by FTA Staff | Oct 21, 2022
Hi! Hello! Here we are with some bite sized goodies and a taste of a some new things that we dug that came out in the last week(ish), quick fire responses to some great new music we think you should check out. This week Chantal, Kate and Mike weighed in on some killer songs, so give em a listen!
We get to as many songs as we can each week (though can’t possibly cover all the music that is released) and as always, if you’re in a band or from a label, don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know about you! If we dig ya, you’ll get a nod in the column. Read on to find out what we dug the last week or so and check back every Friday to see more:
Bass Drum of Death– Find It. Garage rock aficionados BDOD have released the second single from their upcoming album Say I Won’t (1/27/23 via Fat Possum). On their website the band says of the new album “The music still rips, with blown-out guitars and drums that sound like bombs going off, and the melodies are catchier than ever, hollered in [John] Barrett’s trademark yelp. But the music hits differently now, more at peace with itself, propelled by a new swagger,” and I found that to be true of the lead single “Say Your Prayers” and definitely true here on this latest track. It’s hardly a bad thing though and it sees the band heading into newer refined territory with better production overall. See our coverage from their June 2022 show at Market Hotel. [KH]
Blink 182– EDGING. The classic lineup of the bratty pop punk trio is back together again, with original guitarist Tom DeLonge officially back in the fold, new music announced and a tour to support it coming. And if my social media feeds are any indication, lots of my friends of a certain age (and younger) are pretty damn excited about all of those things. As for this song, it hardly breaks new ground for the group but at this stage of the game, it really doesn’t need to. Their fans go to them for exactly this—upbeat, bright punk rock songs that tap into your feelings of disaffected youth (err middle aged-dom) and aren’t shy to be crude. This is not the most crude song they’ve ever done but there is a line about fucking in church so yeah, Blink is back for sure. [KH]
Dead Tooth– Sporty Boy. Once again, Dead Tooth drops a real racer in our laps, just in time to heat things up for the Fall. The post-wave art punk track released on Trash Casual, worms and swirls it’s high sonic tones in and out of thumping bass melodies, pushing the kick-snare-vocal attack that drive the song right to the brink of unraveling. With this single they’ve unleashed a tightly honed focused fury of sound that pummels your chest like a jackhammer on the loose. “Sporty Boy” simmers on the edge of boil teetering along that line for three minutes and change, killing the heat every time it’s about to lose total control.
Spin Magazine nods “The single’s quick internal rhymes pile on its assonance like the pig-on-sheep pyre displayed on the cover of Dead Tooth’s 2022 EP Pig Pile. What’s more, “Sporty Boy” plays out like the soundtrack to a nearly successful high-speed chase, made all the more real by its accompanying art – an old-school digital car-stereo display.” Catch them playing on 10/25 at Baby’s All Right with Native Sun and The Bobby Lees. [MB]
Grade 2– Brassic. Cockney rhyming slang for being “skint,” which for us Americans who don’t spend a lot of time in the UK, means being broke. And who can’t relate to that? I know I sure can. This song reminded me of punk rock meets Britpop in all the right ways and is a catchy slice from the Isle of Wight based band. [KH]
Green Day– You Irritate Me (demo). I’m a lifelong unabashed Green Day fan and I’ve enjoyed just about every era of the band, but by far my most favorite is the 90s trifecta of Dookie, Insomniac, and Nimrod released in 1994, 1995, and 1997 respectively. They were hugely influential albums to me when I was a teenager and I still regularly listen to them front to back today, well into my adulthood and my 40s. So you can certainly imagine I was more than thrilled with the recent announcement of a boxed set to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Nimrod (which true story, I hand wrote a review for in my very first zine) and the inclusion of the demo tracks for several of the songs on the album as well as songs that never got released. “You Irritate Me” is one of those songs.
On one hand, it’s hard to believe this sat in the vaults for more than 25 years, it is after-all that classic 90s era early Green Day sound that would have been right at home in those days. But on the other hand, compared with the strength of the songs that did make the album, this song is fun for sure but doesn’t hold a candle to the hit single “Hitchin’ A Ride” and certainly not the era defining “Good Riddance,” (which was actually written in 1990) or even the deeper cuts (and hardcore fan loved tracks) like “Haushinka” and “Prosthetic Head” (both favorite tracks of mine).
