Post-punk – Page 16 – 7th Level Music

Levitation France 2022 recap – Day Two

When in Angers, you should check out the Apocalypse Tapestry at Chateau d’Angers. It’s one of the most doom metal things ever made.

Day Two (June 04th) of Levitation France was our busiest day of the festival. There was a small worry of rain and thunderstorms hitting the festival all three days, but it stayed away on Friday and had hit the area on Saturday afternoon. The skies looked clear for Saturday evening, and, thankfully, that turned out to be the case. We walked in for about the last third of a set by You Said Strange, who were highly popular judging by the number of their band shirts I saw at the festival that day.

You Said Strange getting strange on the Reverberation Stage.

Up next were Death Valley Girls. I hadn’t seen them live since the Psycho Music Festival last year, and they’d written a couple new songs since then (with a new album due in 2023!). They came out, battling the sun beaming directly into their eyes, and put on a heavy, spooky set to counter the light pouring over them.

Death Valley Girls battling the sun and casting spells.

I finally got to introduce myself to them afterwards, which was a delight. We’d only “known” each other through mutually followed Twitter feeds until that time. They’re currently on a three-week European tour and will have a big U.S. / Canada tour this summer (as well as a return to Psycho Music Festival). Don’t miss them.

Some blogger / radio DJ with Death Valley Girls

We then zipped across the lot to see Gustaf. I’d been itching to see them, as I heard their live shows were as fun and weird as their album, Audio Drag for Ego Slobs, and I had heard right. They were just as quirky and sharp as I’d hoped.

I’m not sure if Gustaf or the crowd were bouncing more during their set.

We took a food break (Thanks, BBQ food truck!) and then returned to the Reverberation Stage to see the legendary Kim Gordon come out and rock a mini-skirt better than most women half her age and rock a guitar and stage better than most anyone in the game. It was great to see someone exude so much sensual, raw power.

Australian rockers Pond were up next and put on a fun, energetic set. Their musicianship was tested and on full display when one synthesizer broke only a few songs into their set. They had to adapt their set list on the fly and play songs they hadn’t intended, and did it without missing a beat.

Pond, changing like chameleons from song to song.

Japanese psych-rock legends Kikagaku Moyo were next. In case you weren’t aware, they are on their final tour for a long time – possibly forever – so don’t miss them if they’re near your town. They sound great as always and dazzled the crowd for their whole set.

The festival closed with Canadian electro-industrial duo Pelada, who, if I heard right, were booked a bit at the last minute. They got the entire crowd dancing, with singer Chris Vargas owning the stage (and crowd) from the first moment she appeared. Tobias Rochman‘s beats were a wild switch from the trippy psych-rock and post-punk of the day. Watching douchebag guys being intimidated by Ms. Vargas was one of the highlights of the day.

Pelada dropping beats and spitting fire.

It was a fun day all-around, and the next day would bring psychedelic Shinto music, a band that plays like their hair is on fire, some psych-rock legends, four men on a mission, and a bus ride that will be talked about at the festival for years to come.

Keep your mind open.

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Levitation France 2022 recap – Day One

It was my first time back to Levitation France in a few years, and it felt great to be back in Angers and at another Levitation music festival. This was my first time attending the festival at the La Chabada venue, which was composed of two outdoor stages facing opposite of each other, a food truck area, and an indoor merchandise booth. One of the many things Levitation France does better than most other festival is to offer affordable, tasty, non-alcoholic beverages for purchase. The lemonade and apple juice (really more like apple cider) there were top-notch. I wish festivals in the U.S. offered stuff like that. Here, it’s usually just an overpriced bottle of water or a can of Mt. Dew.

Day One of the festival (Friday, June 03rd) started off with a small bump when the lineup order had to be changed due to Dry Cleaning having to cancel their festival appearance. That was a bummer, as I was keen on seeing them for the first time. I hope they’ll be at the main Levitation festival in Austin, Texas this October.

So, we started off the festival by catching most of Stuffed Foxes‘ set. They’re a group of friends no older than twenty-two, I think, and they threw down a wild set of loud rock to get everyone ready for a wild weekend.

Up next were Albinos Congo, who played a fun set of post-punk with a bit of psychedelia thrown into the mix. Their drummer was sharp, using fills to excellent effect.

