There are anomalies, there are outliers, and there's Älägator. A Finn-inspired quintet that was born in Edinburgh, U.K. (currently residing in NYC), specializing in a sort of slowcore dream pop that takes you to the outer reaches of imagination. While the instrumentation is tightly and deftly controlled, it belies a certain fragility, in that it feels like it can fall apart at any moment. If you're looking for comparisons, keep […]
Can't tell you much about Caroline Loveglow. Los Angeles-based, signed to George Clanton and Negative Gemini's 100% Electronica label specializing in chill and vaporwave releases, and due to land at Austin's esteemed Levitation Festival on 29 October. So what's all this buzz? Shades of Cocteau Twins are the obvious touchstone here, but there's so much more to it than that. Out-of-the box thinking here, but this seems to have sprung […]
No, not "Lemmy", that's Motörhead. "Lemony". It's like a fresh lemon tart with powdered sugar sprinkled generously on top. Coming from T. G. Shand, formerly of station standouts Miniatures, but now a solo songwriting powerhouse, it's another impressive chapter in a fresh and surprising sonic evolution. The first new single since February's "The Ease", it's got so many engaging elements competing for your ear, and it's all sonic sugar. Guitar […]
Will Kraus has been fêted by so many, including us, for setting up base camp and thriving on the overclocked edge of the sound since End Tomorrow in 2016. The epic and unforgettable Path LP in 2018 was a high watermark in tuneful noise and propulsion, the lead single "Bum" with its air raid sirens and bombast never quite concealing a twisted internalized warmth. It's a duality that serves the […]
Among the things we hate: we hate being late to a quality new artist/band creating solidly credible songs. We were several weeks late to to Moon Museum, a San Francisco quartet that brings impressive songcraft, built atop walls of sound, deftly mixed and presented like a sonic gift. It's not often you find a band bringing this level of professionalism to a debut release, but when we backed into "Pleasures […]
First crossing our radar with their "EQUALS" EP at the dawn of 2018, dreamy Spanish noisegazers Uniforms have presented an unique and engaging sound: part bubblegum, part sludge, all charm. Sonically diverse, always finding the best arrangement and instrumentation to serve the song, Uniforms has never been afraid to go their own way. From spacey keyboard glitches to jangle riffs to fuzzy chords, it's their sound. You can count on […]
Our critical appraisal of the best albums of 2020 continues, as DJ Heretic breaks down the landmark that is Endless Space (Between You & I), released 24 July 2020. The appearance of effortless ease is usually the result of months, even years of painstaking work. And Samira Winter works harder than you do. With a first public release in the fall of 2012, the same year DKFM planted its flag, […]
As we cross the halfway mark of 2020, it's important to critically appraise the legitimate candidates for Album of the Year as promptly as possible. The debut album from Zoongide'ewin, released 19 June, sits squarely in that camp. -Ed Recently I was scrolling through Facebook when I came across a post with a link to a mysterious looking artist called Zoon. The album was called Bleached Wavves and it floored […]
Progressive shoegaze postpunk outfit A Shoreline Dream present their new single "Melting", hot on the trail of lead track "Seek To Hide". Complete with aesthetically complementary videos shot and edited by Ryan Policky, these are the first tasters of their long-awaited Melting LP, to be released in late August via Latenight Weeknight Records. Set to a "modern tribal" shuffle beat, A Shoreline Dream continues to tease out new songs from […]
