Mastodawn

Alien software, human hardware 1d ago

Connecting over a special interest like electronic music is tricky, because the music I enjoy is very intense and it happens so often, that just one an aspect, which feels “wrong” (often it’s the vocals) can ruin a whole song for me.

Music has been a special interest of mine since I was a little girl, but I am not a musician, I listen, dance, make playlists and analyze it concerning the structure and the feelings the different elements create in me.

For about two months by now I have been in a hyperfocus on drum and bass music (Neurofunk, Techstep), especially the tracks of my favorite D&B artist. I bought his whole discography on Bandcamp and spent many hours a day listening and dancing to it, because I wanted to find out what makes a song work for me. Creating different playlists with his songs was like playing Lego for me, I had fun like toddler.

Now I want to find more music that works for me, but as I mentioned before, it’s pretty difficult, so I would be very happy about recommendations. The following playlist contains songs from several artists I currently like most, if some of them resonate with you, we might have a similar taste.

Boosts for visibility would be great. Thank you in advance.

https://bandcamp.com/kacihue/playlist/alien-girl

#electronicmusic #music #bandcamp

alien girl - Playlist by Kaja

Bandcamp

Mind Shambles 1d ago

@KaCi I completely get this. I love music, but particular sets of sounds and instruments really click with my head. I love the interaction betweeb guitars and strings (violins etc), but not in their natural setting. Best example is in 'How to disappear completely into strings' by Radiohead, but only on a special album with a 3rd disk with special versions. Something in it does something satisfying to my brain. It is hard to find in much of music, usually I get glimpses and snippets here and there.
I also like discographies to explore, and got a shoegazey indy set from a label called Fox Foods on bandcamp.
Ill try and have a listen to your playlist

jexner 🏳️‍🌈1d ago

@Aspiedan @KaCi Same here. It's super difficult for people to predict whether I would like a song or not, and I think I have similar things going on.

For me it may be repetitiveness, and slow build-up. I like songs that are repetitive, but only if something in them is leading somewhere. I think. Examples: some of Underworld's songs ("Two Months Off" and "Dark & Long (Dark Train remastered 2014)" being current favourites), Steve Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians", ...

jexner 🏳️‍🌈1d ago

@Aspiedan @KaCi
I was following a lady back on twitter who posted a lot of music, and who had a taste that was _very_ compatible. Miss that.

I think I get what you like about the Underworld tracks. I prefer more complexity, intensity and darker sounds, but there's an area in between, so I would like to know how you like these songs (Vortex by Planet Rhythm and Glue by Bicep):

https://planetrhythm.bandcamp.com/track/vortex

https://bicep.bandcamp.com/track/glue

Vortex, by SND & RTN

from the album Vortex EP

Planet Rhythm

jexner 🏳️‍🌈1d ago

@KaCi @Aspiedan I love Glue! Also really like Saku, especially the video.

The other one I don't know. On first listen, I like it, and I can listen to it easily.

@jexner
https://youtu.be/bOrGYzNUBVM?is=MX5bO6zseqnu0iFQ

And my favourite of all light songs is the night time version of Björks Big Time Sensuality.

Bjork - Big Time Sensuality - Rare Night Version

YouTube

jexner 🏳️‍🌈1d ago

@KaCi Nice!

Have you seen the Chris.su remix of "All Is Full Of Love"? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0liY3Qy4ko

I love that one!

Bjork - All Is Full Of Love (Chris.su Remix)

YouTube

@jexner
Too "soft" for me. In the same way I prefer a hug and don't like soft touch, that's true for the music I like too. I grew up with rock music and I am still a grunge girl at heart. 🤘🎶

jexner 🏳️‍🌈1d ago

@KaCi
How about ROVO - N'DAM? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJNo54vNdqk

_A lot_ of slow build-up.

Or Ost & Kjex - Hasta Luego Manchego (Martin Horntvedt Remix) 2004 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfKWy5C2NNU

The latter I like because of the break at 1:19, and how the harmonies stay with it for the remainder.

