In Weekly Roundup, we talk about the releases new and old that helped us get through the week.
S.D.S =零= (SUBSCRIPTION DOUBLE SUICIDE =ZERO=) | VARIOUS ARTISTS One of my favorite purchases on Bandcamp day last week was this compilation from EM Records. A collection of electro pop curated by CVN, the album is described as “seeds of hope for the coming post-pandemic parties.” It lives up to that billing; woozy hip hop rubs up against etherial R&B and EDM inflected pop. Selected from a set of musicians across Japan, it’s a joy to discover the different sounds and scenes represented.
WAHDON | FAIRUZ Fairuz, along with Umm Kulthum, was one of the most famous and successful musicians in the Arab world. Wewantsounds has reissued two of her albums, Wahdon being the first in that series. Her first record produced by her twenty two year old son Ziad, the album marked a shift towards more modern arrangements in her discography. While the A side is largely traditional, the B side sees them experimenting with disco, funk, Laurel canyon folk and soft jazz.
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RUSTY | RODAN Tara Jane O’Neil is releasing a great record today on Ordinal Records; finding that out made me go back and revisit this classic by her early band Rodan. Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, their music bears some similarity to fellow Louisville natives Slint. Rusty is atmospheric post rock ballads one minute and driving, jagged guitars the next. My personal favorite track, “Bible Silver Corner”, feels as if it is floating ethereally above you, gently lulling you to sleep.
I’M NOT A BAD PERSON BUT… | CLAIRE ROUSAY This seven minute track is the musical equivalent of a Don Hertzfeldt film. A robotic voice lists all of its misdeeds; deadpanned one liners are juxtaposed against brutally honest confessions. Small musical flourishes ebb and flow behind the voice, used at opportune moments to enhance the emotional impact of the words. It turns out there’s something deeply affecting about hearing a robot say “There is nothing more uncomfortable than being fifteen and feeling uncool.”
A HAIRSHIRT OF PURPOSE | PILE While listening to a bunch of Exploding in Sound releases this week I revisited this album by Pile. Another hugely important DIY Boston band of the past decade, Krill (who we featured in our EIS profile) released a concept album dedicated to Pile. Rather than sharing Krill’s shambolic energy, Pile are laser focused every second. Guitar lines crash over you. Drums explode. It’s loud and chaotic yet precise. The group continues to be a force to be reckoned with (their most recent album Green and Grey came out last year) and there’s no better place to start than here.