Aphex Twin–Cheetah EP
Genre: Techno
FFO: Squarepusher, Boards of Canada, Daft Punk (old)
Electronic legend Richard D. James is at it again with another release encompassing his bizarre antics as well as his ambient tendencies.
Cheetah boasts a more simplistic take on the Aphex formula with a safer tempo approach one can groove to without having a panic attack.
The latest release from Aphex Twin is the ideal launch pad for newcomers to the nonsensical nature of Richard D. James as well as rookies to the wonderful world of techno itself.
However, this does not take away from the brilliance of Cheetah in the slightest.
Asphalt Graves–The New Primitive
Genre: Death Metal, Grindcore
FFO: Nails, The Red Chord, Dying Fetus
Many of you probably have the new Nails record on constant rotation aching for more, and I have incredibly good news for that specific demographic:
Asphalt Graves is a Richmond, Virginia-based “Deathgrind” supergroup consisting of members of Dying Fetus, Gwar, and The Black Dahlia Murder and they just released a debut LP that is guaranteed to melt your face right off.
The New Primitive is a no-nonsense 25 minute burst of anger and ferocity. There is no technicalities. No pristine solos. Just straight brutality right off the cuff.
The Avalanches–Wildflower
Genre: Electronica, Ambient, Psychedelic, Hip Hop, Dance, Disco Pop, Plunderphonics
FFO: Gorillaz, MF Doom, Toro y Moi
It’s been a long sixteen years since Australia’s The Avalanches dropped their electronic, sample-driven opus known as Since I Left You.
Rumors of a follow up record have popped up again and again for the past decade and a half and now it’s FINALLY here. The group’s long-awaited sophomore effort picks up exactly where they “left us.”
Wildflower is a colorful collection of sun-soaked, sample-driven pop tracks guaranteed to be our summer anthems.
Guest spots include Father John Misty, Danny Brown, MF Doom, and many more.
Think of Wildflower as Since I Left You‘s highly anticipated sequel that patiently waited for its time to shine with a more modernized take on the music industry. Just try to imagine the vast differences in pop culture jabs the recently announced Spaceballs sequel has in store. This is the musical equivalent.
BadBadNotGood–IV
Genre: Experimental Jazz, Hip Hop, Instrumental, Electronica, Funk, R&B
FFO: Flying Lotus, Ghostface Killah, Flume
You may know Toronto Experimental Jazz quartet BadBadNotGood from their well-received collaboration record with the one and the only Ghostface Killah of Wu Tang fame.
Sour Soul showcased a more laid-back, aged Ghost blending into the euphoric jazz-funk instrumentals provided by the BadBadNotGood ensemble.
The group’s follow up and fourth studio LP simply titled IV once again proves why this band was hand-chosen by Ghostface himself.
Immerse yourself in captivating, smooth jazz borrowing from elements of genres along the likes of Hip Hop, R&B, Funk, and many more.
Copywrite–Blood, Bath, & Beyond
Genre: Hip Hop, Rap
FFO: Cage, RJD2, Sean Price
Columbus, Ohio’s underground Hip Hop act Peter William Nelson (aka Copywrite) storms the scene with a fourth LP dealing with far more personal matters than predecessors.
Substance abuse, loss of a loved one, and many more intimate themes encompass the newfound heart-on-sleeve lyrical stylings found on Blood, Bath, & Beyond.
Nelson’s sincerity, individualism, and commitments to never selling out come across powerfully with each lyric spat.
Frameworks–Smother
Genre: Screamo, Melodic Hardcore
FFO: Touche Amorè, Barrow, Pianos Become the Teeth
The sophomore LP from Gainesville, Florida’s Frameworks channels a far more aggressive and passionate take on the Screamo genre than their debut.
Smothered is a loud whirlwind of emotions finding the ideal meeting ground between raw screamo and pristine, beautiful Melodic Hardcore.
