One of these reasons I hate pop music is the sincerity. I have just no way at all of connecting with whatever lyrics are presented in The Middle East and so it is to me just an annoying whine. I would rather listen to aircraft noise.
I have no good reason to not like Fever Ray or The Knife, except that it's pop music. There's something tragic about the effort pop music goes to - like a fashion victim failing to hide their need to be liked. I like it as much as Battles - so, good pick. I don't actually own any of Battles's music, though.
Midlake sounds like almost exactly like Fleetwood Mac. Is that deliberate? He's not making much impression on that log, though. Spit on the palms and get stuck in, son.
I had already checked out M83 on Hype Machine but it didn't quite take, even though I am a francophile. I already lived throgh the 80s, you know.
Aphex? Of course, I love RDJ. I listen to him probably more than any other artist. Your stock is rising.
Thanks for the effort. It strikes me that would like the whole post-rock / math-rock scene. You know, like Tortoise or Yo La Tengo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7mgw3He57I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sps7YxLeYM
They sound exactly like Steve Rieich for a few minutes arounf 8:00. And the best thing? No vocals!
Just jumped into my head: you might like Matmos (who have worked with Bjork a lot) or Boards of Canada.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPeYJGNNvZE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmbZtL0YHu8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7bKe_Zgk4o