April was an odd month, not just because it was so fucking cold but it seemed like it was going to be a bit of a musical wasteland, but the music gods shined down after all and here is some amazing music for you to check out.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lake Haze
Sun Rising On Concrete Landscapes
It’s not often that an album title perfectly encapsulates the sound but Sun Rising certainly does.
The open track, That Rave saved my Life, sounds like sunrise after a night out. It’s relaxed but just the Goldielocks level of chilled. Not so relaxed that it will disappear into the background but not aggressive enough to harsh whatever buzz you might still be on, while it’s gentle acid squelch feels like head scratches. That’s not to say the whole album is laconic, there are some head nodders in here. She Took me to her Favourite Club, has a relatively faster pace but is a lot darker and strangely ominous. The second half of the album has more energy but will still never threaten a dance floor. Saying that, titles like Neurotoxins Dancing On My Tongue (DnB breaks) and Liquid Serotonin, Emotional Encore, (techno) let you know to expect things will liven up.
It’s a very short album, at 32 minutes, but I guess it’s better to leave you wanting more than dragging the whole thing out and boring you. As it is, it’s a brief but great album.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lume
False Calm
Wrung out, Lume’s last album, was a downbeat album of alt rock / shoegaze. It was one of my albums of that year so I’m very happy to have new material from them.
I’m kind of surprised that this album came out in April though, this is not an album for sunny evenings and bright mornings. This is an album for listening to in rooms with the curtains shut tight, filled with smoke and the smell of whiskey. An air of darkness seethes off this album, the mood seems to be inspired by the atmospheric bits in The End by the Doors. I’m loath to use the Doors comparison because of the 70’s rock cliche it will invoke, that’s not what you get here. This is low key and as far from the Lizard King you can get, but that mood is there nonetheless.
The pace and feel is more Slowcore, there are touchstones with Low and Codeine.
These are delicate songs, fragile things that sound like they might collapse under the strain of the weight of the world, that sometimes,suddenly, are drenched in an amount of distortion that would make a sludge metal band blush. It’s an incredible line to walk but this is a perfectly executed album, all mood and tension and feels like a year without light.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hugo Massien
Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis harks back to the post dubstep sound at the beginning of the last decade. Now that genre tag is a pretty loose one but fits as this album as it covers a lot of ground, while keeping a cohesive sound.
The opening track threw me at first, there was a sound in the mix that I couldn’t put my finger on. It wasn’t fake record noise, it wasn’t radio static, and it was annoying me. Then I worked it out. Tape hiss! This track has fake tape hiss. I know I’m going to sound like an old man here, but tape was rubbish for sound quality, so I find all this fake nostalgia for the format weird.. But it works well with the 2 step beat that the track is built on.
Track 2, God Knows We Tried, is an album stand out, with it’s warm, chilled atmosphere.
If you Dare, is drenched in record crackle and reverb. With the female vocal delivering the kind of melancholy you only find in electronica. It itself reminds me of Moby’s When it’s Cold I Like to Die, which is no bad thing.
It’s impressive just how much ground Metamorphosis covers, clattering breaks, some 2 step, on Outer Space Jam there’s off kilter techno but it keeps the listener engaged and at 70 minutes that’s very welcome.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Broken Suns
The past devours the future
This is probably the first time I’ve had to rewrite a review because I got to hear it on a stereo system instead of my (to be honest, really good) headphones.
You see, if played quietly, this ep starts as post rock and becomes more electronic. And it’s great. It has loads of texture, the production is amazing and it had made this list like that. It’s a good ep.
Play it loudly and it will blow your head off. The first track builds as a post rock track, and then just envelopes you, sounding far bigger, harder even than before. The guitars punch out of the mix and the atmosphere becomes closer to Black Metal than post rock.
The centerpiece, Bend like a reed in the wind, starts with an organ sound straight from a horror film. It’s built on almost industrial rhythms with the percussion sounding huge, and reminds me of Hans Zimmer at his best. I’m also shocked that the use of saxophone is really good, adding a really interesting texture to the music, but kept, thankfully low in the mix. (I am not a sax fan)
Tired Hieroglyph, the third track, is more electronica, with a Factory Floor influence, all filthy synths and with a detached female vocal. It’s quite a departure from the beginning of the ep but doesn’t sound slightly out of place, the band showing an incredible control of their sound.
This is a very impressive first ep and thanks to Adam for the recommendation.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Kareem El Morr
Supersonic EP
This is Kareem’s second ep and has put him on my must watch list. This is really great techno. It’s on the more stripped down side of things, but not minimal. It carries a lot of personality and melody, which is something I always love in my dance music. And, vitally, sounds fantastic in the car. (I may have my elbow out the window but I can see over the steering wheel)
Quake is an obvious banger, Blaze has a faster pace and a lighter touch but Trance with Benefits is the ep highlight, musically, as well as in name. Trance is a snythy banger for some hands in the air dance action and feels great in the sun.
This is an incredible bit of stall setting from a new artist.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SCALPING
Monolithium
Imagine a noise rock band making filthy dance music. And being amazing. That’s what you get here. There are riffs, there is filthy bass and this will shake hips as much as it will melt faces.
This is really impressive stuff from such a young band.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I’m also including another Spotify playlist. This is some chilled beats this time. The title is taking the piss out of an Ian Brown tweet.
The ways of exile 