Füxa - Accretion

Its been awhile since I've about something that wasn't a Bandcamp day recommendation post, all my mentally energy has been focused on finishing Dummy EP, and have been emotionally exhausted by reality.  But, this morning I put on the Fuxa/Landing split, and felt compelled to write about yet another under heard/rated band. My knowledge of specifics about Fuxa are pretty limited, but in the 90s and early 2000s, there was a bustling scene in Detriot of experimental rock with bands like Windy and Carl, Miss Bliss, Astrobrite, Asha Vida, with bands associated with that scene like Flowchart, Landing, Azusa Plane and even Stereolab. 

It was quite a vibrant scene of bands that alot of people ignore or just dont know about. Füxa who, I have literally met ONE(shame on all of you) person who knew about them before I turned em on, mixes moog synth experimental sounds, oscillating organs drones, motorik beats and minimal guitar lines. With "Accretion" their 2nd LP, they seamlessly blend the experimental improv soundscapes and chill motorik bliss outs. My favorite jam on the record is "City" which pulses along with pitch bendy synths, groovy bass n drum rhythm, and just sends you to the stars, its like "gentle kraurock". I guess, to be reductive, they kinda are like if Yo La Tengo went full krauty space age pop and had no vocals. Bands like this are so under heard, and imo deserved singal boosts, they were truly DIY, played music with zero monetary expectations, never folded too indie music's social climbing bs and had their own labels. It's truly inspiring  and hopefully could inspire yall too. If you enjoy this, you should check out Windy and Carls "Drawing of Sound" and Landings "Circuit". Enjoy.

https://fuxa1.bandcamp.com/album/accretion

Bandcamp Friday Oct Suggestions

Star Party - Demo 2020

Indie pop, in recent years feels like it mostly leans into the twee jangle side of things but I prefer the really blown out feedback drenched version. So, much to my pleasure I was sent this killer demo by Star Party, 4 noisy as hell shrieking pop songs that hit you with Shop Assistants, JAMC, Henrys Dress or a more current  band UV-TV vibes. All go, no slow, pounding indie pop, more of this please!

https://starpartyrocks.bandcamp.com/releases

Omni Gardens - Moss King

Moon Glyph records is a fantastic label based out of PDX, they specialize in new age, ambient, and psychedelic music. I first came out them from one of their earliest release by Magic Castles, which was extemely experimental 60s indebted pysch,  but only recently dove into their release history.  Ommi Gardens is the project of the label runner of Moon Glyph. Moss king is beautiful collection meditative kosmische. Any fan of Roedelius, Moebius, Cluster, Eno and the more chill side of Harmonia should take note. Definitely skyrocketed to one of my favorite releases of the year. 

https://moonglyph.bandcamp.com/album/moss-king

 

Lifeguard- Dive

Blasting out the gate with 3 releases in under a year, these young Chicago kids(seriously there between 14 and 16) are spitting out more creatively adventurousness indie rock than 90% of current bands and their whole discographys. There are moments of pure joy that only unpretentious could make, and that bounces off zoned out noise, feedback and what I assume is alot of free form experimentation. There are hints of SST, Touch n Go and early Sub Pop  records  running through the DNA of Lifeguard's grungey, post punky, pyschdelic rock n roll. I feel like this band is gonna have an exciting progression, the more they hone and tighten their craft to create something truly great in the future, here their are hints of brilliance...so keep em on yr radar.

https://lifeguardband100.bandcamp.com/album/dive

Red Tunic - Tumbler c/w Angel Lamp

Ezra of the late/great Cross Country comes through with a digital 7inch, "Angel Lamp " nervy post Women indie rock but the real gem is the A-Side "Tumbler". This songs is one of the most tense, anxious and winding pieces of post punk I've heard in awhile, and I actually BELIEVE the feeling its conveying...which is dread. The opening drums pound with purpose, guitars weave inbwteen atonal thrashing and circular melodies that all keep pulsing forward in a jammy zone out till the end. If you did Women, earlier Sonic Youth, and Wire youll dig this.

