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!
Based in Cleveland, OH, Unifactor is a tape label run by Jayson Gerycz, who you might know as the drummer from Cloud Nothings. But while Cloud Nothings exist firmly in the punk realm, Unifactor explores the outer limits of music and sound. The label generally drops releases in batches of three; each batch is lovingly curated to have its own singular aesthetic, from the album art to the music itself. Part of the excitement of picking up a Unifactor release is unpredictability; the label has released everything from the sounds of a car being destroyed to high concept zonked out art-pop. As usual five picks isn’t enough to explore everything great, so after checking out some personal favorites below head over to the label’s main web presence (housed on Bandcamp) to explore their whole catalog.
STACEY’S SPACEY | MARIA CLUSTER Imagine that aliens make their way to Earth and become enamored of pop radio. They head back to their home planet and try to reinvent the thrill of scanning through the FM dial. The results might sound something like Stacey’s Spacey. Cluster (along with a keyboard named Barb La Croix, who gets her own interview segment) takes the listener on a sonic journey that sits somewhere between John Maus and Pee Wee Herman. Look no further than “How Ya Doin'” as a gateway to Cluster’s world. At once catchy and abrasive, a lone voice builds into a cacophonous chorus over its two minute runtime. Spoiler: they’re all doing all right.
ANOTHER TIME | SHELLS Shelley Salant may be best known as part of bands such as XV and Tyvek, but she also records music under the name Shells. Another Time is two tracks of pure solo guitar bliss. Fragments of melody float by, slowly unfurling and mutating as each track progresses. Much like one of my favorite albums of this year, the latest Pure X record, this is music that evokes moments of peace, such as lying on the grass watching clouds drift by or watching the sun slowly set.
REALITY STRUCTURES | {ARSONIST} The cover of Reality Structures says it all. The album consists of six synth compositions that conjure up barren, alien landscapes. There is a mathematical precision to the icy bursts of synth on the tape, almost like a musical fractal. This is juxtaposed against string parts, which offer some respite from the cold. Part hypnagogic pop odyssey and part ambient dream, it’s a release that defines easy categorization but demands your rapt attention.
BLOOM LAKE | KYLE LANDSTRA Some beautiful droning ambience from Kyle Landstra, recorded following a cross country move from Chicago to the Pacific Northwest. The album feels like it could soundtrack a peaceful episode of Blue Planet; the music has a particularly aqueous feel to it. Its improvised synthesizer compositions unfurl at an unhurried pace. The A side, “Love in the Mist”, has an optimistic air about it, while B side “Bloom Lake” is a darker and more contemplative affair.
HONEYMOON | DOMINIC COPPOLA If listening to Bloom Lake feels like diving underwater, Honeymoon is the feeling of flight. Gently undulating waves of sound wash over you, never in any hurry to go anywhere in particular. I often found my mind drifting along with the music, feeling relaxed and restored by the time the tape ended. Although it’s a peaceful listen that won’t demand much from the listener, it will reward deep listening with hidden strands of melody. This is music to soundtrack your daydreams.
Unifactor just announced a new batch of tapes set for release on July 31st; from the sample tracks you’ll get everything from gentle tape loops to harsh noise. Get excited.