Compilation: odd castles-those who were once friends are now fam

The internet’s capacity to make connections, for people to meet and trade ideas in ways that were never before possible, cannot be understated, especially within the modern musical world. We live in a world where some kid in a basement in Wisconsin can record a demo that can be heard by someone in France, and it can become their favorite collection of music and main source of inspiration, and vice versa. There is something honestly magical about that fact, and it should be (and is) celebrate.

This is why I feel there is something so incredible about the those who were once friends are now fam compilation. Originally what was going to be just a mix on Soundcloud of likeminded artists, the curator George realized it was something more and wound up creating a label of sorts to release a tape version into the world. Which is more than deserving because those who were once friends are now fam deserves to be documented. The fifteen tracks here paint a picture of artists, some separated from each other by country or continent, creating something truly intertwined, even as they all approach it with their own style and sound. The quiet indie-pop of Teen Mom Birthday Cake and Sales. The twisty electronica of Yohuna, Cuddle Formation, and Blithe Field. The gorgeous, enveloping dream pop made by Foxes in Fiction and Lo sé. Two unbelievable covers via Emily Reo’s gooey rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams”, and Sea Oleena’s sparse & goose bump inducing cover of “Crazy in Love”. Even friends Attic Basement and Bulldog Eyes are here vicariously via covers by R. L. Kelly and Imaginary Houses respectively. All these different sounds, styles, and artists sit next to each other with ease, flowing into one another effortlessly. By the time the comp. ends on a compact indie-rock jam from Alex G, it just feels natural that it got there. Everything about those who were once friends are now fam feels like it should exist together; it all feels so beautiful.



Links:

Pre-order the those who were once friends are now fam compilation here, from odd castles

Yohuna-Badges

I remember the first time I heard Yohuna's music. I was visiting New York City during the summer of 2012, and my friend Tom took me to Shea Stadium for FMLY Fest. I knew few of the acts, and so each one's performance was its own surprise. However, when Yohuna took the stage it was something else. Almost a silhouette because of the dark lighting, her music unfolded and bloomed, growing bigger and more beautiful in the near nothing. I stood in awe to it all as I let it wash over me.

It says something that her recorded music has the same effect, her songs feeling just magical on first listen. Or maybe that's largely due to how sparingly Yohuna releases new songs into the world. making each one feel like a treasure. "Badges" certainly has that quality, one of many incredible tracks that will soon be released on the ever impeccable Orchid Tapes' third compilation Boring Ecstasy. Know that this song is very much alive, especially with Yohuna's vocals now ringing out crystal clear, no longer encased in a protective shell of reverb. The sadness is palatable while she's singing, but so is the trace of hope within it, especially in the chorus of "I’m not pretty/I’m not nice/I am radiating light". There is something truly earnest in a phrase like that, especially with the way Yohuna sings them so delicately. All of this behind the utterly beautiful, tinkering pianos and delicate beat that gives the song it's pulse. At least that's how "Badges" feels; like a softly glowing gem that quivers & fades like a heartbeat.



Links:

Yohuna's Tumblr
Pre-order Boring Ecstasy soon here, from Orchid Tapes

Garage Swim Compilation

I usually try to shy as far away as possible from releases like this. Corporate created labels diving into the indie world to extract bands into a release that will give the brand a degree of hipness, complete with another corporate sponsor in it as well. See everything within the Scion Audio/Visual spectrum. However, Garage Swim is far too great a release to be ignored by me in anyway. Put together by the folks at Williams Street, Adult Swim's inhouse label, Garage Swim is fifteen tracks of some of the best garage rockers out there in one tight, digital, and completely free package.

The most outstanding thing about this though, might be the outstanding degree of quality of it though. It's like every artist decided to hold onto one of their best songs just for this release. Thee Oh Sees' "Devil Again" is them at their catchiest, all nervous energy, popping keyboards, and hidden darkness underneath. Mikal Cronin's "Better Man" feels like the the lost gap between his new album and previous one, pure sunshine power-pop and noise guitar roar on top of one another. Mind Spiders are all dark punk glory, JEFF the Brotherhood channel Black Sabbath, and King Tuff's song with Gap Dream sounds absolutely nothing like a King Tuff (it's super slow! It has '80s synths in it!), but it still sounds awesome. The Gories have a new(?!) song on here that feels like a tribute to the older garage styles, and yet works just as well as anything else on here. The release closes with a mini-epic from Weekend, who should be completely out of place on an release like this, but the spacey psychedelia of "Teal Kia" is instead ends Garage Swim on a surprisingly uplifting note. Corporate or not, Garage Swim is 15 very awesome songs, and should be promptly shoved in the face of the next person who says guitar rock is dead.



