Even from a cursory listen, it’s quite obvious that Ants From Up There is a different record than its predecessor. Much of the album was written in the studio, with each of the band’s seven members contributing ideas and democratically building the finished product. That difference in process is evident.
What really makes these songs stand out is the writing. Okusami juxtaposes deeply personal, confessional songwriting against apocalyptic imagery. There’s a crack in the world that everyone falls through, fires that burn everything to the ground, and suns that will never come up again. Amidst all the chaos real life plays out.
The band sounds absolutely massive throughout the album. The instrumentals hit with precision; look no further than the guitar attack of “Processed By The Boys” and “I Am You Now,” or the push and pull of “Modern Business Hymns”. Joe Casey sounds like vintage Nick Cave, delivering fire and brimstone truths over the din.
“Welcome to Bobby’s Motel, the place where all your dreams come true.” Those are the first lyrics we hear on Welcome to Bobby’s Motel, the debut long player from Montreal band Pottery. After hearing the full album, those introductory words seem apt; Pottery proceeds to take the listener on a sonic odyssey, criss crossing genres.
Melenas hail from Pamplona, Spain, a city known more for the running of the bulls than its music scene. After multiple releases on local labels, they have signed with US based label Trouble in Mind to release Dias Raros. If there is any justice, the band has created an album that should put their local scene on the map.
With their new self titled album, Pure X make a roaring comeback. The last missive from the Austin, Texas based band was Angel. Released in 2016, the sound of that album was crisp and clear; with songs drifting by at a languid pace. With their newest album, Pure X keep the tempo the same but let a bit of chaos into their songs.
Nothing about Macula Dog has ever screamed pop. Imagine mutants soundtracking their life in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, and you can approximate the territory Macula Dog covers. Their live shows only add to this image, with elaborate video setups and/or lifesize puppets. Yet, with the new EP Breezy, they seem to be making pop moves.
Nap Eyes have been releasing under the radar masterpieces for the past half a decade. Starting in 2014, they’ve been steadily growing their following in the indie world with each new release. Snapshot of a Beginner, the first album where they’ve worked with guitarist extraordinaire James Elkington, is poised to be their biggest album yet.
On 925, they’ve taken elements of many important UK bands of the recent past and put them in a blender. Despite containing so many styles, the record never sounds like a stale pastiche. By re-contextualizing and sewing these disparate influences together they’ve managed to make a record that both sounds totally original and comfortingly familiar.
Imagine that ESG hung out in the no wave crowd, and it starts to give you an idea of the sound they’ve cultivated. With just bass, drums and keyboard, a Handle track locks into a groove and holds on for dear life. Most songs on In Threes display the band’s pop instincts, but they also never let the listener get too comfortable.
Richard Dawson is a folk troubadour for all times. His last album, Peasant, was a concept album about Medieval England. With his newest album, 2020, he blasts into the future with an exploration of contemporary England. The riffs are heavy, the tone is dark and Dawson proves himself to be an adept observer of our present condition.
