Best of 2022 so far

 2022, what a strange year so far, toured, got covid, released a Sub Pop 7inch, about to go on tour again but this time for like...3 months. Anyway, I love lists, they are fun, and when people poopoo on em, I think "you are no fun". So here's my list of favorite releases so far this year, which might include singles, EPs, LPs and reissues. So of these might be repeats from my resent Turntable Report take over. So sue me, in no particular order.

Empath - Vistitor 

In a just world, Empath would be as big as Spirit Of The Beehive (the world is more just due to SOTBH popularity). Empath is what a modern psychedelic band should sound like. No goofy bs cosplay 70s shit. Just full on blasts of jubilant noise, hooks and energy. 

https://empathx.bandcamp.com/album/visitor

Horsegirl  - Versions of Modern Performance

I mean, I'm going on tour with em, so biased, but they give me hope.

https://thisishorsegirl.bandcamp.com/album/versions-of-modern-performance

Feivel Is Glauque - Aerodynes 

It's been heartwarming seeing FIG joining upcoming 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 available anymore)

Rosa Beach Mason and Sean Conrad - Wake

Ethereal dreamy ambient soundscapes. I've talked about this release a bunch, it sounds FSA meets Cocteau Twins in their Victorialand era. YO, Rosa and Sean, make more music.

https://innerislands.bandcamp.com/album/wake

X.Y.R  - Aquarealm 

The name says it all, beautiful realm of watery ambience that floats along the sound field to put you at ease.

https://xyrmusic.bandcamp.com/album/aquarealm

Influenza Prods. - Mémoire 

Reissue of this barely pressed experimental post punk that is somewhere between Cluster, Raincoats, Woo and more recent Smoke Bellow. Truly a hidden gem.

https://influenzaprods.bandcamp.com/album/me-moire

Broadcast - All 3 reissues 

No explanation needed.

Hydroplane - Hydroplane 

Another reissue I've hyped up a bunch cuz it rules, it's a hidden gem that sounds like Flying Saucer Attack jamming with Portishead. 

https://hydroplaneband.bandcamp.com/album/hydroplane

Winged Wheel  - No Island 

FSA, Jefre Cantu Ledsema and Neu all walk into a bar.

https://wingedwheel.bandcamp.com/album/no-island

Moor Mother - Jazz Codes

Goddamn, this record just came out but has knocked me on my ass with its beautiful production, great melodies and fantastic lyrics. Sounds like ROYGBIV became sound in hiphop form.

https://moormother.bandcamp.com/album/jazz-codes

Parker Sprout  - Milk In The Sun 

Indie pop on LSD, and fried in the sun. Lofi and catchy as hell.

https://moonglyph.bandcamp.com/album/milk-in-the-sun

Posmic - Sun Hymns 

Lungfish meets The Amps meets GBV meets VU

https://posmic.bandcamp.com/album/sun-hymns

Dylan Moon - Option Explore 

Slowcore by way of IDM

https://dylanmoon.bandcamp.com/album/option-explore

Other things I've enjoyed :

Beach House - Once Twice Melody 

Poorly Draw House - Home Doesn't Have...

Green/Blue - Paper Thin

Mourning Dove - in a prayer

Michael Moore - Slow Motion

Time Wharp  - Spiro World 

Ki Oni  - Indoor Plant Life II

Aldous Harding - Warm Chris 

Automatic - Excess 

Mo Dotti - Guilded Imagery 

Clear Capsule - Gravity Licker

Print Head - Change 

Star Party  - Meadow Flower

Crisis Man - Asleep In America 

Kendrick Lamar - MMATBS

Lynn Avery and Cole Pulice - To Live and Die In Space

May 6th BCF recs

 

Home from tour, so other quick and dirty bandcamp Friday suggestions.

Jock Gang - Still Life

Jock Gang is BACK with yes, do you like the weirder, more fucked up side of Women, Deerhunter, or Rising Storm, West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band in a K hole. Just stabbing guitars, with very pysch pop melodies. Great, underrated band.

https://jock-gang.bandcamp.com/album/still-life

Greenscreen - Your Text Here

Taking elements of Talking Heads, Orange Juice and Fela Kuti into a dancing swirl of pure blissed out fun. Horns, flutes and pulsing drums create a little world to immerse yrself in. 4 songs, in and out. Get into for the hazey ATL post punk band that I wanna play with.

https://ropebridge.bandcamp.com/album/your-text-here-ep

Arp - New Pleasures

I absolutely loved Arp's last album Zebra, filled with amazing fusion, new age and Japanese ambient. And Arp just announced new LP, which I am highly anticipating. The first song released feels very City Pop along the lines of Hosono, YMO, Mariah and Dip In The Pool. I'm very curious to see where the rest of the LP feels. It's very much the sound of the city, unlike Zebra which felt very of the earth. Anyway hyped!