Links:

Download Garage Swim here, from Williams Street Records

Whatever It Is You're Doing Now Cassette Compilation

After a near year long hiatus, one of the best cassette labels around, Mirror Universe, will finally return and in a huge way. They have put together the Whatever It Is You're Doing Now compilation, a massive two cassette, 19 band, 92 minute collection that is nearly completely unreleased songs. Pulling together not only Mirror Universe alumni like Mr. Jenkins or Tapeworms, but the likes of Foot Village, M. Sage, Xander Harris, and even Lust for Youth appear on Whatever It Is You're Doing Now, which lets the compilation do the number one most important thing any compilation should do; introduce as many different bands as possible to those who have not heard them. For instance, the utterly hypnotic, Grass Widows-esque glory that are Southern Femisphere and their song "Transgander (When the Community Went Looking for the Lost Gayzling in the Wood)", four minutes of perfect subdued intensity and post-punk glory that I would not have discovered if not for this release. This is wonderfully put together release, one where you can tell the care and passion that went into it. Get ordering now.    



Links:

Pre-order Whatever It Is You're Doing Now here, from Mirror Universe
Southern Femisphere's bandcamp

Audio Antihero: Broken Shoulder and Bob Hope Would

Audio Antihero is at it again. Continuing their wave of supporting whatever underappreciated band they come in contact with, AAH is supporting the digital release and physical release of brand new British artist Broken Shoulder. Broken Shoulder first ever release is the seven song Broken Shoulderrr EP, is completely different from anything Audio Anti-Hero have release in that it is the label’s first foray into ambient music. However, to describe this EP and this band as just another “ambient” artist is selling him short on way to many levels. One listen to “Morning Is Broken” takes you to the desolate twilight that is crafted here in the mind, with waves of singular static and warped to infinity guitar tones used as the perfect foils to this sound. I’m a still a newbie to this entire genre of music, but even I can feel the simple, rhythmic beauty made here. Every part of the songs falls and cascades on each other, each time bringing a new tone or element with it, so when they finish it is something every so subtly different than how the songs originally started. From the weeping guitar lines that encompass “Uff/Magow” to the singular piano tone that manages to stretch “Chocolate One Room Disco” into a 10 minute note of beauty, Broken Shoulder should be put up there with every other “experimental/ (noisy) ambient artist out here in the US, though labels are becoming increasingly irrelevant to this genre of music. One listen to “Sato Costume” and “Ultimate Donko” back to back speaks volumes as to every angle Broken Shoulder is trying and can accomplish. Listen at night with your headphones on and your eyes closed.

(mp3) Broken Shoulder-Uff/Magow

Links:

Stream and buy Broken Shoulderrr here, from Audio Antihero
-----------------------------------------------------------------

As you’ve heard, Japan got hit by just about every single natural disaster known to man with the past few weeks, and is now dealing with a nuclear and radiation situation, not to mention limited supplies and housing for all the people they had to evacuate. Not surprisingly, several bands and labels have set up various projects to raise funds to the situation in Japan, and Audio Antihero is playing their part as well. Bob Hope Would is a massive 34 track digital compilation of almost completely exclusive, alternate, or demo songs not only from Nosferatu D2, Benjamin Shaw, Jack Hayter, and Broken Shoulder, but Fighting Kites, Paul Hawkins and The Awkward Silences and a mountain of more. It’s only ₤3.99, has tons on great music, and it's all for a good cause.



Links:

Stream and download Bob Hope Would here, from Audio Antihero

Denver Afterdark Compilation

The Denver Afterdark Compilation is a digital mixtape of, you guessed it, Denver based bands provided by the nice people over at Speaker Snacks and Tome to The Weather Machine. Besides bringing ten brand new songs from the likes of Gauntlet Hair and Woodsman, the ambient themed tunes also premier some rather interesting new bands like Modern Witch and FLASHLIGHTS. This whole thing has a wonderfully eclectic fell to it, jumping from earthy nighttime ambiance to punctual blasts of off-kilter echo induced advent-pop, along with some weird electronic music thrown in as well. The whole compilation is streamable below, and Speaker Snacks was kind to throw in a free download as well. The soundtrack for your next night time party has been sculpted for your pleasure.



Tracklist:
1.) Brittany Gould & Cory Brown: "Nite Chimes For Lucid Lovers"
2.) Modern Witch: "Running"
3.) Hideous Men: "Fantasy Cloak"
4.) Hollagramz: "Magnet Flow"
5.) c.db.sn: "Airport"
6.) FLASHLIGHTS: "Apple Trees"
7.) PeddahBlak: "Make It Funky"
8.) Woodsman: "Balance"
9.) Gauntlet Hair: "All Eyes"
10.) St. Elias: "Welcome To Your Doom"

Download the Denver Afterdark Compilation here