Weekly Release Spotlight
That one perfect album that we (and you) almost missed.
The Holey Bible by Florry
Alternative country group, Florry, has gone through many sound changes through the years, and the sound of The Holey Bible has latched on and grabbed their audience by the heartstrings, and for good reason. The Holey Bible mixes traditional folk and jam band elements with lyricism heavily inspired by the members’ Philadelphia roots. Differing from the band’s previous projects, The Holey Bible pulls you into its cohesive universe and cheekily plays upon multi-genre elements in both lyricism and musicality. Rambunctious, rowdy, yet also sweet, this album is sure to put a smile on your face and a tap in your toes.
Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / in a room7 F760 by Aphex Twin
The evil genius himself, Richard D. James A.K.A. Aphex Twin has released a new EP. Full of electronic beats, Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / in a room7 F760 is another exemplary record full of tinkering and experimentation. Though the EP only runs 14 minutes, it’s not one to miss! As always, Aphex Twin delivers on all fronts for fuzzy-brained fans of Intelligent Dance Music, a genre pioneered by James. Let this short-but-sweet EP serve as permission to dance like a total weirdo and groove along in whichever way you see fitting.
When Horses Would Run by Being Dead
When Horses Would Run by Austin, Texas-based band, Being Dead, plays on classic Americana tropes, looping in lo-fi, surf rock, and plenty of humor. To get a feel of Being Dead’s presence, one should look no further than track 9 of When Horses Would Run, entitled “We Are Being Dead,” which playfully declares that Being Dead is doing nothing but having a good time themselves, and hopes the audience is as well. This project is sweet and earnest, but not without its serious and melancholy lulls. When Horses Would Run is a charming album, making its mark alongside other new interpretations of classic Americana storytelling.
Slugs of Love by Little Dragon
Whether you know Little Dragon because of their incredible, unique vocals, or from their various collaborations with artists such as SBTRKT, Gorillaz, Mac Miller, Little Simz, and Remi Wolf, their latest project, Slugs of Love, delivers on all fronts. The Swedish band, fronted by Yukimi Nagano, has marked their presence on the electronic music scene since the 1990s, and continues to do so today. From the start, Slugs of Love is an entrancing, euphoric album. Nagano’s captivating vocals are highlighted by punchy bass and synth, creating a cohesive, expressive listening experience. This album is soulful and dreamy, and a fantastic introduction to Little Dragon’s solo work, especially for those who are more familiar with their past features.
It's Dread by Pearl Earl
The newest project from Pearl Earl, entitled It’s Dread, exemplifies many aspects of 21st-century living: feelings of despair, social immobility, and frustration with patriarchal values. These anxieties, combined with otherworldly instrumentation and lyricism, create the world that lives within this album. Fronted by Ariel Hartley, Pearl Earl draws upon themes of existentialism and anxiety, and explores gut-twisting feelings outlined by experimental instrumentals, bringing the listener along for an immersive experience, crescendoed with feelings of uplift and hope felt across the album.
Scrunched by Scrunchie
Recorded in a home studio in Los Angeles, Scrunchie's debut album, Scrunched, creates a fuzzy, foamy sound akin to 1990s shoegaze, but with a modern perspective. Danny Rincon, under the moniker Scrunchie, recorded all of the instrumentation himself. Scrunched is a short-but-sweet listen, clocking in at just under 24 minutes, and every minute is packed with sound, as one would expect from shoegaze. This project seamlessly blends classic 1990s nostalgia, brought by legendary mixing and mastering engineers Sonny DiPerri (My Bloody Valentine, Nine Inch Nails) and Stephen Marcussen (The Smashing Pumpkins, The Strokes) with 2020s maximalist production brought by Rincon himself. Give this album a listen and lose yourself in its loose, dreamy tracks.