Sparkle Division "To Feel Embraced (Temporary Residence)"
It’s a tale as old as time. World-renowned musician leaves Brooklyn for the sunny shores of L.A. There, he hires a studio assistant who is a composer in his own right, and the two of them release an album 5 years later. Thus concludes the origin story for Sparkle Division’s debut album To Feel Embraced, a origin story that will be retold numerous times Batman (WHAT HIS PARENTS GOT SHOT?), Spiderman (A SPIDER? NO WAY), or the Banana Splits (wait, how did the form?). William Basinski (the aforementioned world-renowned musician) has teamed uw with Preston Wendel (the aforementioned studio-assistant) to create a strikingly original sound. Loops, original samples, and oddly detuned lounge music all while Basinski ripping saxophone solos that would make John Zorn blush. If David Lynch made an L.A. Noire movie, it would absolutely sound like this. Oh wait, he has! Guess what? They kinda sounded like this! Start anywhere and be thankful you are already wearing a mask because this record is smoking – wait! 2020 version: Start anywhere and be thankful you are already wearing a mask because if you aren’t, you are a jerk! Check out “To The Stars Major Tom” and the haunting looped vocals on “To Feel Embraced”
Daniel Blumberg "On & On (Mute)"
From Mute:
On&On – which follows 2018’s Minus, Blumberg’s debut for Mute – is a consolidation of the deconstructed song aesthetic he has developed, operating at the intersection between conventional song structures and free improvisation. Now he takes this further, incorporating recurring, shape-shifting motifs and at times dissolving the boundaries between songs altogether. Title track ‘On&On’ appears four times across the arc of the record as if coming in and out of focus, an infinite song that encapsulates the paradox of the circle, existing in a liminal space between perpetual motion and stasis, as Daniel sings: ‘On and on and on and on and on…’
Flower "None Is (But Once Was) (Ernest Jenning Record Co.)"
From Ernest Jenning Record Co.:
1986. New York City. Trash cans ablaze in vacant lots. Wheels stolen, cars on blocks. A new noise was rising amid the rubble of abandoned buildings; this was the beginning, and Flower would take root and thrive here. Over their three years of initial outburst, Flower recorded two albums; the first, Concrete, dark and raging, pounding and brutal. The following year brought Hologram Sky; a glimpse of redemption, the promise of Spring on a bitter March wind, melodic and noisy, precise and chaotic, icy and warm. Their live shows walked the third rail, one step from catastrophe, one step from Valhalla, pushing density, rhapsody and bombast to their limits. Flower were young and foolish, naively insightful and blissfully ignorant, unaware of the power with which they toyed.
Naturally, they self-destructed.
The survivors, most notably Ed and Richard Baluyut, went on to form the indie icons Versus. Ian James managed to crawl away unscathed, only to end up in Geffen flame-out Cell, but later would reunite with drummer Andrew Bordwin to form French. This was to be the lay of the land for the next three decades until…
Flower returned.
Having always remained close, while Ian was recording the most recent Versus releases, discussion turned to seeing what would happen if all four original Flower members locked themselves in the studio until an album had been written. So it was agreed, and so it was done. None knew what to expect – would they kill each other? Worse, would the music be lame? The road took many detours, but the goal was finally realized: the first Flower album in 30 years.
Here it comes…
Andrew Bordwin / Drums
Edward Baluyut / Guitar
Ian James / Bass & Vocals
Richard Baluyut / Guitar & Vocals
Tommy & The Commies "Hurtin’ 4 Certain (Slovenly)"
From Slovenly Records:
Finally our most beloved Sudburians,
Under the extreme duress of these most turbulent times
Careen forth with a new four track 7inch EP
Knuckleheadedly entitled “Hurtin’ 4 Certain.”
Tommy and the Commies, lone purveyors of “Hooligan Pop”
Rock this one out with breakneck precision and attitude
Unheard since their 2018 masterpiece “Here Come…”
Meaty odes to their “One Arch Town” appear this time,
Perfectly executed and gritty, but never served raw.