by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Philadelphia’s underground DIY scene has been one of the best in the country for many years now, offering a bit of everything from blown out psych and art rock to hardcore and experimental punk. While some bands have been plucked by the mainstream away from the “DIY” mentality, there’s a handful of Philly lifers that are consistently releasing thought provoking music, a community that counts bands like Sun Organ, Nyxy Nyx, Sandcastle, Dark Mtns, They Are Gutting A Body of Water, and Greg Electric among them (alongside a slew of others). It’s just one pocket of many for Philadelphia, but it’s one that’s generally brilliant and often rewarding for deeper dives. On February 14th, just in time for Valentine’s Day, comes Made For This Life, a new full length split between the aforementioned Sun Organ, Nyxy Nyx, and Sandcastle, with three songs from each of the bands. Due out via BLIGHT. Records (Ruah, Tadzio, Luna Honey), the collection is a great reminder of all three of the project’s adaptability.
Sun Organ’s “Arbiter of Pain (Blue Sky Version)” is the first single taken from Made For This Life, a reimagined version of the song from Sun Organ’s 2021 LP, Portal. Where the original is steeped in heavy shoegaze with chords bent and pulled in all directions and a complete wall of sound, the “Blue Sky Version” has it roots firmly in lo-fi folk territory. The song features an expanded version of the original’s lyrics, adapting the short poetic verse into a more loquacious reflection of the past, warts and all. Sun Organ mastermind Tim Jordan is joined by Benjamin Schurr (synth), Matt Scheurmann (vocals), and Tyler Bussey (banjo), the latter of which really stands out in the song’s rich woodsy atmosphere. Everything feels lush and natural, even with the heavy thud of programmed drums and the processed dream pop drift filtered beneath the mix.