PREMIERE – Fir Cone Children – Soaking In

Static Sounds Club is incredibly proud to be sharing the latest track from Fir Cone Children, ‘Soaking In’, for three reasons.

Firstly, Fir Cone Children have consistently produced albums of the highest quality, none more so than their last full-length release Fog Surrounds Us. Secondly, this track features my very dear friend and DKFM sister Krissy Vanderwoude on guest vocals and, last but not least, this is the first premiere to feature on Static Sounds Club. All these things together make me very excited to hear this new track.

Before I hit play, I asked Alexander Donat, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, what ‘Soaking In’ was about

Alex said “Leaving kindergarten and attending school is one of the major changes in life for everybody. In first grade my first daughter was soaking in everything that teachers told her (especially learning how to read and write), what books had to offer and what classmates were showing her. Also, she is a very social and kind person who instinctively knew how to handle stressful situations: “I say hello, I say good-bye, I know the proper way to avoid a fight, with a smile I enter, with a smile I leave, you are best friends to me”. It’s lovely to see how she gets along with people around her.”

I then asked him, on this song you once again collaborate with Krissy Vanderwoude of Whimsical and The Churchill Garden. Tell us a bit about how that came about?

“I am super happy that, even though she always has a tight schedule, Krissy Vanderwoude found the time to record vocals for two of the album’s twelve songs, ‘Gekko-19’ and this one, ‘Soaking In’. Since album number three, No Gravity Girls in 2017, her vocals have constantly been a part of every Fir Cone Children album. So far you can hear her on 13 songs spread across four albums. Krissy fits in so naturally that I consider her to be the secret second band member of FCC. I love how she adds vocal harmonies to the songs I send her, harmonies that I didn’t think of, so she really adds to the overall feeling. Hopefully, this partnership will keep on going.

So here it is folks. The world premiere of the new track from Fir Cone Children, ‘Soaking In’.

This is an incredibly catchy riff-based number. The discordant chorus is so addictive. I had said to Krissy this was so different to anything I’ve ever heard her do before. I’ve been trying to rack my brains why that is. I think it’s the harmony line she has chosen to follow that gives this song a unique flavour. Alex and Krissy sound fantastic when singing together and Alex makes the most of that here.

We need to talk about the riff. Like Pavement meets Urusei Yatsura pushed along by the rimshots on the drums, its utterly captivating. I love how the guitar moves around the vocal line. Never mimicking anything else on the track. The end section has a one two punch Bis would kill for. All in all, Fir Cone Children have come out swinging. Let us know what you think of the track in the comments below or on our social media.

Stay tuned to Static Sounds Club as I will be bringing you my track by track analysis of the new Fir Cone Children LP Waterslide at 7am later this week. Until then why not check out the bands amazing back catalogue on their Bandcamp page.

Slow Pulp – Moveys

Wisconsin-bred and Chicago-based band Slow Pulp – Emily Massey (vocals/guitar), Alexander Leeds (bass), Theodore Mathews (drums), and Henry Stoehr (guitar) – have just released their self-produced debut album, Moveys, out into the world.Having heard a track from the album on DKFM Shoegaze Radio late one night I knew I had to investigate. It’s an album borne from the times we are living in. Recorded from locked down homes across the states, it creates a sense of warmth and togetherness which draws you in like an open fire.

The album opens on a glorious picked acoustic guitar and Emily’s lilting voice. ‘New Horse’ is a perfect introduction to this record. Its both light and dark, weightless and heavy. When the counter vocal line and fuzzed out bass kick in the song takes us away. In my head somewhere snow covered and remote.

All too soon the song is over and we are in to the intro to ‘Trade It’.

There’s a Big Thief meets Soccer Mommy vibe to this song. It moves along with a knowing swagger. This has the sound of a songwriter who has worked and honed every line to a keen edge. The song slowly builds as we go with an insistent drumbeat working hand in hand with the bass to carry us to the final word.

This leads us neatly into ‘Idaho’, the most claustrophobic of all the tracks on the album. It feels like we are trapped in Emily’s thoughts as she wrestles with her demons seeking some sort of self-belief. “I’m losing all the while” she sings as if resigned to her fate.

