Tone Bursting
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Bandcamp Friday # ?!?!?
Monday, January 29, 2024
February BCF recommendations
Hi, first bandcamp Friday of the year! Im busy as hell recording LP2 so this will be quick!
Medicine - Silences
I guess its maybe pressing the finger on the scale cuz im doing PR for the groups upcoming record. But, who cares, Medicine is a seminal "shoegaze" band from the 90s if you didnt know. Their first 2 LP's are classic, and the Captured Tracks era releases predated the current trend of guitar bands(Spirit of The...., Feeble Lil Horse and Palm) making kinda fragmented songs that change on dime, that go from blown out distortion to synths sounding like their are falling apart to pysch pop hooks. Silences came out last year and is BONKERS. Its a record that's meant to be digested over lots of listens understand the subtle and not subtle shifts in the progression of the tunes, the hooks pop out with the coed vocal melodies. The production is is killer with those classic deep fried mutant guitar tones, the inspired drumming and Brad's sense of Beatlesish melody. Don't sleep on this band obviously pbut esp this record, one of the best independent rock records youll hear in a minute. If you don't believe me go listen to "Hey Hey Go Away" and report back.
https://bradlaner.bandcamp.com/album/silences
Bruiser Wolf - Dope Game Stupid
Insane, hilarious and fantasticly produced hiphop record by a singular voice. Danny Brown's bruiser brigade can be hit or miss but BW makes some of the most fascinating storytelling youll hear.
https://bruiserbrigaderecords.bandcamp.com/album/dope-game-stupid
Heavenly Bodies - Medium
Recommended to me by Bill of TiM fame. HB play droned out spacey rock in the vein of early Bowerly Electric, Magnog or any 90s Kranky stuff. Great music to hike or take a long walk too. Ive been listening to this a ton when im reading by Lovecraften horror books lol
https://heavenlybodiesphl.bandcamp.com/album/medium
Dregs - Dregs
Downtempo, triphopy murk thats the vybe of Dregs, its kinda like a more lowkey Moonshake or darker Laika. Too Pure and Kranky lovers rise up. Cool coed vocals, atmospheric production, if i knew about this when i was making my top releases of the year, this definitely would have been on it.
https://dreggin.bandcamp.com/album/dregs
Dorothy Moskowitz - Rising to Eternity
Did you know the singer of The United States Of America put out solo record recently?!?!?! Well, she did and this new one right here is dope. Sounding like a continuation an expansion of what she was doing with w TUSOA. Each track seems like its own little world, mom8ent and feel. It goes from pysch folk to ambient to noise. Its a really cool fucking record, and if you dig her previous band, Broadcast (duh), Dorthy Carter and Linda Perhacs youll be hyped on this.
https://tompkinssquare.bandcamp.com/album/rising-to-eternity
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Best of 2023!
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Sept 1 BCF recommendations
Quick and dirty BCF recs for yr cute ears
Twin Coasts - Single & Self Titled EP
Young Chicago band that makes great noisy pop tunes with some ambient/ drone mixed in. Fuck these phreaks for being so good at such a young age. I'm blown away by the songwriting on "Scratch On You". If you dig the gazey side of Dummy or Astrobrite you will love this.
https://twincoast.bandcamp.com
Forever ☆ - 3 Series
Another young/new shoegaze band that is doing very interesting stuff with blown out guitars, frantic electronic beats and haunting melodies. This 3 song tape is a must buy esp if you dig Curve, Guitar and Garbage at their more noisy
https://foreverstar.bandcamp.com/album/3-series
https://fantasticpalace.bandcamp.com/album/ringlets-gaskets-the-catskills-tape-expanded-edition
Sprain - The Lamb As Effigy
Sprain is one of the best live bands in the world right now, I'm not being hyperbolic cuz I hate everything. One they do here is far more ambitious than most bands ever do across a whole career. This isn't "easy" music, but it is beautiful, has integrity and pure catharsis. It'd heavy, it's dramatic, has subtle hooks and blasts yr ears and soul. This has so much care, spirrit and effort......Anyone who digs Swans, Black Midi, This Heat or Faust.
https://sprain.bandcamp.com/album/the-lamb-as-effigy
Thursday, August 3, 2023
August BCF recs
Tomorrow is the holy day of BCF, here's some recommendations for yr ears holes.
