Eye on New Releases: May 29th, 2012

This week's got releases suitable for all of your upcoming naps and hootenannies!  Read on to see what's happening!

Label: Cosmicleaf Records


Album: Lullaby


Artist: Eguana


Genre: Electronic, Ambient

Eguana returns with a new ambient album, titled Lullaby.  Despite its narcoleptic title and soothing sound, this release is more than just a selection of bedtime tunes.  In actuality, it’s a fleshed out, fully realized, trance record.  Interesting to note in this release is the diversity of theme from one track to the next.  “Lullaby for my daughter” calls to mind a futuristic hotel lobby, while “Journey to the purple smoke” paints a visual image of a pilgrimage across dusty sand dunes.  Indeed, the tone of the album phases back and forth from a sharp electronic sound to a softer, vocal equipped sound with droning didgeridoo-esque synths and ceramic drums.  For sleepless fans of ambient electronica with a hint of world music, Lullaby might be just what the doctor ordered.

Label: Q Division


Album: Q Dee Rock and Soul #10


Artist: Tim Gearan


Genre: Rock, Soul

Tim Gearan, a singer and guitar player who has performed with Grammy-nominated blues artist Susan Tedeschi, and toured internationally with Toni Lynn Washington, has released a two track 7” of his own that’s sure to get your mojo working.  For those familiar with the work of JJ Cale, John Hiatt, Randy Newman, and Nick Lowe, Tim Gearan’s smoky voice and funky groove will feel right at home.   “Get a Gun,” the first track, burns with a sort of laid-back charisma that is so indicative of tracks cut by seasoned performers.  “Enough” is a love letter to classic Americana, using elements of blues, soul, and funk in its theme and composition.  Because of his charm and infectious energy, Tim Gearan’s latest release is a viable option for long-time rock and soul listeners and newcomers alike.

Eye On New Releases: April 10th, 2012

A Grammy-nominated artist, punk legends, and indie rock band that pushes the boundaries? Yes, please!

Label: Palmetto
Album: Girl Talk
Artist: Kate McGarry
Genre: Jazz, Vocal

More concerned with the essence of a song than idiomatic limitations, Palmetto Records' vocalist and Grammy nominated Kate McGarry has managed to attract the attention of tomorrow's jazz fans.  Beyond her obvious affinity for swing, an eclectic repertoire ranging from Irving Berlin to The Cars and her signature contralto convey a message with a a crystal clarity that precludes the need for gimmick or effect.  All that's left is undeniably honest music that transcends the boundaries of age or genre.  With five recordings including Grammy-nominated If Less Is More...Nothing Is Everything, she's established herself as one of contemporary jazz's most moving and enigmatic voices.

Label: Jackpot Records
Album: Idle Threat
Artist: The Skabbs
Genre: Punk, Rock

Jackpot Records is proud to present Idle Threat, a collection of never before issued recordings from 1977-78 Lawndale, California punks, The Skabbs. In tandem with the birth of punk, these music obsessed nerds, became disenchanted with the increasingly plastic tendencies of modern music. The Skabbs concocted some truly outsider sounds, melding jagged Devo-esque rhythms with lightning-fast technical touches that predicted the Minutemen by a few years. Sadly, the band was cut short in 1979 when songwriter and frontman, Steven Joseph Salazar died at just 26 years old from a life-long heart condition. In their grief, The Skabbs choose to disband burying Salazar’s legacy of songs with their sorrow.  In retrospect, The Skabbs steadily became a scene unto themselves, making a proto-punk sound guided by a mission to simply make music that sounded less gross than Foreigner. With the exception of being recorded by SST producing genius Spot, The Skabbs were considered too weird for the art crowd and just terrified the hippies.

