New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Spyder Ryde is the trio of Jessie Oleson, Zohair Hussain, and Sarah Jane Quillin ( Desert Liminal). The trio released their first single, the dream-pop gem “Best Behavior”, back in February.
You can catch Spyder Ryde at Sleeping Village on May 25th with Hi-Ker, Copilot, and Rafting.
In her new EP Kitsch II, New York avant-pop artist Sur Back – real name Caroline Sans – deeply mines the esoteric, incorporating obscure facets of many different genres into the record’s four tracks. It’s part baroque-pop, part new wave, and extremely avant-garde. It’s sweet and melancholy, with unconventional string orchestration and an abundance of compelling, unexpected melodic twists. Listen to "Valentino" below and see them live at Baby’s All Right on Saturday June 2nd, opening for Chaos Chaos. – Ethan Ames
Adam Gogala fronts the Folk Punk Americana band known as Blind Adam and The Federal League. Late last month the band released their self-titled debut LP, and recently an great video for the LP’s sad second single “Another Lonely Weekend”. This video was filmed on location at The Native in Logan Square. The band’s first single was “Happy Hour”, which had a video flimed in part at Empty Bottle. If you love Beer, Chicago, Rock N’ Roll, you will love this band.
You can catch Blind Adam and The Federal league at InnJoy in Logan Square on May 20th and at Emporium Wicker Park on June 14th.
Past Life has a new single, “Apollo,” out now via Drexel University’s MAD Dragon Records. A nod to Greek & Roman mythology, the track exhibits an inherent enthusiasm as well as a deep yearning. From a jogging start to all-out sprint, there’s the feel of burgeoning romance, joyously catching fire in melodic, pop power. The B-side is an acoustic take, whose bare piano-lead provides a confessional ballad approach.
Deanna Devore has released the second single, “Seven Eight”, from her forthcoming album. Both this song and March’s “A Cause” demonstrate the beat and synth heavy, R&B influenced, direction Devore’s music is taking.
You can catch Deanna Devore at SPACE in Evanston on May 17th with Josh Rouse.
After honing their skills via two self-released EPs, Brooklyn trio Language is set to release their new EP Plymouth via Good Eye Records on May 18th. The five tracks show the band developing a hybrid sound falling in a space between prog and industrial. “Where To” is a short burst, under minute and a half instrumental displaying the band’s impressive chops. Angular rhythms and sharp cuts emerge from precise placement of drums, bass and guitar . “Game Piece” ramps up the tempo adding shouted punk style vocals over the shifting progression underneath. Title track “Plymouth” emerges out of jagged guitar textures that lead to a softer lyrical center followed by a Zappa-esque extended psyched-out coda. “Into and Out Of” (streaming below) pairs emergency broadcast signals with triple-time high-hat flutters before the full band throttle explodes into a throbbing onslaught. Final track “Square Winds” bring vocals back over an equally hyperactive rhythmic undercurrent. The band will play their release show at Baby’s All Right on 5/16 with label mates Russian Baths, plus Grooms and Mezzanine Swimmers. – Dave Cromwell
“Everything You Do,” the latest single from Kenny Forrester, a.k.a. Lonely Ghost, gently reaches out. A clean guitar pattern clears a corridor for the soothing softness. That peacefully illuminating tunnel opens up with the addition of percussion. A dreamscape of appreciation, the song captures an airy, pensive depth.
Nandi Rose Plunkett’s singing is deliberate. Her voice moves slowly, with seeming ease, as if each line is a response in real time, never rushed but carefully thought out and confident. The music Plunkett makes under the Half Waif moniker is equally precise, particularly on the group’s latest album, Lavender. Though often meditative in its ambience and melodic complexities, Half Waif flexes a knowledge of pop that brings the music to sweeping highs. Throughout, Plunkett contemplates womanhood and the distance accompanied by travel, perhaps best summarized in the opening track’s description of a visit with her grandmother. Both musically and lyrically, Lavender makes for a thoroughly engaging and ambitious addition to the Half Waif catalog. – Cameron Carr
Byzantine Time Machine released a new single last week called “Trapped in the Sultan’s Palace” via Outtallectuals. The trio of George Lawler, Eve Monzingo, and Ronnie Malley came together to create this mixture world and electronic music. The piece features heavily the G Clarinet and a Middle Eastern instrument called the Oud.
Desert Liminal is the Dream Wave sounds of Sarah Jane Quillin (of Spyder Ryde) and Rob Logan. The duo released their debut LP, Static Thick, late last year and have been performing around the City ever since. Below is their video for “Heavy Heads”.
You can catch Desert Liminal at Empty Bottle (Free Show) on May 21st with Fauvely, The Knees, and Corey Flood (Philly), and at Whistler (Free Show) on June 13th.
Krust Toons: "Childish Gambino?" 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.
Magick Numbers (aka David Merline) released a new LP, Transcendental Flight, last week. This follow the EP, "Where Do I begin?", which came out just last month.
This new LP is filled with Ambient, electronic and psychedelic sounds which provide a perfect backdrop for walking the city streets.
