Mary Vision make that shimmery, humid, taking-a-break-from-roofing-inside-the-barn kind of psych. It's slow burning and crunchy as it mixes it's blues rock tones with the drawn out proselytizing of the psych jams of yore. The vocals are always a little behind in the mix, with the three guitars really putting in work to keep things sonically wacky.
Bursting out of the Japanese knotweed of intersecting rhythms and notes is the wonderful new track “Against Nature” by Portland band Lubec. They carry that same kind of punk dressed in dream pop vibe you’re used to, but the composition this time around feels more complicated and frustrated, properly mirroring its subject matter.
“Monkey Bowling” is a dense and fun song packed with tons of sounds that mesh to create a charmingly catchy tune. Lyrically, the song is a collection of distended and surreal moments. There's enough pop sensibility here to leave you humming, and just enough lyrically to make you want to piece together the story being told.
This is an EP you can skate to. This is an EP you can bake and get baked to. This EP will ask for your number and then be cool with you if you turn it down, and eventually become a pretty cool friend. Dark Floral is France Camps fourth release overall, and their second on label extraordinaire Forged Artifacts.
Brooklyn punk band THICK are the sonic equivalent of a jubilant rocket hurtling through space, and they want to bring everyone along for the ride. Their energy has always been part of their effortless cool, and the amount of fun they are able to translate from the stage to the recording booth is something all bands aspire to do.
“Naps” is a single from Moon, the follow up to the recent The Sun Shines From Very Far Away. “Naps” begins with echoes of Modest Mouse with its slightly off kilter vocals, banjo and pinging guitar, but veers completely into the nonsensical melody realm of Jack Stauber in the second half of the short song.
This composition is the hero’s journey made audible; conflict and resolution in a delightful two act play; a spirited take on structure that wants to push you away as desperately as it wants your attention. The intro is so jarring I suspect most people will feel bamboozled and unable to continue, but I assure you, you absolutely should.