All that being said, I am glad to have it now and I am intrigued to hear what the rest of the demos sound like because I definitely consider Nimrod a transitional album. It held a lot of the early era hallmarks of what established Green Day as a band, but it also was the first album that showed they could be more and strongly hinted towards the more nuanced and flushed out entity they would become by time American Idiot rolled around seven years later. The boxed set, which features the album along with extras (the demos and a live album recorded in 1997), drops in full on 1/27/2023. Bonus- read my track by track breakdown of Dookie here. [KH]
Guided By Voices– Queen of Spaces. The fountain that provides inspiration to Robert Pollard will seemingly never stop flowing. A spare, ethereal song featuring a gorgeous string section, this is Pollard in ballad mode, and paired with the angular, rocking first single “Instinct Dwelling” from the upcoming La La Land, it bodes well for the album as a whole. GBV will be at Terminal 5 on December 3rd in support of Dinosaur Jr. [CW]
Gun– Evermore. This band is one of my favorite discoveries I made this year, having first seen them at a house show over the summer (see pics). They have a sound that can be hard to pin down and often changes from song to song, sometimes even within the same song as was the case with their last single “Mark of the Beast Mode” (read my thoughts) and can range from punk to grunge to nu metal and noise. This latest track sees them showing off their more sensitive emo side and while I prefer them at the noiser end of the spectrum, this song is a strong showing of their range. Their debut full length is in the works and should be released soon. [KH]
Hit Like A Girl– Dismay. In a drastic turn from their usual sound and certainly from their most recent release, the acoustic EP, Heart Breaker, HLAG—the recording project of NJ based musician Nicolle Maroulis— returns with a blistering and HEAVY hardcore track “Dismay,” which is the first track from their upcoming EP, Becoming. Maroulis’ vocals are brutal and the riffs are massively metallic, leading us in an intriguing new direction for the project. Time will tell if this is something they explore more on other releases or if they will go back to the emo/indie pop sound they are more known for. Either is an exciting prospect. Becoming releases in full on 11/18. [KH]
Ian McCuen– The Letter. Buffalo based singer songwriter Ian McCuen and self proclaimed “purveyor of sorrow” is back with the second single from their upcoming album, Westward, To Nowhere. McCuen certainly nails the sorrow aspect and really taps into an emotional vein here as they defly channel the spirit of Elliot Smith on this mostly quiet contemplation, detailing a strained familial relationship. Westward, To Nowhere releases in full on November 11th. [KH]
Pearla– The Place With No Weather. A bit less structured than the preceding single “About Hunger, About Love” (which we included here), this spacey song is both dreamy and aching. Intriguingly, it has both lead and final track energy to me, so I’m interested to see where it actually is placed on Oh Glistening Onion, The Nighttime Is Coming, which drops on February 10th. Pearla will be at Union Pool on October 21st. [CW]
Plasma Canvas– Blistered World. Plasma Canvas is now a four-piece, and their fuller sound is reflected in this rip-roaring slice of driving punk rock, which is also an anthem of trans defiance and joy. Their new album DUSK will be out on SideOneDummy in February, but for now you can catch their high-energy music video for the single below. [CW]
Slaughterhouse– Halloween. Some spooky self referential fun from the LA punk group, this one comes just in time for the biggest punk holiday of the year. I love the ending as most of the instruments and vocals fade out (but don’t completely disappear) and the guitar lead takes on a creepy horror movie quality with the vocals bouncing around and echoing in the ethereal distance. [KH]
Smut– Unbroken Thought. Coming at us with the third single from their upcoming album, How The Light Felt, Smut again hits us with plenty of emotions on this gossamer track about relationships. Singer Tay Roebuck elaborated in a press release: “This is a love song! It stretches from pre-relationship to mid-relationship and the sort of mystical destiny that can bring people together. The first verse is before our couple has met, where they don’t realize that they are wandering and lost. Not necessarily looking for each other but when they finally meet? They are done for. The second verse is about them finally feeling the missing pieces filled. They are doing mundane day-to-day life but new life is given to it just by holding hands and knowing they’ve found each other.”
