Last week was crazy here at Undrcurrents HQ, which prevented us from celebrating these releases from September sooner. Luckily there’s no expiration date on great music; we hope you take some time to check out these releases and enjoy them as much as we do.
Hayden Pedigo – Letting Go
Despite being just twenty seven years old, Hayden Pedigo is inarguably a veteran; he released his first full length at the tender age of twenty, and over the intervening years has become one of the faces of a new generation of American guitarists. His latest album (and first for Mexican Summer) was written after a move from his hometown of Amarillo to Lubbock, Texas, largely on the front porch of his new home. Pedigo’s melodies shine throughout the album, unfurling slowly but purposefully. Small sonic flourishes from steel guitar washes to field recordings add some ambiance and texture, often alluding to the vast Texas landscape, but his guitar picking always remains front and center. It’s an intimate porch concert caught on wax, the perfect accompaniment to a beautiful northwest Texas sunset.
Juçara Marçal – Delta Estácio Blues
Juçara Marçal has had a decades long musical career in Brazil, but Delta Estácio Blues is only her second solo album ever. It’s also some of the most ebullient and wild experimental pop of the year. Each instrumental feels like a living, breathing creature; they don’t unfold as much as they writhe, sigh, stutter, flail, or slither along. A lesser vocalist would easily be overwhelmed, but Marçal delivers a commanding performance worthy of these accompaniments. Her versatility is on full display, doing everything from a subdued slink to full out raps. It’s a triumph in every sense of the word, an essential listen for fans of adventurous pop.
Loren Rush – Dans Le Sable
Loren Rush has been active in the Bay Area new music scene since the 1950s alongside contemporaries like Pauline Oliveros and Terry Riley, and his work has been performed by nationally renowned ensembles. Despite his success, very little of his work has been recorded, a wrong that Recital is looking to remedy. For me, the main attraction is the title track; stretching across the entire A side, it’s a beguiling mix of Robert Ashley-style spoken narration, meandering chamber music melodies and operatic vocals that almost veers into sound collage territory. The two instrumental pieces on the B side show different sides of Rush, one tranquil and the other cacophonous. All and all, it’s an intriguing look at Rush’s oeuvre that will leave you wanting more.
Bummer – Dead Horse
Have you ever wondered what the Jesus Lizard might sound like if they were still cranking out records? It might sound something like Dead Horse, the latest album from Bummer. On their first album for the great Thrill Jockey Records, the Kansas City trio look to demolish everything in eyesight. Their targets range from the opioid crisis to their distaste for the Boss, their takedowns soundtracked by bludgeoning riffs and howling vocals delivered with an unrelenting intensity. This is a primal scream of a record perfect for exorcizing your inner demons.
Dos Monos – Larderello
Since hip hop first emerged from the Bronx in the 70s and 80s, it’s spread far and wide around the world. As an English speaker, non-English rap is sonically fascinating; any time I listen, I can hear these familiar sounds morph to compliment the language at hand. Dos Monos are a Tokyo based trio who have managed to find an international audience at least in part due to their partnership with Deathbomb Arc, who releases their music here in the West. Their latest, Larderello, demonstrates what the trio do best: dense beats that marry melody and dissonance, headspinning flows, and an irrepressible energy reminiscent of prime Beastie Boys madness. At seventeen minutes, it’s a short but sweet reminder that Dos Monos are one of the most interesting hip hop groups today.
M1llionz – Provisional License
The UK rap scene continues its winning streak with the debut album from M1llionz. Operating out of Birmingham, far outside UK drill’s gravitational center in London, M1llionz trods familiar territory with his gripping tales of street life, but it’s his flows and beat selection that set the album apart. Highlights include the icy “How Many Times” and the Brandy sampling title track, but the entire album heralds the arrival of a huge new talent.