Label: sonaBLAST! Records
Album: Salt
Artist: Hoots & Hellmouth
Genre: Indie Rock, Americana

Hoots & Hellmouth are a busy bunch. Road warriors to the bitter end, they’ve somehow found time to enter the studio twice in the last year to produce two records showcasing their forward-thinking roots/soul music. Their latest offering, the full-length Salt, was recorded in their hometown of Philadelphia with friend/engineer Jon Low (Dr. Dog, Sharon Van Etten, Twin Sister). The result speaks volumes to the evolution of a band committed to pushing their boundaries and exploring new sonic horizons.  Salt builds on the fresh ground broken on their previously released EP, Face First In The Dirt, continuing down a path of explosive creativity. “Why Would You Not Want To Go There?” kicks things off with a building intensity reflective of their passionate live performances, but tempered with well-placed flourishes of piano and electric guitar. H&H’s trademark soul vibe is thick on “Lay Low,” incorporating the stomp groove and call-and-response vocals familiar to established fans of the band. By the time the listener reaches the middle of the record, the dynamic and deep “Apple Like A Wrecking Ball” and “The Ache” drive home the point that these guys are not content to rest on their laurels. To round it all out, album closer “Being Borned Again” continues their tradition of massive group sing-alongs so vibrant the listener already feels the chills of the anticipated live rendition.  Lyrically, Sean Hoots has always endeavored to keep a keen eye on the craft of songwriting, and Salt showcases the artist on top of his game. These new songs reveal a greater depth of vulnerability and personalization unheard on previous H&H offerings. This is the sound of a writer digging deep, planting seeds and harvesting a bumper crop of thought-provoking, soul-scraping tunes.

Eye On New Releases: March 27th, 2012

Doing some spring cleaning to your music collection? Replace it with some fresh new music like these!


Label: Silent Parade Records
Album: Bell Choir Coast
Artist: Sydney Wayser
Genre: Indie Pop

The road to Bell Choir Coast started two years ago, when Sydney Wayser found herself in a gorgeous studio with a talented producer, in the midst of a New York winter that made the LA-bred Wayser miserable. “I was working on a record for a while and it wasn't clicking. I felt I needed to take a minute for myself and create the concept behind the record.” Drawing on all of her influences, from summers the French-American Wayser spent in Paris to her favorite artists, Wayser began to give her new territory shape. “Bell Choir Coast is about a fictional land that I made up, because I couldn't leave New York and I had to make my record. So I made up a new world in my head that was everything I wanted.”  Sydney Wayser set about to make an album, and in the end she cleared a path to a world, and found her tribe and her sound in the process. Sometimes the prettiest of things are born of the hardest places. “When we started this I felt very heavy. Going into the studio and recording something that was light and fun and was the place I wanted, it helped solidify in my head what I wanted. At the end of the process, that enabled me to be where I wanted.”

Label: FiXT / Celldweller
Album: Live Upon A Blackstar
Artist: Celldweller
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Dubstep

While hard at work on his upcoming sophomore album Wish Upon A Blackstar, Celldweller mastermind Klayton took to the road on his first tour in five years. Now you can share the experience with Live Upon A Blackstar, the new live tour album that features audio recorded at shows in the US, Russia, Canada, and Japan. Live Upon A Blackstar is the definitive document of the 2010/2011 tour, capturing a unique era of the live Celldweller show, which will expand and mutate into new experiences as time goes by. Live Upon A Blackstar features twelve songs from Wish Upon A Blackstar, Soundtrack for the Voices in My Head, and the self-titled debut, all revamped, remixed, and mashed up for an exclusive live experience. Includes an exclusive live recording of “I Believe You”.

Label: Zealrecords
Album: stoalin'
Artist: isbells
Genre: Indie Rock, Folk

Isbells, at least in the studio, is Vandewoude’s one man band and their first, self-titled record, which was released in 2009, caught everyone by surprise.  On Stoalin, Isbells’ second collection of songs, Vandewoude has managed to expand his musical horizons, without letting go of the ingredients that made his previous effort such a magical listening experience. Once more the album offers organic, introspective and somewhat wistful folk rock, built on catchy tunes and embellished with lush vocal harmonies. Like its predecessor it was recorded in the singer’s own studio, set up in a shed next to his house in the countryside. Most of the tracks are coloured with light touches of banjo, organ, trumpet, various types of percussion and gorgeous backing vocals by Chantal Acda (sleepingdog, True Bypass).

Label: Enpeg Digital
Album: Paranoid Nostalgia
Artist: enabl.ed
Genre: Electronic

Paranoid Nostalgia marks the return of Enabl.ed to Enpeg. This 6-track EP embodies everything that makes Enabl.ed such a talented artist to watch/listen for. Glitched beats? Check. Classic IDM melodies? Check. A feeling of nostalgia drenched in a futuristic perspective? Check. Memories heavily influenced by anxiety and fear sonified to surgical rhythms fused together by heartfelt melodic lines and computer deep textures.  Paranoid Nostalgia embodies every element that makes a classic IDM album a classic. Superb production, for sure, but most importantly a sense of humanity within a futuristic digital structure. Beautiful wonderful music.

