Alex Calder : Self-Titled

Alex Calder came up with Mac Demarco in Makeout Videotape. Playing lo fi, kind of sleazy pop with Mac, he went out on his own after Demarco struck it big with his album 2. Where Demarco displayed a kind of Cheshire cat grin and self-assured creepiness that came off more endearing than problematic, Alex Calder’s […]

DIIV Return With ‘Deceiver’ in October; Listen To The Excellent “Skin Game”

It’s been 3 1/2 years since DIIV released their last full-length, the dense and complicated Is The Is Are. That record was lead singer and guitarist Zachary Cole Smith’s addiction record, but not a record where he was off drugs. It took nearly a year after that release before Smith hit rehab and started to […]

Vlimmer : XIII/XIIII

Vlimmer is the name Alexander Leonard Donat goes by when making his own brand of darkwave, dreampunk, and Gothic pop music. He works among dark shades and paints worlds with scattered doom and gloom, with the occasional flash of light. Donat’s voice is a darkly melodic baritone. A voice that demands your attention, while never […]

The Flaming Lips : King’s Mouth

The Flaming Lips have been on a trajectory to musical history making ever since 1999’s The Soft Bulletin. At a time when Wayne Coyne, Steve Drozd, and Michael Ivins wondered if the band could continue with the exit of guitarist Ronald Jones, the three remaining members of the band along with producer Dave Fridmann created […]

Boards Of Canada’s ‘Skam’

Extremely hot Friday afternoon downtempo jams. What are you listening to this Friday evening? It’s about 100 degrees with the heat index. Tomorrow it’ll be hotter, so more indoor jams. No need to melt on the way to the car. Hope your weekend is pleasant(and cooler than mine.)

Dark Fidelity Hi Fi : Found

Dark Fidelity Hi Fi’s new album Found is full of dreamy ambient textures put to rhythmic pulses and subtle, glitchy beats. Manchester-based producer Rick Jones proves himself adept at building walls of sonic atmosphere. With elements of trip hop, IDM, ambient, and dub coming together into one enigmatic sound, Dark Fidelity Hi Fi’s Found is […]

Summertime Blues

Man, this has been a weird summer. This is the first summer where it didn’t feel like a house with kids and two working parents. It’s felt like a house with adults and almost-adults doing adult things; like working, getting wisdom teeth removed, arguing, bickering, buying new appliances to replace broken ones, looking for a […]

Wilco’s “Love Is Everywhere(Beware)”

After three years of side projects, solo albums, and the occasional concert, Wilco are now readying their follow up to 2016s Schmilco. Ode To Joy is set to drop on October 4th, 2019 on Wilco’s own dPbm label. From the sound of first single “Love is Everywhere(Beware)” we’re going to be treated to a bunch […]

Complex Distractions Presents : The Videodrones Starter Pack

Videodrones appeared out of the ether and buzzing drones of modular synths back in 2016. The Danish electronic duo of Jakob Skøtt and Kristoffer Ovesen took their love of sleazy Video Nasties of the 70s and 80s and combined that with their equal adoration of the music of Popol Vuh, Ennio Morricone, Fabio Frizzi, Marcello […]

METZ : Automat

Metz have obliterated car speakers and ear drums quite easily since their Sub Pop debut album back in 2012. Their sound is like Tinnitus feedback served over a post-hardcore back beat with a healthy dose of primal screaming sprinkled on top. The Bleach and In Utero comparisons aren’t without merit, but there’s more to the […]