I’ve loved having the album slowly revealed with each new track and am looking forward to hearing the entire collection upon its release on 11/11 via Bayonet Records; the band will play Brooklyn a day later at Alphaville. [KH]
Tenci- Sour Cherries. This innovative, slightly country-tinged tune features guitars and droning saxophone all woven together behind the compelling voice of singer Jess Shoman as they muse on the bittersweet nature of love. Find their new album A Swollen River, A Well Overflowing on November 4th, and check them out in person on November 12th at Baby’s All Right. [CW]
Tom Skinner– The Journey. Former Sons of Kemet/current The Smile drummer turned bandleader has released a second song from his upcoming debut solo album, Voices of Bishara. On this moody contemplation Skinner is joined by collaborators Tom Hebert (upright bass), Kareem Dayes (cello), Chelsea Carmichael (tenor sax), Robert Stillman (tenor sax) and Paul Came (samples) for an intriguing and mesmerizing song that indeed feels like a journey. Voices of Bishara will release on 11/4. [KH]
T.S. Tadin– Better Cry Yourself To Sleep. Another slice of well crafted singer songwriter styling meets lush indie pop, T.S. Tadin really nails you in the gut emotionally with this one. The second song from the upcoming album due out 11/18, we’re intrigued to hear more (see our thoughts on the lead single “It’s A Drag”). [KH]
by FTA Staff | Sep 30, 2022
Hi! Hello! Here we are with some bite sized goodies and a taste of some new things that we dug that came out in the last week(ish), quick fire responses to some great new music we think you should check out. This week Chantal, Kate and Mike weighed in on some killer songs, so give em a listen!
As always, if you’re in a band or from a label, don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know about you! If we dig ya, you’ll get a nod in the column. Read on to find out what we dug the last week or so:
Bonny Light Horseman– Someone to Weep For Me. A bit of a supergroup, Bonny Light Horseman is the trio of Eric D. Johnson (Fruit Bats) Josh Kaufman (Muzz) and Anaïs Mitchell (Hadestown), all of whom have long resumes as artists and collaborators. The three come together seamlessly on this folk Americana track, the fifth and final single from their sophomore record Rolling Golden Holy which will be out next week. I’m a big fan of the vocal melody on this one. Catch them December 14th at Music Hall of Williamsburg. [CW]
Color Tongue– Good Science/Little Gray Cloud/Berries. The Brooklyn indie psych dream poppers just released an ambitious series of three new singles which we adored. Listen below and read more in depth thoughts here. [MB]
Ghost Funk Orchestra- Why? Why? Cuz Brooklyn’s favorite big band ensemble hits us this week with the track “Why?” a follow up to their recently released “Scatter.” Full on funk bass-lines and robust but soulful vocals again carry this track through from start to finish. Dotted with walls of horns, this track has a slightly crisper feel than its predecessor “Scatter.” Masterminded by Seth Applebaum, “Why?” has given the perfect space in the song’s mix to pan and sprinkle bits of percussion and keys in all those little cracks and crevices. Crank the track through your best set of headphones for some top shelf ASMR dreams. Looking forward to the upcoming full length release, A New Kind of Love, as Applebaum and crew really know how to pump out those big scale sounds. [MB]
Gloin– Work Patrol. This band was one of my favorite discoveries of 2022 and I first encountered them when they opened for Snapped Ankles earlier this year (see our coverage). Now the Toronto based noise rock post punk outfit is gearing up to release their debut full length, We Found This, and just dropped the second single “Work Patrol”. Featuring lead vocals from bassist Vic Byers (who splits lead duties from song to song with guitarist John Watson) it’s a noisey rager which sees her taking on the role of an asshole boss giving each and every one of their employees a hard time just for the sake of it (you know the type!). The song comes with a “very bitchin video” directed by Phil Osborne and pairs nicely with the previously released single “Shoot To Kill.” They self describe as “drawing inspiration from Sonic Youth’s nonchalant verve and Lightning Bolt’s aggressive sonic constructs” and I’m not sure about anyone else, but that ticks a hell of a lot of boxes for me. We Found This releases in full on 10/21 via Mothland. [KH]
Lucy Dacus– Home Again/It’s Too Late (Carole King covers). Lucy Dacus just kicked off a US tour (that will unfortunately not make a stop in NYC) and in conjunction, her two Carole King Tapestry covers have hit streaming services. Released earlier this year as part of a limited 7inch that came with Third Man Records’ Carole King Home Again vault package, the songs are now widely available. Elaborating on her feelings about King in a Guardian feature on the legendary artist, Dacus said “When I listened to Tapestry from my mom’s CD collection, I was young enough that it didn’t register as good or bad – it just defined what music sounded like to me, and it’s still a foundation of how I understand songwriting. She’s clever in the good way – queen of internal rhyme – and I love how her melodies reinforce the tone of the lyrics. She keeps it simple, but that’s what makes it universal,” adding that when she was asked to perform the covers “it was a no brainer. Her work feels like part of my DNA and I’m grateful for it.” [KH]
Nation of Language– From The Hill. Brand new music from the New York post punk wunderkinds, this one is a dreamy addition to their already impressive new wave-esque synth pop rock catalog. Of the song singer Ian Devaney said “‘From The Hill’ is a song reflecting on times when friendships fall apart over romantic entanglement, accompanied by the sensation that you’re somehow watching it happen from above with a more zoomed-out perspective. It can feel at times like certain parts of life are a story with which you’re just following along – the characters enter, they play their role, and then they leave. Often it’ll feel sudden and catch you off guard, and other times you’re able to see that it’s the only way things could have played out despite what you may have wanted.”
