2022, barely been home, haven't had a lot of free time to really take in as much music as I feel like I normally do, but still some real gems have come out this year, be it an LP, EP, or reissue.
John Also Bennet - Out There In The Middle Of Nowhere
Forma hasn't released anything in awhile but I hadn't realized its members also have been putting out music over the last few years. I came to this record via a music discord I'm apart of. John Also Bennet uses field recordings, synths and slide guitar to create a beautifully desolate landscape of a album. His use of silence and space is masterful, that brings you into this quiet world that feels like yr staring at the sun on a snow dusted valley. Haunting yet blissful stuff.
https://johnalsobennett.bandcamp.com/album/out-there-in-the-middle-of-nowhere
Horse Lords - Comradely Objects
I fully will admit I've never really vibed with Horse Lords. Being from Baltimore, I always felt like, as someone who loves krautrock/avant music I am supposed to dig them. But, I'm happy to report, this record is by far their best and most accomplished. Sounds bounce, groove and jerk around with wild abandon. This record has an accessibility that all their early records lacked. Some songs remind me of of This Heat and Can were jamming. The main thing I think that really helps this record outside the songwriting is the production, esp mixing that gives these tunes great dynamics along with electronic elements folded in. Yes
https://horselords.bandcamp.com/album/comradely-objects-2
Clear Capsule - Gravity Licker
Great EP, who's songwriting and production elevates it above so many of current shoegaze. I'm alittle biased cuz these are friends/I did PR for this EP. The songs have catchy pummeling instrumentals along with hooks that get lodged in yr head for days. Combining the muscle of Smashing Pumpkins, noise of MBV and the triphop influenced Bowey Electric, Clear Capsule has made of the year most engaging rock releases.
https://clearcapsule.bandcamp.com/album/gravity-licker
Winged Wheel - No Island
A band that could have maybe only happened due to the hell we are living : recording and sharing over the net with members of Tyvek, and Powers/Rolin. Pulsating noisy drone rock, with anti solos, motorik drums and haunting vocals to tie it all together. As I've said before, sounds like FSA jamming with Neu! If you dig Kranky, Too Pure or Wurlitzer Jukebox releases, youll dig this. Rumor has it LP2 is being recorded in November with Steve Shelly taking over drumming duties.
https://wingedwheel.bandcamp.com/
Bitchin Bajas - Bajascillator
Bitchin Bajas are one of my favorite current bands. To anyone who doesn't know they combine kosmiche, spiritual jazz, new age and drone. Most of their records outside their collaboration with Bonnie Price Billy tend to be broodier but with Bajascillators they sound out right bouncey and full of vigor. The songs feel lighter on their feet, vibrate and full of color. Less droned out, and more euphoric, and I really love this development. The final track has a real pulse to it. Can't wait to see them in February!
https://bitchinbajas.bandcamp.com/album/bajascillators
Horsegirl/Lifeguard/Post Office Winter - Versions of Modern Preformance/ Crowd Can Talk/ Music Box
I put these 3 release together cuz they are all products of Chicago's young and creativity exciting scene that all these bands are apart of. Each released a important milestone in their creative journey's. Horsegirl with their Flying Nun indebted rock, Post Office Winters lofi Elephant 6 ramshackled pop and Lifeguards avant garde pummel. Don't sleep on the future.
https://postofficewinter.bandcamp.com/album/music-box
https://lifeguardband100.bandcamp.com/album/crowd-can-talk
https://thisishorsegirl.bandcamp.com/album/versions-of-modern-performance
Dylan Moon - Option Explore
I genuinely don't understand why Dylan Moon isn't a more celebrated songwriter? Across two LPs he has successfully melded folk, city pop, idm, lofi, japanese ambient, shoegaze and slowcore. His use of technology in the way he edits is brilliant, esp when using different sounds, like when in a song the drums will sound completely different between verses and choruses, as a way to make it sonically dynamic. I know I'm not describing this well, but it's very clever. The songs mutated so much, but remain hooky and interesting to listen too! It's modern singer songwriter music, that isn't reliant on all the boring tropes of the genre.
