Here we are again, heading into what may very well be the last Bandcamp Day ever; it feels like the end of an era. If I’ve taken anything from this whole Bandcamp Day experience, it’s that we need to remember that directly supporting art and artists is important. While having a special day every month to remind us of this fact has been nice, the truth is that any day is a good day purchase music, whether it’s at a record store, directly from the artist or on Bandcamp. It’s in each of our hands to build a world where artists can be rewarded equitably for their work.
For what is likely our final set of recommendations, we’ve kept it short and sweet: Michael Kucyk (the mastermind behind Noise In My Head and Efficient Space, among other projects) and myself. We hope you discover something new.
Michael Kucyk Michael curated Noise In My Head, a long running radio program that aired on Melbourne’s 3RRR FM and NTS from 2005 – 2018. He currently runs the label Efficient Space, which has put together some of the most immaculately curated compilations and fascinating reissues in recent memory. Their most recent release, Oz Echoes, is a scintillating peek at 80’s Australian DIY music, but their entire back catalog is well worth exploring. Check all of that out, as well as Michael’s picks below
HORIZONTOLOGY | TAROTPLANE Spellbinding kosmiche music, summoning the best moments of Agitation Free. Fergus Clark at 12th Isle first sent me these unmarked files. Utterly mind fried, I could have simply asked him to unmask their creator, but preferred to savour the rare treat of a faceless artist. Eventually the release was announced and I was finally able to put two and two together, deep diving into many more of Tarotplane’s divine guitar meditations.
GARDEN OF LOVE / WATER CARRIER | SERAFINA STEER / JOHN T. GAST Irrefutably the best live act I’ve seen in recent memory, I keenly follow John T. Gast’s every move. Here the London enigma is paired with harpist Serafina Steer for a two track digital release. How quickly you lose sight of the beginning and end, suspended in bliss.
SAUNA RESEARCH / AQUARIUM TROUSERS | TAPES This digi romancer comes courtesy of Research Records, who I share an office with. The Art of Noise inna dub style? One of two Tapes releases dropped in the same week, it would be remiss of me to not also highly recommend the vinyl redux of his Indian classical inspired cassette on Good Morning Tapes.
ETERNITY | MAXINE FUNKE Striped back confessional miniatures from unpretentious Dunedin folk artist Maxine Funke, originally recorded for a small press 7” on I Dischi Del Barone. Painfully short but something to wet the lips before her forthcoming A Colourful Storm LP.
TURN MY DIAL – THE M SQUARED RECORDINGS AND MORE, 1981-84 | TANGLED SHOELACES It’s hard to fathom that these prodigious teenagers were only aged 10-14 when they grouped together in 1980. Three siblings and their drummer neighbour, innocently playing whitty-as-hell new wave well beyond their years. Suburban Brisbane’s answer to Television Personalities?
David Wilikofsky Finally some picks from yours truly; for more recommendations, feel free to head over to my Bandcamp collection.
STARDUST & HURT | LARRY WISH An album that takes the term “Cosmic Americana” to new heights. I mostly know Larry Wish as a purveyor of squiggly synth avant-pop; here he takes that instrumental palette and applies it to a set of country covers. Though it’s a weird combination on paper, it works. His interpretations feel adventurous yet respectful, taking classics by the likes of George Jones and Willie Nelson into outer zones while still maintaining the emotional core of the originals.
AMÉRICA INVERTIDA | VARIOUS ARTISTS Perfect Angels’ debut album (which I reviewed here last month) featured two covers from Uruguayan artists Mariana Ingold and Pippo Spera; they’ve served as a jumping off point into a whole new musical world for me. The best entry point I’ve found so far is América Invertida, a compilation jointly curated by Vampisoul and Little Butterfly from late 2019. It focuses on a small group of Montevideo artists from the 1980’s (including Ingold) who mixed traditional Candombe rhythms with guitars, drum machines and pop structures. It’s only the tip of the iceberg, but I guarantee you’ll want to dive deeper after hearing this.
UNCOMMON WEATHER | THE REDS, PINKS & PURPLES The jangle pop scene in San Francisco has been killing it lately. Flowertown is about to reissue their two great cassettes from last year (and honestly anything Paisley Shirt Records releases is worth your time), but perhaps my favorite release from my former hometown this year has been the latest from The Reds, Pinks & Purples. This was the first album I’ve listened to from the Glenn Donaldson led project, but I’ve devoured their back catalog in the month since it’s release. Equal parts Felt and Television Personalities, it’s dreamy, pitch perfect pop music to soundtrack the coming long summer days.
OWN ℃ | JAP KASAI We wrote about Chinabot in the inaugural edition of this series, so it feels fitting that we talk about them again today. Their most recent release (which lands in full next Monday) comes from Japanese musician Daisuke Iijima, who performs under the name Jap Kasai. He mixes vocals from Japanese Minyo folk songs with juke and footwork backing tracks. Another seemingly strange combo on paper, but (spoiler alert) it also works. The result a beautiful and unique record that manages to honor the history of both genres and keep their spirits intact.
KNUTNA NÄVAR | BLOD When I wrote about Astrid Øster Mortensen last month, I mentioned how difficult it is to cop releases from the Gothenburg scene. Either I spoke too soon or the universe is listening, because a slew of albums were uploaded to Bandcamp in the past few weeks. I’m planning on picking up some tomorrow, but as an entry point may I suggest Knutna Nävar? Somewhere between Scandinavian folk and abstract sound collage, it’s an utterly mystifying listen.
STALIN BOLLYWOOD | RHYS LANGSTON A late breaking addition to this list: Stalin Bollywood landed on Bandcamp yesterday, but it took almost no time for the record to worm its way into my head. It’s rap, it’s rock, it’s punk, it’s experimental, it’s political, it’s funny, it’s serious. I’m not sure exactly what I think about it yet, I just know I’m obsessed.
PRUDENCE / AROUND | SIEVE Often a music scene feels defined by the artists who “made it” by building a profile outside the confines of their town. But in the end, that’s likely the worst way to define a scene. They’re defined by the musicians who play in your ten favorite bands, the fans who come out night after night to shows in cramped venues and damp basements, the bands who are your town’s best kept secret. By all accounts Sieve was that kind of band made up on those kind of musicians. You may have never heard of Sieve outside of a pre-pandemic Philly basement, and because they’ve broken up you’ll likely never have a chance to see them live. But Sieve absolutely ruled, and these two tracks of spiky, frenetic rock prove it.