“Razor Rain” is MKE alt-fusion band Socially Suspect’s second official release. Backed by the trills and drones of the string section, Don Richter’s vocals incongruously float across the track and create an unnerving but radicalized sound that is not found in your average punk rocker garage. If you’re looking for a more jaded sound on the local scene, keep your eyes peeled and ears to the grindstone for more from Socially Suspect.
Tag: experimental
AUDIO: Lil Jul – lungs
As a member of Run Along Forever collective, this Milwaukee native strives to make music that can’t be found anywhere else. Through heavy distortion and a Soundcloud-style beat, Lil Jul efficiently creates a countercultural track with “lungs” in just 1 minute and 33 seconds.
AUDIO: Little Sims – Drop 7
This morning, brit-rapper icon Little Sims surprised listeners with the EP, “Drop 7” – just 7 tracks spanning 14 minutes. Sims experimented with a new international house/industrial beat sound, swapping out her usual neo-soul vibe for a more technical one. The backing tracks on these songs could just as easily be found late night in a neon and strobe emporium, and their brevity would make for a great mix-in for any DJ looking to spice up their set with a Little Simz.
AUDIO: Johnny Franchino – Light Show
Hip-hop, house music and r&b all intersect on the new interstellar track from Johnny Franchino. First-time listeners can be “welcomed to the light show” – a groovy, lyrical and everything in-between addition to “Aesthetix”. Franchino’s genre-ambiguous sound is worthy of being played anywhere and anytime – from first thing in the morning to start your day with energy, or late night at the club to turn up and let loose.
AUDIO: Julian Petrin – “Tides of the Bloom”
German-Italian composer Julian Petrin delights with a captivating, cinematic electronic track “Tides of the Bloom.” The composition represents a reimagination of Petrin’s 1990 theatre music for a Munich-based production of Frank Wedekind’s play Spring Awakening. Petrin explains that the track captures the essence of Wedekind’s play and aims to blend the spirit of its creation with a contemporary touch. The production envelops listeners in atmospheric immersion, featuring a mesmerizing synth arp, ethereal vocals, and subtle clap-like percussion. As the track progresses, a symphonic synth sensation emerges, leading to a triumphant and arp-forward conclusion. With its haunting appeal and gorgeous melodies, “Tides of the Bloom” is a contemplative piece perfect for welcoming the new year.
AUDIO: Shemona – “I Drink Underwater”
New York-based artist Shemona has released her latest single, “I Drink Underwater,” a captivating blend of chilling synths and ghostly vocals. This project is the second from Samantha Goldman, who previously performed as Ariel Gold. With a background in classical cello training, Goldman’s talent for textured modern soundscapes shines through, creating a sound that is both atmospheric and melodically intriguing. The track features nocturnal synth tones, sporadic percussion, and haunting vocals, building an ethereal and immersive experience. “I Drink Underwater” is a preview of Shemona’s upcoming album, which she self-produced and was mixed by Kiri Stensby. Check out the single below:
AUDIO: L.A. Salami – “Ottoline: The Director’s Cut (Deluxe)”
L.A. Salami, the South London artist known as the “Intergalactical Troubadour,” has released the deluxe version of his critically acclaimed 2022 album, “Ottoline.” Titled “Ottoline: The Director’s Cut (Deluxe),” this extended edition offers listeners an even more expansive musical journey through L.A. Salami’s diverse range of genres, including folk, rock and roll, neo-soul, and hip-hop. The album is being hailed as a rich tapestry of sound, showcasing the artist’s unique style and musical universe. Check out the project below:
AUDIO: SYS Sister Sounds – “Grounded”
Asian female and non-binary music producers from around the world have come together for a charitable cause on the ambient compilation titled “Grounded.” Released via the SYS Sister Sounds Label, the compilation showcases the talents of Maggie Tra, Cloudy Ku, Leviathe, Runa Mont, Jo Ngo, Chaulichi, Arin, and Wytchings. This collaborative effort features eight Asian and Asian Diaspora music producers on the project. The “Grounded” compilation aims to support a worthy cause while highlighting the diverse and innovative contributions of these artists. Check it out here:
AUDIO: Helado Negro – “LFO (Lupe Finds Oliveros)”
Helado Negro has recently announced the impending release of his highly anticipated new album, titled “Phasor.” Scheduled to drop in February. Roberto Carlos Lange, the mastermind behind Helado Negro, has also given fans a taste of what’s to come by sharing the album’s opening track. This sneak peek into “Phasor” has left fans buzzing with anticipation as they eagerly await the full release. With his previous albums receiving critical acclaim and a steadily growing fanbase, “Phasor” is poised to be another remarkable addition to his discography. While specific details about the album remain under wraps, fans can expect Helado Negro’s signature atmospheric soundscapes, intricate lyrics, and soul-stirring compositions.
