One good thing that came outta this year comes around again, Bandcamp Fridays. Bless these angels for doing this for a full year.
Blue Ocean - Fade
Actually good shoegaze from San Francisco/Oakland thats lo-fi, up beat and weird. They take what MBV was doing with sound manipulation and do it with their own diy spin. I love all the tape, feedback, far oit loops JUST below the surface of these tunes. Its like if fans of 14 Iced Bears and The United States Of America had a DIY baby...which maybe thats what this is. Self recorded, and hell ya.
https://blueoceanmusic.bandcamp.com/album/fade
Small Bills - Don't Play It Straight
Late in the year sleep hit, Smalls Bills debut project is one of my favorite hiphop releases of the year(next to Lojii). The title says it all, they come at this album from so many different angles, via vocal delivery, production and lyrical content. There is funk, jazz, electronic, techno and mind melting atmospheres around every corner of this thing. Its sounds like they manifested the inner walls of their collective minds. I can't imagine any fan of Milo, Earl or Digiable Planets wouldn't love this freak shit.
https://thelasso-mmg.bandcamp.com/album/dont-play-it-straight
Strange Passage - Shouldn't Be Too Long
Hey, you know how indie pop is often twee, and wimpy (which at the time indie pop was og happening it was quite punk), and how that kinda sucks? Well, Strange Passage is here to give us muscular jangle pop with hardcore band urgency. With nods to REM, The Byrds, The Church and Neu, Strange Passage are a stupidly under heard band in indie pop circles. THEY ARE BETTER THAN YR FAV, so yea, go buy their shit, it bangs and the guitar work is bonkers.
https://strangepassage.bandcamp.com/music
AV Moves - In A Pause
Leaving records really killed it this year with Green-House, Nailah Hunter. I think this one kinda went slightly under the radar for whatever reason but its like taking a warm sonic bath of static. Through out the record, sounds ebb and flow over you like waves of blissed out sound. There are bits of jazz, dub, idm and new age but, this feels more firmly in the ambient genre. Definitely an early morning record for me. Its beautiful, slightly haunting in a indie video game soundtrack kind of way. Its really good, and deserves yr ears.
https://a-v-c.bandcamp.com/album/in-a-pause
Daisies - Daisies In The Studio With DJ Rap Class
Daisies seem like phreaks in the best possible way, and this record is their best yet. Similar to No Joys "Motherhood", it borrows heavily from 90s dance, triphop and using layered sampling to create a whirlwind of fun, unselfconscious and catchy hits. Been a fan for awhile but this one just nails it, its smooth, vocals are at their catchiest and the production is interesting, thoughtful, its dreamy without being washed out. One of the songs I'm pretty sure is referencing a Suger Ray song, and that's funny as hell. Fans of Dee-Lite, Saint Etienne and dance remixes of pop rock songs will love this.
https://daisies.bandcamp.com/
Kaoru Inoue - Em Paz
This came out 2 years ago, but my husband just recently discovered it. I know nothing about this artist, aside from this is a beautiful collection of Japanese ambient music. It some how feels celestial and grounded at the same time, its grooves and pulses but is still peaceful. Its an interesting balance sounds, textures, production and rhythms. Highly recommended!
https://seedsandground.bandcamp.com/album/em-paz
Kathy Leisen - Proof
Syncro System records has been quietly releasing fantastic albums over the last few years, by Strange Passage, The Umbrellas and now an upcoming psychical release of Kathy Leisen LP "Proof". I've just become aware of this release, that came out in May digitally. Its an exciting combo of stuff like Antena, Mariah, Bjork, Judee Sill and devtionals. Its definitely some outsider folk music. I'm really looking forward to diving into this record more, but i thought it was def worth sending yalls way.
https://kathyleisen.bandcamp.com/album/proof
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