Eye On New Releases: March 13th, 2012

While many of us are busy at SXSW, the rest of us have time to enjoy the sweet sweet sounds of this week's new releases.

Label: FiXT / Celldweller
Album: Soundtrack For The Voices In My Head Vol. 02 (Chapter 02)
Artist: Celldweller
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Dubstep

The second chapter of Soundtrack for the Voices in my Head Volume 2 expands the scope of Celldweller's instrumental oeuvre with new twists on an established sound. While Volume 01 and the first chapter of Volume 02 exhibited plenty of what we know and love from Celldweller - metal riffs, drum'n'bass beats, flourishes of orchestral scoring, and intricate electronics - this new collection exhibits dubstep-inspired bassplay, Latin-spiced electro, and experimental ambient noise. Cuts like "ShutEmDown" and "Empyrean" will blast apart your speakers with sounds you'd swear came from the voice-box of a cybernetic machine from another world. The snappy flamenco guitar lick that starts off "Senorita Bonita" morphs into a fiery electro dance tune with Moohmbaton overtones, while "Chronus" drifts through a primordial ooze of drones and experimental noise. Also included are an alternate version of "ShutEmDown" and "Distants", an ambient piece originally available only on the limited edition CD of SVH Vol. 02 Chapter 1.

Label: ATIC Records
Album: The Daddy Remix
Artist: Niko
Genre: Hip Hop, Jazz, Electronic

Niko is the operating name of US born Nicole Vergel de Dios, who brings her musical narration through pop, electronica, electro-acoustic and experimental composition. The Daddy Remix is the first single from her second album Hate & Love which is due for release on ATIC Records later this year. Produced by Andy Turner (Aim), The Daddy Remix, is a jazz-fuelled, golden-era flavoured hip-hop banger that sees Niko, singing the praises of bad-ass DJ’s everywhere. Joining her on the track are Q-Ball and Curt Cazal (QNC) who bless the beat with their authentic, gutsy approach to flow mechanics.  The Daddy Remix evolved from "The Daddy" which appeared on Gripper's A Life Of Consummate Ease album back in 2006. Feeling that the vocals’ full potential hadn't been realized, Aim and Gripper set about re-building the track from the ground up with scratchy samples from dusty old jazz LP's. Aim took it to the lab to mix and produce, Niko re-recorded the vocals and added fresh harmonies, QNC did their funky thing and the result speaks for itself.

Label: More or Less
Album: Brahaus
Artist: Techno Bro
Genre: Electronic, Techno

Techno Bro is an amalgamation of Detroit suburb collar popping meets Baltimore warehouse hipster heckling. Armed with a Wilson Elite tennis racket, coveted stock picks and moist towelettes, his track production will beat the Lipper average this year. Brahaus is music to Arnold Palmer. It is Detroit suburbs meets  ashington D.C. suburbs. I-696 meets I-270. Oakland Hills Country Club versus Congressional Country Club. "Forlorn" hints at the plush landscapes of high priced foyers and wraparound verandas. "Wicked Slic"e - staccato percussion and first time vocal stylings by long time studio lurker Wife of Bro. "Duck Hook" is serious business. Appregiated basslines, intricate drum patterns and a wonky breakdown give you an eerie feeling like you were left out of your Great Uncle’s will. "Agent of Bro" screams of de-tuned melodic elements which wash over you like that refreshing eau de toilette. Brahaus also includes stellar remixes from Jeremy Blake, Christian Bloch (Thinner, SubTrak, Funque Recordings), and Joe Lentini (Schematic).