N'DAM

YouTube

@jexner
The first one I like very much, especially the bass. The track creates pictures of cute little machines dancing around a huge space ship in my mind.

jexner 🏳️‍🌈1d ago

@KaCi That is cool 🙂

For me, it creates impressions of "fast" and, at the same time, "settled" or "planted". I think that duality makes it more endearing.

@Aspiedan
Yes, concerning sensory avoidance most autistic people feel similar about noise (fuck leaf blowers), but when it comes to sensory seeking, it becomes very obvious how different we are. I suspect that many of the people who like drum and bass are AuDHD, because we seek complexity and intensity to a greater level than neurotypical people imo.

I like Radiohead, so I would be interested in listening to the specific version of the song you like (maybe it's available on YouTube) and I would like to listen to the indie set you bought on Bandcamp.

Mind Shambles 1d ago

Both links are below

https://foxfoodrecords.bandcamp.com/

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1ACmCuuIaMQ

Fox Food Records

An independent record label specialising in handmade, limited edition releases of music we love. Subscribe to the Fox Food mailing list: http://eepurl.com/dwqpKr

Fox Food Records

@Aspiedan
I followed Fox Food Records and will check it out in the future. I love the Radiohead track. Thank you. 🤗

Your Autistic Life

I was going to listen to your playlist, but Bandcamp requires a login, and that's a huge nope from me.

My nope is all the louder due to the fact that you can click on tracks individually and listen to them one by one.

Why must you log in to listen to a playlist? Tracking, money, ads, ... all bullshit that have nothing to do with the actual music.

I'm disappointed by Bandcamp's decision here.

@yourautisticlife
I suppose that you have to log in to listen to the playlist, because this is not a streaming service and there are no ads as far as I know, but it's about supporting the artists directly by buying their music. You can listen to the songs at least 3 times before you have to buy them and that has to be tracked. To listen to the tracks in the playlist, you have to click on the key visual on the left side instead of the one on the right side and yes, that's a usability issue I found annoying myself until I got used to it.

Zumbador 1d ago

@KaCi I'm going to be listening through these today!

See if you like anything on this playlist:
https://tidal.com/playlist/edc01d19-5527-4fcf-a227-d584effe6266

I particularly like Plastikman (Richie Hawtin)

techno & industrial

Playlist - techno & industrial - 17 items

Music on TIDAL

@Zumbador
I don't have a tidal abo anymore, so I only got a glimpse (30sec) at the songs.

My first impression is that I like the vibe, the dark sounds, but the bass is too monotone for me, I prefer the playfulness and complexity of drum and bass.

But there's a track I still like very much that I had to think of when I listened to your playlist, maybe you like it:

https://tidal.com/track/29656234/u

Haldolium - Motion

Listen to Motion on TIDAL

Music on TIDAL

https://youtu.be/FkcPPBg6-bE?si=2GD_N_87h6Gd4WBh

That's the YouTube link in case the other one didn't work.

Motion

YouTube

Zumbador 1d ago

@KaCi
This is cool. Listening now.

@Zumbador
I am glad you like it. Diabolika on the same album is also great.

I am sure there are songs in your playlist I like too. I will check them out one by one on YouTube when I have the spoons (and my hyper focus on d&b allows it 😃).

Zumbador 1d ago

@KaCi I have a massive d&b and edm and random stuff playlist but also on tidal. It's rough because I'm still pruning it... https://tidal.com/playlist/6f88030a-11c2-42b4-ae86-d7ef748a0755

Just in case it's useful...

Groove

Playlist - Groove - 95 items

Music on TIDAL

@Zumbador
Thank you. I will check it out. 🤗🎶

CynAq🤘1d ago

@KaCi @Zumbador

Have you tried the faster but more monotone end of the electronic spectrum, like gabber?

I’m not certain it’ll work for you but there’s no reason not to try when it’s free, right? If you have time check this out:

https://youtu.be/d37SxiyzIio

TokyoGabber Radio #002 Kanon vs Kamikaze

YouTube

@CynAq
Thank you for sharing this. My first impression is that it doesn't work for me, but I also perceived D&B as similar to traffic noise when I listened to it for the first time and that was after I already got used to techno, so I might give it a try in the future in case my ADHD craves novelty to a great extent.

