Asian Dan

So self-aware. So meta. It is on that Sesame Street level. Brilliant.

Kindness vs Leonard Berntstein

The mysterious Kindness has one over my heart with his album “World, You Need A Change of Mind”. It is an album that sits in a place somewhere between nostalgic music while being the most exciting and forward thinking collection tunes out today. After reading this candid Q&A with Kindness in Interview Mag, you really get an understanding of what a self-aware character Adam Bainbridge is and how he curates and positions himself.

“House” is a standout tune on the album. It is most fit for a “single” with its simple piano chords, big pop synth sounds and its emotional hook that you just want to sing along with. “World, You Need a Change of Mind” is out May 8 in the US on Terrible Records/Casablanca Records. Pre-Order the album here. For those of you in NYC, Kindness will make his live debut at Le Poisson Rouge May 17 and DJ at the Tribeca Grand May 19.

Also could this be the drum sample in for the track? Ace Frehley “New York Groove”? Good ear, Geoff.

PS Check out this mixtape I made for COLT+RANE that I close with “House”.
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“We’re thinking more funking with the drums, less jacking with the bass.”

Kindness has made a few appearances on the blog these past few months and is definitely number one on my albums to look forward to in 2012. The LP will be out March 19 which includes “Gee Up”, the first impression we got of Kindness back in 2009 in an even more lo-fi demo version. This updated video for “Gee Up” delves into a super pomo/meta world that give a super lolzy look into the music industry – I love everything about it.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/FEB%202012/Gee%20Up.mp3]
Kindness – Gee Up (Demo)

The mysterious Kindness from the UK has release yet another slithery disco tune entitled “SEOD”. This tune will be out in January as a White Label release before Kindness unleashes his full length album next year which was co-produced by Philippe Zdar. “SEOD” is a slinky dark disco tune that is part space journey and part trip into your third eye via some sexy lead guitar and bellowing sax. Will Kindness be the Arthur Russell of 2012? I hope so.

Kindness is Adam Bainbridge from the UK who has teamed up with the one and only Philippe Zdar on his latest track “Cyan” off his forthcoming album, out next year. It is a slinky disco track in the vain of the disco punk sounds of NYC that ruled the early aughts. I am very curious to what this full length album shall sound like.

Dev Hynes unveils his first single from his sophomore Blood Orange LP entitled “Chamakay”, a hyper-stylized and in depth look into moody vibes. Chairlift’s Caroline Polachek lends her vocals to the emotional chorus. Adam Bainbridge aka Kindness lends his director’s eye to document Dev Hynes’ trip to Guyana.

Joakim, Kindness and Jam City team up to form Everyone. “No Time To Waste” is a deep classic house tune that is held up by a heavy 909 pattern and creeping chord progression. Kindness’ adds some dark crooning that brings the song into a refreshing realm on the dancefloor. This debut release will be out on vinyl on Crowdspacer records on February 11.

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2012 ushered in some amazing new music that is just the beginning of this musical shift that will come to full fruition in 2013. Here’s to music with substance that honors the craft of music making and the grand history of music while still moving hearts, minds and feet. Here are the tracks that kept me moving and stuck with me all this year. Happy New Year.

TOP 10 SONGS of 2012

Jai Paul – Jasmine
Kindness – House
Duke Dumont – The Giver
Frank Ocean – Sweet Life
Toro Y Moi – So Many Details
TNGHT – Gooo
Emil & Friends – Royal Oats
French Fries – What To Do
King Krule – Rock Bottom
Kanye West – Mercy
Breakbot – Another Dawn (featuring Irfane)

Honorable Mentions:
Letherette – Warstones
A$AP Rocky – Goldie
Para One – Lean on Me
Poolside – Slow Down

TOP 10 ALBUMS of 2012

Frank Ocean – channel ORANGE
Kindness – World, You Need A Change Of Mind
Para One – Passion
Tame Impala – Lonerism
Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
Jeremih – Late Nights with Jeremih
Clark – Iradelphic
Chairlift – Something
Breakbot – By Your Side
Hot Chip – In Our Heads
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Me & Trillion on behalf of COLT+RANE teamed up to craft this two sided summer mixtape that will surely quench your thirst,” Like Water”. So enjoy this vibed out mix and remember Wayne Wonder can only make you smile. Daps to Yimmy Yayo.

DOWNLOAD: COLT+RANE “Like Water” Mixed by Trillion & Asian Dan Presented by Yimmy Yayo

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It is that time of the year where we all round up our favorite #mp3s of the year and sum up the year of 2011 in Music. Making these lists are difficult since so much great music came out in 2011, but here are the tracks and albums that stuck with me in 2011.

I will say hands down that Metronomy’s “The English Riviera” is my favorite album of the year, an album that proved they are amazing songwriters and that they put on a great live show. Rustie destroyed 2011 with “Glass Swords” which shows that he is so FUTURE. The Stepkids, Blood Orange and the odd men out, About Group show that honest songwriting and impeccable musicianship still shines through all the hype and buzz of the modern age. I could not stop listening to Blawan “Getting Me Down”, Jim-E Stack “Lemme”, Jamie xx “Far Nearer”, and everything Julio Bashmore produced this year #seriousvibes. Cheers 2011 and here’s to 2012 and all the great music to come.

Also please checkout some of my favorite mixes that I made with the COLT+RANE team: COLT+RANE x The Blind Barber Mix C+R : #summervibes, C+R : autumnal tones 2011, and C+R : A Longtime

Asian Dan Top Ten of 2011

Top 10 Tracks of 2011

Metronomy – The Look
Fort Lean – High Definition
Julio Bashmore – Battle For Middle You
Das Pop – The Game
Jamie xx – Far Nearer
Blawan – Getting Me Down
Emil & Friends – Prescriptions
Jim-E Stack – Lemme
M83 – Midnight City
The Rapture – How Deep Is Your Love?
Kindness – Cyan

Top 10 Albums of 2011

Metronomy – The English Riviera
Rustie – Glass Swords
The Stepkids – The Stepkids
Blood Orange – Coastal Grooves
The Rapture – In The Grace of Your Love
Bibio – Mind Bokeh
Justice – Audio, Video, Disco
Emil & Friends – Lo & Behold
About Group – About Group
Holy Ghost! – Holy Ghost!
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