New Dizzy Demos / Nitekat – Concentration Mixes – Gulch
Dizzy, Nitekat, Gulch. The first two releases made for a great Bandcamp Friday. Gulch split released around the end of February. I am pleased with all three of these, please read on.
Mike Polizze – Dizzy Demos 2 tickets To Cheeseburger in Paradise – Paradise of Bachelors Records
In 2020 Mike Polizze releases the LP Long Lost Solace Find. Dizzy Demos is a companion to this LP as they are b-sides from that era and demo versions from 2020’s release. If you really want to challenge yourself read my musings on this fantastic 2020 LP herehttps://meatsheetfanzine.com/mike-polizze-long-lost-solace-find-paradise-of-bachelors/
So onto the tracks. “Sign of Life” is a melody treasure chest . Sparkling background piano work that trickles through a minor? acoustic guitar progression. If you did not know Kurt Vile collaborated on Long Lost Solace Find. Both Kurt and Mike really bring it on this one and I am glad they released this song.
If “Cheewawa” is the summer song off Long Lost Solace find, “Sign of Life” could be the Autumn companion.
In addition to this song you get demo versions marbles sit down eyes reach across Revelation Bainmarie and Cheewawa. All of these demo versions hit me with the quality of Long Lost Solace Find.
For example the track “Bainmarie” is just as skillful and beautifully played, but the picking and guitars have a warmer, more intimate quality.
It may be the closest I can get to the feeling of seeing and hearing these guys in your living room jamming (or seeing them in a small in store performance or coffee shop setting) In many cases I enjoy hearing demos of artists I happen to be a fan of, and this is no exception.
The quality and resolution of the songs is already there in these demos. If you enjoy Long Lost Solace Find.. this is just like a bonus release with a few extra cuts. I chose this is one of my best LPS for 2020. Obviously I have to say that this is a great supplemental to Long Lost Solace Find. There is one more song called “Sunny Sundays”.
Its a strummy, playful, and fun tune.
It feels more like capturing what they’re talking about in the title than a philosophical piece. So it’s more of a feeling set to melody for me.
I highly recommend this record to anyone who enjoys acoustic indie folk type music. In case you missed Mike’s 2020 LP. If you’re familiar with that then this is a no-brainer you should love it. And of course if you’re a Kurt Vile fan. It’s like discovering all the good music that came out during a really dark time all over again.
Nitekat – Concentration Single
I found this due to Jeremy Bastard’s remix of a song on this EP. Who is Jeremy Bastard? I thought you’d never ask. Here is one small piece on him from 2020. https://meatsheetfanzine.com/jeremy-bastard-everyone-is-history-there-is-no-memory/
I reckon, I like the nite, I love kats so let’s give this a whirl. First we have the title track sans remix. I can hear a bit of 80’s new wave influence.
Concentration is electronic with a sense of melancholy.
However there is hope in the general feeling of the song. It incorporates both and is a great mellow dance inspired track. Although NiteKat’s vocals are maybe a half a step higher I am reminded of OMD, aka Orchestral Maneuvres In The Dark. One of OMD’s less festive songs though, if I had to pick a hit , “So In Love” has similar feeling. On second thought both vocalists could be in same registers or have the range that can exist in “Concentration” ‘s realm.
It is a welcome change for me as I rarely get to hear stuff like this. Backing the vocals, there sounds like a minor key progression on keys that is half between clean piano, but not distorted saw synth. I may be out of the loop but I think this track is fresh modern take on 80’s dance / pop. Listen up https://nitekat.bandcamp.com/album/concentraion-single
Second is Jeremy Bastard’s Dystopia remix. Stripped down treble and bass boosted. This mix is definitely darker and I reckon the name Dystopia is a reflection of that. Ominous synth saw waves also give the mix an edge.
It’s like a darker semi evil twin brother.
Next is 2021 version of this song. Lighter than the Dystopia mix with chiming marimba like keyboard notes. Perhaps this could be the tropical version of the original. The slight melancholy remains, only with a more uplifting background score.
Finally we come to the fourth remix “You Can Count On DJ Fancy Remix” This mix is percussion heavy and probably the most upbeat. This mix has the most contrast, take that for what you will. ‘You can count on me’ is looped and the keys have changed back to pianos and a synthesized horn. These sounds are still not as prominent as Nitekat’s vocal melodies. These vocal melodies are what draw me in.
I’m definitely interested in hearing what Nitekat will release next. Synth and 80’s pop fans should check this out, especially you somewhat sad kids. No judgements, just a strong pop single.
Gulch – Bolt Swallower – Gulch / Sunami split single – Triple B Records
Finally, I’ll talk about Gulch. I’ve heard this band’s name. Yes, like most things in modern hardcore, I slept on it. Like early Agnostic Front – It’s my mistake. Listen for yourself here. https://gulch.bandcamp.com/
Bolt Swallower by Gulch is leaning heavily towards more doom inspired, grinding metal. For me , not a bad thing. There is an energetically charged controlled type of chaos when they play fast. That part reminds me of faster hardcore that blurred the line of hardcore and thrash. (think of crossover type stuff from late 80’s on up to today)
When they slow down, it’s heavy, akin to Obituary and your Earache Records style bands.
The outro sounds like a cleaner guitar and has a spaghetti western ending type of vibe which just gives a nice contrasted flavor to the more abrasive 4 minutes and change of Bolt Swallower. I would think this is straightforward for most listeners. Most people should understand or “get” this. This doesn’t mean I find it derivative of what it sounds like. Gulch brings their influences (I should say ‘who they remind me of’ instead” into 2021 with a vengenace.
Before I check out of this, “Accelerator” is also very good, intense. Speed, intensity, and maybe a very touch of black metal influence as there could be a few minor notes or chords. This flurry whips through you and left me wondering what just happened. The music is full of fury, the lyrics, unintelligible. You get a short mosh part. Drums sound huge, the bass sounds like a maniac chasing after you in a horror movie, chud chud chud chud. Seriously, earnestly, on these two songs this band covers all the bases. The cover art ? Peculiar, but that has no bearing on the music. These two tracks impressed me and made me want to seek out more bands that go heavy and blend sub genres. Guess I ‘ll have to work my way back through Gulch’s highly regarded other stuff.