This song appears to be a stand alone and has not come with the announcement of a new album to follow up 2021’s A Way Forward. Devaney added “For us, we’re in a moment right now where it feels good to get this out into the world. It’s one that didn’t really feel like it fit the vibe of A Way Forward, nor is it any real indication of where the next record is likely heading. When that situation arrives we like to use these 7″ releases to step outside the larger framework that the albums provide and just release a track that we love, so this is us doing that once again.” [KH]
Meat Wave– 10k. The final single from the upcoming album, Malign Hex (10/14 Swami), this is packed with the classic Meat Wave anxious vocal snarl, driving drums, and intense guitars I love about this band complete with a cool subdued break in the middle of the song that is over and right back to the drive before you know it. I can’t wait for the full album. [KH]
NOFX– Darby Crashing Your Party. Is NOFX breaking up? Are they not breaking up? Fat Mike recently alluded to that fact on Instagram saying 2023 would be the band’s final year, but now they have announced a new album, Double Album, the follow up to 2021’s Single Album. So at this point it’s anyone’s guess what will happen but the record is due out December 2nd (via Fat Wreck Chords) and they have some fest dates for the rest of the year. As for this song, it hardly breaks any new ground for the band either musically or lyrically, and is very firmly that classic NOFX pop punk sound, but I did enjoy the lithe, high on the neck bass line from Fat Mike, showcasing his skill on the instrument. [KH]
Pearla– About Hunger, About Love. The third single from Pearla’s upcoming debut album Oh Glistening Onion, The Nighttime Is Coming is a lushly produced slice of folk rock, with the singer’s lovely voice buoyed by the music, including layers of guitar both acoustic and electric. The song is a tale of longing, with modern loneliness juxtaposed against nature (“And nobody told the woodpecker to knock all day for bugs / So what should I know? What do I do for love?”) Pearla will be at Union Pool on October 21st. [CW]
Restraining Order– Fight Back. Channelling their classic 1980s hardcore forefathers, the Massachusetts based band have released a track that feels nostalgic and familiar but brand new all at the same time. This is primed and ready to become a super fun sing along staple at their shows. [KH]
Smut– Let Me Hate. Like the first single, this new offering is another emotional gut punch, with singer Tay Roebuck reflecting on recurring dreams she had after the death of her younger sister. In a press release she shared “For years after my sister’s death I could not dream about her. I’d hear my family members talk about her visiting them in dreams and telling them she’s okay or misses them, there was a lot of mysticism going on in the first few years. When I did start having dreams she was always out of reach, walking into another room as I entered or people would be assuring me she was present somewhere if I could find her. ‘Let Me Hate’ is about the first time I had a dream where my little sister spoke to me after she died. I knew if I let her go she’d slip away and when I woke up I was angry at myself. So it’s a very literal song.” The song came paired with a lyric video created by band member Aidan O’Connor and utilizes photos from the band’s recent summer tour with Wavves.
How the Light Felt will be released on 11/11 via Bayonet Records; the band will play Brooklyn a day later at Alphaville. [KH]
Snapped Ankles– The Fish Needs A Bike (Blurt cover). The wonderfully weird band is back in the US for a short run of dates around the Desert Daze fest (and sadly will not make it to NYC this time around) and while here have also released a brand new single, a cover of the pulsing 1979 cult classic by English post punk/no wave act Blurt. On their Bandcamp, Snapped Ankles shared “Blurt are a big deal back in the forest. We focused our logs on a band that we’ve always admired for their dedication to the simplicity of groove, and their outsider stance. They’ve been Blurting out primal rhythms and absurd poetry for over forty years. They’re an example to us all!” While they don’t change the arrangement all that much structurally, the modern recording techniques make it sound bigger and they replace the sax with synth (and go heavier on the synths throughout) for a song that could easily fit within their own catalog. Listen to both versions below. [KH]
Titus Andronicus– Baby Crazy. The esteemed rock institution released their seventh album The Will To Live today and just day ahead of it, they dropped “Baby Crazy” as the final preview single accompanied with an official lyric video featuring singer Patrick Stickles in the recording booth with the lyrics scrolling over top like movie credits. In a press release Stickles elaborated “As inscrutable as some of my artistic choices may sometimes appear, I do wish to be understood, as communication is the purpose of all art. This led me to approach this song as something of a user’s guide for the album, wherein I explicate as clearly as I can the meaning behind the recurring symbology I utilize throughout—the mother, the father, the baby, etc. It is my hope that this will lead the listener to a richer listening experience…or they can just tap their foot to it, whatever works” [KH]
by FTA Staff | Sep 8, 2022
Hi! Hello! Here we are with some bite sized goodies and a taste of some new things that we dug this week, quick fire responses to some great new music we think you should check out. This week Chantal, Kate and Mike weighed in on some killer songs, so give em a listen!
