PLAYLIST & NEW RELEASES

September was a big month for new music.New releases include Glass Animals' How To Be A Human Being, What So Not's Divide & Conquer EP, Isaiah Rashad's critically-acclaimed album The Sun's Tirade and James Blake's "Timeless" release with new raps from Vince Staples, amongst others.

My three most-listened-to artists of the month are Schoolboy Q, Shlohmo, and Father.

MUST-READ ARTICLES

I also want to introduce something new to my monthly favorites – notable articles I've read this month. In September, I recommend:

VMAN magazine's profile of one of my favorite record labels, WEDIDIT. They discuss how the label is leveraging their cult following by branching out from music and into retail. WEDIDIT's unconventional designs now being sold via the luxury fashion brand Opening Ceremony.
The New York Times' 2014 article about Burning Man (the festival in Black Rock City, NV) whose principles of "self-reliance" and "radical inclusion," has in some ways become a congregation of tech elites one-upping each other. I found this article while reading about the "revolution against rich parasites" at this year's Burning Man. The larger social commentary at play is fascinating, and it seems to be a trend in the industry as festivals are becoming increasingly commercialized.
Residential Advisor's profile of LuckyMe, the Glasgow-based record label whose roster includes Baauer and TNGHT (the duo and trap music pioneers who produced Kanye West's "Blood on the Leaves"). There's a reason why LuckyMe isn't a household name, and that's intentional.
The New York Times' article discussing the success of Beyoncé's Lemonade. The creation of short films or extended videos to go along with the music itself is becoming a vital component of any artist's content.
The Verge's report that Spotify may acquire SoundCloud.

MIX

Tunji Ige's mix for The Fader. I recommend listening to Tunji Ige rap on What So Not's track "Feel It."

VIDEO

It's no surprise that I've been mostly into electronic music lately, but singer-songwriters like Corinne Bailey Rae will always have a special place in my heart. Plus, the NPR Tiny Desk Concerts always provide an incredibly raw and intimate venue, making the performances seem more real and down to earth.

PHOTOS

Mura Masa's visuals.

I'm stoked to see that British grime MC and rapper Skepta has won the Mercury Prize this year with his album Konnichiwa! He beat Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool and David Bowie's Blackstar. Sales of Konnichiwa have apparently gone up 226% since the win.

Rubadub, the pro-audio shop, in Glasgow.

Next up: Halloweird 2016 – a follow up to the 2015 playlist!

Baauer’s debut full-length album Aa (pronounced “double A”) marks a new era for the producer best known for his track “Harlem Shake,” which turned into a viral meme phenomenon on YouTube in 2013. Subsequent releases proved that YouTube commenters and the media hadn’t given him enough credit for his inventively rambunctious musical style. Songs like “Raspberry” and “Dum Dum” showcased his ability to transform kooky vocal cuts into the rowdiest bangers.

At 13 tracks and a mere 33 minutes, though, Aa already only scratches the surface of musical and emotional depth. “Church” and “Church Reprise” are cinematically pretty, M83-esque interludes. But while the washed-out guitar solo in “Church Reprise” is charming, one would expect to hear something more epic from a collaboration with Rustie, the Scottish producer known for his high-energy trap production. The central force of “Good & Bad,” another intermission barely lasting a minute, is a dark and droning bass that feels monumental but is too reminiscent of Flume.

Aa shines the most in its higher tempo tracks, but these aren't without their weak points. “Sow” is classic Baauer, layered with his signature vocal chops and wonky beats. There’s still no clear drop though – no destination that makes the clubbers rejoice. While the R&B, UK garage-influenced “Way From Me” is mysterious and almost romantic, its vocals lack melodic variation. “Aa,” the titular track, has unexpected screamo samples that feel luridly cool but make the track too compressed. The trembling bass line and anticipation-building hook of "GoGo!" are what win the mark in Aa.

Growing up in Germany, London and the US, Baauer shows off his taste for unconventional sounds and underground talent spanning the globe. “Day Ones” features English rapper Novelist, “Temple” showcases South Korean rapper G-DRAGON, and “Make It Bang” introduces Baltimore-based singer TT The Artist. The selection is eclectic and flavorful. But as a result, Aa feels scattered.

Baauer experiments with different avenues of electronic music in Aa. This makes it worth a listen, especially for American listeners who want an easy introduction to foreign dance sounds. But the standout tracks are the faster, hip-hop-influenced “GoGo!,” “Temple” and “Kung Fu,” which features higher-profile rappers Pusha T and Future. In this way, it’s clear that Baauer is best at creating amped-up club anthems with massive drops. Aa has allowed Baauer to expand his musical catalog. He should continue digging deeper into that hyperactive realm.

Aa: iTunes / Spotify