Jan 25, 2016 | Reviews, Todd Tobias Reviews
Once the conceptual track permeates a Todd Tobias album, which after producing and starred opposite Robert Pollard, has now dropped steadily in the instrumental composer robes.
If ” Impossible Cities ” (2014) retraced “Invisible Cities” by Calvino, “Tristes Tropiques” echoes the melancholy tropical namesake of Claude Levi Strauss essay
Jan 22, 2016 | Antonymes Reviews, Cheekbone Reviews, Chloë March Review, Elisa Luu Reviews, Erik Nilsson Reviews, Gilded Reviews, Kryshe Reviews, Markus Mehr Reviews, Medard Fischer Reviews, My Majestic Star Reviews, Reviews, Sleeping Me Reviews, Slow Dancing Society Reviews, Todd Tobias Reviews
“I am an unabashed Hidden Shoal fan. The Australian label has been pumping out releases of lush, cinematic aspirations of ambient and neo-classical artists for a better part of it’s existence that, at times, is overcome by its eclectic output ranging from...Jan 15, 2016 | Reviews, Todd Tobias Reviews
Todd Tobias is a musician and engineer associated with various Guided By Voices/Bob Pollard projects, but lately he’s been carving out a solo career doing more ethereal instrumental material and soundtracks. Tristes Tropiques is a strange, mystical sound painting filled with eerie vocal loops (particularly on the opening and closing tracks), reversed and decaying guitars, and sometimes beats. Definitely has a soundtrack-like feel, especially the way the tracks segue, suggesting changing scenes. The album’s title translate to “sad tropics”, and it definitely conjures up feelings of being blue in paradise, for whatever reason. Sometimes it gets really dark and foggy, other times it’s brighter, with chiming guitars, but it’s still kind of melancholy. All of this is nice and serene.
Dec 18, 2015 | Antonymes Reviews, Cheekbone Reviews, Chloë March Review, Elisa Luu Reviews, Erik Nilsson Reviews, Gilded Reviews, Kryshe Reviews, Markus Mehr Reviews, Medard Fischer Reviews, Reviews, Sleeping Me Reviews, Slow Dancing Society Reviews, Todd Tobias Reviews
“Happened across this as we were turning it in for the night, a new name your price downloadable compilation by Australia’s finest purveyors of elegantly drawn dream pop Hidden Shoals. Entitled ‘long range transmissions’ it features a gathering of talents, some...Dec 10, 2015 | Reviews, Todd Tobias Reviews
“Let’s have Mr. Tobias introduce his album, Tristes Tropiques: “A dreamy, hypnotic, melancholy-soaked collection evoking far-flung places where small-scale societies and indigenous cultures have vanished or are in the process of being swallowed by an...Dec 10, 2015 | Antonymes Reviews, Cheekbone Reviews, Chloë March Review, Elisa Luu Reviews, Erik Nilsson Reviews, Gilded Reviews, Kryshe Reviews, Markus Mehr Reviews, Medard Fischer Reviews, Reviews, Sleeping Me Reviews, Slow Dancing Society Reviews, Todd Tobias Reviews
“You might recognise Hidden Shoal from our piece on Olive Skinned, Silver Tongued Sirens Sing Swan Songs, the latest album from REW<<. The label has recently released Long Range Transmissions, the first in a series of themed compilations which showcase the...