New in March – Heavenly Bodies – Léanie Kaleido – Lazer – Cro Mags
Léanie Kaleido LP releases. This artist is new to me, check it out. Also Heavenly Bodies out of Philadelphia. I am a self proclaimed Philly- ophile and this band’s EP is quite the contrast to Léanie’s (which hopefully makes for better reading). Also we have a new song and video from Cro Mags and Lazer Beam. Trying to keep up with my small scope of music that comes my way has been quite the challenge. If you are in a similar space or know one of these artists, please sense them and read on.
Heavenly Bodies – Obscure Sad Terrible
This is an EP that will challenge anybody seeking ‘accessible pop’ but if you found a way to my blog perhaps you’re open to that, as I am. Check it out https://heavenlybodiesphl.bandcamp.com/track/synesthesia
“Bilobatus”, the opening song is 14 minutes. After listening to a lot of pop and singer songwriting type of stuff this track is very welcome.
Droning feedback with some treble heavy squawks and groans that sound like steel girders gradually giving way.
Heavenly Bodies use this sustain and feedback to create tension galore. Again for me not a problem at all. There is an undeniable weight and heaviness to this song. As it progresses a repetitive riff is born.
This said riff is like carrying a 5 lb weight a long distance, at first it is barely noticeable, after a while it just gets heavier and heavier.
“Contact Binary” starts off with somewhat gentle , fluttery notes from a six string. Again, Heavenly Bodies repeating notes and or riffs to create trance like guitar soundscape. The underlying guitar and bass notes allude that something is generating a momentum, slowly, gradually. In essence two or more parts of the song that push and pull simultaneously. One may see/hear this in the way noise and shoegaze bands build up a sonic wave and then eventually it crashes. About 2/3 of the 9 minutes into the track, more treble centric riffs add to the fray, more tension, and some strategic drum and cymbal hits.
By now what started fluttery, “Contact Binary” is now aggressive and pummelling. Still retaining some melody but with confident dissonance. Basically this is headbangable stuff for those who don’t necessarily want to play/listen to textbook stoner or thrash.
“Synethesia” clocks in even longer than “Bilobatus” but is of similar weight and quality. Featuring a bleak, but satisfying drone to open this gigantic track, “Synethesia” ‘s hovers and shimmers like light from a desolate star in the sky. Even a luddite like me might cross reference Flying Saucer Attack’s “Rainstorm Blues” yet with less obvious drones and revolutions per minute than FSA’s track. Heavenly Bodies “Synethesia” oscillates similarly , only at different intensity and frequency.
As “Synethesia” progresses it has the feeling of a delay pedal or 3 set to long maybe infinite repeats.
Once again, this intrigues me and captures my interest, rather than the opposite. The bass guitar and or keyboard checks in among the washes of trebled delay as if it is a subtle , syncopated foghorn cutting through the think, murky waves. There is much to unravel and listen to in this E.P. As we near the 2/3 mark we have a call and response kind of guitar note(s) that signal the shit’s going to go down.
The stars (aka Heavenly Bodies) collapse inward only to supernova outwards, if you will.
I am by no means an astronomer so any of you astrophysicists that feel the need to weight in, step off ! The noise that ensues is the culmination of about 15 minutes of build up. Far longer than any typical I – phone user can muster.
Shrieking guitars that go from heavy to near squeals. Flurries of cymbal and bass.(I’m in)
They end somewhat abruptly but I am left satisfied. Fans of experimental /noise would be at a loss to not investigate this once or maybe five plus times. Stellar E.P. from Philadelphia.
Léanie Kaleido – How To Weigh A Whale Without A Scale – OX4 Sound
This release came my way by chance. This is a little outside of my realm so bear with me. However, this is produced by Mark Gardener who is in RIDE. RIDE happens to be one of my favorites so I reckon I can take a risk of putting foot in mouth. Wouldn’t be the first time. This is recommended for fans of Jenny Hval, Cat Power , Feist, Bat for Lashes, Lykke Li , The Beatles, Austra, Lily Allen, and Tori Amos if that helps. Onto the LP, How To Weigh A Whale Without A Scale.
Lend an ear https://leaniekaleido.bandcamp.com/album/how-to-weigh-a-whale-without-a-scale
First the opener is called “All The Things I’m Made Of” . This track immediately references Tori Amos for me because I’m not very familiar with any of the other influences except the Beatles. I tend to favor Leanie’s vocals over Tori.
