from freak fighter to lamp lighter

OccultHawk · 01-01-2021, 02:32 PM

Until the Hunter by Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions

Sandoval has a perfectly constructed singing voice putting her in the elite of the elite a la Sinéad O'Connor and Beth Gibbons of white pop stars. Her beauty and that voice... I saw Mazzy Star in their prime in Portland... it takes about a thousandth of a second before your heart is entirely surrendered and you know beyond any doubt that you’ll always be relegated to second best at best. In short, it’s painful to see something so beautiful. A heaven that’s not for your.

The songs on this records still have to be good but Sandoval’s voice is the real attraction and it is indeed flawless. The songs are great, too.

The album clocks in at 58:56. It ranges from very good to great. If it was trimmed to just the greatness it would be unassailable. I know in the digital age it’s hard to forfeit very good material but editing is still an essential process.

OccultHawk · 01-11-2021, 06:26 PM

Universe I by Cats With Hats

https://catswithhats.bandcamp.com/album/universe-i

Hidden opens with an unexpectedly traditionally melodic pipe organ sound that folds into something resembling a Hammond in the style of early pioneer sci-fi film soundtracks. I imagine that the title refers to the possibly hidden nature of earth in this corner of the Milky Way somewhere in this gigantic expanding universe.

The longest track, We Are Moving has some hints of a bowed instrument and introduces distortion as an effect that’s a common refrain through the record. There’s a musical theme reminiscent of recent drone releases on top of electro-acoustic sounds. At about the halfway point a clear loneliness of space theme is introduced. I imagine it’s a sonic homage to the earth and us upon our planet orbiting a star that’s orbiting a black hole and thus the name.

An Indecipherable Mess reminds me of The Grand Vizier’s Garden Party, Part 1: Entrance / Part 2: Entertainment / Part 3: Exit. The song is divided into sections marked by an abrupt click. Sounds like the strings of real piano being strummed.

Once astronauts leave the earth’s orbit the space between earth and Mars isn’t black it’s gray. There’s too much sunlight to see the stars until, if things someday go as planned, the night sky is viewed by human eyes on Mars. That’s what The World Turned Gray is about to me: loneliness finally giving way to curiosity.

Spiraling Inward brings to mind the following Rush lyrics

Quote:

The whole wide world
An endless universe
Yet we keep looking through
The eyeglass in reverse

Eternal Soundscapes is another undeniable space track. Perhaps a statement that our presence is eternal if only an eternal part of an unknown history.

And finally with Between the Fog we seemed to be returned to the universe inside our own craniums. Coming full circle to the albums origins the sounds of an acoustic instrument returns and it’s the least emotionally vague music yet. Sorrow guides the listener into the finale.

Cats With Hats are a great band deserving of far more recognition.

OccultHawk · 01-11-2021, 09:17 PM

untitled by Tom Carter & Loren Connors

https://lorenconnorsnyc.bandcamp.com/album/untitled

A masterful slow paced avant-garde guitar duo. Ethereal. Ghostly.

5/5 Highest Recommendations

OccultHawk · 01-12-2021, 06:17 AM

for young hearts by soccer mommy

2016

https://sopharela.bandcamp.com/album/for-young-hearts

fyh is considered a demo release by sm from when she was a teenage student at NYU recently transplanted from Tennessee. There’s no “potential” because it’s fully mature developed excellent song writing. As you probably expect if you haven’t heard her it’s indie rock or twee. She’s a non-pretentious lover of pop music and that’s what she created here. It’s a collection of great pop songs. Catchy pleasant clever well-crafted hip and fun. It’s great. She’s great. Lovely music.

OccultHawk · 01-12-2021, 09:54 AM

Psychopomp by Japanese Breakfast

https://michellezauner.bandcamp.com/album/psychopomp-2

Pp is a very sincere highly emotive art-pop record. Like most other great pop records from this era the irony and exaggeration barriers are stripped away in favor of vulnerability that dares to make really great honest art. This is another 2016 gem that deserves all the praise it received and more.

**Marie Monday** · 01-12-2021, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

for young hearts by soccer mommy

2016

https://sopharela.bandcamp.com/album/for-young-hearts

fyh is considered a demo release by sm from when she was a teenage student at NYU recently transplanted from Tennessee. There’s no “potential” because it’s fully mature developed excellent song writing. As you probably expect if you haven’t heard her it’s indie rock or twee. She’s a non-pretentious lover of pop music and that’s what she created here. It’s a collection of great pop songs. Catchy pleasant clever well-crafted hip and fun. It’s great. She’s great. Lovely music.

Oh nice, I cried to Color Theory like the little indie pop bitch I sometimes am, I'll have to check this one out

OccultHawk · 01-12-2021, 12:00 PM

Nice Try by Emily Yacina

https://emilyyacina.bandcamp.com/album/nice-try

NT is a very solid indie folk record that completely hangs its hat on solid song writing and an excellent gentle singing voice. It’s not really like Cat Poweror Lois but I can see it setting well their fans. It’s a pleasure to pluck a gem out of bandcamp like this that is very sorely under appreciated especially considering what a rare skill the ability to write good stripped down folky pop song is. Millions try and fail where this is complete success. Recommended.