Present Electric - Self Titled
Present Electric is the experimental side project of Kevin Linn, who runs the great label Paisley Shirt and Sad Eyed Beatniks. His previous release under P E was a favorite of mine couple years ago with its ramshackled VU / Lewsberg vibes. Here with the new cassette it evokes some new sounds with some dub. It somewhat reminds me of Flaming Tunes and Solid Space. It honestly rules, even Alex likes it. Immersive lofi weirdo shit that still feels fun/essy to listen to, and I just love the exploratory nature of it. P
https://paisleyshirtrecords.bandcamp.com/album/present-electric
Friends Below Zero - End Of Tunes
Brian from Botch posted this on IG, and when he posts something I tend to check it cuz he has damn good taste. FBZ makes blown out noise pop of the bedroom variety. The recordings fate back to the 90s but were recently finished for whatever reason. It's a sick collection of pop tunes with weird production choices, fucked up guitar sounds and catchy lil hooks. I've been listening to this a ton cuz stuff like this just isn't really happening rn. If you dig Black Tambourine, Henry's Dress and stuff happening in Philadelphia.
https://friendsbelowzero.bandcamp.com/album/end-of-tunes-2
Forever ☆ - Your Angel Speaks
Likely one of the best "shoegaze" Singles you'll hear this year with layers of noise, breakbeats and beautiful vocals....this just HITS. Kinda similar to what MBV was doing on the last 3 tracks of their self titled record.
https://foreverstar.bandcamp.com/album/your-angel-speaks
Bulbils - Map
Not sure how I came across this record, and it's a MONSTER in terms of its length, so I can imagine anyone listening in one sitting but it is a really dense collection of koshmiche in the vein of Cluster, Woo and Faust. It's got a ton of sick sound play, aromopsheres and beats. Really cool stuff to just let play while you record or work.
https://torpress.bandcamp.com/album/map
Dissolve - That That Is
My current obsession with Roy Montgomery is all incompassing. Pin Group, Dadamah, solo stuff and this gem by duo Dissolve. I love how the guitar is utilized in a few different ways from melodies, with sounds and drones. It's stripped to it bare parts and creates such an amazing feel and atmosphere. The vocals complement the tracks, in a weird way this stuff reminds me of gonggongong or the offsets. Just primitive guitar stuff that rules. It's also on Kranky so u know it's gonna hit.
https://roymontgomery.bandcamp.com/album/that-that-is-is-not
Jonny Nash - Point of Entry
Gorgeous collection of ambient folk from the founder of the dope label Melody as Truth. I love this sorta guitar centered atmosphereic music that reminds me of Steve Hiett and Durutti Column. It's almost the other side of the coin for stuff like Dissolve, this is the "chill" version of that. It's hard to make this stuff sick, and not just feel like guitar loop wanking but Jonny really hurdles any hints of that. Great music to hike too or chill am work.
https://jonnynash.bandcamp.com/album/point-of-entry
Monday, June 5, 2023
Best of 2023 so far......
As the title says this is my list of fav releases so far in 2023. I worked PR for a few that I think are great like Mystic 100s, Spiral XP, The Drin and RJF but I only included Daisies on my best of list
Water Damage - 2 Songs
As I said in a previous post, Water Damage kicks ass, pummeling drone rock that ascends me to the cosmos.
https://waterdamage12xu.bandcamp.com/album/2-songs
Water From Your Eyes - Everyone's Crushed
My heart swells with all the love this record is getting becuz it's rules. Mutated noise pop that feels like if Cornelius went harder into the aggro side. Happy bigger indies are fucking with weird music again.
