Airhead- "Pryamid Lake"

Airhead drops a new single via R & S Records, and it's an obtuse one indeed. The rhythm seems to have a bit of a dub reggae feel to it, but it seems that anything goes with the slew of vocal samples and synths that sit on top of it. It's got an interesting groove to it, but definitely comes off more like a collage than a dance beat.

A few months ago I praised this guy for coming together with what's essentially a sample-based ballad. While it isn't as beautiful, "Pyramid Lake" seeks and finds new ways to perplex.

Airhead- "Wait" (Loved)

As the act of sampling music becomes more widely accepted, the artform is doing bigger and better things. From the straightforward and visceral mashups of Girl Talk to the mind-bending sound collages Oneohtrix Point Never laced into his latest album Replica.

However, this new Airhead track shoots straight for the heart. I wouldn't say it's the first time for a track of this style to do so, though. Mashup artist Kids & Explosions had some tender spots on his debut album, but this "Wait" track is the closest sampled based music has come to a legitimate ballad.

The vocal sample is rendered mostly to vowels and moans, staining the language out of the original song without losing the emotion. The beat is slow and heaving, leaving plenty of room for the acoustic guitar, piano, and post-rock guitar swells placed in the background.

It's true warmth displayed through collage.

Look for a full-length debut from Airhead on R&S later this year.