Sarah Louise "Deeper Woods (Thrill Jockey)"
Sarah Louise has been known for some time as a very accomplished 12-string acoustic guitar player, but on Deeper Woods (Thrill Jockey) it’s the first time that she’s chosen to also feature her own vocal stylings. Recorded in her home in North Carolina, the nature thats just outside the window can be felt (and heard) in every note of these gorgeous tunes. A little bit Appalachian, a little bit psychedelic, more than a little experimental, and often delicate and hauntingly gorgeous. Give yourself over to the beauty of Deeper Woods (but don’t go to the actual deep woods by yourself! I’ve seen plenty of episodes of Law and Order: SVU, I know what happens out there!) and check out the haunting “When Winter Turns.”
The Body "I Have Fought Against It, But I Can’t Any Longer (Thrill Jockey)"
Come for the title (taken from Virginia Woolf’s suicide note), but of course stay for the music. The Body’s I Have Fought Against It, But I Can’t Any Longer (Thrill Jockey) is at times the most terrifying thing they’ve ever released and the most beautiful. IHFAIBICAL is like Diamanda Galas–fronting the Swans, with a good measure of Earth, The Exorcist, and every one of your worst nightmares in ten songs. Like a hurricane The Body lull you into thinking the storm is over but then, sure enough, the winds return and you are trapped in a basement and it is starting to flood and it looks like the floor is covered with cockroaches with fangs that can swim (did I mention worst nightmares). Load up on the Xanax and crank “Nothing Stirs.”
The Sea And Cake "Any Day (Thrill Jockey)"
For a certain sort of music fan (present company included), news of a new album from The Sea And Cake is cause for much celebration. TSAC have been brandishing their unique form of jazzy, post-rock for nearly 25 years now and are showing no signs of stopping. In fact, Any Day (Thrill Jockey) finds the band operating as a trio for the first time as a trio after the departure of original bassist Eric Claridge since the release of their last album, 2012’s Runner. This time around, they have left most of the synthesizers at home in favor of a more organic sound comprised of guitars and organs. Also along for the ride is long-time Brian Wilson collaborator Paul Von Mertens on various instruments that you blow into (sorry if my technical musical knowledge went over anyone’s head there). Check out the jangly shimmer of “Any Day.”
FAN "Barton’s Den (Polyvinyl)"
Meric Long has spent 10+ years as half of the duo the Dodos. But he put that on hold when life got in the way, he lost his father and he had a baby. His father had left him two lovely vintage synths, and so as a way to reconnect with his loved one, he started experimenting with the synths and thus his solo project FAN was born. And now, a note to all musicians in the future. THIS kind of quote is how you get me to love your music before I even listen to it. For his solo project, he decided to use the synths to “finally embrace a wealth of childhood influences: Nintendo soundtracks, Devo, Brian Eno, Prince.” Really, that’s just what this music sounds like. The angular guitars and unexpected prog-y-ness of Eno, the melodic wonders of early Nintendo games’ music, the weirdness of Devo, and the pop bliss of Prince. Frankly, if you haven’t already stopped reading and started listening to the first single “Bob1” already then we have very little in common.