https://dylanmoon.bandcamp.com/album/option-explore
Cole Pulice and Nat Harvie - Strawberry Roam
Somewhat similar to the JAB record, Cole and Nat have made a record that sounds like it's soundtrack for treking across the Badlands. Lap steel, saxophone and chiming synths blend into 28 minutes of longing bliss. I listened to this record an absurd amount on tour, it's reminds me of this record by Ramses III called "I Could Never Love You More". Cole has had a crazy year with so many good releases.
https://auralcanyonmusic.bandcamp.com/album/strawberry-roan
The Sheaves - Excess Death Cult Time
Weirdo punk with hints of no wave and krautrock by way of Flying Nun. This is a wonderful gem from Phoenix, who I can't find any info on at all. The vocals sound like a very paranoid guy, with a 4 track in a sweltering basement. The production is simple and live sounding. The guitars jerk, stab, and grind into mass of dissonance that is some how restrained while still feeling visceral. Fave punk record of the year.
https://sheaves.bandcamp.com/album/excess-death-cult-time
Influenza Prods - Mémoire
The constant machine of reissues from under known or heard is a boon for us record nerds always looking for undiscovered gems. Influenza Prods are definitely bedroom lofi experimental post punk? It's all very primitive in that they were using early home recording tech and cheap electronic instruments. This is a comp of select tracks over their cassette releases. There's hints of wOrLd music, exotica, ambient, electronic and kosmiche through out all these tracks. I really love this record, I feel very inspired by it's naiveté
https://influenzaprods.bandcamp.com/album/me-moire
Alice Damon - Windsong
Wow wow wow wow wow wow, this thing came outta nowhere. This is straight up proto Grouper but not darkthe way Liz's music generally is. GORGEOUS. This is immersive and beautiful. I have no words. Easily one of my favorite new age releases in years. This and Influenza Prods I think will be huge inspiration for future Dummy music.
https://alicedamon.bandcamp.com/album/windsong
Hydroplane - Hydroplane
I mean come on, this feels tailor-made for me. Obscure Australian avant pop band from the ashes of Cats Miaows more Sarah Records leaning act. Hydroplane mix tape loops, guitar noise, haunting vocals and crude drum machine sounds into a cavernous pop groop. Sounding like Flying Saucer Attack and Bowery Electric jamming...how could you go wrong.
https://hydroplaneband.bandcamp.com/album/hydroplane
Landon Caldwell and Friends - More Unity
After an absurdly prolific 2021, Caldwell has seemed to slow things down quite a bit in 2022, but with "More Unity" his only release this year he makes one of his best records ever. Previously, I would have said "Bicycle Day" was Landons best record, with its drifting nostalgic tones and atmosphere. "More Unity" feels almost like an culmination of all his collaborative efforts. As these songs flow, it's clear each one reinforces the last. The songs drone in euphoric synth soundscapes, subtle hints of spiritual jazz and the kosmiche lol. This record is a powerful document of Landon and the two groups he has been working with for last few years.
https://atlanticrhythms.bandcamp.com/album/more-unity
Feivel Is Glauque - Aerodynes EP
It's was heartwarming seeing FIG joining the Stereolab tour, and ground control cuz I think they are a great band! This new EP is their best release yet, they sound sound like Cardigans, Astrid Gilberto and hints of the Groop all mushed together. Its written with an effortless brevity that keeps things moving. Great EP
(No longer on bandcamp but torrent it?)