https://arpetc.bandcamp.com/album/new-pleasures

Maraudeur - Puissance 4

Much has been said about this fantastic LP, and I don't have much to add, but that this is an excellent nervey German post punk band in the lineage of Crash Course in Science, some ESG boogie and have a similar vibe to Automatic. Don't sleep on Feel It Records repress. 

https://maraudeur.bandcamp.com/album/puissance-4-2

Hydroplane - Hydroplane 

Efficient Space is one of the best labels going right now, and here they are reissueing the self-titled debut LP by Hydroplane. From the ashes of Cats Miaow indie pop comes tape loops, minimal chords, hushed vocals and triphopish drums that make up this LP. Feeling like it comes from rural psychedelia scene of Flying Saucer Attack, Light, And Movietone of the early 90s. This LP drifts, sways and envelopes you in this world, how it slowly baths you in sheets of warm noise. It's kinda like Jefre Cantu Ledsema, Mazzy Star and Bowery Electric made a record together with the help of Lou Reed.

https://hydroplaneband.bandcamp.com/album/hydroplane

Amy Reid  - Dome Trax

5 tracks of beautiful new age made during an artist residency in Maryland, out on Sound as Language. These 5 tracks take you on a solo journey to the inner self with lovely synth pads, pianos and organs droning....good stiff.

https://amyreid.bandcamp.com/album/dome-trax

April phools bandcamp day recs 12.0

 

 

I am on tour, dodging and weaving covid, so here's some quick recs 

Ki Oni - Indoor Plant Life II

Great collection of blissful domestic new age from LA artist Ki Oni. These songs are so easy to get taken in by. Colorful synths immerse you in a feeling of gazing out into a world that you wish you could participate in.

https://kioni.bandcamp.com/album/indoor-plant-life-ii

Khan Jamal Creative Arts Ensemble  - Drum Dance To The Motherland

Incredible faaaaaaaar out jazz lead by vibraphone master Khan Jamal. I cannot believe this was recorded in 1972, it's production is so experimental and mind expanding. It's like the most psychedelic jazz I've ever heard, with just dubbbbbbed out sounds, pounding drums and cosmic feeling....damn, thanks to who ever recommended this to me

https://eremiterecords.bandcamp.com/album/drum-dance-to-the-motherland

Print Head - Change

Print Head is easily one of my favorite punk (post) bands right now. The recordings are raw and blown out. Songs are fast, noisy, spastic and in yr face punchy vocals. The guitar work is killer and fun to listen too.. If you love The Coneheads... you'll love this. 

https://printhead.bandcamp.com/album/change

Broadcast  - Mother Is The Milky Way

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

Joys Union Group  - Boredom Euphoria 

Being apart of Trouble In Mind in this era of the labels existence is such a gift. So many like minded music needs making cool music, that is part approachable and part avant garde. This new release by Joy's Union Group takes elements of new age, spiritual jazz, soft focus psychedelia and hints of Chicago post rock into a meditative journey that is reminiscent of The Alps (Jefre Cantu Ledsema/Arp), Ashra and Rameses III. Slow churning bliss.

