Endon - Boy Meets Girl
///BLAR-FUCKING-GGGHHH\\\
Whereas their severity generated stunning shock-n-awe on 'Through The Mirror', here it's comparably flattened and fuck-around; the shock still shocking but spun sillier. Skimble-scamble for sure. Band without much plan stuffing as much scrumble and squeals and swishin' into the mix as possible mostly serve as a vehicle for Taichi's vocal antics, and together they transmit something between a group with big amps trying to piss off talent-show attendees and failing at taking care of your friend's newborn. But screeches are horrifying as they are hilarious, rigor and Motorhead riffs never hurt, 11-minute monster "Doubts As a Source" seems to simulate sex and/or a horror flick and closes with opera -- I get a kick out of it. Just hope they don't fall from purveyors of auditory authority to sheer agitators. 6/10
King Midas Sound - Solitude
*******HIGHEST RECS*******
///AL-FUCKING-ONE\\\
"A meditation on loss" this duo calls it, yeah yeah add it to the pile. But they've done it in such a stark, dark, striking and engulfing way. Drone+diction guarantee a difficult-n-disturbing glimpse into one side of a tolling breakup, which under the recital of spoken word commandant Roger Robinson transfixes and paints a creepy+cogent picture. Insecure about being minus a plus-one in his late thirties and steadily sinking into a solitary abyss, he occupies the atmosphere supremely yet allows plenty of room for it too, every syllable ice cold and accounted for, inflections subtle but mighty, expertly at calculatingly going nuts without blowing his top. And for what is essentially an obsessed stalker, he never reaches pernicious; tho sharp signs point to the likelihood of on-the-cusp -- "not angry / just empty", he does push-ups in restroom stalls and watches cooking shows in the dark, screams her name in the wilderness til he's hoarse, craves raw meat and hates water, spies from a distance and wonders who she's been fucking. For the finale, he enjoys pad thai and coffees with her fellow exes while they all share gripes, split the tip, and admit they still miss her. Definitive Mantras: "gone", "alone", "disappeared". Before The Breakup: "The only time we parted was to go to the toilet / We consumed each other / We became feral, we lost weight, we turned pale / We fucked like wild animals / We stole leather jackets and jewelry / We were bored, we were beyond bored". Release Date: Valentine's Day 2019. 8/10
Octo Octa - For Lovers [EP]
*******HIGHEST RECS*******
Simply put, sometimes all you need is a lil slice of solid no-nonsense house. For 3 tracks/23 minutes this nails the itch; by mostly sticking to basics. Each piece a wee bit protracted but still just kinda flying on by, it's casual yet enveloping -- dancy but diligently understated, sucking you in without going too deep, minimal melodies snug with resolutely smooth groove and actual emotion. Subtly panning hi-hats and sampled syllables, classic mysterious-yet-approachable ghost hook for introduction, nice touches. A shrouded lovey shoutout to family/supporters/yes, lovers, a nice one as well. 7.5/10
Sleaford Mods - Eton Alive
*******HIGHEST RECS*******
Can't call it their definitive best or a first-rate batch of Williamson rant, but as a followup to the last two it's certainly a solid stylistic solidifier. Still sticking so stiffly to such a scant-n-repetitive setup feels like refined defiance at this point; silly inescapable grooves you won't remember tomorrow teetering towards a sort of boundlessness. I.e. if you're down with the aesthetic and they keep sticking to it you could love em forever. And although yellin' and bass-lines and grit will always profile em Punk, I swear these machine-tight throbs and subtle touches got em more techno than ever. 8/10
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And The Kids - When This Life is Over 7/10
Helado Negro - This is How You Smile 6/10
Ni - Pantophobie 7/10
RAP - Export 5.5/10
SeeYouSpaceCowboy… - Songs for the Firing Squad 7/10
Solange - When I Get Home 6.5/10
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