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!
Ramp Local first came onto my radar when I was doing an unpaid internship for college students at the now defunct Shea Stadium back in 2016 (I was not a college student nor did I know until much later it was an internship, but that’s a story for another time). Many of the best bands I was hearing (Macula Dog, Erica Eso) were putting out records on the young cassette label. In the intervening four years Ramp Local has amassed a formidable back catalog and expanded into vinyl production, but hasn’t lost its sense of purpose. Curated and run by Jake Saunders, artists signed to the label may not be tied together by genre but share a similar sense of adventurousness; any Ramp artist is pushing the boundaries of what you expect from them and their chosen form. I feel like a broken record in these intros, but there is so much good music left on the cutting room floor (see especially releases from Spirits Having Fun, Lily and Horn Horse and Signal for some other personal favorites); once you check out our picks head over to the label’s site or Bandcamp to see more.
BANNED BOOKS | BANNED BOOKS Banned Books had been playing for nearly a decade, touring with the likes of Xiu Xiu, Deerhoof and Guerilla Toss (all of whom provide good sonic comparisons) before dropping their first full length album. It was worth the wait. The Philadelphia based trio does off-kilter pop as well as freaked out noise jams. I booked them for a show shortly before their breakup in late 2016 (less than a year after this album was released) and they absolutely destroyed their set. Sorely missed, this album captures their spirit perfectly.
2019 | ERICA ESO In an alternate reality, Erica Eso would top the Billboard charts. Started by Weston Minissali (who has also played in the always great Cloud Becomes Your Hand), the group churns out delicate, synth laden bedroom pop. Tracks like “Crippled Symmetry” represent the band at its best, balancing straightforward hooks and melody with more abstract sonic experimentation. The band has also released an equally great follow up, 129 Dreamless GMG.
DON’T EAT MY FRIENDS | BIG NECK POLICE For those in the know, Big Neck Police is a supergroup. Paco Cathcart records solo as The Cradle (in addition to producing for vital bands such as Palberta and Sediment Club) while Hugo Stanley performs as part of Palm. Yet none of this prepares you for Don’t Eat My Friends. The band creates sludgy noise rock that often sounds like it’s seconds away from collapse but instead takes some unexpected left turn. Rooted in punk tradition as much as improvisation, this is fiercely idiosyncratic music that keeps the listener on their toes.
100 BELLS | BUCK GOOTER Buck Gooter were a force to be reckoned with live. I remember their show as absolute chaos in the best way possible. Vocalist Billy Brett jumped around the stage, screaming and rattling literal chains for forty straight minutes. Opener “Apocalypse Me” on 100 Bells feels like being in the front row at that show, capturing the band’s chaotic energy perfectly. Throughout 100 Bells the band is unafraid to take on big issues, whether it’s environmental destruction (“Fracking Up The Planet”), poverty (“One War”), or religion (“Pray To God”); the music feels more timely than ever today.
MAKING MOVES | KOLB Kolb is a trained opera singer (he studied with the Hudson Opera Theater in high school and music at Brooklyn College) and it shows on his debut EP. His operatic vocals soar above instrumentals that mix orchestral pop with DIY scrappiness. “Divine Intervention” and “Car Song” are personal favorites, but every track is endlessly enjoyable. It’s a short but sweet release, which has been followed up by four releases on his Bandcamp.
The label has one announced upcoming release. Endless Birthdays by Jobs will come out August 7; check out the video for lead single “Brain” below:
We’re also eagerly awaiting the debut album from Godcaster. You should seriously check out their singles; they rule.