Salem, Nika & Rory, HEALTH

Salem will reportedly drop their first proper record Sept. 28 but it's seriously difficult to find their music out there. Since their single "King Night" was released a few months ago, their LP of the same name has become the most talked about record at the blog water coolers. I mean, this track is going to give Crystal Castles and HEALTH the jitters. It's explosive; like other Salem songs available amidst the blogosphere, it's slow and dark; rich with heavy synth ambience, and a mind boggling hip hop drum sequence to boot. The melody feeds off of "O Holy Night," and the choir is present in the background throughout the entire song. The song is so bountiful in melody; so hauntingly fucking beautiful, so methodically crafted. Salem's music has been described as goth but it hardly seems appropriate; indeed what stands out the most about them is the darkness their music provokes, but there is so much more to these guys. On the "Waters EP" they rap, which sounds like Paul Wall's slowed and chopped rendition of the "People's Champ," produced by DJ Michael Watts. They are obviously multi-talented musicians; one listen to "King Night" and you'll be aware of that fact.




Today is going to be a day for esoteric, electronic synth pop. Nika Danilova, known better as "Zola Jesus," and for her favouritism for downtempo menacing synth, has teamed up with her touring mate in her new project, Nika & Rory. Ironically, their first single "I'm Not Going Anywhere" has been perceived by fans as more upbeat and positive than anything released by Zola Jesus. But "I'm Not Going Anywhere" is not enthusiastic at all; it's use of arcane synth pop and Skream style production enables this track to be one of the dirtiest beats of the summer. Pretty Much Amazing listed it as its number 9 on their top ten of the year so far. "I'm Not Going Anywhere" is like La Roux meets Crystal Castles. Raw lyrics about a boy and sluggish, twisted electronica pop and house like drum samples. Another powerhouse that strengthens the validity of the genre.



I think I all ready stated how today was going to be for dark synth pop. HEALTH is another hostile outfit that can be labelled with Salem and Crystal Castles. "USA Boys," the only nonremixed track off their very likeable "DISCO2" gives a glimpse of how competent these guys are. Incomprehensible vocals, heavy use of computerized synth, slowed down beat patterns; this song is another grimy electronic masterpiece. Like Salem's "King Night," the absence of vocals in this song only makes it more robust. The delicate attention to detail differentiates this track from nonsensical electronic music that consumes airplay these days; like other DJs involved in the genre, HEALTH is strengthening the notion that slower electronic music should be played in clubs, lounges, bars, anywhere where sick crunchy grooves can be properly respected.