What’s not to like about Khruangbin, who have released a series of absolutely classic psych-funk albums which reference old masters while developing a sound all their own. I came across this, their sophomore album, after watching some performances on Youtube, most notably their KEXP performance. A mellow, weird, sensual and hypnotic release.
Indie
[Music] START TRACK Blog
I’m a fan of the indie record label Z Tapes, run by Filip Zemčík out of Slovakia. He’s turned me onto some amazing bedroom artists, and now he has a blog, START TRACK, where he highlights interesting things he finds on Bandcamp. Consider following.
[Music] Gacha Bakradze – Quick Dreams
This has to be one of the most poorly tagged albums I have ever encountered on Bandcamp, and I’m happy for it. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I first played Quick Dreams, a release by Georgian composer Gacha Bakradze, but I knew about 20 second into it that it wasn’t going to be techno or house. It’s definitely an ambient record, and quite a shimmery and pretty one as well, but you find acoustic guitar, rock-ish structures, and a very calm, warm air around this disc.
[Music] Lalić – Post Mortal Gothic
We’ve had the pleasure of reviewing the work of Lalić before (in December of 2019, in fact), but this new release showcases them diving deeper into post-punk. This release sounds like touches of a The Sound, Suicide (without the reliance of electronics), and even bands like Berlin, though far less polished (and this is to the album’s benefit).
Another choice record.
[Music] Lovataraxx – Hébéphrénie
Being someone who cut his teeth on post-punk, new wave and other genres of the decade, it blows my mind that one can find bands who keep these traditions alive, and in some cases, make improvements on them.
Lovataraxx are a band based out of Grenoble, France. The French have a a criminally neglected history of amazing cold wave acts who deserve far wider recognition, but a lot of the music here seems to be influenced equally as much by their neighbors to the west, across the English Channel, and to their immediate east in Germany. One can hear the influence of bands like Depeche Mode and The Cure in their early incarnations, DAF, and several other bands I grew up enjoying.
Much respect to Hélène and Julien, who have released an unpolished gem here. Fine work!
[Music] Hüsker Dü – Crystal
We beg your pardon for the long delay in posting. Dealing with a long and brutal quarantine both in China and now the Inland Empire has worn your scribe out a bit. Thankfully, the music resumes. Enjoy a brutal piece of work by Hüsker Dü this evening.
[Music] Various Artists – À Découvrir Absolument 48
À Découvrir Absolument is a magazine out of France which covers its country’s best indie music. They have 50 compilations, and #48 was my intro to their label. Worth exploring deeply.
[Music] Red Sails Billow – The Waves Stretch Infinite
If post-rock were created sometime during the 1970s, I could see an album like this getting extended play on my local radio station. Red Sails Billow hails from Bitola, Macedonia, and I have to say that it’s a pretty good example of what’s cooking in the Balkan post-rock scene.
Tristan Eckerson/ Thomas Méreur/ Cedric Vermue / Plinki Plonki/ — Drifting, Almost Falling.
Another quick look back to some releases from 2019 that have been floating around DAF HQ (plus the new one from Tristan Eckerson as well). “Eckerson’s life, musical and otherwise, has been that of a nomad since his teenage years, when he left his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio to pursue his musical career. Since […]
via Tristan Eckerson/ Thomas Méreur/ Cedric Vermue / Plinki Plonki/ — Drifting, Almost Falling.
[Music] Straitjacket Fits – She Speeds
Very sad news today. Andrew Brough, guitarist of one of New Zealand’s coolest indie bands, Straightjacket Fits, passed away today. His guitar work can be heard on She Speeds, perhaps the band’s masterpiece.
Flying Nun Records announced his passing on their Twitter feed.
We’re shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Andrew Brough. Our hearts and thoughts go out to his family, friends and all those who knew him.
We’re so lucky to have been touched by his music and he will be deeply missed.
— Flying Nun Records (@FlyingNun) February 4, 2020
2020 is shaping up to be a brutal year, isn’t it?
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 