Watch My Faxed Head Moves
Watch these power moves. It’s almost a wrap on April. Here’s some music to chew on. Kurt Vile , legend whether you take hallucinogens or not. Faxed Head giving a bit of WTF metal is this ? Some imaginative field recordings styled and compiled by none other than Staubitz and Waterhouse. Orbital electro wavelengths courtesy of Pluto Is A Planet ( no debates on Star Wars, Bill Nye , or Pluto allowed here) and Praise. Finally checking out this band after seeing the name a little here, a little there, soon LP will be everywhere. Hey ! Watch these moves.
Kurt Vile – (watch my moves) – Verve Records
Kurt Vile. If you have never listened to KV, this LP is just as good a place to start. As Kurt and Violators continue on through their modern psych guitar journey, the production gets better, crisper, cleaner. KV and Violators still meander and strut like Crumb’s Keep On Truckin’ dude. That is to say, on (watch my moves) it sounds like Kurt Vile all the way.
Even so I think it sounds as if they picked up right where Bottle It In left off.
The song writing is developing (that can always be a debate topic) as they soldier on.
Before we go into detail , the intro song “Goin On A Plane Today” has captured me. Playful piano bar Kurt Vile flirts with ebony and ivory key melody and a warm (brass ? ) horn track that could be on early Chicago hits
First stand out track I zero in on “Hey Like A Child” whammies and warbles. Brrrrrr brrrrrll burlll of the guitar is perfectly paced and spaced against the kick drum and snare. Intentionally I will defocus or omit on the songs that are already out and in rotation. That is “Like Exploding Stones”, “Flyin” and ” Mount Airy Hill” All having accompanying video and noteworthy to the totality of this LP. Here is a look at “Like Exploding Stones” https://meatsheetfanzine.com/exploding-stones-flicker-like-stars/
It’s almost as if KV and the boys are tipping the hat to surf rock and / or shoegaze.
Combined with pop sensibility of this track “Hey Like A Child” becomes its own little pop psych animal. Next one that has moves I want to watch is “Wages Of Sin” comes off more serious and lonesome than most of Vile’s work. Syrupy but not overly sweet vocal melodies seep through this track. Subtle key board work and backing acoustic strums deliver an atmosphere that just have to be free of these said wages. A springy whammied outro winds this number to a close. I did not take exception to any of the songs on this entire album. But then again, I am a fan and biased.
Lastly, is this LP worth spinning, buying, etc? That really depends.
If you already happen to be a fan, it’s essential. (watch my moves ) is all of what you love KV and the guys for.
Could this convert someone who heard KV only a few times ? Possibly. If you’re of the mindset that KV is dad rock , passe, or it’s just not your thing then it’s highly unlikely that (watch my moves) is going to win you over.
(watch my moves) features undeniably strong songwriting and a relaxed mood. In other words, even those taking cheap shots at KV’s brand of tunefulness are acknowledging the validity of the creativity and songs existing. When you take a cheap shot it means there is something there. If not it wouldn’t me target worthy at all right? Fo Sho.
Faxed Head Exhumed At Birth- Drag City
A few talking points. Desk metal is what the Faxed Head blurb on Bandcamp reads https://faxedhead.bandcamp.com/album/exhumed-at-birth?from=fanpub_fb. Also let us back up. This is music from 25 years ago give or take a few days. Remastered and releases on June 10, Exhumed At Birth sees 13 tracks of (guessing)atypical metal. As of right now the only song available is Gore and Guts.
The riffs are warm but chugging and palm muted.
Lyrics and singing, tongue in cheek , it seems. Even though this is purposely going for an objective to parody other metal.. or make commentary of some kind, I find this easier to listen to than most metal I hear. There’s no lack of musicianship. We’ll have to wait and see what other Coalinga California treasures may be on the Exhumed At Birth LP. Soon…
Staubitz and Waterhouse – The Silencer
The northeast strikes again with some noise. https://staubitzandwaterhouse.bandcamp.com/track/the-silencer Pawtucket duo Staubitz and Waterhouse are at it again. This pair of artists work on what many could consider experimental audio. Past works include Distant Duos (find out here and click away at all links if you can) https://meatsheetfanzine.com/chance-meets-instrumentation-more-new-distant-duos/, plus a healthy dose of field recordings. The Silencer is the latter.
