New Music Friday: Crazy Quilt Ambition, Post-Punk Trance, Cheeseball Cumbia
Oct. 9 releases include Marina Herlop, Holy Tongue, Dawn Richard, IKSRE, Jess Williamson, Logan Hone, moss, Inkwell, Jim O'Rourke
After spending my life in basements and small clubs, I've come around to the spectacle of the arena show: To experience something with thousands of people can feel euphoric and bigger than us, but … also still so flawed. I was at the same Charli XCX show as Chris Richards, and it was funny to see the reaction online to the production snafus that night — not to mention Charli's understandable frustration (that, in typical fashion, was read as a tantrum). In real time, I don't know if it was that noticeable or even that distracting, just … imperfect people making something onstage.
Compare and contrast that to the Smashing Pumpkins later that week in Baltimore: two long sets, mostly performed without backing tracks (the exception being the strings on "Tonight Tonight"), with awkward pauses to tune, banter or regroup that one might expect from a DIY show. With so much hubbub and fear around fake/AI music, I found these tactile moments liberating. Music is ultimately a human endeavor, especially when there are cracks in the polish.
Stream the Viking's Choice Guide to New Music Friday mixtape (tracks 1-9 are from the albums reviewed, the rest are singles released within the last week). Follow me on Bandcamp and check out previous mixes via Buy Music Club.
Marina Herlop, Dja Dja
Imagine, if you will, Björk's unconventional electronic whimsy + the symphonic shape of David Axelrod's Songs of Experience. An ambitious, avant-garde crazy quilt of sound that nevertheless feels as close as a heartbeat.
Holy Tongue, Basilikum
Ritualistic post-punk trance dubbed from another dimension, which, in this case, means members of Vanishing Twin and Moin, including Valentina Magaletti, quite possibly the most forward-thinking drummer right now.
Dawn Richard, Creole Culture
My forever fave makes a return to electronic dance music. With Dawn, the stakes is always high, but here, her Afrofuturism roots deeply into NOLA's past and present, building and boasting over beats born from grief. For those following along, this full circle moment is a golden crown.
IKSRE, in all her forms (sound meditations vol. 2)
If the goal here was to make me tear up in the middle of my office, then consider this aqueous sound bath a moving success. Sets a safe, sonic space and guides you to an emotional release.
Jess Williamson, A Mile South of Heaven
I'm such a sucker for a country singer who makes my heart sigh. But it can't merely be coincidence that Jess' patiently paced, more trad-leaning LP adds two words to the title of Slayer's slower masterpiece … right?
Logan Hone, Feeling Fireworks!
What is this strange feeling in my face? Is that a smile? Cheeseball cumbia and not-quite smooth jazz makes a new kind of overly earnest and ebullient exotica to dance away the doomscroll.
moss, moss
This rips so hard. Arms-flailing screamo that wildly swings between Rainer Maria-style guitar histrionics and messy-but-meaningful chugs. Need the basement mosh experience NOW.
Inkwell, Remembrance
Mid-'90s Atlanta hardcore just hits different. Even when the riffs are wilin' out, there's a drawl'd groove. Collects the emo-hardcore band's single, chaotic year of existence. (Digital came out Sept. 25, but the vinyl releases today.)
Jim O'Rourke, steamroom 69
Nice.
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