Last month saw Babe Report release Did You Get Better, an album that mixes fuzzy punk and alternative rock with unpredictable turns. It’s a ripper through and through. The band were kind enough to give us some insight into the music that influenced their writing, from Parliament and Black Sabbath to R.E.M. and Yo La Tengo.
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.
Hot off the heels of their breakthrough full length Aprender a Ser, the buzzing Mexico City duo Mint Field have hit us with a “pero espera, hay más.” Aprender a Ser Extended is a mini-LP composed of songs from the band’s initial Aprender sessions that were intentionally set aside to assist with listener digestion.
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.
“Drive & Drive” and “Hyde Park,” the lead double single to hemlock’s upcoming record 444, are the first full band re-recordings of choice cuts from hemlock’s song-a-day-a-month series. If there was ever a time to tune into the project, it would be this very instant, because hemlock in full band mode is most certainly the real deal.
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.
If you’ve never listened to Beak>, >>>> is an ideal introduction. It’s a showcase of Geoff Barrow’s idiosyncratic vision of music—part psych, part prog, all strange. The album, which Billy Fuller, Will Young, and Barrow wrote together, carries an exciting air of improvisation, even while it’s clear that the music is painstakingly deliberate. What follows is our free-ranging conversation about all things Beak> and how Barrow’s experiences in the industry shaped one of music’s most unusual bands.
“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.
Comprised of Maia Mara (Halfsour), Adam Berkowitz (Kal Marks, Ex-Breathers), Travis Hagan (Halfsour, Pleaser), and Jenna Lemieux, the band are no strangers to the more nuanced side of indie rock, which makes Bad Cough’s debut all the more delightful. The band present an unhinged kind of ramshackle fuzz punk, heavy but undeniably fun.
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.
