New Powerful Heavenly Empire
Heavenly Glare and Bodies. Glare’s Heavenly EP is out. New Heavenly Bodies and plenty of music to calm oneself. Conversely, I’m hoping you broke out Iron Maiden Killers and blasted Ides Of March. Perhaps you successfully avoided the drunkards who don’t really care about historic Irish tradition. Let’s face it, no matter what day it is, give the amateurs a reason to act a fool and they do. So, in order to get you through the last moments of winter you can take refuge in music and this blog.
This batch of music features various interpretations of indie rock and electronica. I’m out of good terms to describe stuff so bear with me. Plus a classic hip hop artist Chill Rob G. Much like me, Chill Rob G has a few decades between his releases. So check him and my ” Printed Zine” tab. https://meatsheetfanzine.com/printed-zine/ Both of us took a decade or two break and are back.
Luna Waves – Blood Moon
From Bedford UK we have Luna Waves. Rob Muir creates songs about bella luna, summer, and changing dream like states. Here is where you can soak in some waves. https://lunawavesmusic.bandcamp.com/
Dawn Choral opens up Blood Moon with birdsong and shimmers. It’s definitely how I’d like to start the day. The slap of the beat is hard but the guitars and shimmer is like slowly waking up and being grateful for a chance to do it over again. I can hear a little True Faith by New Order or maybe that Washed Out track that opens Portlandia.
It’s that blissed-out tired feeling right before your coffee.
Which subsequently leads to Dayglow. This track still feels like morning. Eased back . Relaxed . Chimey synth chords. Vocals that marvel the new day. Mind Low is the song that feels like you have awoken a bit more. The guitar is pronounced and has a bit of drive. Mind Low goes darker than the two openers. It has a feeling similar to Smashing Pumpkins Adore songs that feature guitar. (Adore is the least guitar driven SP album at its release time)
Next is a song that could be cousin to Chilean group Holydrug Couple’s Moonlust. Luna Waves tweaks the sounds but is still very akin to Moonlust’s delivery and sonic qualities. As one could say this is a con, i say it’s a pro. A talking point if you prefer to call it that. Also Luna Waves is providing all tracks by himself, Holydrug Couple have at least four members. Having said that Sunny Side Down is a laid back saunter of a song with a killer throb of bass and some keys that sound like string sections (like some Flaming Lips and aforementioned Holydrug Couple) If you know then you know. If you don’t this is your invite to find out.
Cosmic Dust is a laid back electro space voyage that will not tie you up so long as the theory of relativity applies.
It’s a four minute trip. I bet you wish you could compress time / space like this ? I do.
Chasing the Ruins, Time Capsule jumps out at me the most as far as Luna Waves being influenced by Tame Impala. It’s the driving beat juxtaposed with the vocal melodies. The guitar sings its own complimentary lead while the synth emits foggy, hazy, but luscious background.
Onward to Dream Inn. Check in to a Kurt Vile reminiscent room decorated with electronica. Although it is not nearly as folky as KV’s material there is an obvious influence.
Cool As Ice Cream‘s light and swirly textures feel like gelato. The airier alternative to ice cream. The melodies mixed within are just as cool. This track is where the Washed Out and Tame Impala influence is seamlessly musically blended into a clear super relaxed joyride. Stand out track and possibly the title is a nod to Smashing Pumpkins La Dolly Vita. Doesn’t sound like that SP track but as a huge Gish era fan one can hope.
Blood Moon as a whole is a long playing respite from aggressive music. I welcome this more and more after working in a music shop with headbangers playing out of tune. So if you are already a fan of the bands mentioned or you need a break from crushing , pummeling music. Try this LP and the next which brings me to..
Paris Music Corp. – S/T LP
Paris Music Corp. aka John Andrew Paris offers a self titled electro slab of ambient elbow grease. PMC makes this sound easy though. There are many moods and landscapes present. Mostly luminous, occasionally turning ominous. Impressive as PMC hails from Austin, Texas. I am aware of a decent hardcore and punk scene there and hat tip to the Big Boys. Shout out to Dave A , Tamicka, Jack all in Austin. Back to the LP at hand.
These sounds that create pictures for the listener take you soaring over different terrain.
The Original Orb gently opens leading to Almost Lost. Almost Lost feels like a direct homage to Bowery Electric “Beat” era songs. As it plays a second drum beat offsets the main one creating tension. PMC uses the keys to layer these two beats. Which makes this track even richer. The addition of low frequency simulated human chorus and higher phasing in an out notes that suggest sprawling skies and or space.
