RIP Krzysztof Penderecki

I totally missed this until i saw that a couple of friends had posted about it online yesterday, but influential Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki passed away over the weekend.  His most famous composition is probably "Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima," segments of which were used in Kubrick's "The Shining," and Lynch's "Twin Peaks: The Return."  It's a haunting and terrifying piece of music, and it pretty much can totally soundtrack our current timeline.  RIP Penderecki.

Sewer Skaters

A few years ago, synth wave label Retro Promenade released a string of excellently themed tribute albums of sorts, getting a slew of like-minded synth heads to create music inspired by "Twin Peaks," or John Carpenter, or "Tron," or "Miami Vice," and so on.  Then they were quiet for a few years.  But yesterday, they dropped a new collection of tunes inspired by "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," a kind of celebration of the 30th anniversary of the live action movie's release.  Wild.  Anyway, check out Le Cassette's "Truth of the Ninja" below and download the whole thing here.  Cowabunga!

Thurston Moore - Sunday Stage

After Sonic Youth broke up, and broke our hearts, Thurston Moore tooled around with a project called Chelsea Light Moving for a couple of years.  And over the weekend, he released a song from that era for our listening consumption.  Yep, it sounds like a Thurston Moore song.  Check out "Sunday Stage" below and download it here.

Sadness

Prolific bedroom black metal artist Sadness just released a new album a material written over the last few years to help guide us further into the abyss.  Chicken soup for the tortured soul if you will.  Listen to "Shallow Streams and She" below and get the "Alluring the Distant Eye" album here from the artist.

Daily Jam - Wasn't It You?

Last year i was pretty bummed when Peggy Lipton passed away.  To me, she will eternally be Norma Jennings, but being that she was in and out of the business for a few decades, she's a lot of things to a lot of people.  One thing though, that i was unaware of until last year, was that Lipton recorded a pop album in 1968.  And it's pretty darn good too.  Listen to "Wasn't It You?" below, our Daily Jam.

The Ruins of Beverast

Gotta admit that i'm always a little leery when posting some music from a black metal band i've never heard of before, particularly when they hail from Europe.  You never know when you could be lauding a white supremacist.  Anyhoo, German band The Ruins of Beverast just released a split single with Mourning Beloveth.  Listen to the very dirge-like "Don't Walk on the Mass Graves" below and get it here from Van Records.

Luke Schneider

Country music session musician Luke Schneider plays a mean pedal steel, and he puts it to use on his new upcoming album "Altar of Harmony," an experimental, ambient new age record.  Listen to "Anteludium" below and pre-order the record here from Third Man.

Daily Jam - Avalyn I and II

I couldn't decide if i wanted to use Slowdive's "Avalyn I" or "Avalyn II" today, but it appears some genius on YouTube has combined the two into one epic, sprawling piece of layered sound.  And it's the perfect soundtrack for this Monday morning in central Texas, watching the gray clouds role in and waiting for the rain to start.  Listen below, our Daily Jam.

Pye Corner Audio - Distance

Here's a new and pulsing little synth jam from Pye Corner Audio to help ease the stress of our collective quarantine.  Listen to the appropriately titled "Distance" below and download it from the artist here.

Daily Jam - What's A Girl to Do?

I hadn't thought about it in years, but this song popped into my head the other day.  I've always loved how spooky it sounds.  Listen to Bat For Lashes' "What's A Girl to Do?" below, our Daily Jam.

Flat Worms

LA psych drenched post punk band Flat Worms are back in a couple weeks with what is likely to be a shredder of a new record.  Recorded with Steve Albini, new album "Antarctica" feels like a burst of nervous energy brought on by...well...just look around you.  The band describes it as:

2020: world in flames, deserts in permafrost, everyone in their own corners, looking down into their hands. What’s happening isn’t working.

Sounds about right.  Listen to the frantic "The Aughts" below and pre-order the record here from Drag City.

Melenas

I love that lo-fi, surfy, girls in the garage sound in all its shapes and forms.  And Spanish band Melenas fits the mold perfectly.  New album "Dias Raros" comes out in May on Trouble In Mind.  Watch the video for "No Puedo Pensar" below and pre-order the record here.

Bright Eyes

There was a time about 20 years ago or so when the emo-tinged indie rock of Bright Eyes was one of my favorite things in the world.  Right time right place kind of thing i suppose.  Eventually, my tastes began to wander elsewhere, as did Conor Oberst's, his later projects never doing much for me.  But now, it appears Bright Eyes is back on the scene, and i've gotta say, i'm digging the comeback single.  Listen to "Persona Non Grata" below and dig on those bagpipes.

The B-Side Tangent

Here's a mix of instrumental surf and psych and garage rock from Australian duo The B-Side Tangent.  Originally recorded in live takes in 2014 but seeing the light of day for the fist time now, "Open the Vault!" is full of riffs and grooves for the beach that you're not going to any time soon.  Listen to the album opening title track below and get it here from Third Eye Stimuli.

