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.
Teen Idle is the alias of Asbury Park based dreampop musician Sara Barry. Aside from creating catching, ethereal music, they have been busy over the last weeks organizing a compilation album titled Songs from Quarantine: A Compilation. It is an album containing 13 tracks from artists across 9 countries and 5 continents with all profits going to benefit the World Health Organization. The album is loaded with great music, and her own addition is certainly no exception. “When Yr Gone”is as catchy as it is beautiful. The layers of atmosphere hover on top of everything and creates a dreamy soundscape that allows her guitar work and singing to peacefully take you to another planet. Despite the apparent sad nature of the track, the vocal melody pours over you and comforts you like a nursery rhyme to a child. With everything going on, I am thankful to have people like Sara Berry still actively creating. Between the superb songwriting, and the drive to create this incredible benefit compilation, we are all in a slightly better place due to her efforts. Head over to her Bandcamp and buy a tape, you will be glad you did.
Rootless is the project of NYC experimentalist Jeremy Hurewitz. With over half a dozen releases to his name Rootless reemerges with emptied spaces. While emptied spaces was recorded over a year ago, The themes and soundscapes feel all too present and indicative of our current situation. Our neighborhoods have empty spaces, devoid of the life and activity every block. While the theme and notion of the album seem bleak songs do have layers of optimism. The first ring of the guitar on “More Me Than Them” is an example of the this layer. “Lakeside” starts off as a classic folk song and then begins to blend into the experimental the vocals becoming more warped and ambient sounds bleeding in only to have thee guitar and tambourine slide back in to ease the tension. While there are bleak parts through out the record it feels more like Hurewitz is conveying the exploration of these emptied spaces. With exploration there can be frightening moments and moments of pure existential bliss and “emptied spaces seems to encapsulate all these feelings of adventure in through out the record.
Heavy Hands is a stoner rock band out of Boston. In true stoner fashion, they recently released a new EP on – you guessed it – 4/20. Through the Night is three tracks of heavy, headbanging music that will take over your brain, it will roll you a spliff, grab your keys, and then drive you down the freeway at 150 mph with the windows down. While the whole EP hits hard, “Breakdown” is a personal favorite. It starts slow and low, sort of easing you in, buckling you up as the vocals pull you along. Then it hits, and you’ll be glad you got all nice and strapped in, cause it really smacks you. A huge wall of guitar strikes you and before you have time to think it pulls back and hides for a bit. When it comes back again, it goes harder and for longer. The lead guitar continues to absolutely shred, creating massive noise above the heavy grooving bass and drums. At the same time, the vocals are howling along in an infectious manner. Heavy Hands does a masterful job of creating a huge dynamic within their songs, it is not something to miss out on. Visit their Bandcamp and check out their entire discography, and if you are in Boston, keep an eye out for any shows (if we ever get to do those again).
With easily one of the dreamiest songs I’ve heard this year, Japanese Heart Software’s addition to the previously mentioned Songs for Quarantine: A Compilation is sure to be a new favorite for any listener. Japanese Heart Software is a Melbourne, Australia based dreampop artist creating beautifully hazy songs. Their track for the compilation, “On the Way Down” is really something else. The vocals layered over the upbeat rhythm constructs a daydream effect that is inescapable. It’s like a brighter Slowdive, the lead guitar, and synth work creates a lovely atmosphere that you just want to get lost in, and thanks to this compilation, we are able to get lost, even if only for a few minutes. This pandemic has stretched across the globe, and this compilation does an amazing job of representing artists around the world who are affected. Now, it is extremely important to show support for artists we love, no matter where they are – stop by Japanese Heart Software’s Bandcamp, and visit the compilation to help out.
Brooklyn’s best babies, Best Baby, just released their second single “Faking to Pretend” and it is pure indie rock perfection. The groove of the song runs along on an extremely tasty bassline accompanied by the drummer working the hi-hat beautifully. The guitar provides a perfect accent to the rhythm, and with the amazing vocals, it’s clear that this song is going to be played over and over. While the track as a whole is phenomenal, it’s hard to pinpoint my favorite thing about this song, but I know it’s somewhere between the layered vocal harmonies and the exceptional lead guitar work. Both create an addicting feeling within the song that you want to revisit when it’s done, you simply can’t get your fill. Best Baby comes through again with another extraordinary song, make sure to keep up to date with this band because everything they’ve been releasing has been gold, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.