https://waterfromyoureyes.bandcamp.com/album/everyones-crushed
Danny Brown X Jpegmafia - Scaring The Hoes
I love this warped hiphop record by two of the best out there. Bonkers production obviously cuz Jpeg is the king of that shit. Hilarious lyrics from both doods, but damn Dannny is slaying on these beats. I've listened to this so so so much. It's a fun record that makes me wanna bang my head.
https://jpegmafia.bandcamp.com/album/scaring-the-hoes
Daisies - Great Big Open Sky
One of my favorite current bands. 90s techno, 90s adult contemporary and indie pop all mixed together into a euphorically fun record. I HATE ALL YOU WRITERS FOR SLEEPING ON THIS, with love.
https://daisies.bandcamp.com/album/great-big-open-sky
Yo La Tengo - This Stupid World
Best record since " And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-out straight up, and I love There's A Riot.
a.s.o - s/t
Triphop is back in a big way on this one. Fantastically crafted pop tunes with killer production that blends Portishead, Blue Nile and hints of ambient music. Great Great record esp if you dig Laika and Bowery Electric.
https://itsaso.bandcamp.com/album/a-s-o
IE - Junk Body
Ambient drone "rock" that never rocks. More chill, ritualistic and meditative with beautiful expressive vocals. The final track "Mel's Hole" is one of my fav tunes of the year, it's like Julee Cruise meets Popol Vuh. Insanely gorgeous song.
https://iesounds.bandcamp.com/album/junk-body
Loopsel - Öga for Öga
Loopsel is emerging as one of my fav up and coming artists, She is involved with a couple killer bands in Monokultur and Skiftande Enheter. On her own she makes I guess "psychedelic folk" in a vague sense, her early shit kinda gave some Flying Saucer Attack vibes but this record is much more lucid. It feels like Antena meets Troth meets Jessica Pratt.
https://mammasmysteriskajukebox.bandcamp.com/album/ga-f-r-ga-eye-for-an-eye
XV - On The Creekbeds On The Thrones
Too my dum dum ears it's a mix between Raincoats, Red Krayola and Movietone 🤷. It's really cool, and I feel cool listening too it. Disorienting production, detached vocals at times but then there is a playfulness too....very distinctive band. "Fresh Lettuce" is so odd, otherworldly. If you dig Mope Grooves, Maximum Joy and freak flags flying.
https://thexv.bandcamp.com/album/on-the-creekbeds-on-the-thrones
Khanate - To Be Cruel
My god, what a masterpiece of disgusting foul drone "metal". Dynamic vocals, far out lyrics and tones that test the boundaries of space n time. Makes me yern for the days of Loss and Otesanek.
https://khanate.bandcamp.com/album/to-be-cruel
Landon Caldwell - Desire Paths
Huge Landon stan, this record is beautiful ambient, new age, kosmiche and spiritual jazz all kinda swirling together in perfect harmony.
https://obsoletestaircases.bandcamp.com/album/desire-paths
Stuck - Freak Frequency
Stuck is handily one of the best US post punk bands, that mever forget the PUNK side of they equation. Nerves out, guitar wizards, banging rhythm section fun/dynamic vocals with hooks! Should be huge smh
https://futureshockrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/freak-frequency
Hysterical Love Project - Lashes
Finally, like aso above, HLP makes killer triphop, though less sonically dynamic (not shade) still fully immersive sound scapes with great subtle hooks. Love Spirals Downward, Bowery Electric and Cocteau Twins fans unite.
https://motionward.bandcamp.com/album/hysterical-love-project-lashes
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
June Bandcamp friday recs
Bandcamp Friday # ?!?!?
Music is good Water Damage - In E I love this band, and ive made it clear so much that Water Damage asked me to write the blurb for this L...
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Welcome to my year end list. This has been a banner year for Hiphop, droned out guitar rock and triphop influenced stuff. Below is my favo...
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I discovered Mope Grooves,randomly searching Portland tag on bandcamp, when looking for bands to play with and I believe "Desire" ...
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May is a busy month, training up a new bassist for Dummys tour in June with Facs, writing LP2 (😮💨) and work work work. Here's some su...