CynAq🤘1d ago

@KaCi what’s interesting for me in this particular video is that it’s a DJ “battle”, where they go rapid fire swap records and pretty much play two records at a time.

I personally don’t find the music itself particularly appealing but there’s something I get from watching the DJs perform the set in combination with the music.

Poloniousmonk 1d ago

I think the gabber scene is pretty cool but find the music monotonic as well. For that flavor, I prefer Happy Hardcore.

I bet both of you will like this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xOSvRlUIDI&list=RD1xOSvRlUIDI&start_radio=1

Chicago

YouTube

CynAq🤘1d ago

@Uair @KaCi I didn’t know happy hardcore existed. Thank you so much, this is awesome 😊

Poloniousmonk 1d ago

Anabolic Frolic's Happy 2B Hardcore 4 is I think the best volume. Scott Brown's Elysium is pure joy.

Also, the happy hardcore mix of Who the Fuck is Alice is pretty fun as well.

@Uair @CynAq
This is not cute little machines dancing and whispering, that are my printer and the old PC under my desk going wild and having a party when nobody is watching. Thank you for that audio experience. 😃🎶

Zumbador 1d ago

@KaCi Oh I didn't know that tidal limited non member listens in that way.
Thank you for this link, am looking forward to listening to it.

Andre Louis 1d ago

@KaCi I have an ulterior motive here but I do also make DNB with Zero T, and it's the more chill variety, not often too hard or shall we say, disrespectful to the ears. Don't know if you've heard of him or not? He does also have a bandcamp.

@FreakyFwoof
My first impression is that the r&b vibes touch me in the wrong way (I still need to work on my vocubulary to express what I mean). Maybe you can recommend a specific track that is more similar to the songs in my playlist, maybe without vocals?

Andre Louis 1d ago

@KaCi Most of them actually don't have vocals, I don't know what track you found. There's 'Stickup' from our first 'Kilburn' LP perhaps.

@FreakyFwoof
I like that track and put it on my wishlist. I will check out more of your music.

Andre Louis 1d ago

@KaCi As for your playlist, can't listen to it. Bandcamp have never made their player accessible to screen-readers so I just don't even bother trying anymore.

@FreakyFwoof
That sucks. They also have other usability issues. Would a YouTube link work for you in case I find one of the songs there or another platform?

Andre Louis 1d ago

@KaCi Oh very definitely. I post all my own creations on youtube as well. I'd love to hear what you hear, and try to hear it how you hear it. since audio is my whole life, it's fascinating to try and understand others.
I have 0% sight, so my ears are my eyes.

@FreakyFwoof
Cool. I will make a YouTube playlist of the songs today as far as possible.

Here is the playlist with the YouTube links as far as I could find them:

1. Loxy & Isotone: Ancients (Skeptical Remix)
https://youtu.be/Fx59p4X2gb4?si=GchEbvgwhlspS1WU

2. Cypher: Odessa
https://youtu.be/xs0llHhH34E?si=5UbfjsaDZ7kiMLHE

3. Cypher: Red Mist (couldn’t find it on YouTube)

4. Paragon & Cypher: Frenetic
https://youtu.be/Mj8kmwDxkVA?si=CCsxNFFkHd2DadWd

5. Paragon & Stranjah:
https://youtu.be/zL751VisRtQ?si=IOCyplyJ6PxN7zTO

6. Malign: Rebellion (not on the playlist, but from the same LP, the artist I bought the whole discography of, he published his music as cypher before, previous on this playlist, I really do love the distorted wobble bass in this track, I stim with my hands a lot when dancing, Autistic joy)
https://youtu.be/azelNdJKXqQ?si=Ya-lkF1SBts9TN7D

7. Terror Cell x Layer 3: 9-2 feat Paragon (not available on YouTube yet)

8. J-Kon: Absent (not available on YouTube yet)

9. Fre4knc: Full Measure
https://youtu.be/P-Ck5ZNIeVw?si=gKumiJx0QLxDccJS

@yourautisticlife

Loxy & Isotone - Ancients [Skeptical Remix]

YouTube

Andre Louis 1d ago

@KaCi @yourautisticlife Excellent, thanks for posting.