The track I heard on DKFM Shoegaze Radio is next and it is actually called ‘Track’. This feels like some great lost nineties’ slacker classic. I love how the band play with dynamics bringing instruments in and out, creating space then filling it again keeping us on our toes. It’s no wonder it caught my ear.

The grungy and punchy thrash of ‘At it Again’ keeps us in nineties’ territory. This is another two minute song like, the gorgeous opener, ‘New Horse’ but it feels just right. The guitars mellow as Emily’s voice soften towards the end bringing the song to neat close.

‘Channel 2’ features Alexander on vocal duty delivering a study in shoegaze whilst Henrys guitar whirls in a J Mascis like chaotic cascade. I can see this track getting a lot of airplay. A great chorus coupled with killer guitar is always a recipe for success.

The pace and tone changes completely with the instrumental ‘Whispers (In the Outfield)’. The track is so unlike anything else on the album yet it’s right at home and feels wholly natural as a stepping stone to the next song.

‘Falling Apart’ is a ballad sung by Emily to Emily. Couched in wonderfully chilled instrumentation we find her berating herself “Why don’t you go back to falling apart. You were so good at that.” The band giving her space to weave her magic amongst the slippery drums and elastic bass. We also hear a rueful violin trading lines making the song complete. This is really special songwriting.

In a similar vein, ‘Montana’ takes us on a tour of Emily’s’ inner voice. The self-doubt and critical introspection weigh heavy over this song. Emily says of the track, “This song is about moving beyond defining myself in terms of my mental health. I’ve been working through this over the last couple of years and this song is a reflection of this process and where I am now. ‘Montana’ was the first song we finished recording for the album. Henry’s early demo was kind of heavy and distorted, and when we went to play it together for the first time, it came out a lot slower and cleaner. Our friend Willie Christianson wrote and recorded the slide guitar and harmonica parts.”

‘Montana’ feels like a natural close for the album but then, right out of leftfield, comes ‘Movey’. A sample filled funky instrumental jam to lighten the mood and remind us it’s all going to be ok.

Slow Pulp have delivered a breath-taking debut album against all odds. The band have seen more than their fair share of struggles yet have chosen not to be buried by them but to embrace them and turn them into something truly beautiful and life affirming. If that isn’t a lesson for all of us, I don’t know what is.

Moveys is available from all good independent record shops on a few cool coloured variants. The album is also out to buy from the Slow Pulp Bandcamp page.

Photo by Alec Basse.

Nothing – The Great Dismal

Philadelphia heavy gazers Nothing are back with a new album.

The Great Dismal was conceived when, singer and songwriter, Dominic Palermo picked up a copy of the New York Times from a newsstand and saw the famous first photograph of a black hole, taken by scientists in 2019. True enough, he couldn’t escape it. The photograph was framed, placed above his writing desk and onto his notepad a single mantra for the new record was written: “Existence hurts existence.” With previous album Dance on the Blacktop championed as a soundtrack to an end of the world party, there is some satisfying continuity at play in learning that “The Great Dismal” has its origins in the imagery of universal collapse.

The album opens on the genteel yet euphoric ‘A Fabricated Life’. Whispered vocals over a slowly building soundscape welcomes us into these new songs. Destined to be the final track on many a mixtape or playlist this song has future classic written all over it. Truly timeless.

This contrasts with the sonic assault of ‘Say Less’. Literally exploding on to the speakers all the more impactfully because of the more placid previous song. I instantly loved this track. There is a great use of dynamics, especially around the choruses. The chorus is superb. Lifting the song to new heights.

‘April Ha Ha’ begins with some powerful dive bombs on the tremolo before a soaring guitar solo leads us into the song. This has all the hallmarks of a classic Nothing track with the addition of some wonderfully serpentine vocals from Palermo. Almost puts me in mind of the hypnotic ‘Trust in Me’ from The Jungle Book. Maybe it’s because I’m Scottish that I appreciate the line “watching people trying to outrun rain”.

I love how the band are playing with new textures on this album. ‘Catch a Fade’ has an almost straight up indie jangle pop vibe until those trademark Nothing guitars kick in half way through. This is the sound of a band having fun experimenting with their sound and offering their fans something new. Sometimes when successful bands try to do this it doesn’t pay off but in this case it does. It pays off in buckets.