https://joysuniongroup.bandcamp.com/album/boredom-euphoria

Daisies - Discography

 Its been quite awhile since I've done a post that focuses on one band, but lately, after Dummy played with em, I'm having a minor obsession with Olympia, Washington's Daisies. I learned about this band few years ago from Taylor of the band Flasher, when I was looking for bands to play. What I got was their debut LP "What Are You Waiting For" on K Records, which is a exuberant mixed of the indie pop, triphop, techno, 90s top 40 dance pop, acid house, drum n bass and the UK baggy scene. The one thing about this album is unlike later records, this one feels like a band, which i have no clue if it is or is not. The clear stand out is "Anyones Style" with a huge hook, and bounce that is undeniable. I am also huge fan of the murk of "I'm Not Waiting Anymore" and the instrumental "ok, ok!". It's crazy to me that this LP didn't pop off in the indie pop circles for its clear lineage of Saint Etienne and the cover arts nod to Sarah Records. But, also with indie norms with their large embrace of poptism, cuz Daisies are STRAIGHT UP pop. Its fun, full of life and catchy as fuck. I have no idea if Daisies touresld, or even play out that much, or if they even have ambition outside of artistic ones. The often do pay what you want with their LPs, and when we played with em, it was low key promo wise (not a diss at all),they don't seem interested in being very online, which leaves alot of mystery...which I love. Their next album "2" I didn't even know existed till I started writing this, so I'm hyped to dive in while on tour. They followed that up with the ep "cherries" which has the BANGER "Everybodys Moving To London", I love the horns in the song. And this ep shows the more dance forward, what I assume is sample based production. Oh, and I haven't even talked about how great the production is, its neither lofi or over produced like this kinda music tends to be. Its dreamy, robust and hits hard. So, now we get to the album that really really clicked with me "Daisies In The Studio With Dj Rap Class" a near perfect diy electronic pop record. Every song has HOOOOOKS, it feels like yr own private rave. The song "I Dont Know" is a true hit, with the melody hinting at Sugar Rays "When its Over" and the vocal performance is pitch perfect. Unlike so music dancey indie music, Daisies just feels so unselfconscious, free and beautiful. The whole LP just feels so ALIVE. "Dido" is the other personal standout, great hook and makes me wanna move my ass. I think why all of Dummy connected with it is....its sense of joy and bliss. Their most recent LP is "Sour Melody" honestly didn't hit me at first, I had LOVED the single "Legalize Summer" but the rest....idk, it didn't click, but then we played with em and BOOM, it all hit. Seeing the pure joy of Chris and Valerie's faces, and the joy is was bringing the crowd, it really brought the new stuff in a better context for me, and now I love the record. It's so homespun and real. What sets Daisies apart I THINK, is that they don't give as fuck about being popular, they keep things self contained and punk as fuck, and thats why I relate to and love their music. This band should be huge, but people have bad taste and don't dig...I MEAN K PUT PUT THEIR DEBUT WTF. I think if you dig Mr Fingers, late era Bowery Electric, Mr Twin Sister, 90s dance pop to Robyn and Caroline Polachek youll have alot to fall in love with. Fucking get into it!

https://daisies.bandcamp.com/album/daisies-in-the-studio-with-dj-rap-class

March Bandcamp Friday recs

 

Hello, here's my recs for this bandcamp Friday, be kind to each other. 

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. 

https://empathx.bandcamp.com/album/visitor

Hydroplane  - Shoulder to Shoulder

Thanks to Glenn of The Reds, Pinks and Purples for posting this on Twitter, I have a new(to me) bands discography to traverse. The best way I could describe this release is a mixure of the Bristol rural psychedelia scene mixed with Galaxie 500, Mazzy Star and some triphop beats. Very similar to whats happening in the Bay right now......."fog pop" like April Magazine. This is a collected singles compilation and I love it. The real gem here is the epic "The Love You Bring".

https://hydroplaneband.bandcamp.com/album/shoulder-to-shoulder-collected-singles-1996-1998

Heather Trost  - Petrichor

One night recently Mariana Timony and I were hanging out, and we were looking for bands for Dummy to play with in Albuquerque, NM. We dug deep in the bandcamp tags, and it was feeling (no shade intended) hopeless. But, ding Mariana remembered reviewing this fantastic LP. Surprisingly Heather said yes to playing with us, and I am personally THRILLED. This album oddly is out on Third Man, who isn't know for this sorta thing.Its members of Hawk and A Hacksaw and Neutral Milk Hotel...but sound nothing like those bands. It pulls from the same influences as Broadcast like Jefferson Airplane, The United States Of America, Suicide, Julie Cruise and a dash of kosmische. The LP starts of kinda pysch pop but ends more wild, dream and more abstract. Along with Beach House, I cannot imagine a better band suited for the Twin Peaks roadhouse. 

https://heathertrost.bandcamp.com/album/petrichor

Wash - Wash Demo

Australian shoegaze from 1991 that no one has ever heard of, YES PLEASE. I don't know anything about this band but it's great noisey shoegaze. Similar to underrated favs Aspidistra, Moose and Jane From Occupied Europe. Its got that great youthful, we dont care how bad this sounds, just document it! The song "Chlorine" gooooooes. Highly recommend.

https://washperth.bandcamp.com/album/wash

Vasco Martins - Universo Da Ilha

Alex discovered this recently, and I am only becoming familiar with its beauty. Its beautiful spiritual jazz/new age with lots of mantra like vocals. Very easy to get lost in the repetition and rhythms. It kinda reminds me of some of Lonnie Linston Smiths more far out moments. Its just damn good, can't wait to dig in more while on tour. 

https://vascomartins.bandcamp.com/

Feb 4th Bandcamp Day

 

New Year, new music for yr ears.... for the return of bandcamp day. Was originally gonna just post this, but then they announced new BCF and I held off till now!

