A bit of peace and relaxation in chaotic times is always welcome, and Nice Biscuit delivers this perfectly. SOS (Bad Vibrations / The Reverberation Appreciation Society / Greenway) reinforces that once again. Six years have passed between their debut and this second album. In between, there was a double EP…
Post Punk
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Review: Crows – Reason Enough
Perhaps it was the change of scenery that pushed the punk out of Crows. Instead of writing their songs in a small East London studio, the British band composed them in the countryside, in a former Catholic church. This may have contributed to why Reason Enough (Bad Vibrations) sounds so…
Psych Pop
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New EP: Traum – Traum
Traum from Germany made their way to California, where they released their debut 7-inch on the local label Hypnotic Bridge, joining the ranks of bands dedicated to preserving the spirit of 1960s psych. Now they return to their homeland with a new self-titled 4-track EP. Released on Tonzonen, the songs…
Psych
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Review: Kit Sebastian – New Internationale
K. Martin and Merve Erdem, as Kit Sebastian, truly embody the concept of world music. They effortlessly blend everything with everything else, switching countries and moods in seconds, all with a remarkable ease. With New Internationale (Brainfeeder), they join Flying Lotus’s equally eclectic label, the perfect home for their third…
Experimental
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Review: Traffik Island – Ghost Notes
Australian Zak Olsen has many projects simmering on the stove. He plays guitar with ORB, runs The Frowning Clouds on the side, and recently got involved with The Judges. And then there’s his solo project, Traffik Island. Here, it’s not about hard-hitting guitar music but rather quirky pop tracks. On…
Rock
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Review: Being Dead – EELS
Falcon Bitch and Shmoofy—an odd yet immensely talented duo. Together, they form Being Dead, one of the most exciting bands around today. Their new album EELS (Bayonet) feels like a children’s birthday party with confetti, cake, and slightly tipsy parents. It’s colorful, sticky, silly, yet you end up having a…
Garage Punk
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Review: MITRAIILLE – MITRAIILLE
With a fresh drummer in tow, MITRAILLE are driven forward by Arno Sels for their second album. The duo, Dennis Van Hoof and Matthias Roggeman, race ahead with breakneck stunts. The self-titled work (via Spastic Fantastic / Belly Button / Rockerill / Ronny Rex) starts from a garage punk foundation,…
Garage Rock
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Review: We Hate You Please Die – Chamber Songs
We Hate You Please Die don’t need hidden messages—their band name says it all. Their sound ranges between furious noise storms and tender indie-pop anthems, with angry, direct shouts accompanying the music. Chamber Songs (Incisive) once again proves to be a versatile work. The band from France gives us no…
Psych Pop
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Review: Pearl & The Oysters – Planet Pearl
The sounds of Juliette Pearl Davis and Joachim Polack, as Pearl & The Oysters, have always been somewhat strange. The French-American duo often explored themes of alienation. With Planet Pearl (Stones Throw), they adopt the perspective of space explorers stranded on the unfamiliar Earth. This time, their psych pop gets…
Psych Rock
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New Song: Frankie and the Witch Fingers – Bonehead
Frankie and the Witch Fingers are known for their breakneck, sprawling psych rock. The Los Angeles-based band regularly releases new albums, most recently Data Doom about a year ago, where they perfected their signature “Frankie sound.” Now they continue with their new single Bonehead (The Reverberation Appreciation Society / Greenway),…