As we head into ‘Famine Asylum’ something is becoming more and more clear. The band have focussed on the songs first. Everything else is in service to the melody. Whilst some heavy bands can lose their songs in walls of distortion Nothing have ensured their songs are built from reinforced concrete. There is no concealing the beauty in these songs.

Second single ‘Bernie Sanders’ follows opening on that eerie reverse string scratch. Such a great track to introduce this album. Soaring guitars lead the way but there is always space given to the punchy vocal line. The track is accompanied by quite an eye-catching video which is not for the squeamish.

We are back in dynamic Nothing territory next with ‘In Blueberry Memories’. Swinging from hushed vocals to pounding drums and fuzzed out guitars on the edge of static. Never losing the melody the mix is superb, lifting the vocal where required to make sure the glorious melodies shine through.

‘Blue Mecca’ has the lolling feel of a lullaby, but you ain’t sleeping through this song. More new textures are introduced in the latter half with high pitched trilling strings contrasting with the growling guitars.

‘Just a Story’ mixes things up by starting on the chorus line undercut by an insistent guitar riff ebbing and flowing beneath it. The guitars are the star on this track from the fuzzed-out attack of the verses to the soaring elation in the chorus, ‘Just a Story’ has it all.

The album closes on a heavy note. ‘Ask the Rust’ bookends this album with yet another killer chorus. What this album has in spades is hooks. Every song makes you sit up and take notice and the closer is no exception. Dynamic, catchy and full of all the characteristics that make Nothing one of the leading lights on the shoegaze scene.

The Great Dismal feels like the album Nothing have been destined to make since the start. At the beginning of this blog I spoke about the albums theme of universal collapse. Lyrically I don’t doubt that however, and this is a massive however, musically this album is jubilant. The overwhelming joy you will feel from listening to this album will bring you back again and again. Could we be looking at the album of the year? I’ll let you decide.

The Great Dismal’ is released via Relapse Records on October 30th. Pre-orders available now via Nothings Bandcamp page and Relapse Records online store.

We Wander – Pouring Out

It’s always great when a band reaches out with a personal email full of detail. That always catches my eye and gets me intrigued.

This evening I received an email just like that from Maddy Little of the band We Wander. Hailing from Mississauga, Canada, the band have taken that folk sound we all know and love and amped it up with some indie vibes. Starting with just Maddy and her acoustic guitar, the band has since expanded their line-up to include Camilo Martinez on bass, drummer Jacob Rondeau and Christian Orozco on violin. With a good few singles under their belt already like ‘Bridges’ and the stunning ‘Can’t Save You’ the band are gearing up for the release of their latest track, ‘Pouring Out’.

The track opens on a solemn violin and lone strummed guitar. When Maddy comes in on vocals you take a sharp intake of breath. She really has the most beautiful voice. I love how the violin and Maddy seem to be singing to each other. The chorus is so uplifting and life affirming. The contrast between the more downbeat verse and soaring chorus is really effective.

This track also features really powerful drums and some neat mandolin dominating the higher register.

On their Facebook page the band say “Pouring Out is about being afraid to speak your mind. Being worried that you’ll say the wrong thing and everyone will hate you.” That comes across in the lyrics like, “It’s pouring out, all on the ground. These thoughts of mine keep making sound, and I can’t seem to tie them down. Don’t think out loud I know, I know.”

I really enjoyed this song and after checking out the bands YouTube channel I really love the previous songs they have released. There’s also a great live session on there too. While we await the new single, you can catch the video for ‘Can’t Save You’ below which will get you in the mood perfectly.

‘Pouring Out’ is out on 23rd of October and you can pre save the track here. Follow the band and find out more here.

https://youtu.be/kBnbcjHTl0c

Dehd – Flower of Devotion

It’s not often that the video for a song opens the door to discovering a band for me. That is exactly what happened when I seen the video for ‘Loner’ by garage pop punks Dehd. The Chicago trio—bassist-vocalist Emily Kempf, guitarist-vocalist Jason Balla, and drummer Eric McGrady weave a heady mix of surf rock, shoegaze and heart wrenching balladeering. Honest to a fault their lyrics are an open book. Their previous album, Water, dealt the aftermath of the break up between Kempf and Balla. Their latest album, Flower of Devotion, moves to what comes next. The healing, the processing of that loss and ultimately the rediscovering of yourself.

