Star Moles "Snack Monster"
This album kind of started as an academic pursuit. I was taking a course on medieval literature when I was introduced to Andreas Capellanus’ Rules of Courtly Love. Initially, I thought it would be a great idea to make a concept album with a song for each rule. As you’ll see, this album has only 7 tracks which isn’t even close to the number of rules there are. But certain rules immediately inspired me and captured my attention. The song “Tides” is about jealousy (Rule 2: He who is not jealous cannot love). The song “Why” is about not starving oneself of love (Rule 8: No one should be deprived of love without the very best of reasons). The song “Rules of the Court” is, as one might assume, about a romance that abides by these rules, many of which reflect on the tormented state of the lover, pining in secrecy and constant fear of losing love.
After a few years of boring, therapized love songs in the pop sphere idealizing romance between individuals who have “worked on themselves” and reached a state of mental, spiritual, physical, and financial wellness (read: purity) I was just so moved by this concept of complicated and messy romance as art. The name Snack Monster was a working title of unknown origin that just stuck. But it’s fitting, since these songs are about love in morsels, craved and devoured and driving you insane.
Fever Ray "The Year Of The Radical Romantics"
Fever Ray announces their new live album, The Year Of The Radical Romantics, out July 25th, and the accompanying The Year Of The Radical Romantics publication available for pre-order now. In conjunction with today’s announcement, Fever Ray presents the new single/video, “Now’s The Only Time I Know (Therapy Session).”
The Year Of The Radical Romantics is a document of the juicy, throbbing missives used to woo crowds from Sydney to Seattle on the globe-trotting There’s No Place I’d Rather Be Tour in support of 2023’s lauded Radical Romantics. The new album consists of live-to-tape studio versions of tracks from Radical Romantics in addition to highlights from 2017’s Plunge and massive new iterations of early classics performed by the musicians who accompanied Dreijer on tour — Minna Koivisto on keyboards; Romarna Campbell on drums; Maryam Nikandish and Helena Gutarra on keytars and vocals.
Radical Romantics’ riotous, world-building videos introduced an unforgettable cast of characters. Accompanying Fever Ray (aka the white-suited Casanova) are wannabe-womanizer Romance, clockwatcher Main, witchy Snusis, and axe-wielding bombshell Demona Lisa. The Year Of The Radical Romantics offers a culmination of these character’s arcs with a pair of videos directed by longtime longtime Fever Ray creative visionary Martin Falck. The visuals find the misfits navigating group therapy sessions led by therapist Ebba. These sessions are soundtracked by blistering versions of fan favorites from Fever Ray’s beloved self-titled 2009 debut album: “I’m Not Done (Therapy Session)” and today’s single, “Now’s the Only Time I Know (Therapy Session).”
Iron Giant "Terry Riley’s In C"
The debut album from Birmingham-based music collective Iron Giant Free Association is the culmination of their decade-long relationship with Terry Riley’s 1964 minimalist masterwork, In C. What began as an interest in large-scale multi-instrumentation evolved into years of experimentation and collaboration with Riley’s revolutionary piece.
On stage, they gradually began incorporating elements of improvisation, fixed arranging, and rhythmic/ harmonic manipulation until eventually the piece took on a distinct character-something uniquely their own. In the studio (i.e., their own homes) they would meticulously document this over the course of a year. Hypnotic percussion, swells of synthesizers, mutated AM/FM radios, and punchy bass all emerge in a reimagining of In C unlike any before it.
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Matching Outfits "Ditch Me"
A trio of adopted Berliners whose warped take on indie pop captures life’s major heartbreaks and minor inconveniences in gut-wrenching, occasionally hilarious detail. They do not wear matching outfits, except when they do.
“Lo-fi, poppy, wistful, exuberant, and playfully deadpan. Like a crooked smile or a knowing wink. Lovable weirdos who celebrate the profound charm of the everyday.” Olivia Bradley-Skill / Radio Ravioli WFMU