Nyokabi Kariuki’s Peace Places: Kenyan Memories is an EP worth thinking about in regards to the language of the abstract. Over the twenty eight minutes, you never hear a synthesizer. In its place there are voices harmonizing melodies, humming out a scripture of its own accord, communicating in languages that tie Kariuki’s six songs.
Goon - "Paint By Numbers, Vol. 1" | Album Review
Kenny Becker remade Goon with new members and recorded Paint By Numbers, Vol. 1, their most cohesive release to date. Made in the style of early Goon – on a tape machine in Becker’s apartment and their rehearsal space – PBN1 may harken back to Goon’s developmental phase in spirit, but the songs are forward-thinking.
MOD CON - "Modern Condition" | Album Review
Tomato Flower - "Gold Arc" | Album Review
Operator Music Band - "Deep Break" | Album Review
It’s been almost three years since the Brooklyn electronic trio released their second LP, Duo Duo—the strongest expression of the group’s krautrock, art-pop and occasionally post-punk sensibilities thus far. Deep Break is three songs long, which according to the band’s Twitter were taken from an aborted full-length album.
Curtis Godino presents The Midnight Wishers - "Curtis Godino presents The Midnight Wishers"
Curtis Godino is sort of both mastermind and middleman here, as the album is billed in the form of Curtis Godino presents The Midnight Wishers. Although full of Godino and Kramer's touches, it’s The Midnight Wishers who act as the medium to present the ideas of transporting the sound of iconic girl groups into the left-field modern age.
Silverbacks - "Archive Material" | Album Review
Archive Material is a tidy 38 minute grab bag of influences that ultimately adds up to something unique. For a relatively short album, the individual songs often feel longer in the best way possible. In the landscape of dour post-punk, it’s nice to have a band stop by, roll down the windows every now and then, and let some sunshine in.
Howless - "To Repel Ghosts" | Album Review
Cate Le Bon - "Pompeii" | Album Review
Thank - "Thoughtless Cruelty" | Album Review
After having all of their loose material gathered on Thankology, we finally get Leeds’ best noise rock band Thank’s debut album, Thoughtless Cruelty. This is a record that is meant to be played as loud as possible, an album that is filled with clever lyrics, a clear nihilistic view of the world, and pounding instrumentals.
Pom Poko - "This Is Our House" | Album Review
Big Thief - "Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You" | Album Review
Big Thief are some of the only artists right now whose mission runs entirely counter to the world we live in. Their music leaves behind cities, machines, and rigid rhythms, where most of even our best music these days seems intent on replacing the sounds of human beings with a false mechanical magnificence.
Empath - "Visitor" | Album Review
Traps PS - "Prim Dicer" | Album Review
It Thing - "Syrup" | Album Review
The garage punk outfit brought their blistering live sound to the studio on their debut Syrup, released through Marthouse Records last year, their first release after a pair of singles in 2019. The nine-track EP is superbly delivered through fuzz-dripped power pop and cleverly tight post-punk that seep with the band's personality.
Open Head - "Joy, And Other Sufferings" | Album Review
Black Country, New Road - "Ants From Up There" | Album Review
Even from a cursory listen, it’s quite obvious that Ants From Up There is a different record than its predecessor. Much of the album was written in the studio, with each of the band’s seven members contributing ideas and democratically building the finished product. That difference in process is evident.
Mitski - "Laurel Hell" | Album Review
EXEK - "Advertise Here" | Album Review
Erin Rae - "Lighten Up" | Album Review
Rae’s songwriting covers practically the full spectrum of sophisticated pop genres. There’s the jazzed-up introduction of “Candy & Curry” and the soulful R&B oriented “True Love Face” to the seventies singer/songwriter west coast stylings of “Gonna Be Strange” and “Drift Away” to full on baroque pop of “Cosmic High”.