 https://redtunic.bandcamp.com/releasesl

KeiyaA - Forever, Ya Girl 

The loose (?) scene about MIKE, and Standing On The Corner has produced some of the most exciting hiphop/R&B going right now, and the debut album by KeiyaA is another new one to add the list. Produced mostly by KeiyaA, this record teems with life, soul and longing. The production is perfectly dreamy, meditative and at times abstract. It has the same lineage as Erykah Badu, Solange, Ann Peebles, or more recently Liv.e and King. I can't imagine anyone who digs alternative r&b, litely psychedelic lofi-ish production,wouldn't dig this a ton!

https://keiyaa.bandcamp.com/

Idi Et Amin - A Phone In Kyoto

Another digital single, this time from Arizona band Idi Et Amin, who bring no bullshit bendy noise of in your face shoegaze ala "Isn't Anything". These 2 songs burst out the gate, no overly used effects, oozing melodies and just absolute bangers. There isn't much to say other than that, on a world filled with weak ass shoegaze they are one of the bands that "get it".

https://librarygroup.bandcamp.com/album/a-phone-in-kyoto

Anna Roxanne - Because Of A Flower

I saw Anna open for one of my favorite electronic artists Craig Leon at one of the "Ambient Church" shows that happen here in LA, which is one of the coolest series of shows I've been too. This is their debut LP, out on legendary Kranky Records (Deehunter, Grouper, Jessamine), only one song is avail to listen but its a beaut. The first single is a lovely mix of Krankys brand of meditative "post rock", Annas absolutely stunning vocals and Japanese influenced ambient/new age. I was very curious what direction their LP would go, and this song is very different from their EP that came out on Leaving Records. Anyway you can preorder digital/vinyl, and they have a new single coming out soon!

https://anaroxanne.bandcamp.com/album/because-of-a-flower-2

Bandcamp Friday recs 3.0

Another month goes by, and the only ethical "streaming" service is here to help out our fellow artist, so here's another list of things I enjoy and recommend!

No Joy - Motherhood 

This LP rules, and seeing all the love its been getting has been dope, cuz Jasimine has been working, evolving and sharpening her craft over 3 LPS and bunch of EPS and it all pays off with this absolutely unselfconscious, weird and beautiful record. For those who haven't hears yet, shame on you but imagine if Deee-Lite and Deftones collaborated on a full LP of noisy, dancey freak shit.

https://nojoy.bandcamp.com/album/motherhood

Jock Gang - Self-Titled and Cool EPS

Jock Gang holds a special place in my heart becuz my 2 memories of seeing them live were great shows. One was when they opened for Deerhunter and Aldous Harding they blew me away with their clanging no wave meets Velvet Underground brooding pummel, but after them it was Aldous Hardings and she was INCREDIBLE, and it was just her and a dood playing guitar/keys, and the whole crowd was like wtf are we watching and Deerhunter was great as per usual, it was a inspiring night. The 2nd time was a tiny house show in Charles Village (Baltimore),  and they just killed it,the pounding rhythms and ice cold guitars weaving in and out of each other. Plus, both me and my husband thought they ruled and he hates current guitar based music for most part. They only put out these 2 EPS, and they are extremely abrasive, holds you at a distance, and like i said before its no wavey, Velvet Underground meets Women kinda vibe.

https://jock-gang.bandcamp.com/

Les Halles - Elsewhere Is A Negative Mirror 

Hailing from Brussels, Les Halles brings healing new age music with lovely flute sounds, synths, samples, field recordings and blissed out drones. This is a comp of tracks he selected to collect on one cassette from across his discography.  I recommend checking out his whole discography. My husband introduced this to me when we first started dating, so it kinda reminds me of that time. Truly peaceful music for early mornings or late afternoon walks in the sun.

https://halles.bandcamp.com/album/elsewhere-is-a-negative-mirror-compilation

Cartwheel - Cartwheel

This project is, as far as I know, a solo recording project from the guitarist of Big Bite/Versing, and like those bands its bendy fuzzed out goodness. It feels more influenced by MBVs Isn't Anything and MBV than the after mentioned bands who recall the wiper and pavement. The songwriting is really cool, strange dynamics, transitions and pure feedback drenched guitar work. This is a capital G guitar record. "Skin" is definitely my favourite track, all feedback, whammy bar fuzz and chill vocals w no drums. If you dig Hotline TNT, Toner and Bugg, you will for sure dig this.

