old-fashioned (and neo-modern) record reviews
Photo Credit: David Black Originally appeared on Irvine Weekly. Alex Lilly’s new album is called 2% Milk, but she would never touch the stuff. “I’m trying to drink less [of it]…But when I do have milk I definitely have whole milk.” Two percent is just watered down anyway. It reflects a part of society that bothers her; throughout our conversation on a frigid afternoon at … Continue reading Alex Lilly Confronts Ambivalence on 2% Milk
Originally appeared on Grimy Goods. When we cannot fathom a situation on our dying planet, in our finite lives, we turn to the gods. Los Angeles musician and songwriter, Ioanna Gika (formerly of Io Echo) just released her new LP named after the goddess of the sea: Thalassa. The title track itself is relatively short, but the jaunt leaps from the mortal world to Elysium, … Continue reading Ioanna Gika Releases Godly New LP, Thalassa
Originally appeared on Grimy Goods. Sean Draper is a clever experimenter. The first thing you notice about her, especially if her forthcoming record is your introduction to the project, is the wordplay in her album title and moniker. Then you will be hit by the technicolor waves of fuzz and noise. Bothy is Pander Sera’s debut LP due out next week. In honor of the … Continue reading Pander Sera Wants to Rattle Your Sternum
Originally appeared on the 405; view archived article here. Self-discovery takes time. Society pressures us into finding a skill while we’re young and perfecting it until we are some iteration of “successful.” But that’s not how it works; the lucky ones will find their passion early, but it is another task entirely to secure the resources to pursue it. Then there are the late bloomers, … Continue reading Soft Streak declare it’s better late than never on new Late Bloomer EP
Originally appeared on Grimy Goods. Local songwriter Celeste Tauchar earned her stripes touring with bands like Frenship, but has proven her independent prowess with her new EP as talker. The leading singles were a good indication of what was to come, and the full release packs a punch. … “Show me your haunted side and I’ll show you mine,” Tauchar taunts in the title track. Much … Continue reading talker Embraces Her Haunted Side on New Horror Films EP
Originally appeared on Grimy Goods. The sunny quintet that Angelenos may know as Jubilo Drive almost called themselves Thursday Night Taxi Service. It has a neon sheen to it, though band names should not have that many words or letters. The phrase was used by the band’s previous drummer, Eric Cruz, as the title to his college radio show. One of his proudest moments was … Continue reading Sleep Can’t Stop Jubilo Drive on Their New Album Late Night, Early Morning
Originally appeared on the 405, view archived article here. As the band suggests, the themes of Oi Ma Yeah are broad and difficult to parse. The musicality of it makes this a fun album to decipher over the course of many listens. The journey is haphazard—synthpop accents and shoegaze noise and provocative prose all make brief appearances across the eleven tracks. The album’s namesake (Hebrew … Continue reading Tel Aviv’s post-rock group Bones Garage debuts Oi Ma Yeah
Photo by Filep Motwary. Originally appeared on the 405, view archived article here. Lefteris Moumtzis is emotionally sovereign. The Cypriot musician uses the direct English translation of his name as his moniker, which becomes the first evidence of his liberty: Freedom Candlemaker. His new record, though far from his first foray into music, is the debut under this name; called Beaming Light, it represents a dawning … Continue reading Freedom Candlemaker welcomes the light into his new record
Originally appeared on the 405, view archived article here. Like sailors to a siren, Cathedral Bells draw in their own prey. The duo of Matt Messore and David Carey share their self-titled EP with the world today, out on Good Eye Records. What began as Messore’s bedroom pop project has flourished into well-crafted shoegaze for daydreams and late-night mischief. Read more. Cathedral Bells | stream … Continue reading Unwind in the fuzz of Cathedral Bells’ new EP
Originally appeared on the 405, view archived article here. Benjamin Cormack and Aram Vehuni—Benji and Max familiarly—make up the dreamy California duo slenderbodies, who have just released a sweet, strawberry-tinted EP, soraya. They use each of the five tracks to confront something in their lives, touching topics like lust and wavering self-confidence. Their pastel aesthetic is on full display throughout, accentuated by the whisper-falsetto that … Continue reading slenderbodies honour the women in their lives with their new soraya EP
Sawdust & Gin 