When we saw the name of Massachusetts four-piece Speedy Ortiz single, Taylor Swift b/w Swim Fan, we were sold. Is it that easy to get our attention at this website? Pretty much. In fact, we’re still laughing 15 minutes after first seeing it. Anyway, we dig Speedy Ortiz’ magnetic strain of slacker-grunge made up of chick vocals, gritty guitar tones and an easy-going strangeness.
Jon Porras is set to release his solo debut, Black Mesa, on April 17th. The new project is a comfortable extension of the doom-folk Porras creates with fellow San Francisco psych improvisationist Evan Caminiti in Barn Owl. Though you may find Black Mesa is a more lonely, haunted exploration of stretched ambience and glacial psychedelia. For a preview of what to expect, check out the below clip for “Black Tide”. You won’t find it on Black Mesa, though you will find this pretty well sums up what things are like up there…
Jon Porras – The Black Tide from Thrill Jockey Records on Vimeo.
Twacked post-prog rockers Battles are set release Dross Glop, compiling a set of 12-inches featuring remixes from their (pretty good) 2011 LP, Gloss Drop. Among those slated to contribute: Shabazz Palaces, The Field and The Alchemist (who is already having a totally killer year). Most recently we heard this tense, brooding remix of “Toddler” by Kangding Ray from Dross Glop 3 (due March 20)…
From Dross Glop 2, here’s The Alchemist’s take on “Futura”…
Dross Glop, the full compilation, is due April 17th.
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Mark Matos & OS Beaches return with Coyote & the Crosser, another collection of psych-dusted folk packed with hazed melody, sticky refrains and pale mysticism. It’s self-described “acid gospel”. It’s freak folk without being obnoxiously freaky. It’s a solid step forward for this Bay Area troubadour.On Mark Matos previous effort, Words of the Knife, we heard a musician pacing within his comfort zone, making easy-going hippie rock for easy-going afternoons. These days, Matos is experimenting with broader song structures, he’s shifting rhythms around and apprehensively tackling darker themes. It’s a fuller picture of the artist and a more inspired, cohesive statement.
Matos’ lush arrangements (“At the Border”), rad dynamics (“Take the Light Away”) and proud psychedelia (“Me Amigo”) will connect with fans of Devendra Banhart and Edward Sharpe’s Alexander. However, fair weather (trended) folk fans probably won’t stick around for long as the LP tends to drone a bit. And that’s not a bad thing. Keep your eyes on this guy. Although we’re thoroughly impressed by Coyote and the Crosser, we think it’s a bridge to Matos’ next LP, where his potential is really going to unfold. |
 3.5 / 5 |
Download “Invocation” from Melt Cry Sleep
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Minneapolis three-piece Buildings continue experimenting with an asymmetrical, high-strung breed of punk and hardcore on Melt Cry Sleep. The Jeusus Lizard, Melvins and Fugazi echo through a barrage of anxious riffing, rigid dynamics and tortured guitar squalls.Structurally, most of Melt, Cry, Sleep alternates between bouts of seething tension and waves of cascading riffs. Through the swings, singer/guitarist Brian Lake narrates with his boxed howl and bassist Sayer Payne (one of the newest additions to the band) unloads a relentless churn. But as with most music this aggressive and jagged strain, it’s the controlled chaos of the drums that separates Melt, Cry, Sleep from much of the common, uninspired pablum that passes for “rock” these days. High-five to drummer Travis Kuhlman for that. In fact, high fives all around for making one of the best rock records of 2012. |
 4 / 5 |
Tennis is quickly developing into one of 2012′s best indie rock stories. The buzz started when Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney signed up to produce Young and Old, the followup to the Colorado dream pop duo’s okay debut, Cape Dory (though we did like that single, “Baltimore”).
To be honest, with the iffy delivery of Cape Dory and the involvement of a drummer from a band that we’ve been bored with for years, we were reluctant to look into Young and Old. That would have been a mistake. As it turns out, Young and Old is the best thing Carney has been involved with since BlackRoc, and it’s a pretty big leap forward for Tennis.
On Tennis latest, the melodies are bolder, the songs are more dynamic and the duo have an attractive confidence that was missing from Cape Dory. Below, check out the best example of how this band has evolved. It’s a song called “Origins”. And it’s sure to go down as one of the best singles of 2012…
Things have been picking up on the Black Angels front lately. First, the group announced a handful of shows (including a slot at the Metallica-curated Orion fest), then front-guy Christian Bland revived his solo thing with the Revelators (free download). Now, the Austin-based retro psych outfit have finally gotten around to making a clip for “Entrance Song”, one of the highlights from an album full of highlights, 2010′s Phosphene Dream.
Looking for some newer Black Angels stuff? Grab “At Night”, a free cut they dropped late last year via Rolling Stone.
The latest in a long list of better-than-expected in this age of rock-is-dead bands from Austin, Texas is Shapes Have Fangs. Like Harlem, Woven Bones and Strange Boys before them, this jangling five-piece deliver a gritty strain of 60s rock that makes us think of very cool, very old things. But what sets Shapes Have Fangs apart from some of their fellow retro rockers is a jagged swagger and dynamic instinct that pushes them closer to Austin’s A-list (along with the Black Angels, Shearwater and White Denim).
Earlier this month, Shapes Have Fangs delivered Dinner in the Dark, an album of eleven songs that passes in about 30 minutes. You’ll want to grab “Rattle and Confuse Me” right away, and come back soon to stream the rest…
It usually never works, but The American Canyon Band do a pretty good job infusing rootsy guitar rock digitized percussion and atmospherics. It’s not a seamless integration, but the husband-and-wife duo (Paul and Krystal Jean Masson) have our attention with “Tumbleweed” (which is out on April 21 as a Record Store Day seven-inch).
Florida psych rockers Band in Heaven hit our radar recently with the excellent HoZac seven-inch (stream it below). It’s the first we’re hearing from these guys, and we’re impressed with how effortlessly they shift from raw, surging shoe gaze to drowsier, more atmospheric material. There’s a bit of Black Rebel and some Black Angels here, even a bit of Slowdive, so look out for persistent riffing, psychedelic ambience and affected vocals with a rounded low-end. Stream the four-song HoZac seven-inch below (two of the songs are available for free download) and look out for Band in Heaven at SXSW in March and Austin Psych Fest in April.
Tennis – Origins – free mp3
Katy B – Witches Brew (Diplo remix) – free mp3
Shabazz Palaces – Swerve (Signal Path remix) – free mp3
Xiu Xiu – Hi – free mp3
White Rabbits – Temporary – free mp3