Label: Electronic Soundscapes
Album: Giza Giza
Artist: Spiritjack
Genre: Electronic/Experimental

Based in Tokyo, Spiritjack is an established act in the global downtempo electronica scene, releasing music for more than a decade on many record labels worldwide and counting 4 full album releases. Giza Giza is the 5th Spiritjack album release and the album with the most thought out Spiritjack style and production level up to date.  From Tropical Stylish Dub to Beat-Fueled Tech tunes Giza Giza spans over a wide range of cinematic electronica meeting the highest production standards. A sweet cinematic ride through smooth atmospheric soundscapes and tasty downtempo beatscapes introducing a Downtempo Techno Dub hybrid. Giza Giza takes off with the cinematic downtempo “Orcca”, introducing the latest Spiritjack sonic landmark towards the more dominant Dub Techno style of the album, which drops off with “Malana”. The simplicity and minimalism of Dub blends with organic Techno and tropical ambient, riding fat bass lines and refreshing atmospherics on an upwards downtempo journey all the way to dissolving Dub heavy beats for an ideal Giza Giza ending. Suggesting a bass friendly style crossing dub influenced sub lines and techno oriented electronics, Spiritjack offers a unique soundtrack for urban meditation or a hectic downtown ride where technology amalgamates with organic electronica and gravitational effects pan out to a unique ambient dub techno hybrid that pushes the music genres envelope even further.

Eye On New Releases: February 21st, 2012

Today's offerings include veterans of their fields. Disappears continues to do what they do best: rock out. Dirty Disco Youth & Fukkk Offf start the end-of-the-world party 8 months before the supposed apocalypse. And for those of us wondering where winter is (it has rained only four times here in San Francisco since the new year began) bios+a+ic & Tanker reminds us that the cold does exist... somewhere in the world.

Label: kranky
Album: Pre Language
Artist: Disappears
Genre: Rock

Right on cue, the third annual report from Chicagoʼs Disappears has been submitted for your consideration. Following up on the acclaimed Guider album released just over a year ago, and with new drummer Steve Shelley now fully integrated into the group, these songs were again forged into proper shape during live shows before heading to the studio and the tape machine. Never ones to dither or be indecisive, itʼs a full-bore assault from the opening track to the last as Disappears attack these new songs with their usual relentless determination. Itʼs a sinister proceeding - debut Lux was preoccupied with death and endings while follow up Guider with protection - but Pre Language finds the band speaking on, of all things, love. Direct allusions to Philip K. Dick, James Baldwin, and Joan of Arc sit side by side with songs about the lows of life and the characters that permeate it. Recorded in Hoboken New Jersey at Sonic Youthʼs Echo Canyon West studio and mixed with John Congleton, Pre Language finds Disappears at their most potent and focused. The band has finally stepped into their own world and the results are thrilling.

Label: Coco Machete Records
Album: Nuclear War Disaster EP
Artist: Dirty Disco Youth & Fukkk Offf
Genre: Electro House

Fukkk Offf's Bastian Heerhorst and Dirty Disco Youth's Phil Speiser team up to drop a bomb on Coco Machete Records and the world at large. With two equally devastating tracks the Nuclear War Disaster EP delivers on its promise of total devastation. Both tracks attack, drive, squelch and pound in ways only these two artists can only to be released by an overture worthy enough to ride with the Valkyries. I think it's time to head to the shelter!

Label: symbolic insight
Album: froZen
Artist: bios+a+ic + Tanker
Genre: Electronic/Experimental

froZen by bios+a+ic + Tanker was originally released by symbolic insight on March 9, 2007 in conjunction with Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland, Colorado, as a limited edition of 100 units, which quickly sold out. This epic album sonically documents one of the coldest winters in decades and reflects upon the strange annual festival which exploits a frozen old man. The music is edgy ambient noise and drones combined with field recordings of the artists walking upon the local frozen river and reservoir. It features bios+a+ic's lush effects-laden trumpet, time stretched looping, and minimal sound textures. These elements are combined with Tanker's warping analog synthesizer, pulsing rhythms, and glitched blips. Musician Vince Herman of the legendary bluegrass band, Leftover Salmon, states that this was the trippiest CDs he had ever heard. froZen is a powerful and unique musical statement which takes the listener to a strange and beautiful world which could exist in either outer space or inner Earth. This release was the final musical statement made by mountain man and artist, Tanker, as he left his world the following summer. The album ends with his voice speaking over his synth, may he rest in peace.

Eye on New Releases: January 31st, 2012

If you're audiophiles like us, you know it's that time of the week again: time to treat yo'self!

