Upper Wilds "Guitar Module 2017 (Thrill Jockey)"
Dan Friel (of Parts & Labor fame) fans, do I ever have a treat for you! His new project, Upper Wilds, has released an introduction of the new sound with Guitar Module 2017 (Thrill Jockey). Performed entirely by Friel on a heavily distorted guitar, along with a sequencer, a keyboard, and a pedal board full of goodies, GM2017 is a big, messy good time. A little like Lightning Bolt but with Dan’s occasional vocals being far less distorted. His guitars certainly thrash, likely causing heads to be banged and devil hands to be thrown up wherever this album is being played, and played LOUD. Crank it to 11 and check out “UFO.”
Walker Lukens "Tell It To The Judge (Modern Outsider)"
The day has finally arrived! Walker Lukens has released this long-awaited Jim Eno-produced follow up to 2013’s Devoted. Tell It To The Judge (Modern Outsider) not only collects a few singles that have already garnered millions of plays, he has also made writing this blurb very, very easy. How? By writing this: “I wanted Tell It To The Judge to feel like one of those late 70s ZZ Top records –fun, to the point, a little funny, full of good grooves… The thing is that it’s 2017. I love hip-hop and I can only take so much of that boys drinking around a campfire feel. I mostly play piano and am not that good at guitar. I spend too much time in my head to play good old rock-n-roll. Thus, I give you Tell It To The Judge.” Thanks Walker, not only for the tremendously fun album, but also for the excellent PR blurb. Check out the premiere single “Don’t Wanna Be Lonely (Don’t Wanna Leave You Alone).”
Wand "Plum (Drag City)"
Drag City favorites Wand have expanded their roster. Now, what’s the first thing a band does when they expand their roster? Why they write a bunch of new tunes and record a new album to showcase their new sound. Plum does just that. From the very first bouncy piano licks of the title track, you know you are in for a new, and dare I say (I dare! I dare!) improved Wand. Buoyant, laid back psychedelia seems to be the name of the game for Wand 2.0. If Jonny Greenwood and Tim Presley formed a group to cover Donovan songs, they would sound a lot like this. Check out the aforementioned title-track “Plum.”
Behind The Shadow Drops "Harmonic (Temporary Residence)"
Behind The Shadow Drops is the new solo project from “Taka” Goto, the enigmatic guitarist/composer behind Japan’s MONO. The resulting epic sound of Harmonic (Temporary Residence) is a mix of Mogwai at their most glacial and Brian Eno at his most ambient, only both things happen the same time. Also, you should mix some sexy processed beats into the mix (Thanks producer John McEntire!), for that description to work. Not sure why I’m telling you to do the musical chemistry there. I should have mixed that in. Oh well. Moving forward. If you like simultaneously lovely and guttural, experimental guitar music, then you are gonna flip for this new release from a man who is always pushing himself as well as his audience. Check out the Trans-Am meets Enya meets Godspeed You! Black Emperor sounds (I would buy that record or at least vote for them on Family Feud!) of the first single “Positive Shadow Negative Light.”