Horsey – Debonair (Untitled Recs)
Featuring King Krule drummer George Bass and Krule’s older brother Jack Marshall on bass, as well as Theo Mcabe and Jacob Read, Horsey are a group intertwined with the King Krule universe. That being said it would be a shame if this group were to only exist in the shadow of Krule because they totally kick ass in their own right.
From the opener “Sippy Cup,” it becomes apparent that these guys are an extremely cohesive and tight band. Many of the tracks on this record are flamboyant and showy while some take influence from math rock and punk. The finale track “Seahorse,” which features King Krule on vocals lulls the album to a close.
Debonair is out on Untitled Recs.
Skirts – Great Big Wild Oak (Double Double Whammy)
Skirts is the project of singer songwriter Alex Montenegro. The record is yet another great release from the label Double Double Whammy, whose roster includes the likes of Lomelda, Hovvdy, and Florist. Much like those aforementioned contemporaries Montenegro’s style is dreamy bedroom pop.
It’s soft morning lullaby music that lulls the listener into a dreamy state of mind. Great Big Wild Oak is dynamic. There are songs with country influence that employ lap steel guitars paired with songs that use distorted guitars to create a real indie-folk sound. This is a vibrant record that, as a debut is sure to make a splash.
Great Big Wild Oak is out on Double Double Whammy.
VIAL – Loudmouth (Get Better Records)
Minneapolis indie punk band VIAL have returned with quite possibly the best and most cohesive record of their career. Combining sounds from Pop Punk, Riot Grrrl, and Indie music their sound is explosive and in-your-face. The group’s sarcastic tone spits attitude up and down this LP.
The track “Planet Drool” opens with patty-cake-esque hand claps and the childishly sung lyrics, “You’re not Punk/You’re not queer/Nobody even wants you here.” The delivery is snarky and taunting. A ten second introduction to what this band is all about. “Thumb” and “Something More” are the closest the band comes to making indie pop, and the tracks work great in contrast to the rest of the record. Don’t sleep on this record!
Loudmouth is out on Get Better Records.
King Woman – Celestial Blues (Relapse Records)
Celestial Blues is something of an autobiography for King Woman founder Kristina Esfandiari. The album itself was inspired by a childhood near-death experience and growing up in a fundamentalist religious household.
Needless to say, it’s an intense record that portrays a deeply personal portrait of Esfandiari. The record instrumentally matches the lyrical mood, pulling from elements of post-rock and doom metal to create a searing and gothic sound. There are moments of grungy distortion and spacy explosions that leave that are a hard punch to the listener. This is a cathartic listen, certainly not for the faint of heart.
Celestial Blues is out on Relapse Records.