As always, if you’re in a band or from a label, don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know about you! If we dig ya, you’ll get a nod in the column. Read on to find out what we dug the last week or so:
Brutus– Victoria. The third single from Brutus’ upcoming album Unison Life, this one finds the band in more melodic territory than before, but still with plenty of heavy riffs to spare. Singer/drummer Stephanie Mannaerts pushes the song to blistering heights with her urgent and soaring vocals alongside the pierce of the lead guitar line. The song comes with a video directed by Jonas Hollevoet; the album will see release on 10/21 via Sargent House. [KH]
Deerhoof– My Lovely Cat. Deerhoof’s latest single is a fun, fuzzed out track that captures the obsessive joy of having a cat (taking lots of pictures to post on social media, watching them on a pet-cam and not wanting to leave them at home) with a bittersweet ending: “one wish… make longevity longer, make you my immortal friend.” I wish cats were immortal too, Deerhoof. The song wasn’t written for Lil Bub, a famous kitty who passed away in 2019, but Bub’s human Mike Bridavsky coincidentally produced the track, so it is dedicated to her. [CW]
Dry Cleaning– Gary Ashby. The latest from Dry Cleaning is “a lament about a pet tortoise, escaped as a result of family chaos,” with the band going on to say “We wrote it in December 2020, one of the first new songs after the New Long Leg session.” Jangly and full of hooks, singer Florence Shaw gives quite the description of just what may have happened to poor Mr. Ashby and his “stumpy legs,” though in actuality does so in not many words and really leaves the mayhem of the scenario up to the imagination of the listener. This single is part of the upcoming album Stumpwork (10/21 via 4AD) and also comes with the announcement of headlining world tour which will hit Brooklyn on 2/2/2023 at Pioneer Works. [KH]
Gift– Feather. Brand new from the Brooklyn quintet, “Feather” was the result of singer TJ Freda awakening from a lucid dream. Elaborating, Freda said “This is one of the most personal songs on the record. One night I connected with a loved one in a dream, except I was in their mind. I was standing right in front of them and kept trying to call to them but the world in this dream was too loud and noisy. They couldn’t see or hear me. ‘Feather’ is about trying to help someone who can’t be helped, but in the end you accept them for who they are and love them no matter what.” The shimmery song is part of their debut album, Momentary Presence, which is due out 10/14 via Dedstrange. [KH]
Joudy– Uneasy. The Brooklyn based Venezuelan psych rock trio has just released the first single from their upcoming album Destroy All Monsters. This track features a hypnotic bass line and the intoxicating trip-hop meets rock psych blend they are known for (catch one of their shows for their amazing cover of Massive Attack’s “Angel”). The song also comes with a video directed by Gabriel Duque. Read more on the band’s story at Wonderland Magazine which premiered the track and catch the band at one of their upcoming residency dates at Berlin (9/15,9/22 and 9/29). [KH]
King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard- Ice V. This new track (pronounced ‘ice five’) is a groovy ten minute cut with jazz fusion vibes, perfect for jamming while holding on to the last dregs of summer, even while the lyrics about a crystalline space queen are a bit menacing. The band has an epic three albums coming out in October— Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms And Lava on 10/7, Laminated Denim on 10/12 and Changes on 10/28. [CW]
Otoboke Beaver– Chuchu Song. A not so brand new but absolutely super fun ripper from the frantic Japanese quartet. This one was the first song they wrote and a live staple for years. It was originally recorded and released in 2019 as a subscriber exclusive on Bandcamp to fans who helped fund their trip to SXSW. Now it has seen a wider release on Spotify and YouTube just in time for their upcoming US tour which will hit Brooklyn at Music Hall of Williamsburg (with Ratas En Zelo) on 10/5. We’ll see you there! [KH]
Placebo– Shout (Tears For Fears cover). The recent announcement of Placebo being forced to postpone their North American tour certainly bummed us out here at FTA, but this was a bit of a pick me up in the wake of that news as we do love a good cover (see our list of 25 of our favorite covers). They keep things pretty close to the original, with the addition of Brian Molko’s signature warble of course, but do switch things up and bring them to a bit of a darker place in the breakdown of the song—which they also shortened—making for a nice twist. [KH]
