Featured Artist: Active Child

Every once in a while, I will highlight an artist/song/music scene that you need to know about. I will restrain myself to sharing only that which I cannot keep to myself. Today, I am compelled to share with you Active Child, a relatively new artist out of LA. Please read more and scroll to the bottom to download his music for yourself - he is just the kind of under-the-radar artist with a brilliant sound who will benefit greatly from a broadening fan base.

Active Child has several easily discernible influences. His cathedral-ceiling high voice, gorgeous enough to be used as a weapon, is very reminiscent of Justin Vernon (lead singer of Bon Iver and Volcano Choir). Stylistically, his vocals do not vary too widely from that mold. His genre, however, is re-defined by his laptop-pop backing tracks. Clearly he draws some inspiration from elements of classic 80's synth-ballads, as well as the whirring, swooning compositions Dntel (Jimmy Tamborello) put behind Ben Gibbard's voice on the classic Postal Service album, Give Up. However, the beats remind me of nothing so much as the work Zach Condon (Beirut) has done under the Realpeople moniker, where he eschews his Eastern European horn fetish for home-produced bleeps and warbles.

Active Child's discography is limited, as he has released only two physical items so far. On January 12, a UK music blog, Transparent, released a 7-inch single of "She Was A Vision" on their own tiny record label, with B-side "Voice Of An Old Friend" (get it here). On January 14th, Mirror Universe Tapes released a 100-copy cassette tape run of his six-song album, Sun Rooms (get it here). Yes, it's pretty hipster to release your music on cassette. No, I don't have a tape player either. Ultimately, you're going to have to overlook this and just toss the below downloads onto your iPod until he releases more content.

"She Was A Vision" is a dreamy, gorgeous ballad with a hook that ascends, rocketship-style, straight up through the Pearly Gates. "Wilderness" garnered an 8/10 track review from indie review moguls Pitchfork for its unique sound and slow mesh of warm voice with chilly electronic backing. "When Your Love Is Safe" and "Voice Of An Old Friend" round out the four songs I've heard so far, respectively making their mark with a singular usage of synthesized melody and a willingness to chop up vocals and edge and layer them reminiscent of Miike Snow. Follow the links below to download and thank me later.

She Was A Vision
Wilderness
When Your Love Is Safe
Voice Of An Old Friend