Andre Louis 1d ago

@KaCi @yourautisticlife The first track in the list reminds me of this thing I did a few years ago https://youtu.be/Mi0kx7geewE

Crunch Muffins

YouTube

Andre Louis 1d ago

@KaCi @yourautisticlife Or this strange thing I did with a Kontakt library containing a circuit-bent Speak and Spell... https://youtu.be/pS311fJwxNw

What have you done to that Speak and Spell?

YouTube

@FreakyFwoof
One of the songs that create pictures of little machines dancing in my mind. Very cute.

Andre Louis 1d ago

@KaCi All the tracks you sent are ones I hadn't heard before so that's fun.

@FreakyFwoof
How do you like them?

Andre Louis 1d ago

@KaCi Quite a lot actually. Always love hearing things I haven't heard before, in genres I work in.

@FreakyFwoof
I like it very much.

Andre Louis 1d ago

@KaCi When I start hearing music people like, I can start relating it to my own output so your playlist is helping me understand.

Andre Louis 1d ago

@KaCi @yourautisticlife OO try this one. Zero T, Minor Forms and me, Onj. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oZ_yf7wnbo&list=RD7oZ_yf7wnbo&start_radio=1&pp=ygUPTWlub3IgRm9ybXMgT25qoAcB

Zero T, Onj & Minor Forms - No Way

YouTube

@FreakyFwoof
I like it very much, couldn't find it on Bandcamp, otherwise this one would definitely be the first one on my wishlist.

Andre Louis 1d ago

@KaCi Yeah Bandcamp don't have everything in life, but you could try something like Juno Records or one of those places that also sell lossless and such.

@FreakyFwoof
I have listened to it three times by now and that is just the beginning. 🤗
I have to go outside with Beagle Lumi now. Thank you so much for all the music and in case more recomendations come to your mind, please share them.

Andre Louis 1d ago

@KaCi glad that at least one resinated with you 😊

@FreakyFwoof
They all did and I will check out more of your music on Bandcamp, but my monotropic mind just wants to focus on that one now.

Andre Louis 1d ago

@KaCi For myself I don't release there, but I do with Zero T. All my stuff lives on my youtube channel. I didn't want to release on a platform where I myself couldn't even press play and hear it. been nice to meet you today though, always love networking and meeting new people.

@FreakyFwoof
I subscribed to your youtube channel and bought the Journey Begins EP by Zero T on Bandcamp. I also like Killer Inside from the Kilburn Park EP, but even for my taste this is pretty heavy and I am still not sure if this track might have negative consequences on my mental health. I didn’t buy Stick up, because I the vocals didn’t feel right to me. If you ever consider to make a VIP of the track without vocals, I would be very interested in checking it out, because I really do love the sounds.

I put Jazz Type Thing at the top of my alien girl playlist, a playlist that you as the artist who created it are not able to access and that makes me angry. As an autistic person I am part of the disability community too and not only but especially my sensory issues make a huge part of the world inaccessible to me, which is why I am currently in burnout, unemployed and spend most of my time at home. In case that I will have the spoons for it, I consider to write a message to Bandcamp to tell them that accessibility for disabled people is not a “nice to have” feature, but should be a matter of course.

Andre Louis 10h ago

@KaCi 'Accessibility is not a feature, it's a right.'
I am myself an advocate for accessibility within the Blind/Visually Impaired space so I have these kinds of conversations again, and again, and again, and again. Over and over for years and years.
sigh.
It is never-ending.

Andre Louis 10h ago

@KaCi Re the track as an instrumental, well there are tools that take away the vocals these days, would be trivial to do that and have your own version of the track just as you like it. That's the joy of digital and the power of modern computers.

Andre Louis 10h ago

@KaCi Also you may not want to watch this as it's a docu about how Zero T and I met, but if you have a spare 10 minutes, maybe you'll find this interesting.

Zero T & Onj - Kilburn: The Documentary:
https://youtu.be/6WC7qjguILo

Zero T & Onj - Kilburn: The Documentary

YouTube