Unknowing has never sounded as free as it does on Accept When, the new record from Caroline Davis and Wendy Eisenberg. The duo confidently dis- and reassemble the paths of their music without worrying about the destination. They rely on each other and all they bring to the table, rather than individual experience.
Gabriel Birnbaum's second "true" solo album, Patron Saint of Tireless Losers, finds him looking inside himself. He mines melodies of early California psych and singer-songwriter observations, combining spiky rock with gentle examinations on purpose and connection. His songwriting is a unique strength, trawling the depth of human nature.
Goat Girl’s third album Below the Waste is their first as a trio, but they’ve developed a sound that might take upwards of ten musicians to recreate, where folk textures and gorgeous harmonies are polluted by a sludge of dreary post-punk. It runs a hefty sixteen songs and with this there’s variety and experimentation in spades.
New to Habibi’s highly regarded catalog is the visionary Dreamachine – an embodiment of maturity and self-exploration. The Brooklyn band return with a softer and more melodic groove, letting us in with more vulnerability than ever before. They present a different side of their sound, giving room for a sonic evolution and greater depth.
In 1946, the New Towns Act was passed in the UK, and in 2024, the Bay Area jangle-rockers Neutrals released New Town Dream, via Slumberland / Static Shock Records. It might seem strange to think that something that happened 77 years ago and over 5,000 miles away could lead to a new album, but stranger things have happened.
The scope and grandeur of The Healer begs comparison to an epic novel or a film auteur’s masterpiece making it impossible to distill its essence into one catchy tagline. Which is the point. At 76 minutes, it’s oceanic, a leviathan of tones, tempos, and motifs which run the gamut of improvisational noise, sludge, meditative pastorals, and some straight-up heart-palpitating riffs.
“I know my shit is pure” are the first words echoed across Amiture’s second LP, Mother Engine. They pierce through the mix like a spectral echo past the driving beats and sleazy blues licks. It’s a statement of intent, the band's “shit is pure,” it’s a unique vision of trip-hop a world away from the dancey post-punk of their debut The Beach.
After some years working the London venue circuit, their self-titled debut album is finally here. It has certainly prompted anticipation, as the band is now tasked with differentiating themselves from scores of other bedhead-riddled punk bands. The methodology behind it all is simply a case of taking things back to basics.
From the early start, Mui Zyu aka Eva Liu showed that she has an excellent knack for combining electronic instrumentation with soft velvety vocals, bringing along lyrics that actually have something intriguing to say. She further strengthens the ties that bind these elements here, without overburdening her music.
Sometimes art is manifested in the toughest of times, when you find yourself at a crossroads. For Kazu Makino and twins Amedeo Pace and Simone Pace, Sit Down For Dinner was a child to darkness and hardship. In this momentary instance of suffering, they found refuge in creating music through the pain that tied and bonded them.
As NYCs alternative scene flourishes, MX Lonely rises with their early 2024 release Spit. The EP stimulates the brain as you can effortlessly hear the energy and attitude the band possesses. Their writing concepts, 90's grunge riffs, intriguingly spooky vocal harmonies, and dedication have curated an emotionally charged EP.
Finom come off more composed and thoughtful than ever before. Their sonic moves may seem random to us, but there is a greater confidence and determination behind them. That is the real upside of change despite the confusion: you may not see the path but moving along has never felt more comfortable. Finom have discovered this through their dedication to one another.
Off Beat Degradations - a four-piece punk project mixing elements of post-hardcore, early 00’s pop-punk, queercore, and speed punk - has been captivating crowds in basements since their inception in the summer of 2023. Their debut EP, Fluoxeteen, captures the young band in their rawest, most sensual, and energetic form.