We closed Day One with Automatic, who hypnotized the crowd with their synth-punk / krautrock set. A funny moment was seeing them leave the merchandise area not long after their set, as they had a flight to catch or had to get on the road for their next gig, and watching their surprise when so many people applauded for them as they left.

Automatic playing alongside a beheaded Silver Surfer.

We were a bit exhausted by the end of their set, so we cut out early in order to be well-rested for the next day, which we knew would have even better attendance.

Coming up next, I finally get to introduce myself to a band I’ve been promoting for a while, see some dynamite legs, watch a band adapt to an equipment malfunction, see some psychedelic legends on their final tour, and watch a woman enthrall a crowd.

Keep your mind open.

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Live: A Place to Bury Strangers, Glove, and Ganser – May 30, 2022 – Empty Bottle – Chicago, IL

I went to the first of two shows A Place to Bury Strangers, Glove, and Ganser were playing at Chicago’s Empty Bottle beginning on the evening of Memorial Day. The holiday Monday night crowd was small, as many people were still returning home from the weekend or still gone on vacation, and due to every restaurant in the area being closed. I had to walk over twenty minutes to find an open Jimmy John’s.

Shame on you if you missed the show due to being hungover from a backyard barbecue or stuck at some family gathering full of drama and your bigoted uncle rating while he spilled mustard on his shirt. You missed a wild show.

Chicago’s own Ganser were first up, and they put on a solid set of post-punk that had influences of Joy Division and The Cure all through it. Their guitarist, Charlie Landsman, seems to play like he has no idea what he’s doing, but that’s kind of the point. My friend, Rafael (bass player for Chicago death metal band Asphyxiator), marveled at the sound Alicia Gaines got out of her bass throughout the whole set (“Her bass tone is really good!”).

Glove were up next, and they reminded me of a heavier version of Ladytron. The throbbing synth beats mixed well with their post-punk guitars and krautrock vocals. Their set grew a bit darker as it went on, which was all right by me.

APTBS as always, came out and demolished the place. I wondered how loud it was going to be, as they’re one of the loudest bands out there and the Empty Bottle is a small venue. Sure enough, my feet were vibrating by the time they got to the heaviest version of “Oceans” I’ve heard them play.

Oliver Ackermann in his natural element – using a strobe light to play his guitar like its a washboard.

One of the best parts of APTBS‘ set was seeing how much fun they were having. Ackermann told me early in the evening that he was happy to be back out on the road and seeing everyone. He and his friends, the husband and wife duo of John and Sandra Fedowitz, were grinning through a lot of the set and having a blast as they melted faces and minds. You can always tell who is attending one of their shows for the first time because they always have the same “What the hell is happening?” look on their faces. I saw a lot of that.

A Place to Bury Strangers exploding heads in Chicago.

Go catch them if you can. You won’t regret it.

Keep your mind open.

[Thanks to Steven at Dedstrange for the press pass!]

Regressive Left profess “Bad Faith” on their new single.

The much-tipped Regressive Left return today with news of their signing to new tastemaker label Bad Vibrations, born from the revered live promoters of the same name, and that their debut EP, On the Wrong Side of History, is set for release on July 15th.

PRE-ORDER HERE

The Luton trio also share their first new material of the year with the DFA-flavoured “Bad Faith”, featuring a vocal contribution from Manchester’s experimental-pop act Mandy, Indiana – quoting French psychoanalyst Octave Mannoni’s paradoxical mechanism: “Je sais bien, mais quand même.” In other words: “I know very well, but even so…” – and picking up the ascent exactly where earlier singles left off, placing wry social commentary and dancefloor ambition right at their front and center.

Front-man Simon Tyrie says the following about the themes behind the track:

“This song essentially focuses on the idea of deliberately assuming the worst of someone or something they’ve said or done. Social media has really amplified this trend: everyone has to have a take. So we read between the lines and make wild accusations on the faintest of evidence. It’s something of an art, but one that I think is ultimately detrimental to society.”

WATCH VIDEO TO “BAD FAITH” HERE

Already chalking up a strong live reputation, the band have toured in support of BODEGA and Folly Group in 2022 already, and today announce their first ever headlining dates.

