Holy shit. Considering just how rarely Jesu mastermind Justin Broadrick performs live, there’s a chance I will never ever see the band play. But the video below is not a terrible substitute. Back in November 2017, Broadrick teamed up with Nothing and Prurient (Dominick Fernow) for a one-off collaboration as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations for Fernow’s record label, […]
Read moreJenny Besetzt have songs. Their last album, 2016’s ‘Tender Madness’, is a hazy melting pot of shoegaze, chunky grunge, and wiry post-punk but they aren’t nostalgia hacks and never hide behind drama or distortion, they craft tunes that follow you around and stay in your head. Bonus: They sound even better in the summer sun.
Read moreMusic travels well. And it can move faster and farther than the most avid sightseer. For example, at some point in the last decade the emo of the American Midwest made it to the other side of the world, all the way to Wuhan, China. There, the excellently-named Chinese Football started experimenting with dreamy emo and jazzy licks. And they’ve […]
Read moreMuch like Randy Moss, Wild Cat Strike aren’t afraid to go long. The Brighton-based dudes play with quiet melodies, big crescendos, poetic, gut-punch lyrics, gang vocals and other familiar emo techniques, but unfurl them with post-rock patience. It’s an excellent mix. Extra kudos too for going by the name Mild Cat Strike when they play acoustic shows.
Read moreModern Rituals have got it going on. Their debut EP was a fine hello but new single ‘Hermit Kuppling’ is a double A-side of impossible-to-ignore noise. It’s still indie rock to my ears, but loaded with weight and layers- there’s hardcore spit and vinegar, buried melodies, and ten million pounds of sludge from New York and New Jersey all rolling […]
Read moreHey, remember when that Arcade Fire album came out and really let you down? Which Arcade Fire album you may ask, and I may unfortunately reply, take your pick. Well Oregon outfit Typhoon have come through for you. And with fourth album ‘Offerings’, they’ve come through big. FFO: Arcade Fire, The Antlers, Animal Collective, other bands not necessarily beginning with […]
Read moreI’ve always made playlists. Often for others. Mostly for myself. Somewhere in the middle of last year, the list I made predominantly to keep tabs on what records have been released, turned into something a bit more official. It’s on Spotify (I know Spotify is a bit icky in a few ways but it’s my streaming service of choice at the […]
Read moreSomething happened to the members of Ravens & Chimes. You can tell from the sounds of melancholy and lyrics of longing and loss in the New York outfit’s music. But then something else happened to them, because despite the consistent quality across both of their albums, they haven’t been heard from in years. Fans of Brand New, Sufjan Stevens, and […]
Read moreTo celebrate the release of Marilyn Manson’s new album, ‘Heaven Upside Down’ (spoiler alert, it’s good), Moderate Rock has curated a Spotify playlist of his weirdest and most wonderful songs. It’s not a greatest hits- there are no Sweet Dreams here- and it’s heavy on ‘Holy Wood…’ (His best album. Fight me.) but there’s no denying it’s some of Mr. […]
Read moreThis, from prolific violin virtuoso Catherine Graindorge, is intriguing. The first release under their Nile on Wax moniker (Graindorge and her two bandmates used to be NOX) is occasionally too jazzy for its own good but otherwise strikes a creepy, compelling tone. It’s not at all surprising to find out that they’ve also completed some movie soundtrack work.
Read more