The album kicks off with the pounding “Desire”. As an intro to the band you couldn’t ask for a better song. The contrast between the sheer versatility and power of Emily’s vocal lead contrasts beautifully with Jason’s cool as you like delivery.

Emily takes the lead on “Loner”. Her voice is this bands secret weapon. It’s so dynamic. Jason’s guitar tone and Eric’s simplistic and steady drumming being the other key components. It has that reverb swamped feel of late 60’s crooners but it feels modern at the same time. Context is everything. Check out the video for this one here.

‘Haha’ is a short ditty patently about the break up. “All I know is I love you. All I know is cry, cry, cry” sings Kempf in the choruses and Balla responding “Well I loved you with all that I had”. There’s no masking the emotional wounds in obtuse lyrics here. That is the power of this album, its direct route straight to the heart.

‘Drip Drop’ slows the pace with Jason taking the lead and Emily’s textured backing lifting the choruses. A trick that is employed equally as effectively on ‘Month’ following. Patently a lot of work has gone in to finding the perfect balance between these two unique styles of singing. It has certainly paid dividends.

This vocal interplay is mixed up further in ‘Disappear’. With Emily singing a slick counter melody to Jason’s slacker drawl it’s a perfect pairing. With that trio of tracks done we are treated to ‘Flood’ and Emily showing us what she capable of. The way she enunciates the title sends shivers down your spine. Jason too, is on fire with glorious and atmospheric guitar work.

The open wounds of the now broken relationship are laid bare in the next track ‘Letter’. It is essentially an open letter to any future girlfriends of Balla’s and plays it clever by couching that within a beautiful melody.

‘Nobody’s almost spoken lyric leads to a euphoric chorus about the search for someone or perhaps the search for yourself again. Constantly asking “When will it be mine” Emily uses her full vocal range to keep you tuned in. Time is also a factor in the next two tracks.

‘No Time ‘is a song out of time. This wouldn’t sound out of place on a Blondie setlist circa 1976 on stage at CBGB’s.  The song has an energy and power that is derived both from Jason’s frenetic guitar and Emily’s impassioned delivery. ‘Moonlight’ on the other hand is Jason’s finest moment on the album. The switch of rhythm between verse and chorus is so clever and catches you out every time.

We haven’t spoken about Eric McGrady yet. His steady and minimalist drumming is the glue that holds these two fractured souls together. It’s with some surprise that we now hear him take the mic for his self-penned song ‘Apart’. An ode to aging he delivers it with an honesty and directness his band mates must be envious of.

The album closes with ‘Flying’. Once again acknowledging the end of their relationship and having to move on isn’t always easy.

Flower of Devotion is one of the most cohesive albums I’ve listened to in a while. The album has a stripped back to the bone sonic palette, leaving the vocal performances to do the heavy lifting. Luckily Dehd are adept in this area with three talented vocalists, each with their own unique style. The key thing is, no matter if they are singing about the break up of their relationships their voices will be in love forever.

Flower of Devotion is out now via the groups Bandcamp page and all good record shops.

Acid Roulette – Depopulation

You just know when an email from the good folks at Dirty Filthy Records drops into your inbox you are about to hear something special. This gem of a label has provided me with some of this years’ highlights with releases from Soden and Par Asito. They are now about to release Depopulation an EP from Acid Roulette. The band, hailing from Austin, Texas, trade in a unique brand of acid psyche rock and like it loud!

The EP opens with the pounding riff centred epic ‘Deathsect’. With lots of nods to Led Zep this track absolutely explodes out the speakers. The groove on this track is absolutely addictive. As openers go, they couldn’t have come out stronger.

After the pace and ferocity of the opener we move into the hypnotic ‘Dividing Slander’. We are through the looking glass now. Centred around a Sabbath like riff and drum pattern this track weaves so much into its run time. Some absolutely stunning lead guitar work acts almost like a second voice. Again, the band hit a groove that keeps you in rapt attention. Love this song!

