by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)

Welcome to FUZZY MEADOWS, our weekly recap of this week's new music. We're sharing our favorite releases of the week in the form of albums, singles, and music videos along with the "further listening" section of new and notable releases from around the web. It's generally written in the early hours of the morning and semi-unedited... but full of love and heart. The list is in alphabetical order and we sincerely recommend checking out all the music we've included. There's a lot of great new music being released. Support the bands you love. Spread the word and buy some new music.

*Disclaimer: We are making a conscious effort not to include any artist in our countdown on back-to-back weeks in order to diversify the feature, so be sure to check the "further listening" as well because it's often of top-notch quality too.

GIRL GAZE | “Your Eyes”

New Paltz’s Girl Gaze only formed last year but their debut album, Fade Out is a confident debut that comes from the bond of friendships both old and new. Due out October 26th via Team Love Records, the band aren’t afraid to take chances, and the results are utterly radiant as they slink between sultry soul and indie pop with ease. There’s a sleepy feel to it, a lull that feels like a warm blanket on the coldest of nights, each song another reminder of the quintet’s impressive eclecticism, every single piece fit together in perfect harmony. While the record is colored with different textures, its stand-out moment, the church organ led “Your Eyes“ is simply brilliant. The song wraps the keys in with an immaculate backbeat in its own unique way to bring out the best in the dreamy atmospherics and stunning crawl of the increasingly full melodies.

PROTOMARTYR | “Forbidden“ (Preoccupations cover)

I liked Preoccupations’ self-titled album just fine, but put those songs (or seemingly any song) in the ever capable hands of Protomartyr and it’s more or less perfection. Touring together this Fall, Protomartyr and Preoccupations are releasing a split 7” covering one another and “Forbidden” takes the electronic starkness of Preoccupations’ sound and makes it distinctively Protomartyr, the original’s electronic rumble replaced with plinking chord progressions and a combustible energy that explodes in time. Joe Casey’s deadpan charm shines in both vocal delivery and in his explanation of their song choice, “there’s an old adage that goes something like, “if you’re going to cover a song by a beloved Canadian band, it’s best to pick the second shortest one.””

SUPER UNISON | “The Birthday Gift”

Oakland post-hardcore trio Super Unison released their sophomore album, Stella, this past week via Deathwish Records, another brutal but intelligent cavalcade of pointed vocals, serrating riffs, and dexterous drumming. “The Birthday Gift,” the last single and longest song on the record, is a wonderful encapsulation of all they do so well, from the more ominous crawls to the primal blood-lettings, it’s a song that contorts with fury and finesse, from the circular scrape of massive opening progression to Meghan O’Neil’s vocals that dart between agitated shouts to fits of throat-shredding menace. The song deals with themes of trying to love in a time of hate and the impact of these exhausting times.

SWERVEDRIVER | “Mary Winter“

If there’s been a more consistent band in the relatively short history of shoegaze than Swervedriver, we haven’t heard them. Aging like a fine wine, time has done nothing to dampen the textural heft and melodic complexities of the Oxford based band, 2015’s I Wasn’t Born To Lose You was a return to form after a seventeen year absence. While bands like Ride, My Bloody Valentine, and Slowdive have all been increasingly active, Swervedriver’s sound is “old reliable,” a band that isn’t so much sitting still, but updating their muscular approach without reshaping the framework. This week the band announced upcoming album Future Ruins with lead single “Mary Winter,” a thudding dirge of static guitar distortion, enormous flowing bass lines, and Adam Franklin’s signature drifting vocals which always sit just perfectly in the band’s fog. It’s further proof that their magical touch hasn’t softened or strayed.

TIM PRESLEY’S WHITE FENCE | “Lorelei”

After a prolific streak of six records in a five year span, White Fence hasn’t been seen since 2014… but Tim Presley (the projects sole creative force) has remained busy with a solo record under his own name and collaborations with Ty Segall as well as DRINKS (together with Cate Le Bon), both projects having released their excellent sophomore albums earlier this year. He’s returning to White Fence again, this time as Tim Presley’s White Fence to release a new record, I Have To Feed Larry’s Hawk early next year. His knack for lo-fi psych and swirls of garage pop remains exceptional on first single “Lorelei,” a song that mixes programmed and live drums to form the backbone for melodic wandering, Presley’s vocal melody that constant as the guitars explore texture and space.

WARTHOG | “Warthog” EP

New York’s Warthog have done it again with another self-titled EP of absolute sonic filth, brutality, aggression, and colossal shredding riffs. It’s punk and hardcore at it’s most colorful from the repulsive yelps and deranged rants to the guitars that slam face first into the pavement with each corrosive line and breakdown induced shift. They band balance speed and sludge with an all out assault that feels dense and carnivorous, ready to attack at any moment with a avalanche of rapidly pounding blast beats, rusty distortion, and vocals that have come completely unhinged. After four great EPs, we hope there’s a full length to come.

Further Listening:

Fuzzy Meadows: The Week's Best New Music (October 22nd - October 28th)