So, after looking back on my post yesterday about Burnt Ones, I realize that I might have sounded a bit cross towards the “chillwave” genre. Quite the contrary. I eat that stuff for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 4th meal. So, I’ve decided to highlight some of its core makers:

Washed Out: has been and will always be my favorite of the bunch. Ernest Greene, from Perry, Georgia, started cranking out little diamond wonders in his bedroom, recording no doubt with an M-Audio connection into his Mac. Releasing his High Times cassette put out on Mirror Universe Tapes (who have been on the forefront of the chillwave, you’ll see this name later), influenced by italo disco and 70s funk alike, Washed Out moved into higher, more beach combing territory on the Mexican Summer released Life of Leisure EP - 6 songs of pure bliss, with the single Feel it All Around getting etched into your brain forever. Ernest has been touring recently and put out a subsequent tour CD-R. Find this music and relax infinitely. (Also, if you like Washed Out, check out Ernest’s side project Lee Weather. Still chill, but with an epic brass section.)

Washed Out - Feel It All Around by Kieran GLC

Balam Acab: It wasn’t until I was sitting on the floor in the attic sifting through a trunk full of photos my great-grandfather took did I start listening to this, but god was it ever appropriate. Having just released his debut See Birds 12” on Brooklyn’s own Tri-Angle Records, Alec from Ithaca, NY is having a grand time with no intention of slowing down. His music borders on ambient at times while being utterly tribal at others. While for many, that kind of style jumble could come off as contrived, Balam Acab makes it flow with relative ease.

Balam Acab - See Birds by toratoraburabura

Memory Tapes: (aka Memory Cassette aka Weird Tapes) : Dayve Hawk is a busy man. Three monikers and a slew of remixes under his belt, he definitely is one of the more prolific of the chillwavers. However, it is with Memory Tapes that Dayve has built his reputation in the scene, mixing eerie synth voices with a medley of minimalist techno, afrobeat, and even hints of house. It culminates into a smooth, often sensuous sound that, on his debut full length album Seek Magic - released on the beautiful vinyl makers at Acephale Records - reaches epic proportions.  Definitely check this guy out. Big things happening and ahead.

Memory Tapes - Stop Talking by arnausabate

Plastic Flowers: A relative newcomer to the scene, Florida’s Sean Earl Beard is making some pretty pretty music here. Having only put out four songs (two on the lovely Bekos Digital Singles Label) there is little known about this guy, but he is well worth taking a look at, and considering you can grab most of his songs floating around in the ethernet, then I recommend you do.

Plastic Flowers - Drive Me Home by malddim

Welcome Back Sailors:  Ah! A duo! That’s a rarity in the realm of bedroom pop whatever the hell you wanna call it wave. And from Italy no less! These two put out the magnificent single I’ll Be There a while back and since then have been cranking out the hits. Dreamy, bassy laden, sweeping love tracks that are perfect for hammocks or even for just laying on your couch while directly in a sunbeam, watching the dust particles, those old bits of dead skin, floating around like pixies. Simply put, beautiful music, and I am more than excited to be hearing more from these guys soon.

welcome back sailors - I ll be there by wwnbbcollective

ok, so that was a lot of information. If you want to hear more from these guys or you want to find out where to find some of their music, just ask!

Stay chill…wave…