DJ Koze - Amygdala

Location: Hamburg, Germany
Style: Minimal Techno
Label: Pampa Records

Dýdžej v helmě na sobovi uprostřed růžový krajiny vypadá jako špatnej dojezd nepovedný rave party. Namísto zdrogovanejch agresivních beatů přitom DJ Koze servíruje celkem vyklidněný minimal techno/house s nenápadným melodickým potenciálem, v čemž mu na aktuální desce vypomáhá řada hostů včetně Apparata nebo Caribou. Geograficky přísně vzato DJ Koze, narozenej jako Stefan Kozalla v Maroku, na tenhle blog úplně nepatří. Ale jeho aktuální bydliště v Hamburku je pro mě dostačující omluva, abych to sem šoupnul. Kup tady.

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Helmet wearing DJ riding a reinder in the middle of pink landscape on cover (seriously dude, WTF?) looks like trip-gone-wrong rave party still. But instead of drug soaked aggressive beats DJ Koze serves quite calm minimal techno/house with subtle melodic potential. On Amygdala album, large number of guests including Apparat or Caribou, help him with this mission. From purely geographical point of view DJ Koze doesnt quite belong on Astral Europe. He was born as Stefan Kozalla in Morocco. But his current residence in Hamburg is excuse good enough for me to advertise him here. Buy the record here.

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Živé Kvety - Oľga, ideš svojím tempom!

Location: Bratislava, Slovakia
Style: Indie Rock
Label: Slnko Records

Despite the fact this band is around since 1994, this is their ninth (!) album and they come from Slovakia, which is not really foreign country to me, I have to admit I haven't heard much music from Živé Kvety untill now. But I think I'm going to dig their discography deeper after hearing this album. And yet it is just a bunch of (mostly calm) pop rock songs. Lacking better comparsion I tend to say they remind little bit of late Cat Power, but I'm not really sure it's very apt. I can't say it's flawless album, but it would be actually nice to have mainstream like this one day. Add some extra points if you understand sharp, often socialy critical lyrics. But even if you don't it's still worth a listen. Buy it here.

DVA - Botanicula

Location: Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
Style: Dream Pop
Label: Minority Records

I'm not really convinced somebody is going to read this given a loooong hiatus of this blog and the fact this record is out for some time.... BUT there was never much logic behind Astral Europe so whatever.
I got this Botanicula record for Christmas and in the middle of March I'm still very excited about this. Freaky but cute tiny sounds, sometimes of mysterious origin are perfect equivalent of childishly charming design of actual Botanicula game. I have a weak spot for married couples bands and DVA are one, but you don't really need to have any weak spot to fall in love with this record. Buy the record and/or the game here.