“I’m Here, Deal With It”: RIP Luis Vasquez and The Soft Moon

It was the fall of 2012 when I first heard about the band The Soft Moon. They might have been recommended to me, or maybe it was an album review for their then new LP Zeros. Whatever road it was that led me to them, I was thankful once I arrived. The Soft Moon was […]

The Hives : The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons

Do you remember the early 2000s indie music explosion? New York had become the epicenter of a music movement once again, this time with indifferent, arty kids revamping everything from Joy Division to Television to The Cars. The Strokes, Jonathan Fire Eater, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Juan McClean, LCD Soundsystem, and Interpol were at that […]

Protomartyr : Formal Growth In The Desert

Detroit’s Protomartyr have been leading the way in the modern post-punk movement, starting with their debut album, 2012s No Passion All Technique. Each album improved and evolved the sound, which consisted of jagged guitars, a solid rhythm section, and lead singer Joe Casey’s poetic lyricism delivered in the voice of a soothsayer booming society’s doomed […]

Mandy, Indiana : I’ve Seen A Way

The UK experimental post-punk/dance/noise band Mandy, Indiana is the sound of sexy androids building more sexy androids in a cave that doubles as a rave. Robotic rhythms seem to emerge from grinding machines and screeching gears, while the vocals are less a voice singing than another rhythm instrument. It’s grinding, industrial noise for the dance […]

Depeche Mode : Memento Mori

Depeche Mode, after 40 years as a band, have earned the title of Elder Statesmen of Synth Pop. The UK alternative rock band has built a musical dynasty, starting in 1981 with their debut album Speak & Spell. With each successive album the band honed their sound and their style to a fine doomed romantic […]

The Soft Moon : Exister

Luis Vasquez’ music project The Soft Moon has made consistently compelling and visceral post-punk/darkwave albums for over a decade now. Starting out with mostly pulsating rhythms, jagged guitars, flanged bass lines, and icy synths, Vasquez made records that felt emotionally raw. Joy Division, Bauhaus, early Cure, and Nine Inch Nails were foundational bands for the […]

Preoccupations : Arrangements

Preoccupations, formerly Viet Cong, are a Canadian four-piece that rose from the ashes of indie rock darlings Women. Where Women was more in the vein of bands like Deerhunter and Pavement, Preoccupations went for a more darker, propulsive sound. From their ‘Cassette’ ep debut to their self-titled full-length as Viet Cong to name change to […]

Black Midi : Hellfire

Over the course of three albums in as many years the prog/math/avante rock band Black Midi have gone to great measures to make densely-layered and technically jaw-dropping albums that the simple passerby’s frontal lobe would melt from after listening. This isn’t the kind of rock music you put on for a chill session. The UK […]

Feu Follet Returns With New LP ‘IV’, Out 7/29; Listen To Single “Somebody Else”

Back in 2021 producer and musician Alban Blaising released the stunning Beneath the Earth under the name Feu Follet. The amazing album was a mixture of post-punk, dream pop, and dark wave with a fairy-tale twist that combined early 4AD vibes with colorful imagery for a singular musical experience. Blaising’s stunning production and engaging melodies […]

Monday Fun Day : Listen To Vlimmer’s Latest Single “Kronzeuge”

Mondays, huh? Yeah, worst day of the week. That is, unless you’re retired or work from home then I guess there are no bad days of the week. Usually the only thing that makes a Monday better for me is a damn fine cup of coffee and new music. I had both of those today, […]