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

Fib - Fib 

Nervy,  tightly coiled post PUNK from Portland, that Dummy was luckily enough to play with. Cleaners from Venus on speed, while living in a dirty punk house. I fully mean that as a compliment! Can't wait to hear what they do next, esp since they played an amazing song when we played with em. Just good guitar work and youthful energy.

https://fibplayingistruments.bandcamp.com/album/fib

Humanherb - Areopagus

So, this came my way by Humanherb giving it to a bandmate on tour to give to me. The next morning we tried to figire out who it was! This cassette is DOPE, new agey ambient goodness, thats thick with great sound design. I've listened to this a ton in the mornings, making coffee and working on PR emails. It also was released by Constellation Tatsu who has release cool stuff by Sofie Birch, XYR and Kara Lis Coverdale. Get into it.

https://ultraworld.bandcamp.com/album/areopagus

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. Only one song so far has been released but it rules. Pulsating noisy drone rock, with anti solos, motorik drums and haunting vocals to tie it all together....can't wait to hear more.  If you dig Kranky,  Too Pure or Wurlitzer Jukebox releases, youll dig this. 

https://wingedwheel.bandcamp.com/

You'll Never Get To Heaven - Wave Your Moonlight Hat For The Snowfall Train

Minimalist dream pop duo that sounds like if Cocteau Twins were produced by Lee Strach Perry. The production is airy and lofi with hints of Japanese pop and new agey textures. I only recently got into this record, so I don't have a ton of insightful things to say yet other than, this rules. If yr a fan of early 4AD, or Kranky Records.....this is for you. 

https://youllnevergettoheaven.bandcamp.com/album/wave-your-moonlight-hat-for-the-snowfall-train

Clear Capsule  - Gravity Licker

Maybe its wrong of me to recommend something I'm doing PR for, i don't know but this EP rules . Taking cues from Smashing Pumpkins, Bowery Electric and MBV to make feedback drenched jams. Unlike alot noisy guitar bands, CC has hooks! Its very catchy, dark mysterious lyrics and dynamic, swinging from pummeling pop songs to a triphop song and back. I cannot imagine anyone who's into Ride, Chapterhouse or newer stuff like Ovlov or No Joy not digging this.

https://clearcapsule.bandcamp.com/album/gravity-licker

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

December bandcamp recs

Welp, last bandcamp Friday of the year, got handful of recs for ya. Be well my friend's 

Flaming Tunes - Flaming Tunes

I've never been super into This Heat to be totally honest, the one song I ever really dug was the opener to their Peel Sessions, that song goes hard. That being said, I love Lifetones, a killer offshoot of dubby post punk with Enoish vocals. Recently, I discovered another offshoot called Flaming Tunes, and once again I am far more into this than This Heat. I am not 100% sure how to describe this, but to me, its a mix of homespun folk, field recordings, experimental baroque pop and also some Eno-ness. Its very quiet, weird and lovely. I've been listening to it a ton while driving around as of late, highly recommended. 

 

https://flamingtunes.bandcamp.com/album/flaming-tunes

Present Electric  - The Continuou Monument

This was in my favorite albums of the year this, but wanted to feature it in a bandcamp recs : For what seems like a somewhat tossed off affair, this is a great collection of minimalist post punk lofi freak shit from dood who runs on of the country's best labels Paisley Shirt. All recorded at home, testing out gear, their is a kinda stream of conscious feel to how the songs unfold. Love the weaving guitar parts, and the clanging nature of the instrumentation. This just deeply appeals to me. Reminds me of Drinks!

https://paisleyshirtrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-continuous-monument

Exek - Advertise Here

Exek is one of the most exciting krauty bands going right now, esp the their production. This first single is exploding with sounds bouncing all over the mix. They also have been pushing their rhythmic ideas further and groovier. While, they just released this first taste, I am very excited to hear the rest. If you dig Eno, Can and Anika, youll dig this. Hope Dummy can play w these like minded fools some day.

https://exek.bandcamp.com/album/advertise-here

Forma - Semblance 

Forma are a band on Kranky records, they Kraftwerkiein electronic music with hints of kosmische and Carpenter. Also, they have a member of Bright, a fantastic space rock band from the mid 90s. This is their most recently release LP, from 2018. I love this record, its floats and flows effortlessly through cosmic synth heaven. The real gem here is "New City", this song is beautiful, the toms cycling, the washes of synth pads and piano all makes for 7 mins of pure bliss. Do it, and definitely check out Bright, they rule.

https://formasounds.bandcamp.com/album/semblance

Ki Oni - Infinite Sports

Los Angeles really is the hub for ambient, and new age music right now, and this new Ki Oni album is a great addition to recent bloom. Made up of 2 long form tracks, these songs sparkle and drift playfully along with hints of nostalgia hitting yr inner eye. I don't know much about this person but I am really digging this cassette. If you dig Leaving, Moon Glyph, Kranky or Type records....youll dig this. I like that this feels like the soundtrack to a pick up game on the moon.

https://kman925.bandcamp.com/album/infinite-sports