New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Experimental Composer Akira Rabelais has released his latest album, CXVI, and for this project he has enlisted the help of legends like Ben Frost, Harold Budd, and many more. This is his first release since 2015’s The Little Glass and first with Boomkat Editions.
The album itself took Rabelais year’s to complete and is a near masterpiece blending ambient, electronic, classical, and more.
Is it a paradox for playfulness and gravity to exist in the same breath? It might be easy to jump to that conclusion, but if we’ve learned anything from Kate Bush, it’s that whimsy can often be a great vessel for complexity. If anyone has taken that message to heart, it would be Natasha Jacobs, the brain behind Brooklyn based musical project Thelma. Her debut self titled album, an alt-folk meditation on chronic illness and loss, brimmed with unconventionality, whether it be from a surprising electronic breakdown or a yelping vocal performance. Jacobs writes songs that practically do dances around your mind, distracting you with baroque glitter for just a moment before pulling you back to reality again with a masterful lyric. Thelma is poised to release her second album The Only Thing on February 22nd (with release party at Secret Project Robot the day after) Below you can have a listen to single “The Only Thing”, a lyrical exploration of identity that practically saunters into your ears. – Sunny Betz
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Kyle Gilbride (Waxahatchee, Dark Thoughts, Yowler), a new single, “WHO WHAT WEAR,” has materialized from the punk quartet of MINT. Driving bass pushes the tempo as a smooth but on-the-verge-of-frantic vocal delivery describes how the clothes you wear serves as a window into your personality (or at least, the outside world forms opinions based on what they think your clothing, and by extension, image represents). It’s a high-speed streetcar that tears forward almost speeding off the rails in a mad rush, while still holding it all together. You can catch MINT at Cousin Danny’s on Monday, March 25, along with Buffalo’s Science Man.
Soulful Hip Hop group Jyroscope is the work of Collasoul Structure, I.B. Fokuz, and DJ Seanile. The group released their latest album, Mute, last week. This project has been in works for awhile, but well worth the wait. Jyroscope released the album title track, which features Gatz N Goods, back in May via the Kory Stewart directed video below.
Yet, Not Enough, the forthcoming EP from AllegrA, is set to arrive on March 12 via Citrus City Records. “Spoon or Fork,” its lead single, captures the picturesque, dreamy qualities of a relationship’s beginning. Getting to know each other while exploring a new, untarnished residence, there’s an inherent sun, shining through the blind’s warmth, as every aspect appears to glimmer optimistically. Then, amid those shimmering qualities, heart-racing instrumentals run lead with guitar riffs, punctuated by percussion, providing a breaking-loose element. (Photo by CJ Simavi)
Noise Rock band Bruges has released a new single called “The Drifted Way”. This is their third single since September, and a grinding, sludgy, gem.
Bruges is made up of members of Angry Gods, Den, and Moral Void.
You can catch Bruges at The Burlington on March 2nd with Buildings, Ribbonhead, and Rash.
Lo-fi power pop band Dark Trip will be creepin’ into the Bovine later this month for a seemingly rare show. Their EP “Dark Trip Demos” was released long enough ago that it’s making me wonder if they aren’t the demos but the actual record! Jokes on us. 5 tracks of scary pop punk including a track titled Tony Danza so you know it’s good. Their upcoming gig at the Bovine Sex Club is on February 22nd with Sick Things, Hot Kid and Teen Archer. 4AM last call too! – Kris Gies
Oozing Wound has released the first single, “Tween Shitbag”, from their forthcoming album, High Anxiety, which is due out on March 15th via Thrill Jockey. This is the Thrash Metal trio’s follow-up to their 2016 album, Whatever Forever.
You can help Oozing Wound celebrate the release of the new album on March 16th at Empty Bottle with DIM, Platinum Boys, and Hitter.
Photo by Evan Jenkins
The folks in Catch Prichard just can’t get away with doing anything less than epic. Like their prior EP, Eskota, tracks off Utter Disbelief maintain an undercurrent of Americana, this time with heightened, richer pedals and strings, dark synths and the occasional sax guest. Single “You’re the Worst” is one of the strongest off the upcoming release, though quite frankly, it’s hard to choose. Frontman Sawyer Gebauer has one of the most unique vocal stylings around. He’s a Johnny Cash meets a Leonard Cohen twisted with some Bill Callahan and a touch of Springsteen. Gebauer’s deep, guttural baritone radiates through “You’re the Worst,” bringing life and tough emotion to the song. Pre-purchase the first six tracks off Utter Disbelief here, and be sure to check out their upcoming shows. Lovely. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor
Photo credit Jack Song
Krust Toons: "…Wait, There’s a Weezer Cover Album?!?" by Tedd Hazard – please feel free to drop him a line at teddandthehazards@gmail.com if you dig or have any funny ideas. You can also check out more of his illustrations and animation shorts HERE.
Mofaza is slightly mysterious trio of ZGAman, Franco Popular and Max Boom, and they recently released their self-titled debut album. We were so intrigued that by the sound of the album and the vagueness of its release that we track down the trio and asked them a few questions. You can read the full interview here.
You can catch Mofaza at Beat Kitchen on February 16th with Shot Baker, Vacation Bible School, The Eradicator, and No Enemy!.
Vermont transplant Jake Brennan’s recording project Violet Ultraviolet recently dropped its new album, As The World Churns. There’s a conversational, spoken-observation feel to these tracks. As though one pleasantly meanders down the road, the songs, pushed by the compact instrumentation, retain a loose, natural aesthetic. Those folk/Americana vibes carry an inherently inviting glimpse into personal storytelling, with a universal reach.