Qlowski

Here's a new tune from London post punk band Qlowski, whom i would have loved to have seen last week in Austin if not this whole global pandemic thing and the impending collapse of everything.  Anyway, listen to "Ikea Youth" below and get the 7" here from Maple Death.

Deerhoof

It looks like May is going to bring us a new record from long running experimental pop band Deerhoof.  Listen to new single "Future Teenage Cave Artists" below and then pre-order the new album of same name here from Joyful Noise.

CHAI - No More Cake

Hooray!  We've got a new single from Japanese kinda punk, kinda pop band CHAI.  Watch the video for new tune "No More Cake" below.

Daily Jam - I Feel You

I always seem to come back around to Depeche Mode.  It's just one of those things.  Here's "I Feel You," our Daily Jam.

Lingua Ignota - O Ruthless Great Divine Director

I really don't know how to define the music or experimental artist Lingua Ignota.  At times she's damn near operatic, and at others she creates a cacophony of hysteric and terrifying noise.  It's wonderful.  Anyway, she released a new track yesterday, the haunting and sneering "O Ruthless Great Divine Director."  You should definitely listen to it below and then grab it here via Sargent House.

"Everyone i know's a fucking cop."

Daily Jam - Staring at the Sun

Here's a little underrated '90s grungey, alt-rock tune for our Friday.  Check out Smile's "Staring at the Sun" below, our Daily Jam.

Friday Horror Trailer - The Dentist

FACS

"Void Moments," the latest effort from warped Chicago post punk band FACS, drops tomorrow on Trouble In Mind.  Listen to the fuzzy and disorienting "Teenage Hive" below and order the record here.

Conway The Machine and The Alchemist with Schoolboy Q

Groovin' on the hip-hop tunes this morning in between jaunts of new Nails ambience, and i'm really digging on "Shoot Sideways" from Buffalo, New York rapper Conway The Machine with The Alchemist and the always entertaining Schoolboy Q.  Hypnotic street rap for the masses.  Check it out below and be on the lookout for the "LULU" EP set to drop next week on Empire.

Shabazz Palaces

I saw trippy hip-hop duo Shabazz Palaces way back in 2011, and i swear they get a little weirder with every single release, which is both wonderful and satisfying.  New album "The Don of Diamond Dreams" is heading our way next month, and they've just released a video for new tune "Chocolate Souffle."  Check it out below and get the record here from Sub Pop.

Run The Jewels

Getting closer to the inevitable release of "RTJ4," and like many of us out there, music is helping me get through this whole thing, so every taste of the new Run The Jewels record just fills me with more anticipation.  Check out "Ooh, Lala" below.

Nine Inch Nails

Nine Inch Nails just dropped two free albums of ambient material to, at the very least, soothe my nerves for a little while.  Maybe they can soothe yours too.  Listen to the haunting and transcending "Letting Go While Holding On" below and download both "Ghosts V: Together" and "Ghosts VI: Locusts" here from the NIN webstore.

Daily Jam - Some Other Drum

I don't know how many of you out there are working from home and homeschooling a 1st grader and a pre-schooler for the foreseeable future, but brother, it's exhausting.  So here's a mellow little '60s garage rock jam from The Music Machine.  Listen to "Some Other Drum" below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Home

Some people's parents get all the attention.  Here's "Home" from Sean Lennon, our Daily Jam.

Caleb Landry Jones

While i've been familiar with Caleb Landry Jones for a few years due to his performances in films like "Get Out," "Antiviral," and "X-Men: First Class," i had no idea he also fancied himself a musician.  His upcoming debut, "The Mother Stone," feels enormous based on the first two songs available.  There are elements of jazz and psych and alt-rock, drunken lounge music and a flair for the overly dramatic.  It kind of rules.  Listen to "Flag Day / The Mother Stone" below and pre-order the record here from Sacred Bones.

Uniform - Awakening

With the whole world spinning out of control, i completely missed that New York industrial metal band Uniform dropped a new single a month back.  Listen to "Awakening" below and get it here from Sacred Bones.

RIP Stuart Gordon

Just found out we lost another horror icon yesterday.  RIP Stuart Gordon.  Nobody could adapt Lovecraft for the screen quite like you could.

Sunn Trio

Here's some eardrum rattling desert psych blues from Arizona and Sunn Trio.  The guitar tones of "Alhiruiyn" sound like the sands of a particularly heavy dust storm moving through the desert, all light blinking out of existence.  Listen below and get the new "Electric Esoterica" album here from the band.

Alex Rex

Indie folk artist Alex Rex has made a name for himself as a drummer for artists like Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Jandek, and Current 93 among others, and his most recent solo outing, February's "Andromeda" LP, finds the singer/songwriter channeling folk and psych rock like some kind of unhinged Leonard Cohen to create something wholly intoxicating.  Listen to "Funeral Music for Alex Rex" below and get the album here from Tin Angel Records.

