Hello and welcome to FTA’s list of what we are excited for this Bandcamp Friday, aka every music nerds favorite day! A few of us weighed in on what we’ve been into lately and we’ve got a nice selection goodies we think you should check out. This Bandcamp Friday is in honor of Juneteenth and will mark the 3rd year that the company will be donating 100% of their share from downloads to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (read Bandcamp’s full statement). BC Friday will skip August before returning September 2nd, and following through on the first Friday of each month until the end of the year.
Tell us what you dug and what you downloaded in the comments.
Kate Hoos- Editor In Chief
BLKVAPOR– Vaporising. There’s a lot to BLKVAPOR’S sound—emo, punk, noise—and it all coalesces into something that is uniquely them. This Baltimore based outfit also puts on an explosive and enthralling live performance and are without a doubt a band you need to be keeping your eyes and ears on.
Keefchamber– DIMO. I saw this two piece sludgey doom metal band last summer at a house show in NJ and they shook the fucking walls from start to finish. There may only be two of them, and no guitars in the band, but their sound is gigantic, a slow and demanding dirge that relies solidly on droning, heavily distorted bass lines. They also make no bones about their love of green, with many of their song titles and artwork referencing the bud. At least a few times a month ever since that show I’ve wondered aloud “when will I get to see this band again?!” and would very much like to change my drought in having seen them again this summer. They have scant few releases online but I’m also hoping that changes soon too.
Sons Of Kemet– Lest We Forget What We Came Here To Do. This formidable UK jazz group recently announced that they be “closing this chapter of the band’s existence for the foreseeable future” after they wrap up their 2022 touring commitments (likely because all four members of the group are busy with many other collaborations and solo work). While this is disappointing for sure, I am glad the members are continuing with a variety of other things and am especially glad I got a chance to see them a few months ago at Webster Hall for a spectacular night of expressive and contemplative jazz fusion. They leave behind a legacy of four exceptional albums, including this, their 2015 opus. They will play their final NYC show on 7/31 at Central Park Summer Stage.
###– Nasilno. I very recently discovered this Croatian instrumental post hardcore/noise/atmospheric rock band via a music group on Facebook. While it’s not good for much these days, Facebook does manage to come through in this department and I do enjoy the few groups I’m in on there to discover old and new things alike, this one being a big standout for me. I’ve long loved instrumental music and getting lost in the different textures and sounds in a way that I can’t find myself doing with music that contains vocals and lyrics. This is on the fast track to becoming one of my favorite releases of 2022. And if you were wondering how to say this bands name, apparently it is “pronounced” by hitting a random object three times.
Kevin McGann- Contributing Photographer
Failure– Wild Type Droid. This alt rock cult favorite from the 90’s is back on tour to support their latest full length album and will be playing Warsaw on Friday 6/24.
Fortezza– Windmill. Some post-punk garage rock courtesy of North Carolina and currently on tour.
GOAT– Requiem. Swedish experimental psych rock at its finest – GOAT’s last full length release.
Kapput– Carnage Hall. Glasgow 6-piece that combines post-punk percussive beats with keys, sax and swagger and have been touring with Squid.
Mike Borchardt- Live Correspondent
Bartees Strange– Wretched. Bartees Strange has received no shortage of accolades from the biggest press publications and successes on the biggest stages these past two years, and that’s simply due to the fact that he remains so damn authentic. “Wretched,” the latest single off his brand new record Farm to Table is just that. Bartees has always surrounded himself with people who keep him honest, and he reflects that right back to his audience with rich sounds and warm textures that are unassuming and just connect on every fiber of the human experience. It’s nerdy. It’s real. And it’s strange.
Ganser– People Watching. My earworm love affair with Ganser started a few years ago. As a fellow Chicagoan, I am partial to Chicago bands, especially when they are awesome. Their new single “People Watching” is dark and driving seemingly effortless and ambivalent in its catchiness. The angular movements poke and prod in all the right places. They’re the kind of band that makes you want to buy a t-shirt and continue to wear it long past laundry day.
War Violet– Get Away. From the imagination of Jummy Aremu, War Violet has evolved over a handful of years, functioning almost as a fly-over of the beauty and truth in musical experience. Compressing both time and reality, what once started as an almost 1960s Nico-esque folk solo project has expanded its sound to include a collective of orchestral textures on their upcoming record.
Supercrush– Melody Maker. Supercrush puts out catchy power pop in the 90’s indie mold similar to bands like The Lemonheads, GBV, Teenage Fanclub and Superchunk. Closer to home, and more recently, they also remind me a lot of Brooklyn’s Dead Stars (anyone know if they’re still around?).
Anyways, Supercrush put out one of my favorite albums of 2020 with SODO Pop, and a couple of weeks ago they dropped Melody Maker, an EP which strictly speaking, simply does not disappoint. The band has a knack for hook infused catchy power pop and they do a fantastic job at sticking to the known formula that clearly works. Check them out.
Viper Club, the modern alt-rock outfit from Phoenix, AZ have released a video for their infectious new single “Come Thru” and we have your first look. The song will be on their upcoming release Club Mix, and has a gritty, sexy cool glam feel throughout, reminiscent of the 80s LA rock scene and more contemporary acts like Royal Blood.
