Monthly Archives: January 2023
The Heart Collectors – Timeless Space (Spins the Gold Records)
The new EP from Australian folk group The Heart Collectors is truly emotive of joy, nostalgia, and a whole collection of other feelings. But that is just a happy side-effect to the true showcase of this release: the beauty of music, specifically acoustic instrumentation and the human voice. Written during the pandemic, Timeless Space is […]
Candlemass- Sweet Evil Sun
Candlemass- Sweet Evil SunRelease date: 2022Nov18Label: Napalm RecordsRating: 5/5 Candlemass formed in Stockholm, Sweden in 1984. Wizard of the Vortex is a hell of a trad-doom stomper to start, followed by the melancholic soundscape of When Death Sighs. Devil Voodoo hits with solid riffs at a steady pace with the commanding vocals of returning original […]
GA-20 – Crackdown (Karma Chief Records)
Boston blues band GA-20 have come out with their new album Crackdown. A crushed production approach gives this Chicago Blues release a definite blues-rock sound, a real nostalgic-feeling drive. Fairweather Friend starts this off with a modern Black Keys-eque sound, whereas Easy On the Eyes, Be My Lonesome and, I Let Someone In, amongst others, pull […]
Weyes Blood – And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow (Sub Pop Records)
The second chapter in a trilogy that began with her 2019 album Titanic Rises, this installment continues themes of isolation and melancholia. Weyes Blood’s arrangements are beautifully meditative with lush orchestral undertones, making this folk pop album into something much more otherworldly. FCC: Clean RIYL: Angel Olsen, Adrianne Lenker, Julia Jacklin, Jessica Pratt
Gambit – Cozy Throne (UNI Records)
The latest single from New Hampshire band Cozy Throne, Gambit has everything you want from a punky power pop track. With standout vocals reminiscent of a grunge Hayley Williams, this track hooks you in and keeps your attention. Powerful, exhilarating instrumentals throughout. Exciting track; Cozy Throne has a forthcoming debut album, and in the meantime, […]
Arlo Parks – Weightless (Transgressive)
“Weightless” is the brand spankin’ new lead single off of Arlo Parks’ forthcoming sophomore album My Soft Machine. R&B meets bedroom pop. Lyrics addressing anxieties of independent life. Parks creates a soundscape filled with hypnotizing repetition; and scattered throughout are poetic, metaphorical lyrics. RIYL: Clairo, Japanese Breakfast, Lava La Rue, Orion Sun FCC: Clean
Blair Gun – Man of the Hour (sonaBLAST! / Enabler no. 6)
Fun 2000’s-inspired power pop single. Catchy, repetitive riffs that are easy to groove to. Totally could have made an appearance on the soundtrack to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3. Just enough fuzz & distortion to give it a hint of punky-ness. Overall, it makes for a nice pop/rock track. RIYL: Robber Robber, The Roof Dogs, […]
Breanna Barbara – Nothin’ But Time (Fuzz Club)
Strong female vocals that evoke a comforting nostalgia. Barbara is clearly inspired by 60’s and 70’s Laurel Canyon and Americana. The warm, charming opening track “Diamond Light” will hook you in to listen to the rest of the album. Think: empowering, poetic cowgirl tunes. Or something to that effect. Finishing off the album is “Weaning” […]
Aatocaster – moonlight
Sounds like the epitome of upbeat Lo-fi house tracks. Heavy, layered synth blended with light vocals. Very atmospheric, and a great listen for those who like independent experimental electronic. Self-released RIYL: Lo-Fi Study Playlists FCC: Clean
Dave Rowntree – Radio Songs (Cooking Vinyl)
Rowntree is a London-based artist whose vocals are very reminiscent of Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz. Tracks varying from instrumentals (#5 and 10) to dark pop and electronic. Feels like something your dad would show you (to prove he listens to cool music, too). RIYL: Blur, Wild Beasts, Everything Everything, Foals FCC: Clean Check […]
Black Spell- Season of the Damned
Black Spell– Season of the DamnedRelease date: 2022Dec09Label: Regain RecordsRating: 4/5 Black Spell hail from Italy. Satanic Majesty throbs with pitch-black bass set in bleakness. Black Abyss draws one in with a low and dirty feel. Other tracks that stand out to me are Witches’ Brew (a sinister mid-tempo rocker), Season of the Damned (pays […]
Blondshell – Joiner [Partisan]
From promoter: “This new track exemplifies her ability to layer her wry sense of humor atop weighty topics. Powered by brilliant, crystalline melodies, Teitelbaum’s eloquent writing takes root in the concrete: every line is literal, a keyhole to a bigger truth. Blondshell is about learning and unlearning, about untangling the ways we’re taught to accept bad […]
Negativland – Speech Free [Seeland]
Really neat music, with ambient noise, some cool drum machines and noises that make my brain go “brrrrrr”. It had some of the same beats and various other tones that reminds me somewhat of Squarepusher. Definitely for those who like unusual music. RIYL: “Library Music”, Cluster, Matmos,Faust, Swingle Sisters, Happy the Man, Esquivel,Steve Fisk, Thurston Moore […]
Fran – Leaving [Fire Talk]
From Promoter: “Maria Jacobson is the indie singer-songwriter behind Fran. Jacobson claims grief and faith as two faces from the same coin in her sophomore album, Leaving. Bending soft melodies, this introspective work lulls listeners into a mediative state as Jacobson details the tribulations that lead her to seek possible religions in everything around her. Listeners are grounded […]
Bowed Colors
Contemporary works for viola, some piano and children’s voices. Nice!
ILTA
Varied percussion + flute works, lyrical to abstract, modern.
Anders Koppel–Chamber Music
Contemporary pieces for strings /mandolin and very interesting! Play!
Chamber Music with Viola
British composers’ ( Bowen, Britten, Holst) works for viola, early 1900’s, gracious.
Bryn Harrison–three descriptions of place and movement
Long, contemporary ambient/abstract string pieces, droning.
Clemans Christian Poetzsch–chasing Heisenberg
Lovely, flowing and ambient piano pieces, all contemporary. Play!
Carl Reinecke–Piano Concertos
Romantic era piano concertos, lovely!
Chaos + Contemplation
Very abstract varied works for sax + percussion, some dissonance.
Impulse
Both classical and abstract, lovely, keening works for viola.
Center Chamber–Chamber Music with Saxophone
Contemporary works for sax or the forgotten connosax (sax + english horn + heckelphone created in 1928 with a vaudeville sound). Nice!
Mauricio Galeano–Colloid
Abstract collection of guitar pieces, lots of hard plucking. Interesting.
WRUV Reviews 