by Benji Heywood, Dan Goldin, and Louis Pelingen
Welcome to FUZZY MEADOWS, our 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. 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.
DANESHEVSKAYA
"Kermit & Gyro"
Daneshevskaya’s latest set of songs has her leaning in a chamber-folk direction, with “Kermit & Gyro” flying higher into that space. Amidst the lush cascades of pianos and violins, Daneshevskaya’s gleaming vocals provide the feel of a narrator. Unveiling a brief picture of a time well spent within a relationship and the inevitable farewells around it, she offers pastoral metaphors that create a comforting, yet subtly solemn tone to the writing. It runs around for just two and a half minutes, but what it opens up is a melody worth listening to. - Louis Pelingen
THE JESUS LIZARD
“Westside”
Looking for strange? The Jesus Lizard’s new song “Westside” is purportedly inspired by the musical West Side Story. Let that sink in. But who cares, right? Does it have a riff that sounds like Angus Young mainlined a pint of xylazine? Yup. Bizarrely theatrical vocal antics from David Yow? Check. An elephant in a bong shop rhythm section? You betcha. Then it’s a Jesus Lizard song. It’s a good thing, too. With the passing of Lynch, art is in serious need of surrealist fuckery. “Westside” scratches that itch and then some. - Benji Heywood
JOEY BADA$$
“Sorry Not Sorry”
If “The Rulers Back” acts as a mission statement to uplift the rap scene within Joey Bada$$’ home city, “Sorry Not Sorry” continues to carry upon said mission, walking his road and showcasing what he does best as an emcee. Able to dish out various disses and interpolations that reinstate his place as a rapper whose words will carry him forward, nimbly rapping all across Conductor Williams’ boom-bap beat that has enough soul, murk, and space for Bada$$ to blow through his competitors effectively. If 2024 was the year where the West Coast dominated the scene, then 2025 is when Joey Bada$$ aims to light a fire for the East Coast to follow through, with the wit and prowess that he can absolutely carry. - Louis Pelingen
MIEN
“Evil People”
The first ten seconds of “Evil People” immediately strikes a thrumming chord within this brand of psychedelia, starting with a palpable groove to boot. The lead single for MIEN’s (The Black Angels, Elephant Stone) cleverly titled upcoming album MIIEN, due out out April 18, is flourishing with a haunting edge to its overall sound. Uncanny vocal registers, nervy low-end, and stark psychedelic production fleshes out the overall snappy melodies. It's a shambling opener that will keep you returning to its gritty, yet addicting and catchy tune. - Louis Pelingen
OLIVIA’S WORLD
“Sourgum”
Four years after the great Tuff 2B Tender EP first caught our ears, Olivia’s World return with “Sourgum,” the first single to their full length debut, Greedy & Gorgeous. Due out in March via Little Lunch Records (AU) and Lost Sound Tapes (North America), the Alice Rezende led band come out ripping with fuzz pop electricity, balancing swarming hooks with syrupy melodies, the tough and the tender. “Sourgum” is raw and explosive, loaded with personality as it whips into an anthemic frenzy of razor sharp hooks and gluey distortion. - DG
PHRENELITH
“A Husk Wrung Dry”
When life hands you lemons, listen to more death metal. I know I always feel better. Copenhagen’s Phrenelith are set to release their third full length in February via Dark Descent and Me Saco Un Ojo, and “A Husk Wrung Dry” is a pretty apt description of how so many are feeling these days. A malevolent dirge of murky tremolo and abhorrent stampeding rhythms cave in an existence often best forgotten into a juggernaut of corrosive resolve, the demonic cleansing to rearrange our senses. The song is depraved and destitute, but also primal, catastrophic, and maybe a touch psychedelic (in a very death metal sort of way). - DG
RATTLE
“Ritual”
There are cases where the sound completely reflects the title of a song, and Rattle specifically did just that for this song. “Ritual” is the second single from their upcoming album, Encircle - due for release on February 28 through Upset The Rhythm - filling its length with a meditatively strong melody from start to finish. Sharp percussions keep trudging through with strength as if to keep marching onwards to their endpoint, setting up a nestling foundation for Katharine Eira Brown and Theresa Wrigley's captivating harmonies. Weaving upon striking mantras for us to listen closely, Rattle let them spark in sync with a rhythm that’ll push us onwards. - Louis Pelingen
SUMAC & MOOR MOTHER
“Scene 1”
After SUMAC and Moor Mother released their albums last year, it was only a matter of time before they crossed paths. “Scene 1” opens up the first slice of their collaborative record, The Film - coming out soon on April 25th via Thrill Jockey - already settling in feverish noisy riffs from SUMAC as Moor Mother comfortably harrows along, commanding the room with spoken vocals that’ll keep your attention onto her every word as the noise gets even more overwhelming. Amplifying the aim to reclaim the voice of those who have suffered amidst corrupt systems, never believing the lies that said systems prop up against them. - Louis Pelingen
Further Listening:
44TH MOVE "The Move" (feat. Quelle Chris) | ADRIAN YOUNGE "A Musica Na Minha Fantasia" | ALLEGRA KRIEGER "Relief" LP | BAD BREEDING "Competition For Existence" | BLAZING TOMB “Singles From The Tomb” EP | BUCK GOOTER "Scamerica" | CHEEKFACE "Growth Sux" | CHILD BITE "Glazed in a Skeletal Maze" | ED KUEPPER & JIM WHITE "The Crying Dance" | EDITH FROST "Nothing Comes Around" | ERIK NERVOUS "Automatic Montage - Vol. 1" LP | FACS "You Future" | FEEBLE LITTLE HORSE "sober arc (2022 Hayday demo)" | GUIDED BY VOICES "Elfin Flower With Knees" | ISMATIC GURU "Eighteen Miles Long" | JO PASSED "Weekend" | KESTRELS "Free Forever" | LACKEY "BAMBAM" | LARRY JUNE & THE ALCHEMIST "Bad Choices" (feat. 2 Chainz) | LILY SEABIRD "Trash Mountain (1pm)" | THE MEN "PO Box 96" | OLIVIA KAPLAN & HAND HABITS "Birds" (Neil Young cover) | PEEL DREAM MAGAZINE "Callers (Demo)" | PISTON "Spit Your Take" | POST OFFICE WINTER “Their Whole World in a Single Teaspoon” | QUEEN SERENE "In A Rut (I'm Stuck)" | RAZORFACE "Razorface" EP | SHILPA RAY "Portrait Of A Cat Lady" | SHRAPNEL "Fountains of Ute" | SNAPPED ANKLES "Raoul" | VIAGRA BOYS "Man Made of Meat"