We take the pace down a notch for the languid and serpentine ‘Lonesect’. Even though we are operating at half the pace the bands playing loses none of its ferocity. Which leads to some interesting pay offs, particularly in the chorus section with its almost tender lead vocal melody playing against the jagged attack of the backing.

The EP concludes with ‘The Truth’. The vocals are at their most potent here. Aryn really does bring the chaos as advertised. What was also notable on this song was the dual, harmonising guitar lines. That really added something different to this track. The deafening finish come all too soon and we close out on a mysterious voice in the static.

Whilst this EP has been available digitally on the bands Bandcamp page for a while now you can pre order a vinyl copy from Dirty Filthy Records from October 2nd.  I would advise you move fast because records of this quality sell out fast.

A Good Man Goes to War – The Sounds of a Large Crowd

I am a huge fan of post rock. Bands like Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky and Godspeed You Black Emperor create amazing soundscapes that you can lose yourself in. This is why I was so pleased when I was asked to listen to Italian post rockers A Good Man Goes to War.

Hailing from Turin, Flavio Amelotti and Fabrizio Paglia have been in bands for well over a decade. They finally joined forces in 2019 and began crafting their sound. The result is their debut album The Sounds of a Large Crowd. Let’s dive in.

Opening the album is a track called ‘Improvising’. It opens on a low-key piano riff before insistent and ever building guitars join in. There is a lot of thought to dynamics, here and throughout the album. When we do reach a crescendo it is so satisfying. You know because you feel it. That’s what great music does.

‘Reflections’ follows with an almost sci-fi, blade runner soundtrack vibe to the intro. This is then engulfed by the powerful drums that are a signature of this band. They really smack those tubs. The guitars fall into two camps here. One a chiming strum and the other a fuzzed-out drone. Its almost like a call and response song between them. The piano underpinning the whole song gives it a sense of direction and purpose. It really is an amazing track.

‘All the best memories’ opens with the drums picking out the time from an almost jazzy pattern. Once the ascending/descending guitars come in we are back in familiar territory. Then comes the bass. Its huge. A wall of fuzz. This underpins the final minute of the song as the guitars soar to new heights. Breathtaking.

As if sensing our fatigue, the band take the pace down a notch for ‘The Bravest Moment’. This song is utterly joyous. After the slow pace of the intro the guitars and drums barrel along lickety split and you cannot help but smile. Mid song there is a dip where we can catch our breath before heading headlong into the final stretch. There is some nice use of panning which makes headphone listening exciting. Check out the video here.

‘This Cold White Sky’ paints a devastating image in your mind. One of ruined landscapes and the search for life. Its almost as if all the joy from the previous tracks falls away as some terrible event takes place. As always, the instrumentation is exemplary and brings home the feeling of utter desolation. It’s a very moving piece.

‘You Have to Leave Something Behind’ grows from the aftermath slowly blossoming sounding brighter and brighter as it moves closer and closer to the end. It almost feels like this is the second half of ‘This Cold White Sky’. They complement each other so well.

The album closes on ‘Lifeless Architecture’. This song feels final. The drums play a punctuated beat throughout like a series of full stops. The guitars build and swirl around, almost euphoric, that they lead the way to the end. But ultimately, it’s the low buzz of the strings that sees us out.

The band say that they aim to build soundscapes to create a sense of synaesthesia for the listener. That couldn’t have been more descriptive of my experience. I would heartily urge you to find forty minutes in your day and lie down with headphones on and let this album take you away.

The Sounds of a Large Crowd is available now from the groups Bandcamp page.

trillion – Move To You EP

When life hands you lemons what do you do. That’s a question bands all over the world were asking when the spectre of Covid-19 reared its ugly head. Australian gazers trillion were no different.

Like many other parts of the world, trillion’s members had been under lock down. But the drive to make music remained strong. trillion’s members wrote and recorded their parts for each of the five songs on their new Move to You EP, separately, at home.