Catch Regressive Left live at:

MAY

14 Brighton – The Great Escape – Revenge
14 Brighton – The Alt Escape – The Hope & Ruin
15 Leeds – Brudenell Social Club
21 York – The Crescent
27 London – Wide Awake

JUNE

11 Bristol – Strange Brew
18 The Hague – Grauzone (NL)

SEP

26 Birmingham – Hare & Hounds
28 Glasgow – Hug & Pint
30 Manchester – YES

OCT

2 Bedford – Esquires
4 Brighton – Prince Albert
6 Margate – Elsewhere

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to James at Prescription PR.]

Flasher release title track from upcoming album, “Love Is Yours.”

Flasher – the duo of guitarist Taylor Mulitz and drummer Emma Baker – present the title track and accompanying video for their forthcoming album, Love Is Yours, out June 17th on Domino. “‘Love Is Yours’ is about the roller-coaster highs and lows of a long-term relationship—the kind where a conversation can feel like a tripwire, with subtextual clues that offer the promise of reward if correctly decoded,” the band explains. The accompanying video, directed by Camilla Smura (who also created the video for lead single “Sideways”), “is an homage to National Treasure, because much like a treasure room hidden beneath Trinity Church, love that endures is ‘the greatest adventure history has ever revealed.’”

WATCH FLASHER’S VIDEO FOR “LOVE IS YOURS”

Following their acclaimed 2018 debut, Constant Image, Love is Yours steps up the ambition and reaches for the horizon. It was recorded in Washington, D.C. with long-time friend Owen Wuerker, who also helped flesh out the instrumentation by contributing additional bass, percussion, synths, and guitar. Rather than binding the duo to its past – to geography, old habits, or trusted sounds – the familiar environment proved liberating. Baker and Mulitz shared vocal duties, tweaked tempos, structures, and dynamics accordingly. They toyed with genre, melody, and texture. The resulting record is ablaze with mood, melody, and carefully threaded hooks, finding the band foregrounding the pop sensibilities that had always been present in their previous releases. It retains the attitude that was fundamental to the band’s DIY roots, but cuts loose a touch of the angst. Though the songs process disillusionment and loss, the music evokes warmth and optimism. It is their best record and also their most generous. Kicking off in June, Flasher will bring their live show across North America. Tickets for all dates are on sale now and a full list can be found below.

WATCH THE “SIDEWAYS” VIDEO

PRE-ORDER LOVE IS YOURS

FLASHER TOUR DATES
Fri. June 17 – Washington, DC @ Comet Ping Pong
Sat. June 18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right
Mon. June 20 – Richmond, VA @ The Camel
Tue. June 21 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle (Backroom)
Wed. June 22 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
Thu. June 23 – Nashville, TN @ Third Man Records
Fri. June 24 – Cincinnati, OH @ MOTR Pub
Sat. June 25 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
Mon. June 27 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Bag
Tue. June 28 – Toronto, ON @ The Baby G
Wed. June 29 – Montreal, QC @ L’Esco
Thu. June 30 – Providence, RI @ AS220
Fri. July 1 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie

Keep your mind open.

[Music updates and news could be yours if you subscribe.]

[Thanks to Jacob at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Flasher are set to return with a new album on June 18, 2022 and go “Sideways” on their new single.

Flasher have announced their new album, Love Is Yours, out June 17th on Domino, and a North American tour. Additionally, they share the album’s lead single/video, “Sideways.” The band’s 2018 debut, Constant Image, was a triumph – a set of songs both dizzy and explosive, balancing new-wave lushness and post-punk frenzy. Love is Yours steps up the ambition and reaches for the horizon. The record is ablaze with mood, melody, and carefully threaded hooks, finding the band foregrounding the pop sensibilities that had always been present in their previous releases. It retains the attitude that was fundamental to the band’s DIY roots, but cuts loose a touch of the angst. Though the songs process disillusionment and loss, the music evokes warmth and optimism. It is their best record and also their most generous.