AUDIO: Pendrop Poet – “Mimic!!!”
Experimental artist Pendrop Poet recently put out a new record, with 16 tracks comprising “Mimic!!!” With a combination of spoken word pieces and harmonies, they show you the range of what they’re capable of in a variety of styles on this project. Nothing feels out of place or off-topic here, as the lyrics generally take center stage on these tracks. They’re not afraid to get personal, and thoughts on intrapersonal struggles or society’s treatment of those disenfranchised go hand in hand here. Check out “Mimic!!!” below:
AUDIO: J. McCoy – “The Fuzziness Of Your Logic”
It’s time to ask the big questions with J. McCoy, and he does just that on “The Fuzziness Of Your Logic.” Accented by a spiraling, explorative composition behind him, McCoy uses vocal samples to talk about the nature of our very being on this release. Whether he’s talking about what the meaning of life might be, or the intricacies of human interaction, the meditative track is less of a journey, and more of a mindful walkabout for a few minutes. Ponder the world with J. McCoy and check out “The Fuzziness Of Your Logic” below:
AUDIO: Brandon Buhr – “Memories Gone (Light Speed)”
Life moves fast. That’s the central theme of “Memories Gone (Light Speed),” a new track from Brandon Buhr. With a minimalist electronic feel to it, Buhr drones with a monotony about the world, while looking at the passage of time. Before you know it, the world has moved on to the next thing, and time is always pushing forward. It’s a relatable feeling to a short song that moves with a persistent, thumping beat. This is Buhr’s first track of the year, and you can check it out below:
AUDIO: Pasta Sauce – “Somewhere to Grow”
Indie-emo act Pasta Sauce released their third EP. The duo brings seven tracks to ponder existential questions about growth, faith, pain, life, death and purpose. The dialogue sampled in “Real, Random & Forever” sums it up pretty well; featured is a conversation between two people about what happens after we die, and how everyone has their own way of reckoning with that. The math-emo sensibilities here are appropriate for such themes whether it’s in the context of interpersonal relationships or philosophical matters. Visceral, compelling and daring in contemplation, Pasta Sauce’s “Somewhere to Grow” is a record about taking our short time in existence to find love wherever possible in spite of all the inevitable uncertainties and complexities we encounter.
AUDIO: Docx – “The Gurls”
Producer Docx released their third album at the top of the month. With ten tracks and a vast array of features, Docx continues to challenge conventional norms of pop sensibilities by means of structural, textural and thematic experimentation. While Docx has always embraced collaboration and stylistic defiance with their output, they never cease to push the envelope with each sonic exhibition; there’s plenty of fun and playful elements to the verses and hooks, while Docx’s production invokes atmospheres that are variably brooding, cathartic and caffeinated depending on their mood. Featured artists here are NEO 10Y, QuaDaDonn, Mariko Miziyaki, Big Dre, Matty Cakes, Luh Kunt, Big PHARMA, Nineishuman, Papi Sabor, Mattela, Inca Galore, Itgirl, Djor, Amina Banks, Dexonia and C4NDYCRUSH. Docx summons a stacked cast for “THE GURLS” – check it out!
AUDIO: Tidal – “Buzz O)))”
Experimental rock act Tidal released a new track last week. Spanning almost nine minutes, “Buzz O)))” opens with flickering whispers and oceanic distortion before building into a menacing guitar melody and stomping, dooming rhythm. There’s an overall fearsome atmosphere here that concludes with a noisy yet textural discombobulation. Brace yourself for a heavy psych wash from Tidal!
AUDIO: Death Tape Super Bass – “Guts”
Prolific and productive experimental/noise act Death Tape Super Bass released a new album on the 1st of the month. These live-recorded tracks contain elements of industrial techno and harsh noise created using synths, samplers and drum machines. Mordant textures and palpitating electronic rhythms are combined to send us on a grinding, whirring voyage. Death Tape Super Bass delivers yet another stunning installment of electronic experimentation with “GUTS.”
AUDIO: Lucky Bone – “The Vanishing”
Noise act Lucky Bone released a new album this past week. Recorded after viewing the 1988 Dutch film “The Vanishing”, the album was created using locked grooves cut and pasted onto a groove-less, blank record. Opening with warped samples of ekphrastic film analysis, the album then continues into a bright, psychedelia-tinged soundscape of repetitious clangor and crackling texture; things conclude with more distorted samples of dialogue and ambience before fading into fire and wind. Lucky Bone creates a musique concrete interpretation of “The Vanishing” with an album of the same name.
