Welcome to Sonic Baptism with Spirit Lust and friends. Dim Things graciously gave me a platform to share my favorite recent releases and shows of the week (no shows this week). For a playlist of all the songs, and artists mentioned in the week’s article follow here (also includes our friends and releases). It’s been another tough week in quarantine, but music always helps. Without further interruption Sonic Baptism, this week with Jacob Saxton and Sergio Falvo.
Rafael Anton Irisarri is an American composer who is known for his combination of ambient, drone and electronic music within each of his compositions. With his second single off his upcoming release Peripeteia, Irisarri uses all these elements and more. “Refuge/Refuse”, is a soaring symphonic song that builds and builds until it releases with a serotonin laced chorus of voices that creep up from the depths of heaviness of the song. This is coated with with a warm his over the track almost to foreshadow the uplifting ending. Peripeteia is out 5/22 via Dais.
L.O.T.I.O.N. is back with 2 songs from their latest 7″ with Sub Pop for their single club. If you’re unfamiliar with L.O.T.I.O.N. they’re are a full sonic onslaught of everything you thought hardcore/punk is. L.O.T.I.O.N. lives somewhere in the near future where cybernetic punks wage war with weirdo crusty terminators. These songs are full of gritty guitars, drum machines and twisted synths. There has never been a band like L.O.T.I.O.N. They’re ushering in the new age of war-battered cyborg punk. Alphabrain is out now via Sub Pop. But dive their whole discography, with releases from Toxic State and more!
Thee Red Heads is a lofi punk band out of New York City and they just recently released a killer EP titled Another Factory. It’s 5 nonstop, all killer, no filler tracks that pound you on the head for the eleven or so minutes that it takes to zip by. It took me only about five seconds of “Renting a Car” to know I absolutely LOVE this band. I am completely addicted to the lofi, garagey sound they have. It brings me back to some of my favorite songs by bands like Tyvek or Eat Skull. “Renting a Car” is rough in all the right ways, its catchy, the vocals are beautifully distorted – it’s easily one of my favorite tracks of the year. I’m itching for the next time I can see a real-life show in person, and I pray it will be Thee Red Heads. Find them on social media, follow them on Bandcamp, listen to their new EP because it’s a doozy.
Hailing all the way from Brooklyn, New York, we’ve got experimental country artist, Dougie Pool. What Dougie brings to the table is some of my favorite music I’ve seen in a long time; old-school country with a modern twist. He’s back with a new single entitled, “Vaping on the Job.” Dougie ditches the cowboy killers and barns for a vape and a job and there ain’t nothing wrong with that. The twangy guitars give you a feel for old country, but throw in Dougie’s modernized lyrics and you’ve got yourself some solid gold. “Vaping on the Job” is just one of many things you can hear from Dougie Pool. He’s got a whole arsenal ready at the hips and if you can’t wait for the next one, check out his older songs.
WOODS has been a New York staple for 15 years. Known for their unique take on the softer side of psych, they are back with their latest single, “Strange to Explain” off their 11th full length LP Strange to Explain. Weird worbbles open the track ,then lead into a solid up-lifting drum beat and cool and energizing piano. Jeremy Earls smooth vocals bleed in, to lend to the calmness of the song. It is a song that feels extremely fitting for the time and even more fitting as the 99th release on Earl’s label Woodsist. In a time when we need relief from stress and anxiety WOODS is there to help us ease into our chaotic life. Strange To Explain is out 5/22 via Woodsist.
Despite these troubled times where almost no one is working, we still have landlords breathing down our backs trying to get their checks. Linocut’s “Spider Spray” is a track all about shitty landlords and not wanting to pay them, and it has some keywords for you to consider the next time rent is due. “My landlord doesn’t care, fuck him no rent for you!” Aside from the all too relatable message, “Spider Spray” is an especially fun, bouncing, no-wave/post-punk track. The bass bumps along taking complete control of your body, while the guitars shine through in their pockets of the mix. The drums ride along a tight hi-hat beat to help make sure you are grooving along in time. It’s a great taste of what this group has to offer as Linocut’s debut, self-titled EP was just released and it is not something to be missed.