https://cartwheeeel.bandcamp.com/album/cartwheel

Sprain - As Lost Through Collision

Dummy was supposed to play w Sprain in April for Gold Cages record release, and I was super excited to see em live cuz I've watched a few video and it seems super super tense and explosive. This is their debut LP. This shit is dark, brooding and absolutely pummeling. It takes bits of noise rock, slowcore, no wave, drone and mixes it into an apocalyptic swirl of pure pent up rage. Its like if Duster was influenced by AmRep records and the dirt, instead of outer space. 

https://sprain.bandcamp.com/album/as-lost-through-collision

ovrkast. - Try Again

ovrkast. is from the same scene as MIKE, Earl, Mavi, Lojii and Navy Blue, which are all some of my favorite hiphop artists going right now. Chill, at times abstract, and at time truly beautiful, forlorned, and self reflective. The production is lush, slightly dreamy, skittering rhythms and the jazzy samples are are a perfect backdrop for his style of rapping. Idk, i think this another excellent hiphop record from this small and vibrate scene of writer's and producer's who aren't really concerned w trends and typical song structures. 

https://itsovrkast.bandcamp.com/album/try-again

Sweeping Promises - Hunger For A Way Out 

Sweeping Promises comes through with one of the best and most playful post punk records I've heard in awhile. Lira and Caulfield were in one of my favorite bands i ever play with on tour called Mini Dresses, who you should also check out. The LP recalls early B52s, XTC, Girls At Our Best and Maximum Joy, with its nervy dancey anxious rhythms, and stabby guitar lines. Lira is a fantastic singer, and that is kinda what sets this apart from most current post punk, along with its lack of posturing, its cool effortlessly, and isn't trying hard to seem this way or that way. The recording is just raw enough, to buck at current hyper polished recording, probz because they did it themselves. Yea, its a good as hell LP, and better than 99% of current post punk.

https://sweepingpromises.bandcamp.com/album/hunger-for-a-way-out

 

 

No Joy - Motherhood

I've been a fan of No Joy since their first LP "Ghost Blonde" and I truly think "Wait to Pleasure" is the best shoegaze album of the last decade, due to the fact its focused on songs first, sounds second, which lets face it, it's often the reverse with most modern examples of the genre. Their last full length(obviously skipping the various eps/collaborations) came out in 2015, and I'll be honest, i wasn't into that album for whatever reason, even though "Everything New" is top tier No Joy jam. I think at the time I was burnt on shoegaze, or just didn't hit me at the right moment, but I'm planning on revisiting soon. So, 5 years later we are greeted with "Motherhood", maybe their best LP too date. This record is one of the weirdest, creative, unselfconscious and psychedelic thing I've heard in a quite sometime. It sounds like it should be coming out on RVNG Intl, its so experimental. So, I guess getting to the reference points I'm hearing, which is not to diminish it as its own work, is a crazy mix of Deftones, NIN, Enya, Garbage, Curve and 90s dance music like Deee-Lite with all the layering of wacky samples and sounds(baby coos!). My favourite No Joy songs(Lunar Phobia/Everything New) are normally the ones that are the dancey side of shoegaze like obvi examples being MBVs "Soon" or Medicine's "Slut" and we basically get an album full of killer dance songs! Its kinda what I've wanted from No Joy all along cuz Jasamine has a keen ear for weird rhythmic pulses, looped vocals that make me wanna spin around in circles alone in my apartment/room for years. Its PERFECT music for driving/solo walks. When "real" drums enter the mix, its like they got Abe Cunningham but told him to under play as much as possible. I wouldn't call this "shoegaze" in the traditional sense but to me it continues what the genre should be, pushing guitar music into more experimental directions. The songs often start and end in completely unexpected places, its a fairly unpredictable record.....which isn't something that can be said of most indie music right now. It also makes bold choices, that at first yr like 🤔, but by the end yr fully on board because the choice works! "Fish" is my personal favorite song, it somehow blends an Enya and NIN in perfect disharmony, and just throws you for a loop, I was grinning with glee when those guitars come in. My only real "issue" with the LP is the second track, which isn't bad or anything, I just dont connect with it for whatever reason, mostly do to the screaming/black metal kinda vibe it puts forth. Just personal taste, not for lack of poor execution. I want to reiterate, i know ive put a lot of reference points in this essay, but this LP is pretty singular, most bands arent this creative/exploding with ideas over the course of their whole discography and Jasamine does it in one LP. This definitely has skyrocketed to one of my favorites of the year. Enjoy

