| Blue Film | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | February 24, 2014 |
| Recorded |
|
| Genre | Indie pop |
| Length | 42:12 |
| Label | 4AD |
| Producer | Francois Tetaz |
| Singles from Blue Film | |
| |
Blue Film is the debut album by the American singer-songwriter Lo-Fang. Released in 2014 by 4AD, it began as a mix tape that was turned into a full length album with additional material.
In 2011, Lo-Fang's friend Steve Adams, a director of photography for National Geographic Channel, gave him a free ticket and invited him along on a work trip to Cambodia where Lo-Fang wrote the song "#88". [2] From There, he had traveled to Tokyo, Bali, London, and across America. Lo-Fang, real name Matthew Hemerlein, reveals that a lot of those places and the people he has met has not only influenced his lyrics, but the instruments as well. Lo-Fang can play the violin, cello, bass, guitar, and piano. All of these instruments were incorporated into the album.
It took three years for Lo-Fang to complete the mixtape-turned-album. After dropping out of college, Hemerlein focused on his music and small performances. Although he did not catch the attention of any record studios at first, his lyrics landed him a publishing deal. [3] Later on, in 2013, Lo-Fang was signed to British record label 4AD.
Blue Film gives an insight look into negative relationships and although slightly personal for him, Lo-Fang is able to keep it general enough for his fans and other listeners to be able to relate to it. [4]
I think a lot of my views of Cambodia came through in some of the songs that are a little bit more soulful. Something like Permutations or Look Away or #88 ... I think they have a connection to Cambodia. Even the melody does a bit. I think you hear a bit of that in the melody of the #88, for sure. But initially all the lyrics were written in Angkor Wat or in Siem Reap in Cambodia.
— Lo-Fang, Curious Animal [2]
Lo-Fang reveals that the meaning of the title is a mix between sadness and coolness. He believes that his music has a cinematic quality to it and the title Blue Film embodies that. He also throws in that there is a bit of play on words when mentioning an adult film, Blue Movie by Andy Warhol.
Although classified as indie pop, Blue Film possesses elements of R&B, classical, synthesizers, and electro pop. As a musician talented in playing many instruments and an appreciation for all types of styles, Lo-Fang added as many elements as he could during recording and post-production in order to showcase what he was capable of.
Blue Film is a very intimate album, but very raunchy as well. In many of his songs, the music is very smooth sounding, but with his ominous and soft voice, combined with the lyrics itself, it is very misleading as to what he is talking about. This record could indisputably be considered one to be all about sex but in a very abstract sense.
Every song on the album has a different feel to it—From more mainstream sounds coming from "Animal Urges" and "Look Away", luyring and menacing tones in "Confusing Happiness", and chilling and subdued covers of female duo BOY's "Boris" and "You're the One That I Want" from the musical Grease (musical).
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 64/100 [5] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
| NME |   [7] |
| Pitchfork Media | 5.1/10 [8] |
| PopMatters | [9] |
Lo-Fang got his big break when he was asked to be the opening act on a singer from New Zealand, Lorde’s tour in 2013. His single "#88" was one of her favorite songs and once they met up in a L.A. studio, they immediately kicked it off and thus began the start to his name getting out more in the music industry. [13]
Lo-Fang's cover of "You're the One That I Want" was created for the Chanel No. 5 commercial with supermodel Gisele Bündchen.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Look Away" | 5:00 |
| 2. | "Boris" (Boy cover) | 3:38 |
| 3. | "When We're Fire" | 3:48 |
| 4. | "Light Year" | 3:59 |
| 5. | "Blue Film" | 3:04 |
| 6. | "Interlude" | 0:30 |
| 7. | "#88" | 6:48 |
| 8. | "Intro" | 0:25 |
| 9. | "Animal Urges" | 5:01 |
| 10. | "Confusing Happiness" | 3:04 |
| 11. | "You're the One That I Want" (cover) | 3:24 |
| 12. | "Permutations" | 3:31 |
| Chart (2014) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [14] | 125 |
| US Top Heatseekers Albums ( Billboard ) [15] | 17 |
Dream pop is a subgenre of alternative rock and neo-psychedelia that emphasizes atmosphere and sonic texture as much as pop melody. Common characteristics include breathy vocals, dense productions, and effects such as reverb, echo, tremolo, and chorus. It often overlaps with the related genre of shoegaze, and the two genre terms have at times been used interchangeably.
Surfer Rosa is the debut studio album by the American alternative rock band Pixies, released in March 1988 on the British label 4AD. It was produced by Steve Albini. Surfer Rosa contains many of the elements of Pixies' earlier output, including Spanish lyrics and references to Puerto Rico. It includes references to mutilation and voyeurism alongside experimental recording techniques and a distinctive drum sound.
Heaven or Las Vegas is the sixth studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins. It was released on 17 September 1990 by 4AD. It is the band's second major-label release, following Blue Bell Knoll in 1988.
Blue Bell Knoll is the fifth studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins, released on 19 September 1988 by 4AD. This was the band's first album to receive major-label distribution in the United States, as it was originally licensed by Capitol Records from 4AD for North American release. After a period of being out of print while 4AD reclaimed the American distribution rights for their back catalogue, the album was remastered by guitarist Robin Guthrie and reissued in 2003. Vocalist Elizabeth Fraser named the album after a peak in southern Utah called Bluebell Knoll.
Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel is the debut album by Atlas Sound, the solo project of Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox. The album was released in North America by Kranky on February 19, 2008 and in Europe by 4AD on May 5, 2008.
Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor, known professionally as Lorde, is a New Zealand singer and songwriter. She is known for her unconventional style of pop music and introspective songwriting.
Actor is the second album by musician St. Vincent, released by 4AD on May 4, 2009, in the United Kingdom and a day later in the United States. The artist was influenced by scores to films by Disney and Woody Allen. To prevent writer's block, she watched films without the sound and composed music for her favorite scenes. After arranging the music using GarageBand, she then wrote lyrics and added gentle vocal melodies.
Blue Lips is the third studio album by Swedish singer Tove Lo. It was released on 17 November 2017 by Island Records. Blue Lips is considered the second half of a two-piece concept album that describe "highs, lows and ultimate demise of a relationship." Its chapters "Light Beams" and "Pitch Black" succeed the chapters "Fairy Dust" and "Fire Fade" from her previous album Lady Wood (2016).
Ariel Marcus Rosenberg, professionally known as Ariel Pink, is an American musician, singer, and songwriter whose work draws heavily from the popular music of the 1960s–1980s. His lo-fi aesthetic and home-recorded albums proved influential to many indie musicians starting in the late 2000s. He is frequently cited as "godfather" of the hypnagogic pop and chillwave movements, and he is credited with galvanizing a larger trend involving the evocation of the media, sounds, and outmoded technologies of prior decades, as well as an equal appreciation between high and low art in independent music.
Purity Ring is a Canadian electronic pop band from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, formed in 2010. The band consists of multi-instrumentalist/producer Corin Roddick and vocalist Megan James. They released their debut album Shrines in 2012 to critical acclaim, followed by Another Eternity in 2015 and Womb in 2020. The band released an EP, Graves, on June 3, 2022.
Shrines is the debut studio album by Canadian electronic music duo Purity Ring. It was released on July 20, 2012, by 4AD. Purity Ring recorded the album separately at home over several months, sending their parts via email. Shrines has been described as an electropop, synth-pop, dream pop, and indie pop album, incorporating hip hop-inspired production and "striking" lyrics. It was produced by Purity Ring, with additional production by Jon Hopkins.
"Tennis Court" is a song recorded by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde. She co-wrote the song with Joel Little, with production handled by the latter. Universal Music Group (UMG) released the song as the second single from her debut studio album Pure Heroine (2013) in Australia and New Zealand on 7 June 2013. On the same day, the label released an extended play (EP) of the same name containing three additional tracks throughout Europe. It combines alternative pop, art pop, and downtempo music over hip hop beats, minimalist synthesisers, and an electronic pulse. Inspired by Lorde's fresh insights into the music industry, the lyrics address her newfound fame and nostalgia for Auckland.
"Glory and Gore" is a song by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde from her debut studio album, Pure Heroine (2013). The song was released on 11 March 2014 as the album's fourth and final single by Lava Records and Republic Records. The track was written by Lorde and its producer, Joel Little. "Glory and Gore" is an electropop song influenced by chillwave and hip hop music. It speaks about modern society's fascination with violence and celebrity culture, comparing these to gladiators.
Ebba Tove Elsa Nilsson, known professionally as Tove Lo, is a Swedish singer and songwriter. She has been called "Sweden's darkest pop export" by Rolling Stone. She is known for her raw, grunge-influenced take on pop music. Out referred to her autobiographical lyrical content as making her "the saddest girl in Sweden".
Matthew Jordan Hemerlein, better known by the stage name Lo-Fang, is a singer-songwriter and classically trained musician. His stage name came to him while he was driving through Sedona, Arizona on his way to Los Angeles. He chose it mainly because of the symmetry of the letters and his attempt to balance the feminine and masculine elements in his music. As he sees it: " 'Lo' relates 'soft and soothing' and the strings and kind of the way I sing, and the 'Fang' element is more like the harsh, electronic sounds and the bass."
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 is the soundtrack album to the 2014 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, curated by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde. The soundtrack has been described by music critics as an electropop record with elements of hip hop, synth pop and the use of electronic beats throughout the album. The melodic style of the songs is a deviation from the guitar-driven sound of the previous series' soundtracks.
Pom Pom is the tenth studio album by American recording artist Ariel Pink, released on November 17, 2014 through 4AD. It was his first release credited solely to himself, and his last on 4AD. Several of its songs were co-written with the ailing Kim Fowley, who died the following January. Critics generally gave the album positive reviews. Only one single was issued from the album: "Put Your Number in My Phone".
Melodrama is the second studio album by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde. It was released on 16 June 2017 by Lava and Republic Records and distributed through Universal. Following the breakthrough success of her debut album Pure Heroine (2013), Lorde retreated from the spotlight, and travelled between New Zealand and the United States. Initially inspired by her disillusionment with fame, she wrote Melodrama to capture heartbreak and solitude after her first breakup.
"Sober" is a song recorded by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde, from her second studio album Melodrama (2017). Lorde co-wrote and co-produced the song with Jack Antonoff, with production assistance from Malay and vocal production from Kuk Harrell. It was released on 9 June 2017, by Republic as the album's second promotional single. "Sober" is the first of a two-track song, which is completed by "Sober II (Melodrama)". It is an electronic R&B and alternative pop song that features a tiger's roar, trumpets, brass and tenor and baritone saxophones in its production. The lyrics detail the desire to tell someone how you feel about them while wondering how it will be once the liquor wears down.
Solar Power is the third studio album by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde. It was released on 20 August 2021, by Universal Music New Zealand. Lorde wrote and produced the album with American musician Jack Antonoff, with whom she also worked on her second studio album, Melodrama (2017).
