The Fifth, Freya’s forthcoming record, features art that looks upward at a barred stained glass window. The light reflects beautifully on the wall, but the stairwell appears infinite and unattainable. The lead single from the album creates a parallel sense of yearning through dreamy reverb and buried vocals. Pre-order The Fifth on Bandcamp.  Source: Bandcamp Continue reading

Fighting for civil liberties and sad beats with Gadget and the Cloud

Originally appeared on the 405, view archived article here.  Math and music, the two universal languages. One exists in a vacuum without room for empathy, and the other is colored by just about every emotion an artist can muster. Often we focus on the sadness of music, especially in cases where circumstances are inherently upsetting (A Crow Looked at Me, Carrie & Lowell). Seeing a … Continue reading Fighting for civil liberties and sad beats with Gadget and the Cloud

The first time you absorb “Bad For Glass,” you may think you’re being fed subliminal messages. The bell that pauses the song briefly certainly adds to that feeling. But eventually you realize it’s just a jazz experiment gone completely overboard, and the images feel less unsettling. This track appears on Xander Naylor’s LP, Arc, which you can pick up on Bandcamp.  <a href=“http://xandernaylor.bandcamp.com/album/arc-2”>Arc by Xander Naylor</a> Continue reading