https://nojoy.bandcamp.com/album/motherhood

Jessamine - Don't Stay To Long

The 90s has a fair share of underrated bands, and to an extent genres, but the one that i think gets the biggest undersell and misuse of the term is post rock. When I say post rock, I'm talking Stereolab, Flying Saucer Attack, Pram, Quickspace, Moonshake, Broadcast and whom I'll be discussing here Jessamine. This stuff takes its influences from electronic music, exotica, krautrock, ambient, library music and the noisy/weird side of 60s pysch rock and mashes it together in truly experimental indie rock.A lot t of this stuff comes from the great labels Too Pure, Wurlitzer Jukebox and Kranky records, which if you haven't explored these labels release history outside the bigger bands (stereolab, pj harvey, broadcast, deerhunter) you definitely should. Jessamine were from Seattle, WA and are still relatively obscure band, they released three LPS on Kranky Records to hardly any fanfair as far as i can tell, with lack if info about em. Their first two records are good, a, I recommend giving em a listen, they are far more droned out sprawls of heavy psychedelic "rock" jams with synths and organs colliding, with some more streamlined songs, but for me eveything comes together with "Don't Stay Too Long" their final record. Here their love for krautrock rhythms, jazzy chords/rhodes and catchy understated beautiful melodies which are all sung lead by Dawn for first time in their discography. The first two tracks lull you into a hypnotic atmosphere of rhodes hits and wahhed out guitars, pushing and pulling you in and out of outer space. Then track 3 comes flying in with some low key space funk(idk how else to describe, its like Can but from WA) that has such a infectious pulse you can't helped but be pulled into their weird little world they create. Its by far their most consistent and concise work to date. The record continues to pulse with life, oscillations and disorienting rhythmic pattern's that culminate in final track that is the jazziest song on the LP, has an almost triphop vibe but stripped back to its barest bones, but still with their unique swagger. This band has been a huge influence on my music over the last few years, its such a strange distillation of genres that feels fresh and too weird for this world. Also, highly recommend their singles compilation "Another Fictionalized History", its def leans the more into the drugged out side of the band, unfortunately not available on bandcamp, you can find it on YouTube. Enjoy.

https://jessamine.bandcamp.com/album/dont-stay-too-long

7 Bandcamp Friday recommendations

It's that time again, the only people actually helping artists right now, the blessed Bandcamp Friday. Here are some recs from stuff I think is worth yr time.

SiP - Leos Naturals

This Chicago synth phreak was recommended to me by my buds in Smoke Bellow. This cassette is a fantastic combo of Herbie Hancocks experimental stuff, floaty new age reverberations and a motorik pulse.  Modern kosmische musik often fails to live up to its influences but this album is full of familiar sounds that are made new into one of my favorite releases of the year. If your a fan of Moebius, Roedelius and Terry Riley, this is not to be missed

https://sip-groop.bandcamp.com/album/leos-naturals

Rill Ghosties - Whiskey Landfill

I truly do not recall how i discovered this band from Upstate New York, but their influences being MBV and Stereolab of course I was curious. They had kept saying they were relasing this but then went silent. Than, outta nowhere, boom they release this to little fanfair in July. The record itself sounds very similar to Velocity Girl, Rocketship and noisy Belle and Sebastian. You can tell a lot of care was put into this release, and its a real shame thos band hasnt gotten more press, feel like tons of people would vibe. 

https://rillghosties.bandcamp.com/

(Liv).e - Couldn't Wait To Tell You...