Here’s what we have to go on. A near four minutes of track.
Whirring and grinding sounds, juxtaposed with children screaming.
At times playful screams, others fearful. Even though I do not condone scaring or hurting children, there is a horror fan side of me who enjoys imagining that this humming machine is indeed scaring and consuming the kids.
How many of these kids screaming could have possibly accidentally let out a squirt from being scared or surprised ?
Judging by the audio.. probability is high that there were some soiled underoos.
Alas, its fantasy strictly confined to my imagination. Yours truly is a very minor horror fan. A little vicarious carnival state fair screaming is welcome. In addition to those sounds there is random background noise which gives a little extra depth and context to who, what , where.
Do I hear some kind of club music in the far background ? Indeed there is something musical amidst a roar of a simulated behemoth that is very satisfying.
If you are a field recording fan , afficionado, or what have ye, you’d be amiss to not check this out. You can go to the fair/ carnival without getting all people – ey.
Pluto Is A Planet – Response EP – Shore Dive Records
The Response EP sets arpeggiators to stun. “Chasing Ghosts” is a hard edged electronic beat centric track with some reflection /echo on the drum and wails from synth or guitars. The bass is pulsating throughout. It’s quite the opener.
“Mars”sounds like trip hop sped up with peppy electro arpeggiation added on This time female vocals dominate the track. Combined with the other songs this makes a satisfying juxtaposition. Perhaps I have a soft spot for these type of combos.
The orbital sounding “Drink The Silver” is a dance number with changes that remind me of a rocket losing its parts as it achieves higher altitudes in stages.
“Note To Self” and “Chasing Ghosts” may appeal to new wave and post new wave fans. Perhaps in the neighborhood of Philip Oakey (Human League) or Bernard Summer (New Order)
Last song on this EP “Gaff” features more of the same space inspired synth, but “Gaff” offers a energetic goth twist of fate.
Dissonant dueling synth tracks drill at your psyche.
“Gaff” feels as if its approaching industrial outer space and roaming just outside Meat Beat Manifesto celestial airspace. Industrial referencing MBM, Front 242, Nitzer Ebb and the like. This track still gravitates more towards modern electronica. The dissonance and edge does compliment the other tracks quite appropriately. This one is going to grow on me even more I reckon.
Praise – All In A Dream and Life Unknown – Revelation Records
At a quick glance or listen, seems to be melodic post hardcore. Similar to what bands were doing in the mid and late 90’s. So one may hear some 90’s Dischord / Jade Tree type of material where the power chord becomes picked and arpeggiated instead of all down strums. Maybe Embrace or One Last Wish for a loose reference? This is the case on “All In A Dream”.
“Life Unknown” is even more a departure from the 90’s template mentioned above. “Life Unknown” has a bounce to it. The vocal and guitar melodies and harmonies are really making a break for it. Do I hear some harmonics on the strings ? Lead and backing vocals are definitely harmonizing in a pop style. Not a good or bad thing, merely what I hear. Therefore it seems like it will be pretty black and white for the listener. You ‘re either going to love it or dismiss it as not your style of or flavor of hardcore. I tend to like this more than not.
However this is one of those things in which I’ll simply need to sit with and listen in order to really have good absorption and take it all into my ears. That is once the entire LP is born.
To be fair, I’d rather spin this a bunch of times than to revisit what happens some 20+ years ago. Exceptions being the bands that influenced the melodic post hardcore, but that is a whole nother matter. Watch out for this LP, pre order is up on Rev HQ for ya.
So there it is. Looking forward to seeing some bands. Whomever doesn’t skip this town and or metro area while passing through the beautiful South West. I say this over and over but it’s sincere and hopefully not authoritarian sounding, please support these and any artists if you have the means. Cheers