OccultHawk · 01-13-2021, 08:32 PM

Zauberberg by Kassel Jaeger / Stephan Mathieu / Akira Rabelais

https://shelterpress.bandcamp.com/album/zauberberg-2

Like the more popular Gas album by the same name this too is an homage to the novel. Z is an hauntological release determined to only be made by sounds available during the time of the novel. Z should have tremendous appeal to fans of The Caretaker. If you like ambient, dark ambient, or hauntology I strongly recommend checking this out.

**Marie Monday** · 01-14-2021, 02:50 AM

Oh great, I love the Magic Mountain. Listening to it now, it's nice. Like the early 20th century coming at you through a fog

OccultHawk · 01-15-2021, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marie Monday

Oh great, I love the Magic Mountain. Listening to it now, it's nice. Like the early 20th century coming at you through a fog

Preciate the comment sister

Next review:

Houston Oiler (Slowed & Chopped) [Explicit] by Paul Wall

First and foremost I want to get this out of the way. This album is ****ing unassailable. The lack of recognition for this album, this artist, the entire Houston scene is straight ****ing bull****. Paul Wall played a pivotal role in the Houston Swishahouse scene which is one of the most important revolutionary artistic movements of the last fifty years. And ****ing of course I choose the chopped version. Talk about drug music! Limit pushing black hole insanity borderline death drug use. But one thing that is often overlooked about the whole Screwston scene is how soulful it is. Isaac Hayes is buttered all over this music. **** a hip hop fan who’s not down with this scene.

01-01-2021, 02:32 PM	#1261 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,033	Until the Hunter by Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions Sandoval has a perfectly constructed singing voice putting her in the elite of the elite a la Sinéad O'Connor and Beth Gibbons of white pop stars. Her beauty and that voice... I saw Mazzy Star in their prime in Portland... it takes about a thousandth of a second before your heart is entirely surrendered and you know beyond any doubt that you’ll always be relegated to second best at best. In short, it’s painful to see something so beautiful. A heaven that’s not for your. The songs on this records still have to be good but Sandoval’s voice is the real attraction and it is indeed flawless. The songs are great, too. The album clocks in at 58:56. It ranges from very good to great. If it was trimmed to just the greatness it would be unassailable. I know in the digital age it’s hard to forfeit very good material but editing is still an essential process. __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

01-11-2021, 09:17 PM	#1263 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,033	untitled by Tom Carter & Loren Connors https://lorenconnorsnyc.bandcamp.com/album/untitled A masterful slow paced avant-garde guitar duo. Ethereal. Ghostly. 5/5 Highest Recommendations __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

01-12-2021, 06:17 AM	#1264 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,033	for young hearts by soccer mommy 2016 https://sopharela.bandcamp.com/album/for-young-hearts fyh is considered a demo release by sm from when she was a teenage student at NYU recently transplanted from Tennessee. There’s no “potential” because it’s fully mature developed excellent song writing. As you probably expect if you haven’t heard her it’s indie rock or twee. She’s a non-pretentious lover of pop music and that’s what she created here. It’s a collection of great pop songs. Catchy pleasant clever well-crafted hip and fun. It’s great. She’s great. Lovely music. __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

01-12-2021, 09:54 AM	#1265 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,033	Psychopomp by Japanese Breakfast https://michellezauner.bandcamp.com/album/psychopomp-2 Pp is a very sincere highly emotive art-pop record. Like most other great pop records from this era the irony and exaggeration barriers are stripped away in favor of vulnerability that dares to make really great honest art. This is another 2016 gem that deserves all the praise it received and more. __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

01-12-2021, 12:00 PM	#1267 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,033	Nice Try by Emily Yacina https://emilyyacina.bandcamp.com/album/nice-try NT is a very solid indie folk record that completely hangs its hat on solid song writing and an excellent gentle singing voice. It’s not really like Cat Poweror Lois but I can see it setting well their fans. It’s a pleasure to pluck a gem out of bandcamp like this that is very sorely under appreciated especially considering what a rare skill the ability to write good stripped down folky pop song is. Millions try and fail where this is complete success. Recommended. __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

01-13-2021, 08:32 PM	#1268 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,033	Zauberberg by Kassel Jaeger / Stephan Mathieu / Akira Rabelais https://shelterpress.bandcamp.com/album/zauberberg-2 Like the more popular Gas album by the same name this too is an homage to the novel. Z is an hauntological release determined to only be made by sounds available during the time of the novel. Z should have tremendous appeal to fans of The Caretaker. If you like ambient, dark ambient, or hauntology I strongly recommend checking this out. __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html