Lojii, who put out one of my favorite releases of the year posted about this record on IG, so I immediately checked it out, and here we are, with what will definitely be in my top 5 of the year. Its been getting alil hype this week and well deserved, this is a kaleidoscopic swirl of RnB, Soul, Hiphop and Lo-fi production. Its feel like Ann Peebles and Quasimoto got together, dropped acid, and recorded an LP w a 4 track tape machine. It's just...so so good, damn.

https://o-liv.bandcamp.com/album/couldnt-wait-to-tell-you

Lifeguard - In Silence/Tin Man

For christ sake, Chicago is killing it right now, its the hub for some of the most exciting guitar bands in the country, and one of the newer ones is Lifeguard. They play a brand of experimental indie that isnt around much now. They take no wave, psychedelia, post punk and classic indie and stir is all together. Its classic SST kinda indie rock, its damn good.

https://lifeguardband100.bandcamp.com/album/tin-man

Blue Zero - Lemon

Shoegaze gets way to much shit considering emo, just saying but shoegaze also by in large is kinda whack, but for me its like I CAN MAKE FUN OF IT cuz I'm in it but you....who are you? Anyway, Chris from the killer band Marbled Eye has a "fun" side project called Blue Zero. As of right now, he only has one jam up but damnnn it's the way shoegaze should be, noisy, up tempo and guitars guitars guitars. Shoegaze should only be played punx, cuz everyone else fucks it up. HOPEFULLY,  Chris will upload more jams soon.

https://bluezero.bandcamp.com/releases

Bèret - Jesus White

This is a weird record, very singular and jagged. I feel like I'm getting chased down a dark tunnel when listening to this.......in a good way. Its in the same lineage of Women, Velvet Underground, Durutti Column or if Flying Saucer Attack was less interested in the sky, and more interested in the dirt. This shit is weird in the best way, and perfect soundtrack to current reality.

https://beret.bandcamp.com/album/jesus-white

Brenda Ray - Naffi Years 1979 - 1983

This compilation is 10/10, one of my favorite reissues of the last 5 years, its lofi dubbed out pop with amazing beats/proudction and vibe. The amount of dreamy space echo used on these tracks make for a extremely chill but engaging listen. I truly cannot recommend this enough.

https://brendaray.bandcamp.com/album/brenda-ray-naffi-years-1979-1983

Dehd - Flower of Devotion

I've been a mild fan of Dehd since their first tape in 2016, the coed vocals, the minimal instrumentation and lofi recordings made for bouncey raw pop that was enjoyable listen but I wasn't totally head over heels. I am often not susceptible to hype, I tend to ignore things that are hyped, esp in "mainstream" indie. But, Dehd is one of the few bands these days that have ascended in a more "classic" way, meaning: toured their asses off, worked on the craft, evolved and remained on a smaller label. So, that leads us here, "Flower of Devotion", with higher production, more adventurous vocal performances and best songs they've written. There is something about these songs that make me think, what if a Nancy Sinatra/Lee Hazlewood collaboration was produced by Robie Guthrie in 1980s. These songs make me think of a forlored prom scene in idealized version of late 1950s. It's an interesting, but not a full pivot from their established sound, just expands it into full bloom. The guitars shimmer in a way that doesn't kill the urgency, the basslines evolve with the vocals, and drums keep it all grounded, adding/subtracting dynamics very cleverly. They make so many unexpected choices, when you first hear it, yr like does this work? Like in the second tracks tongue clicks, and by the end, yr like, "yes, i love this". Its always great to see a band with potential, fully realized their sound and do they whole writing their best tunes. I don't know, I'm just charmed by this record, its really fucking good. Its feels very DEHD, their isn't any bands that come to mind that sound similar. Very curious to see what they do next, reading some features, they reference Broadcast, Cocteau Twins and MBV....would love to hear them distill these influences into their sound more. Enjoy.

https://dehdforever.bandcamp.com/album/flower-of-devotion