AUDIO: Nelson Devereaux & Max Devereaux – “Fame?”
Singer-songwriter brothers Nelson and Max Devereaux teamed up for a new single recently. With Max on vocals and guitar while Nelson handles the rhythms, this song touches on the “what if’s” surrounding a successful career and making a name for yourself. With a breezy, guitar-driven pop flavor that provides a comfortable atmosphere to ask these hard-hitting questions, the Devereaux’s aren’t afraid to get existential and confront things like impostor syndrome and ephemeral accomplishments with “Fame?”.
AUDIO: Docx – “Cum Thru”
Experimental producer Docx once again pushes the envelope with the release of a new single, “Cum Thru.” The track successfully intertwines conventional elements with unconventional sonic intricacies. At the heart of the track is a steady, rhythmic beat, over which Docx artfully layers a panoply of plunky, spastic notes, akin to the haphazard yet captivating music of a child’s toy in motion. It chugs and clunks forward, yet creates an irresistible groove is born from this idiosyncratic chaos. While it embraces a more experimental edge than most the track serves as a testament to Docx’s unending creativity.
AUDIO: Restraint Malfunction – “Torrential Assault”
Restraint Malfunction unleashed a new album recently. The harsh-experimental noise act brings ten tracks that are meant to be listened to as one piece. Michael Jurek traverses a range of textural territories here from searing static to abrasive grinding to fearsome screeches to hellish clangor over nearly thirty minutes. Enter the power plant of auditory havoc with Restraint Malfunction’s “Torrential Assault.”
AUDIO: Masturbating Ape – “Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Nothing”
Masturbating Ape’s new EP, “Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Nothing,” is a boundary-pushing release that carries dark feelings. The two-song EP features ambient, fading loops that merge into each other to create an apocalyptic sonic tone. The A-side, “History Lesson-Part III,” showcases levels of dystopia that are both haunting and mesmerizing. Meanwhile, “Shit You (Don’t) Hear at Parties,” the B-side, features a buzz that slowly evolves into flashes of drum n’ bass beats and glitchy samples, creating an unpredictable listening experience. Collaborators Tron Jovi and Whaler take you on a wild side-quest of a sonic mission with this one. The EP is available on limited edition picture disc via Triple Eye Industries, and you can check it out here.
AUDIO: Smooth Cactus – “Smoke Signals”
Experimental duo Smooth Cactus released a new album. Covering substantial ground with 21 tracks, the album consists of mostly short compositions typically between one and two minutes long, favoring liquid textures and minimalist production styles that together encourage a tranquil state of being. With elements of chillwave, lo-fi hip hop, ambient electronica and jazz blended into a unique palette, Smooth Cactus have your soundtrack to intense relaxation after a long day of work ready with “Smoke Signals.” Enjoy the imagery of rain, seabirds, coral reefs and jeep joyrides while you’re at it.
AUDIO: Whaler – “EP-SUX3”
Experimental act Whaler released a new two-song EP out on Triple Eye Industries. The first track, “Lumpy’s Revenge”, incorporates droning guitar soundscapes against a bed of bright synths while the second track “Torture Roid” conjures a suspenseful, unsettling atmosphere with repetitive grunting sounds and industrial-adjacent textures. It’s the first we’ve heard from Whaler in some time, but “EP-SUX3” is a solid return to form with a pair of layered, ambitious dark ambient compositions. Fun fact – a limited edition Whaler action figure comes with the EP if purchased.
AUDIO: Peter J. Woods – “Awful Answers”
Veteran noise artist Peter J. Woods released a new album out on Skinwalker Recordings. It consists of two tracks, one being almost 14 minutes and the other being over 25 minutes. “The Display” consists of prolonged static harshness that eventually transitions into obfuscated, garbled vocal samples. The title track…is absolutely golden…it samples and loops Tina Fey talking on TV while slowly implementing dark ambient soundscapes over it, and then throws Tina Fey under a wall of harsh noise – it’s genuinely a fascinating composition but it also makes for a good laugh. Peter J. Woods delivers another fantastic installation of sound art with “Awful Answers.”
AUDIO: Docx & Papi Sabor – “Infinitighosts”
Experimental artist-producers Docx and Papi Sabor teamed up for a three-song EP. Showcasing production that combines ominous textures with danceable qualities, Docx and Papi Sabor conjure a dark party atmosphere here. Dexonia appears on the first track “OUT” with rap verses in Spanish, and then the following two tracks “pools” and “SUMMERtime LOVE” incorporate reggaeton-friendly rhythms into heated grooves. There’s mystery, wonder and power embedded in these tracks; Docx and Papi Sabor execute a mesmerizing trio with “INFINITGHOSTS.”
