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Vacation

Existential Risks & Rewards
Salinas Records (2021)

I’ve been fighting the urge to just quote John Hoffman from when I interviewed another one of his bands, The Mimes, earlier this year, because I think he described his songwriting style really well in it. Instead, you get a vague, shameless plug, though I’ll circle back after more explanation. On their latest offering, Vacation hasn’t wildly changed. Existential Risks … Read more

Book Review

Robby Krieger

Set the Night on Fire: Lying, Dying and Playing Guitar with The Doors
Hachette Publishing (2021)

Within the canon of American countercultural rock bands of the 1960s, there is hardly one that stands out more than The Doors - not merely because of their musical output but due to the controversy the trailblazing riddle hidden an enigma that was their frontman Jim Morrison embodied with his beautifully erratic and mythological persona. Formed in 1965, the core … Read more

Znous

Znousland 3 EP
Independent (2021)

It took Znous exactly one year to release a new EP. You will not hear me complaining about this. Avid readers of this site will remember I was very fond of Znousland 2, which I discovered half a year after its release. I described the sound of this Tunisian band as a mix of modern metal bands (Sepultura and Ministry … Read more

Book Review

Oasis

Supersonic: The Complete, Authorised & Unabridged Interviews
Hachette Publishing (2021)

Despite having parted way more than twelve years ago, Oasis and the way they have diligently and borderline religiously channelled their Beatles worship continues to be one of the most influential British bands of all time. No matter if you were into what was labelled “Cool Britannia” in the 1990s or do not dig them, chances are that you do … Read more

Light Field Reverie

Another World
Avantgarde Music (2020)

I’m always on the prowl for dreamy music, especially metal. It’s harder to find things that fit that descriptor in the metal area too. After discovering sometime three or so years ago ISON, I somehow didn’t run into Light Field Reverie until earlier this year. My surprise arises from the fact that former ISON vocalist, Heike Langhans performs vocals on … Read more

Slow Crush

Hush
Church Road Records, Quiet Panic Records (2021)

Dennis: When browsing through new releases in my overflowing inbox I decided to go for Slow Crush. It is released on Church Road Records, a sympathetic new label and mentioned shoegaze, dream pop and indie rock. I may not have the deepest of knowledge on this genre, but enough to give you an honest opinion. To my surprise I was … Read more

Book Review

Tessa Norton & Bob Stanley

Excavate! The Wonderful and Frightening World of The Fall
Faber Publishing (2021)

When it comes to what is referred to as “post-punk” and repetitive-driven guitar sounds accompanied by tense, circular bass lines and grimy, otherworldly vocals with the an enigma of a frontman meandering through tropes of British magic realism that seemed to be fuelled in equal parts by uppers and downers, you cannot go past The Fall. After the untimely demise … Read more

Sincere Engineer

Bless My Psyche
Hopeless (2021)

Sincere Engineer, fronted by Deanna Belos, runs the emotional gamut with angry highs and desperate lows – often both within the same song. I kind of think of it as a female take on ‘90s emo: the songs are personal and introspective, searching for help through the downtimes. A difference being that most ‘90s emo was seeking validation while this … Read more

Barcelona Gipsy Balkan Orchestra

Nova Era
Satelite K Records (2020)

Nova Era is a sweet journey through the olden Balkan ethos that permeates this region, of which I also happen to be a part of. Of course, I have certain biases that will come to light through the course of this review, but do not let that discourage you from delving into these sounds in any way. Barcelona Gipsy Balkan … Read more

San Salvador

La Grande Folie
Music Development Company (2021)

There’s nothing like a good vocal driven ensemble am I right? Well, I don’t know about you but I find myself impressed to the highest degrees by such bands. It has to do at least partly with the steep mastery curve of the human voice as a musical instrument as well as its phenomenally unique tonal characteristics at an individual … Read more

Sofa

Source Crossfire
Constellation (2021)

The story of Sofa is interwoven with the rise of the Montreal experimental music scene. In the mid ‘90s Sofa made their first steps, staying within the underground and self-releasing a number of records. Their creative output found them moving all over the weird rock scene. From alternative and indie beginnings to post-hardcore and lo-fi implementations, Sofa has been cultivating … Read more

Partial Traces

Wild Surf/Quiet Blues
Salinas Records (2021)

Partial Traces play pop-inspired keyboard rock – but not at all the kind you imagine when you hear those words. In pop songs, the keyboard generally brings melodrama or atmosphere. In Partial Traces, those two ideas meet in the middle. It’s emotional and serious, but instead of dramatic, it’s tonal. It feels real and authentic, which largely comes from the … Read more

Bricheros

Live at Hensley
Snappy Little Numbers Quality Audio Recordings (2021)

I don’t know anything about Bricheros beyond what’s in the press sheet. Which has quite a bit of info, really, but in the spirit of due diligence, let’s just say I want a little more. The band plays Panic Button Records-style Ramones-core with a strong dose of Screeching Weasel. In fact, they cover both of those bands on side B. … Read more

Tomoko Omura

Branches Vol. 2
Outside In Music (2021)

Today we’re looking at one lovely record - it’s Branches Vol. 2 by Brooklyn based Japanese violinist and composer Tomoko Omura. Tomoko’s works span a fairly vast territory, encompassing areas from jazz, modal jazz, post-bop, Japanese folk, gypsy music, and fusion with varying musicians. Branches Vol. 2 is the physical and spiritual successor of Branches Vol. 1. I actually never … Read more

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