Archives

Approximately Relevant

View Archives »
Kelley Stoltz &bull; <i>Que Aura</i>

Kelley Stoltz • Que Aura

At the extreme end of DIY is DEY — do everything yourself. It’s a unique solipsistic sound, and Stoltz is very good at it, blending a variety of rock, psych, and synth influences into his own sound.

Towa Tei &bull; <i>AH!!</i>

Towa Tei • AH!!

Hard to believe how affordable advanced lighting for your basement disco warren has become — you can transform the small room into a raging den of chill and/or libido, simply by purchasing a couple hundred dollars worth of lights and playing this.

The Cat Empire &bull; <i>Bird in Paradise</i>

The Cat Empire • Bird in Paradise

Like many Australian things, this band is somewhat recognizable yet clearly evolved in a different context. There are many different influences interleaved, from the Caribbean to the Highlands to Eastern Europe and of course, a tinge of that Oz punk.

Black Country, New Road &bull; <i>Forever Howlong</i>

Black Country, New Road • Forever Howlong

Nothing can foil the pigeonholing into a genre like a clarinet. The band uses this and other analog sounds to weave minimalism and maximalism, presenting recognizable indie or songwriter tropes before smashing them in their musical supercollider.