International Broadcasting Bureau – Memory Lights EP
Fresno California’s The International Broadcasting Bureau brand of intensely hypnotic, waves of sound that wrap themselves around my brain and massage it until I feel inspired and ready to write stuff. Seriously, this stuff is special. It creeps in this often really unsettling way, it evokes memories I’ve never even had. It makes me think of David Lynch, and a more sombre Animal Collective - both good things, duh. The new Memory Lights EP is really great. Check it out.
Sunn O))) – Monoliths & Dimensions
I’ve been waiting for this one. I mean, like, reeaaaallllyyyyyyyyyy waiting. Having been in the work for some time, O’Malley and Anderson’s new album is finally out. The buzz around it has been pretty big. There was a really excellent article in The Wire recently that made that little bit more excited. And the album doesn’t disappoint. I was excited to hear the progression that the band and others had talked about in the lead up to the album. The first track sounds pretty similar to where they left off on their last record, but from that point on, it’s pretty incredible to hear Sunn O))) really transform and evolve over the next hour. It’s really impressive how they do it, too. I mean, by the time the final track – the absolutelyfuckingincredible Alice is playing: there are new instruments and arrangements in there that Sunn O))) have never used before. Their success in these advancements is that it doesn’t sound out of place. They’ve managed to structure and arrange their album in a way so that the widening of their oeuvre sounds so natural that the evolution feels logical. Sunn O))) have made the best record of their career so far.
Sonic Youth – The Eternal
OK, so regular readers will know that Sonic Youth are one of my all time favourite bands. So, any album they release is always a pretty big thing for me. They haven’t really put out an album that I dislike. There are definitely some that don’t do it for me as much as others, but still, often their weaker material is still a lot stronger than some band’s good stuff. However when SY’s stuff doesn’t completely rip my face off with brilliance, I always feel kinda sad. The last album – Rather Ripped – was pretty cool, but it lacked something for me. There were moments of absolute awesomeness – Pink Steam and Rats being the two standout tracks – but this is the problem with a band who has been going for so long – it’s sometimes hard not to listen to them against their history. The album previous to Rather Ripped had been Sonic Nurse – perhaps my favourite album they had ever produced, so I guess it was natural that any album to come after that would perhaps pale a little bit. But yeah – the new one: The Eternal. It’s ace! There’s this really exciting tension that they manage to spark with the first track and it stays there till the end. The Eternal is sharp, punchy, and resonates with this really important energy. It’s amazing to think that they can still be this good. Sonic Youth sound as vital as any new band, more vital even. They continue to be and always be. Look at the fucking title, you know?
Lotus Plaza – The Floodlight Collective
This is the first album from the solo project of Lockett Pundt – the guitarist in Deerhunter (more of them below). I won’t go into this too much because in the very near future there’s gonna be an interview with Lockett on this blog, so I’ll put this album in the spotlight a little more then. But for now I’ll just say that this is dreamy, gorgeous and overwhelming. It takes you into a very particular, beautiful world for its duration. You should really give it a listen. More to follow on this blog very soon.
Deerhunter – Rainwater Cassette Exchange
Deerhunter never disappoint me. They really are doing something special and important at the moment, more so than the majority of other “indie bands” I can think of right now. I also like how they keep going. More new material. Deerhunter are making the most of their time in a way that’s inspiring and just extremely enjoyable. The great thing is that they still seem to be able to retain incredible quality control. I just love listening to a group of musicians who you can just tell love creating and doing what they do. Awesome.
The Breeders – Fate to Fatal EP
It was great. I was in Paris talking with Kiddiepunk. We were talking about The Breeders. We were both raving about them. I said something about the Safari EP that they put out in the 90s. I said I wish I could go back in time to when bands like the Breeders released really awesome self contained EPs, separate to their albums. He said something like “ask and you shall receive”, and told me that there was in fact a new Breeders EP about to be released. YESSS! And a few weeks later – I have it in my ears. The Deal sisters really can do no wrong in my eyes (or any or my orifices for that matter). This EP catches them in more sombre mood overall, but their moments of sadness have always been like stars and honey to me. Get it or be damned.
It was great. I was in Paris talking with Kiddiepunk. We were talking about The Breeders. We were both raving about them. I said something about the Safari EP that they put out in the 90s. I said I wish I could go back in time to when bands like the Breeders released really awesome self contained EPs, separate to their albums. He said something like “ask and you shall receive”, and told me that there was in fact a new Breeders EP about to be released. YESSS! And a few weeks later – I have it in my ears. The Deal sisters really can do no wrong in my eyes (or any or my orifices for that matter). This EP catches them in more sombre mood overall, but their moments of sadness have always been like stars and honey to me. Get it or be damned.
TM x
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