GHOST HOLOGRAM

It's been a minute since we've heard anything from Beer On The Rug and this new one from "contemporary classical"/drone artist Exael comes a little out of leftfield for the label that has come to be (dubiously?) associated with "vaporwave". Even though it cuts a fairly austere figure on first listen, Ghost Hologram is equal parts blissful and soft-focus, conjuring up states of total zoning that rewards repeated listens.

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SIERRA CITY CENTER

Teams' next release is set to be on Beer on the Rug and its his take on the plastic-y, Ducktails-inspired guitar world but ultra Californian in his own way. Look for a release in 2013.

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情報デスクVIRTUAL

MP3: 情報デスクVIRTUAL - WELCOME 2 SHOP@HOME NETW☯RK LLC #WEEDBREAK #ROLL_UP_THEM_BLUNTS_FOR_2K12 03:23

Bask in the serene yet unsettling water cooler surrounds of 情報デスクVIRTUAL's (Laserdisc Visions / Macintosh Plus / Vektroid) new release on Beer on the Rug 札幌コンテンポラリー. Beer on the Rug has been a pretty reliable source recently of a particular brand of post-ideological nihilism that absorbs the utopian wonder of corporate new age mysticism and user-friendly but obsolete software, creating an uncanny space of Ferraro-esque satire and post-critique in its unwavering commitment to the luxury/banality of professional working life. "WELCOME 2 SHOP@HOME NETW☯RK LLC #WEEDBREAK #ROLL_UP_THEM_BLUNTS_FOR_2K12 03:23" is perfectly named and meshes digitised 80s muzak-funk with encarta-like saxophone flourishes.

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CAN'T STOP LUVIN' U

MP3: Mediafired - Pepsi Van

Mediafired is a mysterious entity from "sunny/magical Coimbra, Portugal" who on his recent tape The Pathway Through Whatever, which just saw digital release via. Beer on the Rug, stages some seriously mystical interventions deep within the descrated spheres of the internet/culture. "Pepsi Van" is typical of the release, but stands out as perhaps its most impressive track, starting off obliquely before letting its looped eccojam style fully realise itself in a familiar/buried vocal refrain.

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FLORAL SHOPPE

MP3: Macintosh Plus - 花の専門店
MP3: Macintosh Plus - ブート

These last few Beer On The Rug found sound releases have been slotting right in with my office days, seems like a lot of stuff is focusing on some split between lite nihilism and "techno-optimism" like Computer Dreams' potted-palm condo soundtracks. This one's another project from Ramona Vektroid (of Laserdisc Visions), making hyper-synthetic interventions onto vaguely determinable 70s/80s soft jams.

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BLUE WRANGLER SPORT

Heather Palmer highlights the sexy, 4x4 day trip vibe of first track from Napolian's excellent (and otherwise mostly condo-dwelling) Bear On The Rug split tape w/ Computer Dreams with this new video.

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DOLPHIN TEARS

Actually did quite a lot of this kind of reflecting over the weekend (Marine Pde. holla!) but wish I had these drifty, peaced out tones from Dolphin Tears as the soundtrack; real gentle, light-filled relaxation.

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MIND ACCESS

MP3: Laserdisc Visions - Data Dream

Laserdisc Visions' found sounds from "Saturn © era New Tokyo" are digging up major Tawa Melteca-coloured tones out of collected snippets of advertorial 90s funk, jazz-fusion shuffles and tranquil lobby-based ambience. These panpipes on "Data Dream" really don't quit and the remainder of the potted-palm office calm of New Dreams Ltd is similarly next level. These executive ditties sit in this real peaceful Encarta-like stasis, though I'm pretty sure one of the midi sax wails is lifted straight out of Leisure Suit Larry 6 .

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SODES

More lo-fi comfort from Beer On The Rug, this time from Ohio native Colin Field aka World Series whose "extra-terrestrial pop has never sounded this human". True; these lush, creaky daydreamers are as much "suburban" and pastoral in some Straight Story/fields-passing-by way as somehow existential with imagery suggestive ultra-suggestive of vintage midwestern/space-race and wider dreams of higher places. Mixed up in some Julian Lynch/Ducktails-style niceness with memories of some golden age conjured via wah-wah and the baseball name itself, it's all realized pretty impeccably throughout Episodes of El Niño, which is available digitally now with a tape release on the way.

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BLIND DATES

MP3: Midnight Television - All Night
MP3: Midnight Television - After Party

Beer On The Rug has new goods from another mysterious solo artist repping a now-familiar lo-fi televisual glitz. This time it's from H-pop enthusiast and Houston citizen Elliott Ashton, who as Midnight Television seems to be gripping any 80s/90s colours that might drip out of his wood-panelled TV set (mostly commercials) and embracing any outmoded capitalist runoff ideals. There's a lot of Matrix Metals loop worship over these short but mesmeric jams plus additional Dave Koz/KWJAZ/general hold-muzak aesthetics and at times a night-ride luxury streak that might fit right into a Chuck Person intervention. Digital release out now with very limited tapes TBA from Beer On The Rug.