Label: Tonequake
Album: En Garde!
Artist: Favez
Genre: Alternative

En Garde! started with an email. Producer Andrew Scheps had been a fan of Swiss band Favez for a while, so when the opportunity to work together arose both Andrew and Favez jumped at the chance. A chilly January visit to the band's rehearsal space in Switzerland quickly turned into a deep and creative working relationship. For recording, Favez and Andrew met halfway (well, almost) between their homelands of Lausanne and Los Angeles at Monnow Valley Studio in Wales. They spent an intense 2 weeks recording live, capturing as much of the raw power of the band as they could. 12 days and 12 songs later, En Garde! had taken form.

Label: AudioInk
Album: Out Of My Hands
Artist: Cam Hodges
Genre: Rock

Cam Hodges comes fresh out of the Seattle music scene with his first album release after a successful climb up the ranks of "America’s Got Talent" to the #24 spot. With hundreds of thousands of YouTube fans, Cam's new release Out of My Hands has built-in organic demand. His pop/rock style includes basic rock structures with a subtle use of vocal harmony. The music is mixed acoustic and electric instrumentation with guitar, bass, drums, vocal back-ups, strings and brass. His laid-back style is reminiscent of Jason Mraz and an edgier Jack Johnson.

Label: Greenskeepers Music
Album: La Vendetta
Artist: Casino
Genre: Electronic

The two (sometimes well dressed) guys of Casino are about to deal a flush round of cards with their debut EP La Vendetta. A five track body of work that cruises on a brand new speed boat passed the lost paradise islands of: Isla Balearica, Isla Italo-Housia, Isla Bonita and La Isla Synth-Popia. Why such a vengeful title for a debut EP you may ask? No they are not aggressive super agents (even though they sometimes pretend to be), but the single "La Vendetta" is a soundtrack and script to a story of love, passion and indifference. The extremely catchy chorus is guaranteed to be one that you find yourself humming days later.  Other notable tracks include "White Water" - immediately the chord swell may remind you of a Frankie Goes To Hollywood vibe, but it soon swells into a dreamy white wash of the ideal analog Synthtopia. "Echoes" - think 2012 tropical balearic synth pop written for Madonna if she was still a virgin. "Dreams & Dragons" - a summer sing-a-long that is the perfect companion for driving down the highway on a hot summer night with the cabriolet roof jacked back 180 degrees. "Flight To Nowhere" - a piano and arpeggiator driven Italo-disco-ish’ inspired club fire cracker, which manoeuvres late into the night with its roller coaster build ups and synth melodies.

Eye on New Releases: January 10th, 2012

Happy 2012!  What better way to start the new year than with new music? Today we bring you releases from some of the finest dubstep artists. Seems like dubstep will be the trend this year...at least, we hope!

Label: FiXT / Celldweller
Album: The Complete Cellout
Artist: Celldweller
Genre: Dubstep, Electronic Rock


Watch out Skrillex, the dubstep scene is about to be taken over Celldweller's hybrid fusion of aggressive electronic, orchestra and rock.  Celldweller is excited to finally releaseThe Complete Cellout Vol. 01, noting that most of the tracks that aren't remixes from other artists are versions of completely reworked from the ground up for the Celldweller 2010/2011 Live Show. Although he has put a lot of time into the remixing and reproduction, Celldweller also credits Drivepilot, Bare, Blue Stahli, J Scott G, Joman, Josh Money & Toksin for helping to turn the release from being "pretty good" to being "totally badass". Known for pioneering new sounds and methods for creating his tracks, Celldweller continues to generate bangin' music that one can shake her booty to, clearly evident in The Complete Cellout Vol. 01. 


Label: Vermin Street
Album: Vanquish
Artist: Bobby Tank
Genre: Dubstep, Electronic


London's Bobby Tank is a flag-bearing 80's icon, a mad astrophysicist, and a hip hop kid from the future freshly fallen through a wormhole to our present day and age.  He's recently dropped tunes on the Aisuru Compilation and the Finest Ego & Project Mooncircle Compilation. He has a forthcoming release on Prime Dubs and now this, his debut EP, Vanquish. The Bobby Tank sound is one of nostalgic synths repurposed for the present, complimenting soulful, blenderized cut-ups reminiscent of days to come.  Delicately woven leads and atmospheres trickle down from the skies, tickling the ears with tantalizingly tasteful treble, while thick pulsing bass will shake that ass like a coked-up stripper at a Miami club circa 1983. This release comes replete with a gamut of remixes of the title track: 813's dope Dubstep lick; Kid Kanevil's seductively slow 808 mix; Jon Phonics' smooth space funk refix and Darkhouse Fam's fresh wonk-hop version.