The band had this to say about the song via a press release “At its core, it’s simply about connecting with someone and hooking up” The video was shot in Chandler, AZ, relying heavily on the visual aesthetic and performance shots instead of being more narrative, and was shot on film by Cory Davis of Yellowbox Films, a frequent collaborator with the band. Lead singer Jackson Vanderpol elaborated on this saying, “The raw, grainy aesthetic fit the vibe of the song perfectly and really ushered in the new era of Viper Club visually.”
Stay tuned for their record Club Mix which will be released later this year. You can keep up with all of the bands happenings on their Instagram page.
Hot on the heels of their EP release When the Compass Resets… last August (which we covered here,) Brooklyn’s Atlas Engine are back with the follow up, …There Can Be No Regrets, out May 18th on Favorite Friend Records and we have your first listen here. As the titles belie, although these are two separate EPs, they are really two halves of a whole. There is more than one reason behind this decision, as singer, guitarist and songwriter Nick LaFalce notes: “…we’re living in a singles world, so the compromise was releasing it in digestible chunks for newer fans, while still creating something album-lovers can enjoy, too. Another part was, going through this Lyme treatment can really knock me out from time to time, so working on the record in chunks has allowed us to at least start releasing everything sooner as well.”
LaFlace has taken the opportunity in these EPs to deal with topics like his chronic illness, as well as relationships both with each other and the world at large. While …There Can Be No Regrets contains half the tracks as the first part, it is no less ambitious. Featuring bass by Pat Cochrane, drums by Brendan McGuckin, and additional vocals by Meredith Lampe and Caroline Yoder, Altas Engine continues to put out strong, spacey, driving yet delicately composed rock.
As with the first EP, I’m a big fan of the production. Nothing is too muddy or faded into the background; the vocals are clear without taking over, and all the instruments work well together. The first track, “No Shadow,” has a joyous feel, propelled by drums and carried along by a very catchy guitar riff. As LaFalce sings “run from this town… leave your shadow” Lampe’s vocals act as a strengthening echo. The searching, hasty vibe makes the song sound shorter than the 2 1/2 minute runtime, and pushes easily into “Simple Animal.” With lines like “let’s not argue, it’s not like you,” the song is an exploration of how small arguments reveal larger problems in a relationship. Quieter breaks between the soaring choruses provide a back and forth counterpoint, just like a disagreement.
Where “Simple Animal” deals with the pulling apart of a relationship, “Secrets” explores the delicate beginnings of a new one. “Tell me all your secrets, maybe I’ll keep them…” There is truly lovely guitar work swirling around in this song, reminiscent of bands like Felt. The verses here find Atlas Engine veering into jangle pop, and they do it quite well.
Both EPs will be released in July as a full length LP, including three new tracks, the culmination of Atlas Engine’s hard work. In the meantime, you can find …There Can Be No Regrets on Bandcamp and Spotify. Catch Atlas Engine live at The Knitting Factory on 5/21 with Maybird and Gooseberry.
Hello and welcome to FTA’s list of what we are excited for this Bandcamp Friday, aka every music nerds favorite day! A bunch of us weighed in on what we’ve been into lately and we’ve got lots of goodies old and new (check out our picks from April). But don’t take our word for it, dive into these tracks/albums and judge for yourself. Feel free to let us know what you think and tell us your suggestions.
Kate Hoos- Editor In Chief
Gloin– I saw this Canadian band open for Snapped Ankles and few months back (see pics here) which was my introduction to their dark, noisey, synthy ways. I loved their live set and have been exploring their recorded catalog since while I anxiously await their return to NYC.
Rat Chasm– Baby. This is a live recording that is a little rough but that’s no matter because it showcases the strength this band has and I’ve been loving this raw slice of chaos from these Chicago noise punks.
Regret– S/T. D-beat hardcore from Hong Kong, this EP is tough as nails. Complete with warp speed tempos, chugging breakdowns, and duel vocals. This is the band’s debut release, it packs a strong, political punch and I’m ready for more.
Beeyotch– Right Behind You. This albumi s like the party at Debbie Harry’s Lower East Side apartment you wish you got invited to in 1979. Equal parts New Wave and Art Punk with a touch of Nico whimsy, this record somehow feels both extremely NYC retro and Brooklyn current at the same time. But it also feels like 10 years ago. And it’s probably what I’m listening to right now and 5 years from now. It’s timeless, Beeyotch.
Frida Kill– EP 1. I know this EP and this band are a favorite of this blog, but I wanted a chance to add to their praises. DIY feminist punk in the truest way, it deftly rotates it’s cast’s roles to seamlessly tell a story we all need to hear. Lo-fi but splashed in polish, it harkens back to a sound employed by bands like X over 40 years ago, but feels extremely current. Frida Kill expertly weaves infectious pop hooks into a bed of dark sonic tension, and their clever lyrics also strike a similar balance. The EP feels like hanging out and chatting with your friends, because we all have someone in our life that is Frida Kill. In this dude’s humble opinion, we need more bands like Frida Kill to tell all the different women’s stories today, not just in NYC but everywhere.
