After 5 years, DIIV are again with their sterling new album, Frog in Boiling Water. Named after a metaphor in regards to the “gradual, sick, and overwhelmingly banal collapse of society underneath end-stage capitalism,” DIIV make use of strains of grunge, alt-rock, and shoegaze to convey the dissatisfaction and hope that flutters over their darkish, swirling tracks. However in fact, DIIV’s influences attain far past these tentpoles — a type of being their love of digital music. To have a good time the report’s launch, DIIV drummer Ben Newman instructed us about his minimal and ambient digital music necessities, from beloved Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto to extra obscure, experimental artists like El Fog and Purelink. Dive in beneath.
Learn extra: Fan ballot: 5 greatest shoegaze bands of all time
Gramm – “Legends / Nugroove TM”
Pioneer of so-called micro-house, Jan Jelinek is considered one of my musical heroes. Prolific, conceptual, and all the time shocking, he has initiatives underneath many alternative monikers throughout the experimental digital music spectrum.
Emptyset – “Gate 1”
This duo’s music is singular throughout the minimal techno sphere. It’s stark and atmospheric, with simply sufficient rhythm to maintain you shifting ahead.
Frank Bretschneider – “A delicate throbbing of time”
Frank Bretschneider is co-founder of the Raster-Noton collective. His music is often difficult and experimental, however the album Rhythm is aptly titled because it facilities on percussive digital items.
4kfairyfantasy – “lov u 2”
I don’t know a lot about this artist, however I like their work. MIDI classical compositions with glitchy accents. Nice and unusual.
Ryuichi Sakamoto – “20210310”
Not a lot to say that hasn’t been stated already about Ryuichi Sakamoto. His ultimate album, 12, launched simply two months earlier than his dying in 2023 is heavy, stark, and exquisite.
El Fog – “Silent Hovering”
The album Reverberate Slowly on the Japanese label FLAU is gorgeous, sleepy, and murky.
Purelink – “Pinned”
This Chicago-based trio makes music that’s chilly, ambient, and dubby, like listening to a cool breeze.
Efdemin – “Secrets and techniques of Shoeshine”
Masterful minimal techno
Michel Banabila – “Niki Jumpei”
One other hero of mine, prolific Dutch experimental composer and sound artist Michel Banabila has launched music and sound throughout many alternative genres, from noisy sound design experiments to orchestral soundtracks because the early ’80s.
Alva Noto – “Prototype 2”
Founding father of the NOTON label — and co-founder of Raster-Noton with aforementioned Frank Bretschneider — Carsten Nicolai has been an necessary fixture in German experimental digital music because the early ’90s.