The EP kicks off with the 100-mph sonic assault of ‘Soft’. This track is instant. You are immediately hooked in with the harmonised vocals and the fierce battle between the frenetic drums and the riffs……..oh the riffs!! This is a track I’ll still be listening to in a years’ time and it will still feel as fresh. Check out the video below and see what I mean.

‘Out of Your Mind’ follows. This is a denser affair with squalls of feedback layered guitar over a squelchy wah lead. It’s a great blend of gaze and psyche. I got completely lost in this track, floating along on its ethereal vocal line and insistent bass.

‘Don’t Be Sorry’ is a fuzzed-out pop song hung around a cool guitar riff. The vocal interplay on the songs title is gorgeous and will have you going back in for another listen.

‘It’s All I Need’ feels almost discordant as it begins then the song emerges as the vocals kick in, making sense of the maelstrom. I really love how they handled that. Clever stuff.  The maelstrom is never far away though and it is used sparingly to add a real feel of menace and threat. This is a very accomplished piece of songwriting.

The EP comes to an, all too soon, ending with the barn storming ‘When it Comes to You’. This is gaze gold. The glide guitars on here are next level. As the song develops you get an idea of what this band are capable of. This is an intense listening experince. I mean that in good way. It demands you pay attention and soak up everything that’s going on.

As the band say themselves “While recorded in isolation, the resulting songs are anything but bleak. Each song presents how we work together to create crashing walls of sound that are at once densely layered whilst also artfully delicate and balanced.”

Trillion’s  ‘Move to You EP’ is available now on Bandcamp and other streaming services. Click here to choose your platform.

Funeral Lakes – Golden Season EP

Funeral Lakes are a Canadian folk-rock duo with hearts fit to burst.  Sam Mishos and Chris Hemer started the band in the spring of 2018, self-producing music in their apartment in Vancouver and now in Toronto. They deal in politically and socially charged lyrics set against the most dynamic of instrumentation. Their eponymous debut album was released to widespread acclaim in 2019 and now Funeral Lakes return with the Golden Season EP.

The EP kicks off with ‘Eternal Return’, a song which rails against the misery inflicted by the lies of our politicians. This is a builder and I really like how this song takes its time to get going. You really feel like you are being taken along for the journey. By the time the closing section erupts you are feeling as justifiably angry and righteous as the group. I defy anyone not to fall in love with Funeral Lakes on the basis of this song alone.

‘Earth Falls’ is next up. A song with so much heart and yet so much restrained sadness at the inevitably of the destruction of our environment.  “Earth falls and then begins again. Our home is all we ever had” just speaks volumes to me. I love the interplay between Chris and Sam on the vocals here. Some really nice call and response stuff in the verses. The false start to the chorus is a neat twist too.

The closing track is entitled ‘Power Trip’ and features Sam on lead vocals over a really scuzzy fuzzed out guitar riff. Tackling the subject of the white hetero-patriarchy which dominates our society it careens at breakneck speed. Sounding quite different to the other two tracks, I’m not sure if this a detour for the band or them setting out down a new musical path. Either way, we win.

There is no doubt that Funeral Lakes will be getting Arcade Fire thrown at them by lazy reviewers as a point of reference but not here. I can hear the creativity of Talking Heads, the restrained ennui of Sparklehorse even the madcap irreverence of The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band.

I cannot recommend this band and EP highly enough. The Golden Season EP is out now from Funeral Lakes Bandcamp page and can be streamed from this list of platforms.

Ten Million Lights – Myanmar

Bursting out the speakers comes Ten Million Lights with the first track from their upcoming Shine So Bright EP release. “Myanmar” is an absolute classic in the making.

Hailing from Portland, Oregon these shoegazers have a penchant for catchy hooks and imaginative lyrics. If you like your gaze on the heavy side, you’ll love what Ten Million Lights are doing here. Driving bass and drums support a fuzzy, grungy riff fuelled assault on your senses. Lyrically we are off to outer space, through a black hole to seek assistance from the reptilian people.   Any band that can fit the line “Praying mantis come and save us reptilian son” into a song deserves our undying admiration.

Static Sounds Club has had a sneak peek of the upcoming Shine So Bright EP and I am pleased to report you are in for an absolute treat when it is released on Friday October 2nd.

“Myanmar” is out now via the bands Bandcamp page.