Broadcast - Mother Is The Milky Way but also all the reissues
Without a doubt the loss of Trish Keenan is one of the biggest blows to music in the last decade. Broadcast was/is one of the best bands of the last 25 years, and one of my favorites. This is as far as I know the last thing they ever released, a tour only CD in Australia. It's similar to the Focus Group collaboration but more homespun, lofi. The two gems are tracks 2 and 3 (Elegent Elephant being very influential on Dummys "Folk Song"). "In Here The World Begins" is a perfect melding of Tender Buttons era but taking it even further into the....Milky Way. It's a beautiful and far to brief EP, hope one day James releases more stuff. Also, this is dope cuz I've been listening to a shit download of this for years!
https://broadcast.bandcamp.com/album/mother-is-the-milky-way
Poorly Drawn House - Home Doesn't Have Four Walls
My god, as someone who isn't into slowcore or post rock that isn't from late 80s/early 90s this album by Poorly Drawn House blew me AWAY. The first thing that grabbed me was the field recording of the crickets against the slow churn of guitar, who's tone reminds me of Karate. Its slow moving beauty, made by people who aren't trying to empress anyone but their own artistic whims.
https://candlepinrecords.bandcamp.com/album/home-doesnt-have-four-walls
Empath - Visitor
Empath is a dope band, they play psychedelic pop without using any of the annoying/over used tropes of the genre. This record does in fact, tone the frenzy down, but what it lacks at times in pure blissed out energy it makes up for lucid hooks vocally. "Bell" is a clear stand out, I'm not sure why it wasn't a single, the little feedback bit in the chorus is brilliant! There are few bands I feel like I/Dummy relate too, in that Empath makes sonically interesting pop, that uses sound design, propulsive rhythms and has a deep love for new age music. I hope the next record they do more of the long stretched out jams, combined with these great pop tunes.
Bookhouse - Eferwad y Tonnau Gwyn
Yes, Yes, YES, Bookhouse returns with their new EP? This UK experimental krauty psychedelic band that remind me of why music is exciting. These songs are free of giving a fuck about about being accessible to anyone. Traces of Amon Dual II, Neu, Ash Ra Temple but with a blender turning off and on, going in different direction. Feel it.
https://bookhouse.bandcamp.com/album/eferwad-y-tonnau-gwyn
Parker Sprout - Milk In The Sun
What the actual fuck is happening in Minneapolis right now? They got IE, American Cream Band and another Moon Glypher Parker Sprout. This short burst of blistering sunshine pop feels like a Slumberland release but warped by a good LSD trip. Jangle pop hooks without the twee, indie pop but weird/lofi with small glimpses of something more avant. It actually really reminds me of Mark Renner, who also rules. Moon Glyph don't miss!
https://moonglyph.bandcamp.com/album/milk-in-the-sun
Sofie Birch - Holotropica
I listened to this record a ton on tour when trying to shut out the outside world, and rest my mind. A lush mix of acoustic and electronic instruments that is both ambinet and active. Subtle layers show themselves on repeat listens. It's funny that vaguely ambient jazz has become a thing but Sofie doesn't make chill vibes shill to, its real deal beauty. Highly recommend this for meditative purposes.
https://sofiebirch.bandcamp.com/album/holotropica
Les Halles - Eight Fantasies
Les Halles is certainly one of my favorite ambient whatever artists going right now. Each release has somewhat different sound textures but all work as a cohesive body of work. This latest release is his first of new material since 2019 and it shows with the elevanted sense of songwriting and dynamics compared esp to alot of aMbIeNt music. It feels like his most accomplished work. Like gazing out over a awe inspiring landscape, all the hissing textures with little hints of woodwind floating in and out. Considering how popular new age/ambient music is, I'm baffled to why Les Halles isn't spoken about more.
https://halles.bandcamp.com/album/eight-fantasies
Here's some other stuff I enjoyed are
(Horror podcasts)
- The Silt Verses
- John From Back Home
- Escaping Denver
- Badlands Cola
(Books)
- Endless Endless (Elephant 6 book)
- You're With Stupid (kranky records book)
- Fingers Crossed (Miki from Lush memoir)
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