Light Speed could easily be an homage to Down In The Park by Gary Numan with an upgraded hip hop beat. Although its overtly mellow, the raise in pitch suggests acceleration hence its name.
Witch Harvest is a break from airy light sounds to a darker foreboding soundscape. Mystery and magic abounds. The repetition of sounds suggests trance and ritual like states.
Additionally Desolation Birth departs from the exploratory mostly light seeking sounds into dystopian territory. It’s like a short flyover of a ruined cityscape.
Just after this track Here It Is overcomes the dystopia and desolation with a soulful drum and bass composition. By soulful I mean deep soul Rand B like expressive vocals. More than likely a singer that can sing anything from Gospel, funk, or anything they wish. Think Aretha Franklin and the vocalists akin and influenced by soul.
Overall, Paris Music Corp. is a coherent record with a propensity leaning towards mostly downtempo sounds. Recommended for fans of Mick Karn (Japan – the new wave group) Bowery Electric, Vangelis, and several others. These are the points of reference I hear as well as any of the proficient synth players of the past. Mainly Gary Numan and some of the trip hop of 90’s.
Paris Music Corp. really dials in soundscapes and moods on this work. Although the works are 100% audio, they create many different visuals in my head. It’s like an ambient downtempo slideshow for the ears. Bandcamp Friday is just around the way, so here is a way you can support https://parismusiccorp.bandcamp.com/album/paris-music-corp
La Casa Al Mare – Otherwise / Autumn
These two songs hit hard. Shoegaze from Italy? Sorprendente !
Otherwise is a lively and wobbly indie pop tune. The drag of the tremolo arm on guitar phases the driving jangle in and out. Refreshing to hear an upbeat ‘shoegaze’ song these days. Otherwise is a fitting companion to the indie pop of early Velocity Girl, Tiger Trap, Heavenly. The phasing however is textbook My Bloody Valentine in nature.
A pleasant contrast is Autumn , the other side or track 2 depending on the format you prefer.
If Otherwise has kinetic energy, Autumn has stasis and the fall chill to it.
Autumn , due to its delicate picked guitar notes feels like late fall. The notes containing the anticipation of winter that is not quite there yet. Maybe the leaves or first snow is upon you. Flurries of quick cymbal hits melt into one continuous shimmer. A dreary and bleary collection of sounds but also gorgeous. These two tracks are just right together. I can imagine what a longer EP or LP like this would be like if La Casa Al Mare can match the quality of these two songs. Perfect for a playlist of your own curation. Please (per favore) show the house to the sea (La Casa al Mare) some love here (qui) https://lacasaalmare.bandcamp.com/album/otherwise-autumn
Heavenly Bodies – Universal Resurrection – Petty Bunco Records
The Bodies return on their orbit to stir up some more atmospheric dust. A long running cosmic story condensed into single 24 minute auditory recording.
Pre order vinyl or digitally support HB here https://heavenlybodiesphl.bandcamp.com/album/universal-resurrection
Universal Resurrection starts with minimalistic multi picking of guitars. Some soft, some harder edged stringed staccato. Along with well placed bass and echoes, Heavenly Bodies are setting the mood. Similar to their previous releases, the tension slowly builds. See also Heavenly Bodies ‘White Dwarf’ and or ‘Obscure , Sad , Terrible’
It’s if you are watching two celestial orbs slowly converge and then finally eclipse.
Meanwhile as the tension builds, there are some chirps of feedback that come in and out of the piece like light from stars dying and being born within short spans of time. The guitars become more droning and menacing. The drums go from accented hits to being beaten to the inch of the drum heads life. Full on crash and ride blasts take over the previous shimmer. The constant guitar motif repeats whilst the another guitar throws more wild card tones.
Heavenly Bodies Universal Resurrection builds a gradual and magnificent cacophony. As it glows white hot and crescendos it begins to recede and cool down.
After that he void slowly returns and one can marvel at the sound experience they just had. Experimental space rock fans would be missing out if they don’t sense this release that will be out just after the equinox.
Chill Rob G – Empires Crumble – Spitslam Music Group
John Meat marks this album safe from wack ass rap. I don’t know what is going with rap / hip hop these days but this is fresh. There’s melodic samples. Public Enemy samples galore. https://chillrobg.bandcamp.com/
First, let’s back up. Chill Rob G appeared on the music set circa 1987. If you happen to know some hip hop history, Chill Rob G started with Flavor Unit out of North New Jersey. 201 rep. You may know Queen Latifah, Lakim Shabazz (now known as God Lakim) , 45 King, and a host of others. These whom are either part of Flavor Unit or adjacent to it. See also Native Tongues, Naughty By Nature, and many more from NY / NJ metro area.