Ruth Radelet– Stranger. Best known for fronting the influential group, Chromatics, Radalet has announced her debut EP, The Other Side, which is due out on 10/7. “Stranger” is the lead single and a song the artist says is “a love letter to LA.” The song is accompanied by a stark black and white video made with director James Manson and cinematographer Freddie Whitman that features Radelet exploring the city alone. Expanding on the concept, she said the song is “about a specific kind of loneliness that I have only felt in Los Angeles. Although the song is very much about longing, it’s more about a place than a person.” The song is cinematic and sweeping and something anyone who has felt lonely can relate to, even in places like LA or NYC, surrounded by millions. [KH]
Sean Spada– The Wild Ride. This is the title track and first taste from Brooklyn based pianist Sean Spada’s upcoming solo album. If you love slightly spooky lounge vibes, this track delivers. Spada softly croons about a crazy trip that stretches the imagination sprawled over his dynamic tickling of the ivories. If you’ve ever half woken from a dream that’s just escaped your fingertips and you’re stuck somewhere between two realities and can’t seem to find your way back to either, well then you may have just taken your first steps on “The Wild Ride.” Read more here. [MB]
Smut– After Silver Leaves. Smut has announced a brand new album, How the Light Felt, and along with the album announcement comes the news tour dates and the first single “After Silver Leaves,” a song singer Tay Roebuck says is about “a former relationship I was in, it was really horribly abusive. But the approach to this one was to just spell it all out and see how silly it feels once shit really hits the fan.” Musically it’s a glinting, pretty upbeat song which belies the dark subject matter, Roebuck elaborating that “The song sounds so happy, but I’m talking about driving someone to the hospital when they’ve overdosed. And having to detach myself and realize that maybe it’s not my job as a teenage girl to save some sad sack of a guy. I think a lot of young women will relate to that, unfortunately.”
Indeed, the album (which follows up their 2020 EP Power Fantasy) is deeply personal and will touch on the death of Roebuck’s sister with the singer saying “This album is very much about the death of my little sister, who committed suicide a few weeks before her high school graduation in 2017. It was a moment in which my life was permanently destroyed, and it’s something you cannot prepare for.” The sure to be emotional album will be released on 11/11 via Bayonet Records and the tour will hit Brooklyn a day later at Alphaville. [KH]
Sun Ra Arkestra– Chopin. This first studio recording of the celebrated groups elaboration of “Prelude in A Major” from the Frédéric Chopin Opus 28 No. 7, which had previously only been heard at performances or live recordings. Baritone sax player Knoel Scott says of the song “This freshened arrangement of this Sun Ra classic is a testament to the vintaged mastery of Marshall Allen and is truly reflective of his position as a keeper of the Sun Ra Legacy.” This interpretation is part of their upcoming album Living Sky due out 10/7 via Omni Sound. [KH]
Strange Neighbors– Whoa! Is Me. The newest Strange Neighbors single is “a song about catching yourself in the act of being the bad guy” and was apparently inspired by Jefferson Airplane but ends up being truer to the jangly power-pop the band is known for. Catch them on 9/15 with Creek and Kills at Mama Tried. [CW]
Tom Skinner– Bishara. The prolific British drummer of The Smile and formerly of Sons of Kemet (who recently completed their final tour and disbanded) has just announced a brand new solo album, Voices of Bishara, and released the first single “Bishara.” The album features contributions from his former bandmate and SoK bandleader Shabaka Hutchings on tenor sax and bass clarinet as well as from Kareem Days on cello, Nubya Garcia on flute and tenor sax and Tom Herbert (of The Invisible) on bass. The album is due out on 11/4 via Brownswood Recordings/International Anthem/Nonesuch. [KH]
White Hills– Oceans Of Sound. This group has put out an astonishing amount of music over the past couple decades, and their newest single “Oceans of Sound” is a slab of buzzy, throbbing stoner psych, replete with wah-wah guitar and accompanied by an equally trippy music video. Their newest LP The Revenge of Heads On Fire will be out on September 16th. [CW]