The Warlocks

LA psych rock band The Warlocks are back this April with new album "The Chain."  Check out the dusty, sun-blasted lead single "Double Life" below and get the record here from Cleopatra Records.

Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad with Roy Ayers

I can't check the news or get on social media without having a mild panic attack these days, so let's all try to calm the nerves with some groovy new jazz from Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad.  Check out the slinky, Roy Ayers assisted "Hey Lover" below and get the new "Jazz Is Dead 001" LP here from Jazz Is Dead.

Daily Jam - Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayitsworldwouldfallapart

Considering we currently have one political party here that's advocating for killing old people to boost the stock market and another that's either in hiding or pitching ideas that maybe help just 15% of the people who need it, it seems like a good day to throw up middle fingers at all of them.  So here's Manic Street Preachers' "Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayitsworldwouldfallapart," our Daily Jam.

Marissa Nadler

Gothy folk artist extraordinaire Marissa Nadler often releases collections of demos, covers, and rarities on here Bandcamp page, and her most recent, "Unearthed," came out last week.  Listen to the stripped down and haunting "When They Cut Me Open" below and get the album here.

Converge - Endless Arrow

Just sitting at home for awhile?  Here's a 30-minute ambient drone track from long running metal band Converge to fill your time and your ear space.  Listen to "Endless Arrow" below and download it here.

Daily Jam - Corona

I'll be attempting to fix a leaking toilet stop valve...again...later this afternoon.  So let's cue up "Corona" by Minutemen, our Daily Jam.

LUNACY

Pennsylvania experimental drone and electronic artist LUNACY has a new EP heading our way next month.  Listen to "Past Present Future" below and pre-order "The Search for Fallen Field" here as a lathe cut 10" record from the artist, or here on cassette from the excellent Somatic label.

Helicon

Music (and probably beer too) are keeping me sane right now.  And man, have i discovered a veritable trainload of new music lately.  Glasgow shoegaze band Helicon lean on the heavier side of things, wave upon wave of noisy reverb and layers of guitar just slamming into my brain like a falling anvil.  Check out "Sound of Confession" below and download (record is sold out) the "This Can Only Lead to Chaos" LP here via Fuzz Club.

King Buffalo

Aside from offering up maybe my favorite album cover of the year so far, Rochester metal-tinged psych rock band King Buffalo also give us some mind bending and consciousness pummeling tunes to get through these strange days.  If you're so inclined, maybe roll a doober before checking out the epic "Red Star Pt. 1 & 2" below.  Then grab the new "Dead Star" LP here (digitally) or here (physically).

Spotlights

New York band Spotlights released one of my favorite albums of 2019, and now they're back with a new EP of crushing stoner metal meets space rock guitar riffs to blast us all to smithereens before the asteroids hit.  Listen to "Part IV" below and get the "We Are All Atomic" EP here from Blues Funeral Recordings.

Big Cheese

I'm no expert on the hardcore scene, but English band Big Cheese released a walloping dose of it earlier this month.  "Punishment Park" is a fast, churning, chaotic blast of licks and howls, something i hope can sustain the anger when all is said and done.  Listen to "Heartbreak Ball" below and get the record (stateside) here from Triple B Records.

Daily Jam - Touch Me I'm Sick

Honestly i should just make this the Daily Jam for the foreseeable future.  Here's Mudhoney's "Touch Me I'm Sick."

Jorge Elbrecht featuring Ariel Pink

Jorge Elbrecht makes all kinds of music, from psychedelic to darkwave synth pop to black metal.  He collaborates with a lot of other artists as well, and his upcoming new 7" he pairs with Ariel Pink on the A-Side for a noisy blast of industrial-tinged mayhem.  Listen to "Traces of Death" below and get the "Gloss Coma 003" record here.

Cold Cave - Waving Hands

Here's a new single from Cold Cave, a cover of Absolute Body Control's "Waving Hands"  Listen below and get it here via Heartworm Press.

Sexores

Yesterday during the veritable free for all on Bandcamp, i got a whole slew of notifications from different artists that they had new singles or albums dropping.  Needless to say, i spent a mess of money yesterday to help as many artists as i could.  One of those is Mexican synth pop group Sexores.  New album "Salamanca" is a haunting work of dark tones and eerie melodies.  Listen to "Mistress of the Marble Hill" below and get the record here.

Daily Jam - Unchained Malady

I've been a fan of Federale for a few years, ever since first hearing them on the soundtrack to "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night," but for some reason i totally slept on their latest release, last year's "No Justice."  Shame on me.  So let's remedy that.  Here's the totally spaghetti western inspired "Unchained Malady," our Daily Jam.

Wurve

Changing course just a little bit here, and we've got some psychedelic fuzz pop from Austin's Wurve.  "Memory Bleach," their latest album, dropped last spring, but deserves some spins today.  Check out "Blowout" below and get the record here from the band.