For the resources of nature and men’s devices are just as fertile and productive as they were. The rate of our progress towards solving the material problems of life is not less rapid. We are as capable as before of affording for everyone a high standard of life—high, I mean, compared with, say, twenty years ago—and will soon learn to afford a standard higher still. We were not previously deceived. But to-day we have involved ourselves in a colossal muddle, having blundered in the control of a delicate machine, the working of which we do not understand. The result is that our possibilities of wealth may run to waste for a time—perhaps for a long time. – The great slump of 1930. J.M. Keynes.

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” Sketch of Electronica 2008 ”

01. Various Production – Foller (Zan Lyons Remix)
Versus (Various, 2008)
02. A Mountain Of One – Brown Piano (Remake by Studio)
Studio. Yearbook 2 (Information, 2008)
03. GAS – Nah und Fern
Nah Und Fern ‘LP’ (Kompakt Germany, 2008)
04. Headhunter – Your Say
Nomad (Tempa, 2008)
05. Tussle – Rainbow Claw
Cream Cuts (Smalltown Supersound, 2008)
06. 2562 - Kameleon
Aerial (Tectonic, 2008)
07. Pit Er Pat – Evacuation Days
High Time (Thrill Jockey, 2008)
08. Ital Tek – Tokyo Freeze (Remix)
Cyclical (Planet Mu, 2008)
09. Flying Lotus – Testament (Feat. Gonja Sufi)
Los Angeles (Warp Records, 2008)
10. Lykke Li – Little Bit (Aether Remix)
Lykke Li (2008)
11. Jazzanova – Bohemian Sunset
Om Lounge 1 (Om Records, 1998)

note: This hasn’t been such a disaster year, considering I wasn’t paying attention half the time. I actually find something I like for a list that I can post. To me the big 2008 theme in electronic are: retro (house, 90′s techno, french disco) and the new stranger sounds. It’s mainly scattered effort, a mix of folks, lofi house, drone into electronica vocabulary. This on to of last year dubstep, which primarily island beat and song + two step. Then there is Kanye West remix. Can we move on already? I can’t stand him. Noteable albums: GAS. Magnificent drone ambient. It has texture and listenable, which is hard to do for such sparse musical idea. Flying Lotus and Tussle use folks, lofi and make it into abstract dance album, very intriguing. Then there are the retro tech and electronic ‘Studio’ and Headhunter. I like Ital Tek and 2562 dubstep album. Tho’ dubstep as ambient abstract isn’t as productive compared to last year. Maybe everybody is busy making dancefloor mix. OK. that’s for a short 2008 electronica report. Don’t forget to comment if you have something interesting. (no Kanye West remix please) I’ll try to post more standard dancefloor mix if I have time. Tho’ they aren’t that interesting if you don’t plant to actually dance.

see also: Coffee, Electronica and 2007
image: Robotconscience, Ethan Hein