by David Wilikofsky
In a world of information overload, how can you reliably discover great new music? For us, the answer is record labels. Great labels act as a stamp of quality; for the best, any album they put out is well worth your time. Labels need our support now more than ever, so if you like what you hear please head over to their site and order some music!
Looking for some of the wildest experimental music out there? Hausu Mountain has got you covered. Run by Doug Kaplan and Max Allison (who record as MrDougDoug and Mukqs respectively as well as being two thirds of Good Willsmith), the best releases in their catalog defy easy categorization. You never know if you’ll be getting harsh noise or ambient soundscapes when you throw on one of their records, but you will know it’ll both challenge and entertain you. Yet another label with a huge, high quality back catalog, it’s tough winnowing down our choices to only five releases (and, honestly, we didn’t include Fire-Toolz here because of previous shoutouts on the site but CHECK THEM OUT). These selections represent an entry point into the Hausu Mountain universe; be sure to explore the whole thing either on Bandcamp or their website.
METALEPSIS | EARTHEATER On her first release as Eartheater, Alexandra Drewchin creates music that balances experimental tendencies with pop instincts. “Homonyms”, one of the most straightforward tracks on the record, is a loopy, psychedelic folk song that will immediately get stuck in your head. Opener “MacroEV” combines wordless vocals with electronic sounds to create an alien soundscape. Drewchin has put out a few other albums under the Eartheater name since, but this trippy gem is the one I return to the most.
SUICIDE DELUXE | DREAMCRUSHER Dreamcrusher self describes their music as “nihlist queer revolt musik”. This is noise music not for the feint of heart; I once played a Dreamcrusher track for my grandparents and they asked me if something was wrong with the car! Abrasive while still being approachable, Suicide Deluxe is an excellent entry point into their musical universe. Dreamcrusher also puts on one of the best live shows out there; it’s an incredibly physical experience where the line between audience and performer blurs. It (and this album) are not to be missed.
WALKTHROUGH | MUKQS Maybe it’s just nostalgia talking, but I love old video game soundtracks. From Donkey Kong Country to The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, there’s something incredible about what those composers did with tinny synths to create worlds through sound. Walkthrough is at once a familiar and alien experience. It evokes the sounds of those old favorites, but manages to also bring the lusher textures of ambient music into the mix.
ASK ME HOW SATAN STARTED | BONNIE BAXTER On her first solo release, Bonnie Baxter goes wild. Opener “Axiom” is an assault of distorted drums, with Baxter cooing threats about punching you in the dick (and that’s only the first thirty seconds of the track). Also check out highlight “Vivid”, which sound like the platonic ideal of a Death Grips song. Crazy music for crazy times. Hot tip: the follow up Axis is also fire.
CORIOLIS | EUGLOSSINE The cover art for this album says it all; Coriolis sounds like a trip to the beach. The ten sun soaked tracks here are at various times reminiscent of vaporwave, smooth jazz and city pop, yet end up their own hybrid thing. The tracks here drift by likes clouds in an otherwise clear sky; they don’t demand your attention but will reward it. Perfect for throwing on to brighten up a dreary quarantine day.
The only currently announced upcoming release is BLUE RISE | QUICKSAILS, which will hit shelves July 24.