At the center of The Hiding is a lyric on the title track that gets at the heart of Kacey Johansing’s message. “Everyone keeps hiding what they long to find,” she sings, as if unveiling a universal truth that no one wants to admit that they knew. On this new record, she discusses relationships and love, often as an intrusive observer, though it could all … Continue reading Kacey Johansing No Longer Lives in Hiding
sngalbums: Originally appeared on Grimy Goods. Adams worked mostly solo on this record. A few guests contribute on the refrains, grounding the lofty project, but never detract attention away from what is largely autobiographical. Emay also produced all the backing tracks throughout Ilah, filling it with chopped drums and spliced samples for a unique listening experience, if not an acquired taste. The album’s production is … Continue reading Are Our Gods Best? Ruminating on Emay’s New LP, Ilah
sngalbums: My love for Paul Bergmann came about accidentally. He shared a bill at the Bootleg in August of 2016 with strong favorite of mine at the time, Oh Pep!; I hadn’t heard his music or even his name before the show, so I had no reason to anticipate anything revelatory. But once he began playing, I was instantly drawn to his sultry voice, expert … Continue reading Paul Bergmann Gives So Much on Nothing At All
My love for Paul Bergmann came about accidentally. He shared a bill at the Bootleg in August of 2016 with strong favorite of mine at the time, Oh Pep!; I hadn’t heard his music or even his name before the show, so I had no reason to anticipate anything revelatory. But once he began playing, I was instantly drawn to his sultry voice, expert whistling, … Continue reading Paul Bergmann Gives So Much on Nothing At All
sngalbums: Photo credit: Jonathan Bouknight Julie Byrne’s latest album is actually already over a year old. It came out on January 4th, making it the first new music of the year that I heard, and it clearly stuck with me. Not Even Happiness marks a personal journey in Byrne’s life, though not necessarily based in specific events; instead, the album is a series of highly personal … Continue reading Julie Byrne Finds Stability Within a Nomadic Life
Photo credit: Jonathan Bouknight Julie Byrne’s latest album is actually already over a year old. It came out on January 4th, making it the first new music of the year that I heard, and it clearly stuck with me. Not Even Happiness marks a personal journey in Byrne’s life, though not necessarily based in specific events; instead, the album is a series of highly personal proclamations … Continue reading Julie Byrne Finds Stability Within a Nomadic Life
sngalbums: Originally appeared on Grimy Goods. Cecilia Della Peruti has more in common with Father John Misty than meets the eye. It may have only dawned on her while we lounged at Echo Park Lake, as the Santa Ana winds ruined a family picnic nearby. After shamefully admitting I hadn’t heard Pure Comedy yet, she gushed, “the opening lyrics made me cry.” She began counting … Continue reading Eat Your Fill on Gothic Tropic’s Debut LP, Fast or Feast
sngalbums: Earlier this year I wrote about how integral ambient is to the fabric of music. In particular, I referenced two wonderful albums, Alessandro Cortini’s Avanti and Úlfur’s Arborescence, both which revealed distinct dimensions that this music can exist within. But what made a deeper impact was M. Grig’s soothing folk-inspired Still Lifes EP. I am convinced that the score of my mind and the … Continue reading Experience the Loving Ease of M. Grig’s Still Lifes EP
Earlier this year I wrote about how integral ambient is to the fabric of music. In particular, I referenced two wonderful albums, Alessandro Cortini’s Avanti and Úlfur’s Arborescence, both which revealed distinct dimensions that this music can exist within. But what made a deeper impact was M. Grig’s soothing folk-inspired Still Lifes EP. I am convinced that the score of my mind and the soundtrack … Continue reading Experience the Loving Ease of M. Grig’s Still Lifes EP
sngalbums: I played a mix of all my favorite albums from this year at a party a few weeks ago, and L’Rain ended up being the crowd favorite. Something about the swirling and looping of beats and drums and vocals grabs your attention without you even realizing. This record has been called experimental, though in all honesty there couldn’t be a more perfect representation of … Continue reading Cosmic Cruelty Becomes a Peerless Depiction of Grief on L’Rain’s Self-Titled Mixtape
Sawdust & Gin 