Nick AD- Contributing Writer
Adiós Amores– Sus Mejores Canciones. Surf, psych, lounge, and flamenco converge on this infectious record from this duo out of Seville, Spain.
The French Tips– All the Rage. Run—do not walk, do not pass Go—to preorder the latest from this phenomenal Boise quartet. Due out next week, the 4 singles have been incredible: dark, hazy, loud, dynamic, just fuckin’ good.
The Klittens– Citrus.Very catchy indie, pop, punk out of The Netherlands.
The Surfrajettes– Roller Fink. Long-awaited long-player from one of the best surf outfits around right now. Half super cool originals, half rad covers, a perfect instrumental party record if you dig the surf rock.
The Veldt– Electric Revolution (Rhythm & Drone). Hell yeah! New Veldt! These longtime shoegazers sound good and fresh as ever.
Western gothic indie rockers, Murder By Death, have announced their upcoming ninth studio album, Spell/Bound, and told us via a press release they have “taken their largest leap forward into lavish, spaced-out territory only hinted at on previous records,” and that they found inspiration in new and seemingly unlikely places. Frontman Adam Turla said this of the record: “Sonically, the direction we explored was more in the vein of almost trip-hop, like Massive Attack and Portishead, where we were trying to lean into a vibe that was chill but dark. We wanted it to be a record that was lush but not necessarily a wall of sound.”
I first became acquainted with their music all the way back in 2003 when I saw them play at Maxwell’s and picked up their split EP with Volta Do Mar, Kondrad Friedrich Wilhelm Zimmer, and I’ve enjoyed seeing all of the musical twists and turns this band has taken over their lengthy career, indeed building an entire universe all their own along the way.
The band has also announced a Kickstarter campaign to help finance the self release of the album, which is due out on July 29th. Rewards for backers include limited edition shirts and lyric comic books, tickets to shows, test pressings and even a one year subscription to get hand made pottery by cellist Sarah Balliet.
To support the album, MBD will embark on a North American tour to kick off the day after the album release, and that will hit NYC on August 19th at Knockdown Center. See below for full tour itinerary.
7/30 – Pelham, TN – The Caverns
8/5 – Austin, TX – Scoot Inn
8/6 – Dallas, TX – Amplified Live
8/7 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s
8/9 – Kansas City, MO – Lemonade Park
8/10 – St. Louis, MO – Red Flag
8/12 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
8/13 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
8/14 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
8/15 – Kalamazoo, MI – Bell’s Beer Garden
8/16 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls Theatre
8/18 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
8/19 – Queens, NY – Knockdown Center
8/20 – Baltimore, MD – Ram’s Head
8/22 – Asheville, NC – Salvage Station
8/27 – Denver, CO – Odgen Theatre
8/29 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
8/31 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre
9/1 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
9/2 – Los Angeles, CA – Belasco
9/3 – Special Southern California Show Coming Soon!
9/4 – Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre
9/8 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
9/9 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
9/10 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
9/11 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile EARLY SHOW END OF TOUR PARTY!
Feminist post punk garage quartet and FTA faves, Frida Kill, have released a brand new music video for their super catchy song “Mujeres Con Mango.” The video arrives ahead of the release of their first tape, EP1, due out 4/15 on Insecurity Hits.
Sung by multi-instrumentalist/vocalist, Maria Lina, she had this to say about the lyrics: “‘Murejes Con Mangos’ was fueled when reports of undocumented workers were being arrested for selling Churros in the NYC and of a memory I have of passing by an old family friend Margerita (who sells Mangos all year round on Knickerbocker Ave) who was getting a ticket by the cops in the bitter freezing cold for selling mangos. She was very upset but did not back down. I stood with her for a while, bought some mangos and gave her some money and a hug. I feel like a lot of the time these people that provide fresh fruits, treats and ice cream for us on the streets go unseen. They spend time preparing these small things to make money to pay their rent, send their kids to school, send money abroad to their families just like everyone else. They get up everyday and go to work outside in the heat, in the freezing cold, harmless and out of the way and still, the system finds a way to criminalize them. I wanted to write a song for them, give them a voice, I want people who have never thought about them to be kind, have empathy and see them when they pass them. I want people to appreciate them. I want people to help in anyway way can and I hope the message gets across with my song. I have my mother to thank for always instilling empathy to my siblings and I. She opens her doors to anyone and is extremely helpful in her community.”
The video was directed by artist Holly Overton who matched the band’s vision for the song, saying: “I wanted to communicate the seriousness and thoughtfulness of the content behind the lyrics while empowering the band’s sexy and energetic star power at live shows. Each band member has a solo scene in “a day in the life” in gentrified Bushwick, with the intimacy of narrative short film, influenced by Kenneth Anger’s Scorpio Rising (1963). These realism scenes are interrupted by performance footage shot by Tasha Lutek in what we termed “the red room.” As an untouchable fantasy realm of women performing music, the aesthetics of the “red room” footage were inspired by the car show dance scenes in Julia Ducournau’s film Titane (2021)”