Gone is Gone-“Self Titled EP”
Genre: Rock, Progressive Rock
FFO: Mastodon, Queens of the Stone Age, Failure
Gone is Gone is an LA-based rock trio consisting of members of Mastodon, At the Drive In, and Queens of the Stone Age.
With Troy Sanders taking vocal command, the group’s surface sound bares a striking resemblance to Mastodon‘s, but the overall edge is less metallic, and the songwriting approach is far more linear but not void of progression.
Gone is Gone‘s debut EP is a hard-hitting, straight-forward rock experience that achieves a strong atmosphere on every level.
Ian William Craig–Centres
Genre: Drone, Avant Garde, Ambient, Electronic, Neo Classical, Post Rock
FFO: Sigur Ros, Boris, Merzbow
Perhaps this week’s most ambitious release comes from the heart of Vancouver, Canada.
Known for his unique usage of cassette players, synthesizers, and reel to reel machines to create entrancing ambience and powerfully atmospheric drone, Ian William Craig continues to illustrate his mastery of the art with his ninth LP.
Centres is a self destructive abstract piece where each textured layer of sound feels like a paint stroke with our ears as its canvas.
Inter Arma–Paradise Gallows
Genre: Sludge Metal, Doom Metal, Black Metal
FFO: Ulcerate, Neurosis, Black Tusk, Terra Tenebrosa
Richmond’s sinister sludge outfit Inter Arma strike back with a crushing third LP.
Paradise Gallows expands upon the group’s signature three way blend of Doom, Sludge, and Black Metal with shifting tempos and vocal ranges finding the ideal balance of horror and chaotic brutality.
Omni–Deluxe
Genre: Post Punk, Indie Rock
FFO: Protomartyr, Interpol, The Strokes, Wire
Meet Omni.
They are a Post Punk-inspired Indie Rock trio based out of Atlanta, Georgia fronted by Frankie Balkans (formerly of Deerhunter fame).
Their debut LP Deluxe is a fun, bright, poppy take on the genre basking in the sounds of ’80s era nostalgia.
The record is filled with funky arpeggio-based riffage coupled with some jangley, toe-tapping tunes.
ScHoolboy Q–Blank Face
Genre: Hip Hop, Rap
FFO: Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Mozzy
West Coast Hip Hop titan ScHoolboy Q makes no comprises releasing his most ambitious yet least mainstream-sounding effort to date.
Blank Face is LP number four for Q and here we see the artist spending a good chunk of the record revisiting 90’s Gangsta Rap flavors similar to the likes of Wu Tang.
Many will agree the 90’s era of Hip Hop saw the most passionate, authentic form of street poetry and Blank Face serves as a tip of the hat to that era whilst blending modern sensibilities in the mix (such as a cameo from Kanye).
TTNG–Disappointment Island
Genre: Emo, Math Rock, Indie Rock
FFO: American Football, Foxing, Minus The Bear
UK Math Rockers TTNG (fka This Town Needs Guns) have very little to prove after two fantastic LPs illustrating a flawless balance between pristine, twinkly Emo and busy, complex Math instrumentation.
The group’s third LP Disappointment Island shows a more relaxing melancholic songwriting approach while still far more simple instrumentation.
The record may appear less jaw-dropping than its predecessors at first listen, but it is a solid addition to TTNG‘s catalogue comfortably seeking a more mature surface to scratch.
Wolverine–Machina Viva
Genre: Progressive Metal
FFO: Between the Buried and Me, Dream Theater, Candlemass
Swedish “Progmetal” act Wolverine strike back with a deeply layered, textured fifth LP.
Machine Viva is multi-dimensional Prog experience calling upon endless layers of strong, graceful, lush, atmospheric instrumentation with heavy usage of dark electronics and subtle trumpet and string usage.
The vocal performance may sound dated but it remains true to the core of Wolverine‘s signature style and only serve as a mere spice to the complex recipe that is Machina Viva.