by Meredith Schneider | Jan 14, 2019 | albums, review
Experimental improv musical group Richmond Avant Improv Collective (RAIC) – comprised of Samuel Goff, Abdul Hakim-Bilal, Erik Schroeder, Zoe Olivia-Kinney, and Laura Marina – released their new album Multiplicity on Friday, and we’ve got your first listen below. “Balance of the Three” starts us off with a pure cacophony of sound, horns and cymbals alternating feverishly for a full song’s length (around 3.5 minutes) before everything evens out into a somewhat bluesy and tribal soundscape. There is a sense of mystery to the song, the longest on the piece at 22:44. “Brugmansla” is completely different in its soundscape, rough and energized as though being played at battle. It is with “Occlusion” that a slight twang comes through, though it isn’t long before tribal drums, misplaced cymbals, and guitar chords make it feel like an artsy soundcheck.
“Leaves Continue to Fall” breezes in on a saxophone, more simplistic in its approach than its predecessors, as it maintains one instrument throughout. “Agitato” is our first real glimpse at vocals – albeit briefly – and a more ethereal and well-layered soundscape stems from its opening chords, slowly collapsing into brief, heightened energy escapades over the course of its hot ten minutes. “Pingulna” is the shortest of the tracks – sitting at a quick 1:35 – and boasts a down-home, blues feel that makes you feel relaxed and confident. Last track “Silene Udulata” rounds it out with a vintage feel, boasting opera-like vocals, eery, high pitched guitar chords, and rough, hard instrumentals that make it feel like the climax track at a rock opera. It’s definitely not something we would play at our Grandma’s birthday, but insanely fun to jam out to with friends.
Multiplicity is available now. Keep up with RAIC here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 13, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Brighton-based indie pop quintet Fickle Friends recently released a synth-driven, flurry of sound in the form of their track “Broken Sleep”. The new song just so happens to be the title track of their debut EP on Palmeira Records. “Broken Sleep” is smooth as honey in its disposition, the percussion hitting in the right places and in just the right 80s/90s way that you can’t help but move your hips to it all. This track would serve well in a crowded club setting, whether at an upscale dance club with neon lights or in a dingy underground nightclub in SoHo.
Check out the new track – and get a peep at their first ever North American tour dates – below!
09/25 DC9 Washington DC
09/26 World Café Live Philadelphia, PA
09/27 Bowery Ballroom New York, NY
09/29 Sonia’s Cambridge, MA
10/01 Drake Hotel Toronto, CAN
10/02 Pike Room (Crofoot) Pontiac, MI
10/03 Beat Kitchen Chicago, IL
10/06 Three Links Dallas, TX
10/08 Globe Hall Denver, CO
10/09 Kilby Court Salt Lake City, UT
10/11 Teragram Ballroom Los Angeles, CA
Keep up with Fickle Friends here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 11, 2018 | Uncategorized
If you’re searching for a little spark of badass in your soundscape today, indie musician Ishani‘s new track “Dark Angel”. Her vocals range on the higher side, with beautiful instrumentation to match and bring a little more edge to the track. But what is important to note – aside from the alluring sound to the track – is the important subject matter it addresses.
“I have lost close friends to suicide,” Ishani says of the song’s subject, “and recent events have forced me to revisit this song, – we are living through a time of increased awareness of mental health, but we still see so many people ending their lives.”
“Dark Angel” is multifaceted, but at its peak is a song of hope. Check it out below!
Keep up with Ishani here.
by Meredith Schneider | Aug 28, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Oakland-based solo musical force Bobey has mastered percussion and loops in an amusing and beautiful way. This fact is evident in new track “Melon Cauliflower”, which can be found on his brand new full-length Siblings. “Melon Cauliflower” gives off an ambient vibe, perfect to set as the backdrop at your Labor Day barbecue or end of summer soiree. We’re actually thrilled with the bit of melancholy in its disposition, as it slows us down and preps us for the coming of autumn.
Keep up with Bobey here.
by Veronica DeFeo | Apr 12, 2018 | premieres, singles, wolf tracks
Soothing, well-crafted, and moving. That’s what Sammy Strittmatter’s brand new track, “When She Sleeps” is. This new song will appear on Stritmatter’s upcoming record, Get Out of the City, dropping May 18 via Palo Santo Records. The Texas-bred, L.A.-based artist has clearly honed his craft, and it shines in “When She Sleeps”. This track is heaven for anyone needing some great acoustic guitar in their life. The chords perfectly accompany the confident yet soft vocals.
Says Strittmatter of his new track:
I first tracked this song while living in Arlington, TX. For about five years, I lived in a house that was built in 1916 for the Mayor. It was the first house built in the South Center Street Historic District. The house was all wood, so it had amazing acoustics in every room. Also, it had this stunningly tall stairwell, and I would place microphones at the very bottom, top, and in between, capturing a unique natural reverb. It was an inspiring place to think and create, which led to me writing the guitar part for this song.
“When She Sleeps” is not a track you’ll want to miss out on, so give it a listen today.
Watch for Get Out of the City, out May 18. Stay connected with Sammy Strittmatter:
Bandcamp – Facebook – Soundcloud
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 27, 2017 | wolf tracks
Twelve years after their conception, Bologna, Italy based punk group Altre di B – comprised of four men named Alberto, Andrea, Giacomo, and Giovanni – are revving up to jump across the Atlantic and perform at the Mondo.NYC festival. But they’re also prepping to release their latest album Miranda! the same week, a work that was originally concepted around the homonym book written by Quirico Filopanti in 1858. Its focus on maps, airports, geography, and cultural anthropology feel subtle, but make it one of the most intricately woven and highly educated concept albums we have heard in a while.
But, even with all of this big news and opportunities to see them live, we’re most excited about one thing. Altre di B’s brand new track “LAX” premieres right here, right now.
The vocals have a vintage punk feel to them, replete with the highly necessary emphasis on the European accent, an aspect they tend swap in and out of their music. With its upbeat tempo and fun, singable chorus, we can’t imagine this song not being a highlight of the live show. And we really just have one thing to note, a challenge, actually, for you guys. Try to NOT dance to this song. (It’s impossible.)
“Miranda!” is a concept album and a tribute to the homonym book written by Quirico Filopanti in 1858 containing the first theory of time zones. As a consequence the album is all about geography, cultural anthropology, maps and airports.
Altre di B is set to play Mondo.NYC festival, October 4th at DROM. Miranda! is out October 6th, via Black Candy Records. Keep up with the band here.