Label: Yerba Buena Discos
Album:  Then You Smiled
Artist: Homero Espinosa feat. Allegra Bandy
Genre: Soul, House, Deep House


Yerba Buena Discos is happy to bring you the latest collaboration between Homero Espinosa and Allegra Bandy. Then You Smiled pairs up Homero’s deep, skipping instrumentation with Allegra’s buttery vocals. On the remixes, San Francisco’s legendary David Harness and Chris Lum team up for the Harlum Muziq remix, entrenching Allegra’s singing in their trademark soulful production. YBD’s own Allen Craig displays his international influences with a deep but drum-friendly Afrotech-style remix, while Chillin Music’s Rob Slac gives us a hypnotic, bass-heavy, dubbed-out remix. Of course, the release wouldn’t be complete without a dancefloor-friendly dub from Homero Espinosa himself.

Eye On New Releases: November 29th

 

Label: sonaBlast! Records

Release: Fire Escape Promise

Artist: Peter Searcy

Genre: Indie, Rock, Pop

sonaBlast! Records introduces Fire Escape Promise from singer/songwriter Peter Searcy, a former bandmate of Squirrel Ball in the 1980s, Big Wheel in 1989, and Starbilly after which he began performing solo. He has shared stages with a wide range of artist including Bob Dylan, Dido, and John Hiatt. Based on his influences as a teenager, he was “gravitated towards the more melodic, aggressive music at the time.” Fire Escape Promise has songs that are euphonious and authentic to hear. With influences like the Husker Du and The Replacements, his music incorporates their styles with his own.

Label: F5 Records

Release: The Sweetest Revenge

Artist: Black Spade

Genre: Soul, Hip Hop

St. Louis producer-rapper Black Spade releases his new album The Sweetest Revenge, a collaboration between him and DJ Crucial, co-owner of F5 Records. The Sweetest Revenge is a two-record release that includes a regular album and an EP that presents soulful vocals liquefied with rhythmic and affluent hip hop beats. Spade’s taste in music from Radiohead, Prince, J. Dilla, Bloc Party and others demonstrate that his rapping style can stay relaxed like Common and fluctuate like Pharoahe Monch.

Eye on New Releases: October 11th

Whether you're carving pumpkins, picking out that perfect halloween costume, or booking those holiday plans, two of this week's releases will stir your creative juices, err, egg nog, into results!

Label: Cosmicleaf Records

Release: Phial Of Love

Artist: Eguana

Genre: Downtempo, Ambient

Careening through space on a shimmering cloud built from ambient dreams births the latest release from Eguana, Phial Of Love. Cinematic sonic environments detailed with wispy and organic synthesizers, nimble vocals, and a warm, welcoming low end, elevate listeners into an intimate involvement within their own senses. The album’s second track, “Last Dream Of A Galaxy Warrior,” pulls the imagination into a cathartic canvas filled with dreamy, and euphoric landscapes, gracefully rising and falling from static passages. “Spaceship War,” the album’s final track, is the most up-tempo of the three, inviting the body’s imagination to embrace the danceable conflict of the song’s climax. The album’s symbolic title represents Eguana’s offering to the masses, a freedom to let your spirit radiate in all its hypnotic capacity.

Label: Q Division Records

Release: Q Dee Rock and Soul #3: Muck and the Mires

Artist: Muck and the Mires

Genre: Rock

 The Q Dee Rock and Soul 7” Series is back in all its bouncy, garage-punk-surf glory, carrying a timeless rock-and-roll attitude with their latest release, Muck and the Mires. The 7” Series pays homage to rock-and-roll history, times when record labels were synonymous with the studios they were built around. Both songs from the release are filled to the brim with the whimsical and restless energy found on British Invasion records. Fans of the Ramones, Sonics and Beatles take note: “Muck and the Mires” will have listeners reminiscing about freewheeling summer nights, nights where exciting young romance flourishes.

Eye on New Releases: September 27th

Fall has arrived, and the music is getting hauntingly chilly---just in time for our favorite holiday of the year.

