i have been reviewing and buying a shit-load of music this summer trying to find something that will blow me away or at least become my summer soundtrack. lucky i am so well-connected with my favorite labels that i get previews to upcoming stuff so i can maintain my feeling of being extra-special. so here is a short list of what’s on the heavy rotation in casa nooka, le premier laboratoire de l’innovation de conception et de l’imagination:

black city by matthew dear
“Matthew Dear’s Black City can’t be found on any map. It’s a composite, an imaginary metropolis peopled by desperate cases, lovelorn souls, and amoral motives. Like most literary Gothams, Black City is a place to love and hate, as seedy as a nightclub’s back room and as seductive as the promise of power. Matthew Dear, the musician, may live in New York City, but the Matthew Dear of Black City inhabits a sound-world unlike any other: a monument to the shadowy side of urban life that bumps and creaks, shudders and wakes up screaming in the middle of the night. Black City is Matthew Dear’s third album on Ghostly International, and it’s his darkest and most engrossing work to date.” –ghostly.com preorder at only $7.99 is a great deal as well.

atlantique by minitel rose
a tight collection of retro future pop sounds from one of my fave french purveyors of electro-pop. it’s more 80s than the 80s ever were which makes it 160 i think. french accented english and falsetto back up vocals with sequencers always create a sound that makes me energized. buy a copy here.

disconnect from desire by school of seven bells
“School of Seven Bells take their magic seriously. Symbols, myths, mantras—in the hands of sisters/vocalists Alejandra and Claudia Deheza and guitarist/producer Benjamin Curtis (formerly of On! Air! Library! and Secret Machines, respectively), these mystical practices become achingly human, methods of making sense of an emotionally complex world. School of Seven Bells’ sophomore album Disconnect from Desire—the follow-up to the Brooklyn trio’s breakthrough Ghostly debut Alpinisms—takes its title from one of Brian Eno’s oblique stratagems; its’ cryptic album image is a “sigil,” a mystical figure containing the energy and intent of the album entire. The real magic of Disconnect from Desire, though, lives in its music: ten tracks of soaring, visionary dream-pop from a band working at the height of its powers.” – ghostly.com buy from the ghostly store here.

maya by M.I.A.
clever, interesting, engaging – a hot sweaty sound that could as well be the sound of a NYC sidewalk in the unforgiving summer sun with boys and girls of all shapes and colors bouncing in the sexy heat. i’m impressed. get it here.

dark night of the soul by danger mouse and sparklehorse
the list of collaborators is stellar [david lynch, julian casablancas, iggy pop!]. it’s good to hear that there is pop head-music still being produced that can be appreciated by adults [as opposed to teenage goths]. good night music and for drives alone. moreover, how can you not love anything with the name sparklehorse in it? it makes me think of my pretty pony all grown up! get yours here.

night work by scissor sisters
i was honored to be invited to a secret concert of theirs under their secret moniker, queef latifa last year where i thought i heard tracks from the “night work”, but it seems they scrapped all those tracks in favor of this collection, which i must admit, is better. i was hoping to see a roxy music cover in the album but perhaps that will be a single b-side? the sound is reminiscent of “something going on” by frida meets “desolution boulevard [us version]” by the sweet. that pretty much sums it up. still can’t get my head around how they are so big in europe and not here, but then again, i still have no idea who taylor swift is aside from the kanye fiasco. buy night work here.

white magic by ceo
this has got to be the most enigmatic recording i’ve bought on itunes this year. it is moments of pure aural brilliance and seemingly intolerable drivel which somehow melds into a very strong expression of pop music. it is basically the abba of electronica as panda bear is the beach boys of alternative. gosh i’m good at the combo metaphor descriptions this time around! it’s no surprise they are from sweden. buy it here. (for those into swedish indies, it sounds like the tough alliance because, well, basically it is)

crystal castles (II) by crystal castles
sometimes you want a band with a sound you like and basically, every song sounds the same. like stereolab for example. the whole ‘if you want to do something, do it well’ school or more that consistency is an excellent branding tool. who wants mcdonalds to taste different each time you have it? well, crystal castles does NOT fit into this mold. this album has them delving into a plethora of varied pop, dance, electro and moody soundscapes. i hear they are little bitches on stage but that’s OK, i’m too old for music festivals. buy this here.

and a bonus for you! the komputer cast mix free download

how ’bout the cool foto from my kitchen window?