Blue States–Restless Spheres
Genre: Dream Pop, Trip Hop, Electronic
FFO: Beach House, Portishead, Peace Orchestra
As the summer winds down and autumn peaks its head, we search for the fitting soundtracks/playlists for the pumpkin spiced season of leaf-crunching, hoodie weather.
United Kingdom’s Blue States return from a nine year hibernation with a wonderful LP flawlessly capturing the melancholy mood of the season.
The ethereal beauty of modern Dream Pop captured by groups such as Beach House meets the darkened, beat-oriented atmosphere of Portishead in one of the most ideal Autumn albums to lose yourself within.
Restless Spheres is the ideal comeback LP for Blue States boasting 11 powerfully tracks of endlessly layered songwriting.
Dwell–Innate
Genre: Metalcore, Mathcore
FFO: Converge, Norma Jean, Advent
North Carolina quintet Dwell violently burst through the walls of the hardcore scene with a debut LP so undeniably crushing and intense, I’m still in shock attempting to type this.
The stapled chaotic propensity of Converge and nostalgic zest of Norma Jean shake hands to create perhaps one of the most heavy and ambitious Metalcore records in years.
Do NOT sleep on Dwell. I haven’t been this confident in a young band taking over in years.
inc. no world–As Light As Light
Genre: Alternative R&B, Downtempo
FFO: Frank Ocean, FKA Twigs, How to Dress Well
The Los Angeles Alt R&B artists formally known as “inc.” formally known as “Teen Inc.” strike again with a sophomore LP honing more focus towards songwriting than mood and atmosphere.
As Light As Light is a far more abrasive, soulful record branching outward for genre inspiration including subtle yet surprisingly efficient sprinkles of Alternative Country.
Norma Jean–Polar Similar
Genre: Metalcore, Mathcore, Sludge Metal
FFO: Underoath, The Chariot, Deftones
From their humble Nu Metal origins as Luti-Kriss to their stapled era of picking up where Botch left off blaring in every known alternative youth group teen’s headphones (myself included), Norma Jean hasn’t skipped a beat in their nearly 20 year career.
With their constant lineup changes and fearless experimentations, the Douglasville quintet has undoubtedly shed the Botch imitation pigeonhole and the successful evolution shines brightly despite not having a single original member left on the roster.
Polar Similar successfully blends every experimental branching the Almighty Norma Jean has placed forced with the signature Southern fried Mathcore sensibilities still in place.
The band’s seventh LP borrows from the crushing brutality of Sludge Metal and soaks in the lush atmosphere of Post Metal acts such as Isis, Pelican, or Sumac.
Nots-Cosmetic
Genre: Noise Rock, Art Punk
FFO: Bikini Kill, Refused, Makthaverskan
Memphis all girl Noise Punk outfit Nots unleash a sophomore LP leagues beyond their debut in terms of maturity, writing, and sonic experimentation.
Cosmetic is nine tracks of raw, abrasive, female-fronted Punk Rock featuring subtle layers of haunting synthesizers adding well-functioning elements of Drone.
Yohuna–Patientness
Genre: Slowcore, Dream Pop, Synthpop, Ambient
FFO: Japanese Breakfast, Florist, Foxes in Fiction
Nomadic singer/songwriter Johanne Swanson (aka Yohuna) releases her first LP with some of our friends from the Epoch including Told Slant‘s Felix Walworth and Florist‘s Emily Sprague.
Patientness is a delicate record packed with a soothing vocal performance behind dreamy layers of Synth.