So, here we are rounding the corner of this absolute hell of a year, and the one consistent light through out has been Bandcamp Fridays. I've bought more music this year, than i have in a long time, from new age to power violence, its been a great year for music. So here's my recs for upcoming day.
Posmic - Whirly Bird b/w Said It
So, full disclosure this band is filled with some of my best friends, so one could say I am biased. That being said, these two songs rule. Its like they took elements of Dinosaur Jr, Sebadoh, GBV and Breeders, distilled them into these tight minimal lofi pop jams. The vocals ooze personality, David and Emily deliver each song with more swagger that most bands dream of. Emily singing with a side eye at herself, and pretending that things are ok. David, also speaking to himself, trying to open himself up to love. Damn, I love these songs.
https://posmic.bandcamp.com/releases
Various - Brutal Supremacy
For a long time "heavy" music was something in my past due to trama I endured during my hardcore years, so I tended to not listen to at all besides nostalgic purposes, but more and more I find myself returning to old stuff and discovering new stuff i dig (gulch and bib) cuz I'm just more and more angry,and relating to the feelings I had when I used to play and listen to punk/hardcore. This is I guess in my opinion a now classic 4 way split between at the time(and still) some of the best power violence bands going. Iron Lung being the kinda vets on this, with Hatred Surge, Mind Eraser and why I am suggesting this comp Scapegoat. Unfortunately Scapegoats debut 7inch isn't on Bandcamp. The songs on here are absolutely savage, pure rage, and sonic punishment. The thing I always loved about Scapegoat was how tense it was, not like just regular old hardcore/punk/pv tense, like this is grinding yr teeth, eyes bulging, veins popping tension. Their sense of dynamic was always weird to, with tempos shifting, things being small, than blasting into walls of lofi sound. It rules, also highly recommend finding their debut on YouTube, or download it off a blog.
https://painkillerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/pkr-034-brutal-supremacy
Inner Light - Pastoral Homage Vol 1.
For people who've read this blog, or know me in person know I love Smoke Bellow, they are easily my favorite band of the last 10 years, not a single miss in their discography. So, I was very happy to discover earlier this year they had release a side project a few years back under the name Inner Light. They take elements of kosmische, new age, ambient, dub and post rock into a meditative LP length masterpiece. It all feels thoughtful but off the cuff as well, some moments feel like they just clicked a recorder on, and played, some built slowly over time. Its very beautiful and for any fan of Roedelius or Moebius. For some reason you can't buy it on bandcamp, but you can download it on the labels site, or buy Smoke Bellow stuff too.
https://ehserecords.bandcamp.com/album/pastoral-homage-vol-1-2
http://www.ehserecords.com/tapes/pastoral-homage-vol-1 (download mp3s)
Wet Fruit - Wet Fruit
Found Wet Fruit looking a bands similar to Dummy on Spotify, cuz I am curious what people who are listening us are also listening too. My ears were blessed with this very strange dreamy nervy circular post punk. There are hints of 60s psychedelic pastoral folk, with flutes and field recorded birds songs showing up on "Water". They are kinda like Electrelane without the rock n roll but more chaotic free jazz approach. Its a really cool, far out and experimental pop record. If you dig Palm or Mope Grooves I think youll dig this!
https://halfshellrecords.bandcamp.com/album/wet-fruit
Coral Club - Nowhere Island
This is the second release from Not Not Fun records that I am suggesting for a bandcamp Friday, first being that excellent SiP cassette . This release is much more humid and percussive. Feels like your sitting in the middle of a rain forest, meditating and transcending to astral plane after the shrooms kick in and yr onn with the water, earth and air. Its all very tribal but tropical without feeling at all corny. Its rough around the edges and its like someone trying to fight off the darkness. I often listen to this while taking solo walks at dusk.
https://coralclub.bandcamp.com/album/nowhere-island
Dylan Moon - Oh No Oh No Oh No
LA's Dylan Moon plays a fractured, mangled bedroom pop that takes cues from city, slacker, outsider, folk and ambient pop, that all collide together with strange dynamic shifts that show a elevated sense of arrangement and songwriting. Its a quick, short 9 min release, packs in so many ideas most people should be jealous.
The Umbrellas - Martime EP
Twee jangle pop is alive and well in San Francisco, as I've said before I am not a huge fan of this vein of indie pop these days, but when a band is killer, they are killer and The Umbrellas are that band. They take classic Sarah, C86 and Slumberland influences and make them feel ungent and fresh. The vocals weave togrther seemlessly, like honey into yr ears. There is slight paisley underground feel with the guitar leads. What sets this apart from a lot of jangle pop currently is its DIY/punk feel, this doesn't feel like some unstudied rich kids, it feels like sweaty basement pop. Along with Strange Passage and Star Party, The Umbrellas are one of a few current great indie pop bands
https://theumbrellasca.bandcamp.com/album/maritime-e-p
Rx - Demo
This is a one track demo, from LA's Rx. I don't know much about em minus that this song bangs. Its left field minimal post punk, cool vocal layering with a slight R&B influence. Any fan Antena, Pink Industry, Fall of Saigon and Young Marble Giants should keep an ear out.
https://prescriptionrx.bandcamp.com/releases
Soul Glo - Songs To Yeet At The Sun
Soul Glo are an punishingly chaotic hardcore band with dynamic vocals that harken back to the golden days of bands like Pg99 and City of Caterpillar. This is their new EP, out tomorrow and its a bruiser. I love how unhinged the vocal delivery is, esp compared to most hardcore vocalists who just feel like they go through the motions of "anger" or "anxiety". For me, even back when i was involved with hardcore, touring in a "hardcore" band, I often just didn't believe the vocals or the musicians anger or tension, it felt fake. Thats why bands like Soul Glo pull me back into enjoyong hardcore again, cuz I fucking BELIEVE it. Anyway, shit rules, buy it.
https://soulglophl.bandcamp.com/album/songs-to-yeet-at-the-sun
Sea Oleena - Weaving A Basket
Welp, this came the fuck outta nowhere, never heard of Sea until someone posted it on Twitter. Apparently this is their first release in 6 years. Its a stunning album, and has skyrocketed to top 10 releases of the year. Its the sound of isolation on a cold, but blissful island. Dreamy, ambient slow moving experimental folk, that is achingly beautiful. Moments bloom, and shrink and doesn't over stay its grandness. There are elements of Flying Saucer Attack, Jessica Bailiff, Tiny Vipers, Grouper and Julianna Barwick, but it feels very much her own thing. Idk, goddamn.
https://seaoleena.bandcamp.com/album/weaving-a-basket
