Stefan Nickum
My earliest and most distinct musical memory involved staring, mesmerized by the cover of Bruce Springsteen's 1984 album "Born In the USA", by what I still don't know. The album's title song was equally mesmerizing to me, though I don't know remember listening to anything else on the record, and I don't know if I've ever chosen to listen to Bruce Springsteen since then. Nothing much as changed, music continues to mesmerize and enchant me with out always making sense to me. Writing about it doesn't unravel the mystery much further; art and its dealings with the human soul and psyche will forever be ineffable. As a result, my intentions are simple, to translate my love of the medium to others. Some specific efforts include: shining light on the cultural and social periphery, situating sound in context, and shaping language to include esoterica with out sounding esoteric.
Gold Panda: Lucky Shiner
Gold Panda’s Lucky Shiner succeeds with an arresting and astonishing collection of sounds, imaginary places, heartache, and celebration.