-
Tan Cologne – Heretic Porcelain : Listen
The Taos hum is loud on this one. Tan Cologne is made up of New Mexico artists Lauren Green and Marissa Macias who combine forces to create sounds tied to the landscapes that surround them. They released their debut record Cave Vaults on the Moon in New Mexico earlier this year, a sparse, elemental collection of minimal, mystical sounds that really capture the essence of Taos – high desert, looming…
-
Sam Burton – I Can Go With You
Sam Burton’s debut record I Can Go With You is this amber-sounding, deep pool of moonlight. From the gentle lapping of the opening notes on “Nothing Touches Me,” to the resolution of “Tomorrow is an Ending,” it’s moving, cohesive, and a real thing of beauty. This album’s sound is so quietly large, so melancholy and rich with feeling while remaining completely understated and unassuming. The guitar is elegant and consistent…
-
Roots and Wings
This review is part of a series in which I review Neal’s solo records one by one chronologically, and chat with various friends and bandmates who were part of the making of each record. Neal said that No Wish to Reminisce was the best album he’d made… until he followed it up in 2009 with the flawless Roots and Wings. As he wrote in a Stereokill interview in 2009, “I…
-
Uay – Somos Luz : Listen
Guadalajara-based duo UAY takes their name from the phonetic translation of a Mayan word for spell or wizard, and they do indeed create a sort of magic with their hypnotic, frenzied playing. HALFSHELL RECORDS · Uay – Somos Luz Uay has contributed a track to Call and Response, a mutual aid compilation by Halfshell Records artists. 100% of proceeds will be split equally between NAACP, ACLU, National Bail Out, Okra…
-
Max Look – Seventeen : Listen
Former Midwesterner Max Look made the right move coming over to California – his breezy, Mac DeMarco-meets-fucked-up-Tweedy vibe seems better suited to friendlier climates. Seems Max has wasted no time observing the storied tradition of young musicians heading to the desert to absorb the spirit. Max has played in a handful of outfits over the years and is now going it alone. The first single from a trio he’ll be…
-
No Wish to Reminisce
This review is part of a series in which I review Neal’s solo records one by one chronologically, and chat with various friends and bandmates who were part of the making of each record. The shimmering 2006 release on Fargo Records, No Wish to Reminisce, is one of the most impressive bodies of work Neal Casal released, with dramatic flourishes and layers of sound effects offering revelations anew with each…
-
Trevor Beld Jimenez – Faces in the Crowd : Listen
The highly anticipated first single from Trevor Beld Jimenez upcoming solo debut I Like It Here is streaming on all platforms today. I wrote “Faces” on my mom’s piano in a flurry of songs that were coming out and it was the first one from that batch where [my wife] Tania said, “This one is special.”It was when I realized I could make a record. Trevor is a prolific songwriter…
-
WL – Water’s On My Side : Listen
Portland’s WL is releasing a new album, ADHD on November 13th on the Beacon Sound record label. The first single, “Water’s On My Side” is out today. “Fusing spacious electronic minimalism, shimmering guitars, and the empyrean voice of Misty Mary, Portland’s WL (pronounced ‘well’) arrive at the end of 2020 with an album of lustrous, crystalline Left Coast pop that is destined to be a trusted companion during the long…
-
Return In Kind
This review is part of a series in which I review Neal’s solo records one by one chronologically, and chat with various friends and bandmates who were part of the making of each record. Neal Casal’s 2005 covers album Return In Kind showcases what an absolute head Neal was – the song choices display the wide array of genres he loved. Neal was a perpetual student – he was obsessed…
