- Laveda – ‘Rager’
Having already featured the NY dream pop/shoegaze oufit Laveda, a few times in the recent past, it’s high time to make it on our Songs of the Week column. And it’s for good, since ‘Rager‘ is by far their most energetic track, an electric, fuzzed out shoegazer reminiscent of Godfathers of shoegaze, My Bloody Valentine. The video by Derick Noetzel is a pure ‘post-apocalyptic chaos’. Lost in the fuzz!
Christos Doukakis
- ReFraqtion – ‘Грани’
No fan of idm should miss this one. This Russian project is called ReFraction, and in just 3 minutes manages with ‘Грани‘ (Grani) to create an immense valley of sounds based on ‘distorted steel sounds of modular synths and emphasizing the groove part‘. Not even a second is lost in this dense opus, and a little while after half way through an unexpected, spine-chilling melody will invade your soul.
More industrial than Autechre and more melodic than Venetian Snares, ReFraction should be on our radar for some exciting experimental-industrial idm in the near future.
Christos Doukakis
- Cemican – ‘Ol Kaab May’
Guadalajara-based folk metal sextet Cemican recently released ‘Yóok ‘ol kaab Maya‘ for [adult swim] Singles. The track, whose title translates to mean ‘Our Mayan Universe’, mixes the Mayan language with Spanish alongside heavy riffs, nature sounds, and indigenous instrumentation.
‘Yóok ‘ol kaab Maya‘ is perhaps best summed up by the band itself: “It discusses the construction of the Mayan empire, its sacred temples and its people. There is also talk of contact with the stars and the astral journey together with non-earthly beings — the helpers of creation — who were given the power to create, die and reincarnate, dominate eclipses and walk with the jaguar. The four elements of life are mentioned — water, fire, wind and earth as part of the mystical light.”
Sarah Medeiros
- A.A. Williams – ‘Be Quiet and Drive’
English songstress A.A. Williams began an ‘Isolation Cover Series’ from her North London home over a month ago, and recently released ‘Be Quiet and Drive‘ originally performed by the Deftones as the fifth in the series. The stripped down track begins with the dark dream-folk singer brushing a pair of pliers across the strings of an electric guitar and then easing into a haunting forest of vocals. Melancholic and divine, give it a “spin” right this instance! Be sure to check out Williams’ covers of Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, Gordon Lightfoot, and Nick Cave as well.
Sarah Medeiros
- Moonbootica – ‘Get Closer’ (feat. Nathan Nicholson)
It came as a sweet surprise to ‘bump into’ indie rock faves The Boxer Rebellion‘s Nathan Nicholson, undertaking the vocal duties in Moonbotica‘s latest ecstatic melodic tech house ‘Get Closer‘. The German duo (Oliver Kowalski & Tobias Schmidt), also founders of Moonbootique Records, have created an ear-melting anthem, another exceptional single and the message behind this ‘hymn’ in their own words is:
‘It’s up to all of us to use our common sense: we need to stick together, support one other, get through this with each other’s help – all from a safe distance of course. This musical trio offers you the perfect soundtrack, an optimistic spirit booster, even without a dancefloor. “There’s more to tomorrow than looking over your shoulder”, Nicholson sings. “Be a stream that one day becomes a river”. In other words, less on your lonesome, more in unison, collectively summoning up the strength to look beyond these difficult days. But this is way more than just some random track exhorting us to hold on: it’s the beating heart of the moment. Let’s embrace it‘.
Vital! Get closer!
Christos Doukakis
Compiled by Christos Doukakis & Sarah Medeiros