May Bandcamp Friday recs!

 

So, shows and tours are being announced, I still feel not optimistic about the prospects but hopefully I'm wrong. So, here's more recommendations:

Tomaga - Intimate Immensity

Sadly, this is the final album by Tomaga due to the passing of Tom Relleen this past fall, but we are lucky to have this last document of a band fully realizing their potential. I found out about em cuz they opened show(s) for Stereolab. The first 5 tracks are some great combo of exotica, kosmische, ambient, IDM and with a heavy focus on the hypnotic layered percussion. Tracks 6 - 8 go into a territory I am not a huge fan of, which is more aggressive, dark ambientish, and noise. For some I'm sure this would be a welcome dynamic shift, for me....eh, but the record finishes with 2 more tracks in line with opening 5 tracks. I think they are, in my opinion in the same peer group as Wume, Forma, Bitchin Bajas and one track feature's vocals from the singer of Vanishing Twin. Get into it.

https://tomaga.bandcamp.com/album/intimate-immensity

Blu~ish, Dream Crease and Enchanted Forest  - Energy Hum Vol 2

This is a 3 cassette combo release from Blu~ish(AKA Winter), Dream Crease(Witching Hour radio host and truly lovely human), and Enchanted Forest(Ash Allard from Hott MT), all separate album's, put together as a single release by Mutation Records here in LA. Each release brings a different twist on extemely blissed out new age and ambient music. Blu~ish tape is made up of improvisations on Juno-60, that brings some 80s sounding cosmic zone outs. Dream Crease on the other hand brings a more pyschdelic ambient vibe, that feels like yr gliding through the ocean on an alien planet, looking at all the 4th dimensional beings. Lastly, Enchanted Forest, who introduced some more jarring moments upon the peace, more haunting than other two. The jarring moment's are like scars popping out that yr trying to smooth out and heal. Highly recommended for absolutle bliss.

https://mutationrecords.bandcamp.com/album/energy-hum-volume-two

Blue Ocean - Summer Of Hands/Fade

I've already talked about Blue Ocean, but recently Paisley Shirt records compiled both of their EPS on one tape, and get some more eyes on this fantastic shoegaze/noise pop. "Summer of Hands" shows a more straight forward bendy pop ala Isn't Anything, its a cool first peak into this bands mind. "Fade" is a huge leap forward, shedding some of the noise, but adding loops, feedback and even catchier jams that has the feel of early Moose and the single best MBV song "Off Your Face". This is what shoegaze should be, poppy, experimental and uptempo. For the punx.

https://paisleyshirtrecords.bandcamp.com/album/blue-ocean

Jonnine - Blue Hills

Finally, this fantastic LP is available on bandcamp, the solo debut LP by Jonnine Standish from HTRK. I know at this point calling something Lynchian is cliche but that truly is the best way to describe this record. Shades of jazz, 60s pyschdelic, minimalism,  folk and darker shades of dream pop collide to make this complete nocturnal vibe. There's an unsettled feeling in all the songs, there's always a strange sound arouns the corner to subvert the experience. The song "I Feel Like Im In A Film"  is such a bizarre combo of sounds, this simple folk song, bleeping synths, and what sounds like scissors opening and closing to create a very very very creepy feeling. This LP reminds me of 50 Foot Hose, The United States Of America and more minimal/eerie Broadcast. Do it.

https://jonnine.bandcamp.com/album/blue-hills

Elijah Knutsen - Pink Dreams

Shout out to my bud Mark for pointing me in the director of this cool tape from Elijah Knutsen. The goal of this cassette was to focus on the ambient side of shoegaze, and they succeeded! Its definitely reminiscent of Harold Budd/Eno collaboration, but also reminds me of Jefre Cantu Ledsema and Loveliescrushing. Track 3 "Wander" has Cocteau Twins feel for sure, those chorusy guitar textures. All in all a short 4 song ep worth yr ears

https://arouralrecords.bandcamp.com/album/pink-dream

Green-House  - Music For Living Spaces

Yasssssss, Green-House debut LP, their debut EP was one of my favorite and most listened to albums of last year. This is a preorder and only 2 tracks have been released so far but I'm loving em. The EP had a very warm, minimal tape ripped from youtube vibe but these new songs show a progression of sound design and songwriting. More active, layered but still remaining beautiful/transcendent. This is easily in my top 5 most anticipated  releases of the year.  Cant wait, and if you haven't listened to their debut ep, WHAT ARE YOI WAITING FOR.

https://green-house.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-living-spaces

Cobalt  - Astral Traveler's 

Lastly, this wavy dreamy new agey space rock(i use rock very lightly) from 1979, that has the most appropriate album title ever. I dont know much about the history behind this release, cuz there isnt much available. It was made in LA, and inspired by world travel. I love listening to this album in the afternoon, it has a sun baked haze to it. The guitars, drums and synths all feel like there is phaser all over em, eveything is ebbing and flowing to pyschdelic perfection. Its has a very like early Pink Floyd feel, Syd Barret era, but no vocals and all the zone outs. Trip out on the milky waaaay.

https://fromthestacks.bandcamp.com/album/astral-travels

Tangled Shoelaces - Turn My Dial - The M Squared Recordings and More

Welp, this is crazy, when Tangles Shoelaces started they ranged from 10 to 14, and the music puts to shame most adults. Playing jangley soft focus pyschdelic pop, its some of the best indie pop I've heard in forever. "The Biggest Movie Ever Made" is such aittle gem with its playful organ ans sax, and little Byrdsy guitars, that weirdly shift into a almost new waveish part, its wild. In both songs there a clever songwriting moments/transitions. The collection on the whole is very good, some of the vocals are a bit much for me, but i mean they were kids so whatever! Annnnnd Tangled Shoelaces is the cutest name ever. The always reliable Chapter Music is releasing this, and if you havent check their back catalog. Go

https://tangledshoelaces.bandcamp.com/album/turn-my-dial-the-m-squared-recordings-and-more-1981-84