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, Sergio Falvo, and Chris Nilson.
Constant Smiles – “Only Love”
In anticipation of their upcoming album Control, Constant Smiles recently released “Only Love”, a dreamy, soothing track that’s seemingly perfect for the overcast day in which I’m writing this. The combination of layered guitar work, the viola, and the beautiful vocals create a wondrous atmosphere that the listener easily gets swept away into. Everything about the mix is just superbly pleasant as if it was somehow scientifically designed to hit the right receptors of the brain to leave a positive impact on the listener. Of course, science isn’t the driving force behind this, instead, it’s the unmatched songwriting ability of Ben Jones and the community of musicians that make up Constant Smiles. As found on their Bandcamp page, Control is said to be one of Constant Smiles’ most collaborative records to date, featuring input from upwards of ten musicians. Control is due out June 19 through Jones’ own Cold Moon Records. -JS
Scout Gillett – “one to ten”
Brooklyn based musician Scout Gillett released a new single this past Friday. The track, titled, “one to ten” is filled with raw emotion and is an incredibly well crafted song. It starts out with a twinkly guitar as Scout’s angelic voice slowly fades in. Throughout the song we recognize that the subject is going through some inner turmoil both in tone and lyrically. As we close in on the second half of the song, we have a change in tone and lyric to that of hope and a longing to break free from the aforementioned turmoil. And of course that sweet twangy pedal steel is just the cherry on top of an already beautiful folk song. I was lucky enough to catch Scout play live a few months back. Scout ended her set with “one to ten” and it was one of the more special things that I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing. Can’t wait to see what else she has in store for us. In the meantime, head over to Bndcamp for this and a few other tracks. -SF
Venus Twins – “Fkn Lightning”
The most chaotic duo in all of Brooklyn is back. Venus Twins’ new song “Fkn Lightning” hits us like, well, lightning. If you are familiar with Venus Twins, you won’t be surprised to hear that it is absolute insanity. In their signature style of experimental punk mayhem, the song flies through at insane speeds, but is still blessed with their grooving, tasty, slowdowns. The second you catch up, it’s shooting along to something new. Harsh screams pierce through the HUGE low end as the drums pound along relentlessly. The energy of the song feels like a bunch of electrons scrambling around in the atoms that make up your brain, bouncing off of anything and everything in their path. And once you listen, you’ll be bouncing around your bedroom knocking everything over until your mom comes in and turns it down. So, remember to lock your door, and ignore mom’s knocking as you rage along to this heavy single. -JS
Zilched – “Sleeper”
Zilched, the moniker of Detroit native Chloë Drallos, added a new song “Sleeper” to their fuzzy guitar driven catalog back in April. It comes after two previous singles, “The Morning” and “Blue Doom” and is accompanied by a quarantine themed music video. The single’s verses display Drallos’ discontented lyrics about the song’s subject. “He tells his stories so I trust to fear the fiction” is one of the lines that is perfectly understated by the song’s droney vocal tone. A quiet rage is simmering as the rhythm section drives along. There’s an anticipation for a release. It comes in the form of a wall of saturated guitar. Zilched is at their best here as the distorted onslaught bookends each verse and leaves you wanting more. “Blue Doom” encompasses a similar vibe, as the band doesn’t solely rely on the heavy guitar but allows it to find its place structurally. “Sleeper” concludes with an explosive minute of organized dissonance as the vocals seep through layers of reverb. Head over to their Bandcamp where you can buy their entire digital discography for just ten bucks. -CN
SURFBORT – “Bubble Girl”
Although these demos were recorded in 2019, this particular track really hits home, especially if you’re in the same stage of quarantine as I am – the “I have all the time in the world to do anything, so I can’t do anything” stage. Surfbort released Apocalypse Care Package – DEMOS on Friday as part of Bandcamp’s no fee day. It’s loaded with five “lost” demos that make me miss the wild shows Surfbort is infamous for. If you aren’t feeling well, “Bubble Girl” is the vitamin you need to help you “get right.” If you are feeling right, listen anyway, it’s good for you. No one writes songs that are as fun to sing along to as Surfbort, and on top of the engaging vocals, there’s the driving guitars, and the punchy, straightforward, nonstop drums. It’s raw, its mean, it’s god damn Surfbort! I wouldn’t have it any other way. -JS
Lost Boy ? – “SANDMAN”
Guitar! Bass! Loops! Drums! Fun! More loops! Noise! Keys! Lost Boy ? never fails to disappoint. Davey Jones goes by the moniker Lost boy ? and is based out of New York. This past week, Davey released an EP called “SANDMAN” from back in 2011. So while it may not be new, it’s new to us. The opening track on “SANDMAN” goes by the same name and is an absolute winner. Davey shows off that falsetto we all know he’s got as he bellows out the words “enter the sandman” on top of layered guitars that build and crescendo into every chorus. “SANDMAN” is a super fun glimpse inside the mind of 2011 Lost Boy ?. Davey has been releasing tons of music over the course of the quarantine so head over to bandcamp to browse Lost Boy ?’s entire discography. -SF
Powerplant – “Hurtwood”
Powerplant recently blessed us with their first release since their unstoppable 2019 album People in the Sun. This London based synthpunk band never ceases to blow me away, and A Spine / Evidence is certainly no exception. “Hurtwood” is a speedy and heavy closer to this EP. The drums zip through the entirety of the song not resting for a second as the guitar and synths bring out the noise. The vocals contain a mix of screams and shrieks of pain, bringing some serious energy to the track (as if there wasn’t enough, to begin with). Powerplant is easily one of my favorite punk bands making music right now, and if they aren’t on your radar, you better recalibrate because they should not be overlooked. Everything they do is refreshing and original, and in our over-saturated world, that is great to see. -JS