Label: n5MD

Album: Delirium Portraits

Artist: Tobias Lilja

Genre: Electronic

Delirium Portraits is Tobias Lilja’s third official release, and second offering on Oakland, CA’s electronic DIY label, n5MD.  Tobias Lilja, whose hometown is Malmö, Sweden, started a livelihood of music production during his teenage years, a fact that is represented within the richly cultured orchestrations on Delirium Portraits.  The album flows evenly between dreamy magnetic techno numbers, and interludes of emotive experimental piano balladry.  Comparative to his 2007 release Time Is On My Side, Lilja has expanded his ambient musical palette to incorporate more orchestrated beats and vocal textures; a twist that gives the album more cinematic appeal.  The atmospheric treatment of the vocals adds a haunting serenity to the mysterious electronic landscapes traversed on Delirium Portraits. For house and techno enthusiasts alike, infectious dance numbers like “North,” “Our Noise,” and “No Death Star” will have your body bouncing to the groovy consciousness of Delirium Portraits.  

Label: Jackpot Records

Album: Grok

Artist: Crock

Genre: Rock

If you’ve ever wondered what the genre "spaced-out doom rock" embodies, look no further than the debut album collaboration between Quasi’s Sam Coomes and Hella’s Spencer Seim, Grok.  This duo settled on the moniker “Crock,” which aptly represents the sonic cauldron in which they pummel listeners with their mechanical and frenetic art rock.  The swaggering and manic doom rock infrastructure found on tracks like “No More Dumb Fun,” “Eat Your Hat Out,” and “Kasneezerblatz” will appeal to fans of Lightning Bolt, King Crimson, and Black Sabbath alike.  Grok, in all its’ groove-sputtering and funky-spasm glory, embody what the soundtrack is like inside a haunted pinball machine.    

Eye on New Releases: August 16th

Well this week we've got two rockin' all-male bands and a few ladies out to prove they can rock even harder! Who's it gonna be?

Label: Cozy Music
Album: The Italian Nightmare
Artist: makeupbreakup
Genre: Indie Rock, Pop, Electronic

What's summer without a little mellow punk to associate all those vacation memories with? Well no worries. It's here just in time to wrap up the sunny, or not-so-sunny in San Francisco, season. And it's got the feel of '80s punk mixed with psychedelic indie which sounds just as ridiculously good as you'd imagine. Although the album is titled The Italian Nightmare, it doesn't sound very Italian... or much like a nightmare. It actually sounds more like a dream of sand and surf where you have MGMT playing in one ear and Duran Duran playing in the other.

This is the sophomore LP of Makeupbreakup, hailing to us from the tiny state of Rhode Island. The album, however, is sure to have a big impact on the end of summer. Don't miss it!

Label: Q Division
Album: Zero/Don't Make Me Wait
Artist: Sea Monsters
Genre: Rock, R&B

Get ready to rock out with this Dave Matthews meets Zac Brown Band eight-person ensemble. Known around Boston for their audience-inclusive, anything-goes live performances, the Sea Monsters bring the same passion and high-energy to the recording studio with the release of singles "Zero" and "Don't Make Me Wait." Both songs are as full and funky as you'd expect and oozing with soul and rock n' roll. "Come on please, please tell the truth despite the devil inside you," sings Jesse Dee with deep, bluesy emotion on "Don't Make Me Wait." Even the lyrics are telling of the southern rock influences that are obvious upon listen.

Sea Monsters originally started out as a forum for fellow musicians to help develop each others' previous works, but their chemistry on stage made them an instant live-performing success. And alas the on-stage magic has been documented for our convenient listening pleasure.



Label: Anchor Brain
Album: Menarchy
Artist: Whore Paint
Genre: Experimental, Punk, Rock

Whore Paint's Menarchy can be otherwise summed up as a 2011 feminist manifesto. The combination of the words "men" and "anarchy," merged to form the album's title explains a lot about the album's content. It seems the three women of Whore Paint documented their audio musical conspiring of an uprising against a still patriarchal society and listeners have the benefit of eavesdropping. All their anger toward female oppression wells up into banging electric guitar riffs, the most racket you've ever heard on the drums and merciless vocal screams. They definitely succeed in making their voices heard because these girls are as loud as they come. Thus proving also that they can rock just as hard as the boys can.