Nobody's Moving EP

Tripwire

Featured on the front page Newly Discovered section

Once November rolls in, the overwhelming avalanche of new albums finally slows down a bit. This has given me a chance to rummage through my "need to listen" pile, which I started doing this week, making sure that no good records slipped through the cracks. Well, one CD almost did get overlooked, which would have been a shame. Cassettes Won't Listen, who recently completed their Nobody's Moving EP, are the latest signings to NYC's Dope Lotus Records. Their electronic-flavored indie pop draws from a variety of sources, resulting in an optimistic collection of tunes that at times reminds me of Self blended with the Mobius Band. "Take This Outside" kicks off the EP with looping keyboards and catchy vocal melodies that will have "whoah oh oh" stuck in your head until you finally drift into a turkey-induced coma next week. The music on "Cutting Balloons" could easily pass for New Order, featuring a very "Hooky"-inspired melody that should be the lead single. Hey CWL members, there is my helpful tip of the day! The EP switches gears with "Lunch For Breakfast", which embraces the electronic influences of Boards Of Canada for a large portion of the song. When the guitars kick in further into the track, the perfect blend of indie-electro pop and shoegazer rock make this quite possibly the finest song on the release. The EP ends with "Summer Vacation" which takes the pop formula of the Postal Service and blends it up with some DJ Shadow-esque beats that really shows off the musical diversity of CWL. For their debut EP, Cassettes Won't Listen are off to a strong start. I expect to see their name popping up quite often once this release hits shops in early '06.

Scissorkick.com

You may not have heard about Cassettes Won't Listen but my guess is that you will. And probably very soon. Like the Notwist, CWL combine indie instrumentation and vocals with well informed electronic elements, but unlike the esteemed German quartet, they forgo the dour Teutonic moodiness for a more optimistic pop feel. Imagine, if possible, an inversion of the Mobius Band, putting more emphasis on the electronics and less on the guitar pop. "Lunch for Breakfast" is in my opinion the strongest song on their newest EP available from Dope Lotus Records. The middle break, shifting suddenly into a breathy, Boards of Canada on speed groove, opens into a steadied vocal melody that slowly builds into a really explosive, emotive indie/shoegazer payoff. One of my favorite tracks of the moment. A 2-for-1 that you'd be remiss to skip over.

Suckapants

So when i stay at my mom's house in ohio, my bedroom is actually the nook at the top of the stairs. it's not so bad, i have a window that looks out over the neighbor's roof and in the distance you can see the smoke stacks from the nearby power plant. anyway, it's a bit of an odd room nonetheless, and i find my musical tastes get rather poppy when i'm staying here. something about everything being white and beige and soft and new and smelling nice, i think. so for whatever reason, i've been playing 'Cutting Balloons' track a lot as of late. a rather new band i think, Cassettes Won't Listen do that dreamy-happy-poppy thing that goes so well with sleeping under the comforter you've had since you were seven.

Disc Collective

I have always thought of myself as a somewhat fortunate person.† From growing up in sunny California with a roof over my head to living in New York City without ever getting mugged (knock on wood), I'd say my life ain't all that bad. One of the moments in my life I cherish, and one that adds to this feeling of 'hey, life is great',†is the moment I came across Dope Lotus Records.

A record label out of New York City specializing in everything from the avant-garde noise experimentation of Loboy, home recorded lo-fi of Wholewheat, to head nodding beats from Drake, this label has more open mind than brain surgery.

The new "Nobody's Moving EP" from the Dope Lotus newest signee, Cassettes Won't Listen, has recently landed in my hands and life hasnt been better. From the jump off track reminicent of Beck, "Take This Outside" comes at you with in your face, funky-ass piano, stabbing horns, and head nod drums. The vocals are catchy enough to be stuck in your head til the end of time. The first single off the EP, "Cutting Balloons", seems to be popping up everywhere, I recently heard it on WOXY and was lucky enough to receive a free download via XLR8R.com two weeks ago

My suggestion would be to look into these cats, if you havent heard of them yet, you certainly will.† Dope Lotus offers free downloads if you're a part of their mailing list, yet another reason to say life is great.

Nobody's Moving EP is scheduled to be released January 10th on Dope Lotus Records, check out their website or hit them on myspace.com/kassetteswontlisten