Leanie’s are less dramatic than what I remember of Tori Amos but I think there’s just as much drive and passion. Leanie seems more vocally direct but still full of melody. Keep in mind this is a cursory listen and I am by no means a big Tori Amos fan.
“Someone’s Daughter” is an enchanting song with some really vibrant and warm organ sounds backing Leanie’s. The acoustic guitar track adds extra flavor of an intimate gig in a small room. Vocal melody in the chorus wins me over. It could be contemplative, wistful, as she delivers the title. The accompaniment locks into this melody tightly.
As I listen more, this song knocks me out with the melodies.
“Nobody’s Hero” is lyrically catchy, Léanie employing rhymes with arpeggiated piano.
The title track , “How To Weigh A Whale Without A Scale” feels introspective, less melodic overall, but definitely conveying a heavier mood. The descending vocal notes at about the half way mark really make the parts before and after it work for the song. It is quite intoxicating (borrowing from Léanie’s lyric within this track) “Mr. Dragonfly” again conjures Heavenly and / or Ivy (former Sarah records artists)
This track is close to a ballad, but the strumming of the acoustic guitar and the sugary (not sappy) vocals keep it just above the realm of ballad.
“Hat Thief” is a fun number. The melodies are summery and sweet. My own personal parallel for this track could have been something like the band (from K records ) Heavenly’s cousin. Léanie’s vocals being more intricately constructed but similar in overall spirit . In conclusion, this is a strong LP with great production. If you know and love any of the above artists, and my babbling made sense to you, then I am certain this would be worth spinning.
Lazer Beam – You Drive Me Crazy
Lazer Beam releases another single. Read up and listen about the other(s) here https://meatsheetfanzine.com/andrew-wk-and-mogwai-babalon-mogwai-new-singles/ Additionally , to hear more from this band, cruise over here https://lazerbeam.bandcamp.com/
“You Drive Me Crazy” is darker, less catchy than Lazer Beam’s previous singles. Which is okay with me. I think that this band’s work can shine on the poppier groovy side of the fence or conversely on the more foreboding, doom side as well. It makes for a nice contrast. The tone is similar to what I have heard.
This single however goes a little darker , deeper, and lays the fretwork down thicker.
The self described ‘impossible riff’ seems fresh, but still heavy. I’ve listened to a fair share of stuff like this, but I am by no means an absolute authority on music that is heavy. I dig this track because it is slightly different than “Sink Or Swim” , “Call to Arms” and the others I have heard from Lazer Beam. I’m very curious to see how it play with the entire album that is scheduled for April 2021.
Cro Mags – Life On Earth – Mission Two Entertainment (?)
This video and single is perfectly where you would expect this incarnation of the Cro Mags to be in 2020 or 2021. It’s under 2 minutes, it’s intense. Production and playing is tight. The song has a feel that is post Age of Quarrel to me. Not necessarily a bad thing for me. It would be foolish to expect a sequel to that.
However, I already know Harley and company can pull off raw aggression, hardcore, etc. I am hoping for a twist or curve ball so to speak.
The video https://www.hysteriamag.com/cro-mags-drop-music-video-life-earth/?fbclid=IwAR0T_VTW4R1Fd–5Odqv1TAPy6Bi6fTf-x3Dv3wllqZ-8x2yyLcda9FA3I4 is also well done showing you snippets of a lot of things going on around the world in the last year or so. One might think that is a negative thing I just see it as Harley Flanagan dealing with the anxiety and stress of a pandemic planet . If anything it’s somebody who has a platform who can speak on our behalf as things have been pretty crazy and this just seems like a commentary on that. There’s some live footage cut in of the band performing which kind of makes me miss live shows even more.
For a companion blurb regarding Cro Mags click https://meatsheetfanzine.com/new-november-tunage-2020-new-music-november/
The chugging bass/ drum intro and multi-layered six string riffs definitely get the job done. Has a great tempo for moshing. There is a higher guitar bend that references classic hardcore and when you hear it you will know it. Gives a little feeling of urgency or dread. This song is very good yet as previously mentioned, I am still waiting to hear if there is a surprise in store. Harley may have mentioned an album in which they take this sound and throw the real curveball to the sound. It is likely that we will find out soon so if you are a fan stay tuned