There was no alarm. There was no announcement. Ben Sharp didn’t really tell anyone that he was putting his solo project on pause. But in 2015 he released the placid ‘Woum’, perhaps the least compelling entry in Cloudkicker’s unique back catalogue, and then, silence. Years of silence. The Ohio native had been so prolific before then, writing and recording a […]
Read moreNarrow Head’s debut album, ‘Satisfaction’, was a brilliant, bright, exciting effort that twisted 90s grunge and shoegaze references into something contemporary and cool. ‘12th House Rock’ is… not that. From the opening squall of ‘Yer Song’ it feels like a cloud has come over the Texas outfit. They employ much of the same sonic ingredients as before, but their songs have […]
Read moreThere’s nothing like a piece of panoramic conceptual art imagining a possible future on the surface of Mars, to show what human beings are capable of. And there’s nothing like a global pandemic to ruin it all. ‘For the Benefit of All’ is a collaboration between erstwhile Her Name Is Calla main man Tom Morris and experimental cellist Jo Quail. It […]
Read moreThreestepstotheocean might have a typical post-rock kind of name, but they certainly don’t have a typical kind of sound. Since 2006, the Italian instrumental outfit have been gradually distorting the genre template to include elements of americana, sludge, almost black metal, and more. On this, their fifth full-length, they’ve diversified further still. A ton of fuzz and a few hulking […]
Read moreEasy Prey’s last album was angry. Now, little has happened in the intervening years to provide anyone much solace, but somehow the Texas quartet’s new record sounds even more intense. There’s shrill feedback and a furious, falling-apart kind of riffing here, a frankly ridiculous bass rumble, and a frontman who sounds like he’s literally screaming for help, or for change, […]
Read moreOver the past few years, Bristol-based outfit Poisonous Birds have proven relentlessly restless- expanding their already experimental sound to incorporate more electronic elements, commissioning remixes, creating their own artwork, curating live shows, and even starting a record label. Hell, this isn’t even their first release of the year, having already turned out a collaborative EP with the frontperson of Black […]
Read moreOnly Sibling might be on to something here. The New York outfit dub themselves “loser rock” and write songs about frustration, failure, and fears of everything just falling apart, but on ‘Get Well Soon’ there is always hope. That means the best moments on this, the four-piece’s debut full-length, come when they temper millennial terror and their most downbeat tendencies […]
Read moreFor an album apparently inspired by various states of human suffering, the self-titled debut effort from California collective, Spice, sure is a lot of fun. Yes, there are fidgety punk rock rhythms here and no shortage of anxiety on the lyric sheet, but there are driving drums, catchy riffing, and a satisfying kitchen-sink approach too. So it is that opener […]
Read moreModern Color continue to evolve. While once upon a time the Californian quintet could have been described as a metal band, and their first albums were melting pots of post-hardcore, here they’ve tweaked the mix again. Ok, so even at their heaviest and most aggressive, the band ably employed gritty hooks, hints of indie rock, and swirling, shoegazey sounds, but […]
Read moreLovely, this. Across five tracks of Eno-esque ambience, gently cinematic synths, and birdsong samples, erstwhile Maybeshewill man Robin Southby (the second member of the band to release solo work this spring) evokes the sounds and sensations of walking through the forests and hills of the Peak District. Despite its ominous title, ‘The Forest Swallows Us Whole’ is lively, sunny and […]
Read more