This is the follow up after a long break in music for Chill Rob G. This sounds old school and I love it. You see, for me, if hip hop is old school and done like this, it stays fresh through time. If not you get stuff like Vanilla Ice and other novelty acts. The two idiots called Island Boys and other grown men acting like toughguys and or babies (simultaneously).
On this album there is a strong undercurrent of sampled R and B and funk. Smooth flowing rhymes. Beats to bob your head, scratches. The whole Sha – bang.
Album art cover ? Looks like Public Enemy inspired with a footer that reads ” Nothing Lasts Forever” Chil Rob G’s logo looks like it could be related to Kool G Rap’s . This is not an artist who is referencing the earlier days of hip hop from the exterior lens, Chill Rob G experienced it first hand.
I shit you not, this whole LP is so consistent that to highlight a few tracks would be hard. The last track is a remake of Chill Rob G’s Power from his debut album . NOT the one that Snap! recorded which is basically most of Chill Rob G’s content remixed. As a bonus Chuck D of Public Enemy guest stars on Power. Nuff said.
Empires Crumble is an instant classic. Makes mincemeat of these mumbling mono rhythmic beat fools that litter the information super highways. Long live Chill Rob G and peace to North New Jersey aka Flavor Unit.
Drug Church – Hygiene
I covered the first two tracks thinking this is going to be a formidable record and sure enough it is.
Tap / click https://meatsheetfanzine.com/this-is-only-a-peace-test/ So in addition to these fine initial tracks released you get more fine songs that trace roots back to hardcore, yet evolve into something more expansive. In many cases I hope to hear a band evolve out of 3 chord hardcore and show some seasoned chops. Drug Church has that. Plucked is a standout for guitar work. Classic DC hanging on a note that you hear on Dischord bands like Fugazi.
On World Impact, Piss and Quiet, Fun’s Over (possibly all of Hygiene) it’s as if their is a unified effort to explore how heavy can we get and still maintain strong pop hooks.
Athlete On A Beach paints the picture of Drug Church’s rhythm section. When the guitars drop out you can hear the groove go full on. When they come in it was even more apparent how competent the layers are on this LP. This is not someone’s mother or father’s classic hardcore. It’s an amalgam of hardcore meets multiple other personalities. Each different ones but still holding it down together. If Fiddlehead Between The Richness was one of the undeniable greats of ‘ 21 then Hygiene is a contender for ’22. Indubitably, unequivocally, and undisputably.
Glare – Heavenly – Sunday Drive Records
Not to be confused with Sarah Records band Heavenly, Glare is from Dallas Texas. Quick shoutout to this band and this release. This EP is textured like a wafer cookie with cream in it. Sweet, light but textured. If the factions of shoegazers were at odds this batch of songs could possibly bring them to a unified front. Floating is like Souvlaki era Slowdive with that little extra punch. Just a touch heavier.
The entire EP is a euphoric textured cloud like listening experience.
If you are a dream rock / pop purist.. That is you like your gazing in the style of mid to late 90’s with lots of sonic depth, this is essential. Experience and sense it here. https://glaretx.bandcamp.com/album/heavenly
Watery Love Decorative Feeding Petty Bunco Records
Watery Love – Decorative Feeding
Had to mention this record. If only briefly. This was previously released on tangible formats (In The Red Records) circa 2014 and this is the digital version. So go here if you want it (you do) https://waterylove.bandcamp.com/album/decorative-feeding This record is disjointed unhinged rock and roll with a stream of hot punk rock lava running under and through it. Vocals are mental, borderline being on the spectrum in style. The guitars are tight enough to keep time but loose enough and 1/128 th of a second off time so that you definitely know it’s organic, human and someone going off. Drums tie it all together into a satisfying feeding. Must have, ( i gots).
This batch of music makes me proud. Even though I am getting my sea legs back in digital and print zine land. These releases are heavenly, blissed, stellar, glared out and hopefully find their audience. Please support them and me if you can. Drop a line to advertise on this very blog. Or for relevant reasons to the content. Those bots / people who want to write articles not relevant to music are like flies buzzin around your food. Stay well and keep putting your intent into live music coming back full force.