope to lay your lady. Hey, there are some things even Tsunchoo can't fix. You're on your own.













Cyann & Ben - Sunny Morning (Ever 2007)

Cyann & Ben - Sweet Beliefs / Ever

Cyann & Ben was the other musical muse I felt really hit me in the right way for said occasion. Heavily scrutinzed for a variety of reasons (almost all of which stem from their involvement with M83 and the recent collapse of Gooom), the French quartet have already endured most of the publicity that might've been drummed up either for or against Sweet Beliefs because it came out last October in Europe. But look, you know how it is: We're only human. We can't cover every band all the time or else we'd actually either look like professionals or look like we have no real lives, and who wants that in a blog right? So I merrily plug away at the sounds that literally sweep you off your feet on "Words" to open up the nine-song affair. Such a simple title, isn't it? Almost totally understated, "Words" winds up with sounding awfully spiritualized by the end of its near-five minutes. This isn't quite as forthcoming as their two previous albums, but as a direct result... Big statement alert! It could be their best yet. Oh snap, I did go there.

And it looks like I walked into territory hitherto unknown. In my time-killing on the Internet today, I read a ton of stuff on how Sweet Beliefs is "hard to get into, but eventually rewarding." Or something like that. Uh, what? Were these people listening to the same glorious album I was? Maybe they had their "I'm a critic" caps on instead of their "I need a break from These Arms Are Snakes" caps. As ever, take this from one guy with a PC and an opinion... But this felt like a glass slipper the first time I listened to it all the way through and its beauty is both clearly stated and effective all the same. Cyann & Ben are content to play the folk card a little more heavily, but that's nothing to balk at. Sometimes with albums that gradually unfold as this does so brilliantly, it's better to start off slowly with a plucked acoustic six-string and work your way deep into the recesses of otherworldly white noise.

Cleverly constructed songs, all of these swirling sounds suck you in slowly and you soon find yourself in a zen-like state that's normally reserved for shoegazers; the looping melody of the awesome seven-minute "Sunny Morning" or the abbreviated melange of distortion that is "Let it Play" graphically illustrate what I'm thinking of here. Hear those echoing keys and distant guitars. The arrival of morning on "In Union With..." has rarely been soundtracked more appropriately. Space travel, a frequent favorite musical metaphor of mine, once again re-enters via 60s French pop (or Stereolab?) on "Guilty," but it's so subtle you never really notice. There's no kitsch and there's not really any Can to speak of either. It's just barely there so that you know this isn't an album conjured up in the midst of a sunny day in Glasgow.

A lot of talk in recent times surrounding France has been all about the dirty electro of Ed Banger or the wonderful world of suburban hip-hop that took center-stage following riots in late '05 and on into last year. It's justified, of course, but rarely does anyone mention French post-rock... And maybe there's a reason for that. Cyann & Ben aren't it. This is one of the most engaging records of the year for me, and I'm not even on my These Arms Are Snakes adrenaline rush anymore. I've settled down; alongside a couple of clever guys from Brooklyn, Cyann & Ben helped me get there. Like M83, Cyann & Ben are best listened to in full and when you're feeling totally finished. Some music was simply meant to lift the spirits of the common man. While critics go about postulating on the implications of this deal where they'll soundtrack "THX-1180" at some film festival, those of us just trying to get by with our nine-to-fivers might find our own answers between the lines. Inner Current and Cyann & Ben give you at least temporary respite from the chaos of daily life These Arms Are Snakes are out to perpetuate. End your pathos here, friend. You'll be glad you did.