WATCH FLASHER’S VIDEO FOR “SIDEWAYS”

Following the release of Constant Image and successful touring, it seemed like the Washington, DC music scene was in constant flux. Flasher was not spared a shake-up. Bassist Daniel Saperstein parted ways with the group. Guitarist Taylor Mulitz would eventually decide to relocate – first to Baltimore and then to Los Angeles, making the group bi-coastal. Working as a duo took a bit of recalibration. The songwriting process changed dramatically, but in a way that quickly began to feel energizing. “Once we had this implosion, we let go of the pretense and confines that we had pigeonholed ourselves into,” says Mulitz. “Going into this record, the vision was pretty simple: We wanted to write songs that came intuitively. We were leaning into that while consciously creating a real space of trust and openness.”

Now a duo, guitarist Mulitz and drummer Emma Baker had to reimagine Flasher’s voice. Love is Yours was recorded in Washington, D.C. with long-time friend Owen Wuerker, who also helped flesh out the instrumentation by contributing additional bass, percussion, synths, and guitar. Rather than binding the duo to its past – to geography, old habits, or trusted sounds – the familiar environment proved liberating. Working out of Wuerker’s well appointed home-studio allowed inspiration to arrive off deadline. With no shows in sight, Flasher could relax on presenting as a “rock” band. Baker and Mulitz shared vocal duties, tweaked tempos, structures, and dynamics accordingly. They toyed with genre, melody, and texture.

Today’s “Sideways” single and video (directed by Camille Smura) evokes the liminal stillness-in-motion feeling of a long-distance drive – attentive but adrift, relaxed but reflective – with a laid back groove that is at once motorik trance and fluid boogie. “Lyrically this song uses metaphors about driving as a means of escape/reflection,” says Mulitz. “I’ve found that a lot of self reflection and big realizations come to surface during the course of a long drive where I’m forced to sit with my own thoughts (which is where the idea for the racing video came from).”

Love Is Yours will be available on CD, LP, and digitally on June 17, 2022. The exclusive Domino Mart baby blue vinyl is housed in a gatefold jacket and available for pre-order now.
PRE-ORDER LOVE IS YOURS

FLASHER TOUR DATES
Fri. June 17 – Washington, DC @ Comet Ping Pong
Sat. June 18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right
Mon. June 20 – Richmond, VA @ The Camel
Tue. June 21 – Raleigh, NC @ Cat’s Cradle (Backroom)
Wed. June 22 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
Thu. June 23 – Nashville, TN @ Third Man Records
Fri. June 24 – Cincinnati, OH @ MOTR Pub
Sat. June 25 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
Mon. June 27 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Bag
Tue. June 28 – Toronto, ON @ The Baby G
Wed. June 29 – Montreal, QC @ L’Esco
Thu. June 30 – Boston, MA @ Sonia’s
Fri. July 1 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Jacob at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Horsegirl announce new album, single, and tour.

Today, Chicago trio Horsegirl announce their debut record, Versions of Modern Performance, out June 3rd on Matador, a summer tour, and present charged lead single/video, “Anti-glory.” Penelope Lowenstein (guitar, vocals), Nora Cheng (guitar, vocals), and Gigi Reece (drums) – the best friends comprising Horsegirl – do everything collectively, from songwriting to trading vocal duties and swapping instruments to sound and visual art design. The warmth and strength of their bond crackles through every second of their debut. With lyrics intentionally impressionistic and open-ended, and a sound that ranges with joy and enthusiasm across a range of styles, Versions of Modern Performance offers many pathways. Following last year’s one-off “Billy,” lead single “Anti-glory” is elastic and propulsive, entrancing listeners with a central call: “Dance / Dance / Dance / Dance / With me.” The accompanying video, directed by Erin Vassilopoulos, exudes confidence, putting Horsegirl front and center, their uncanny ability to layer sound on full display.

“We wrote Anti-glory almost by accident, while messing around with an old song during rehearsal. The song fell into place immediately, and looking back, we have no idea how we wrote it,” the band explains. “As always, this song and album are for Chicago, our friends, our friend’s bands, everyone who can play the guitar, and everyone who can’t play the guitar.”
Watch Horsegirl’s Video for “Anti-glory”

The friendship of these three goes far beyond Horsegirl. Reece and Cheng, college freshmen, and Lowenstein, a high school senior, learned to play—and met—through the significant network of Chicago youth arts programs, and they have their own mini-rock underground, complete with zine distros, that they describe as somewhat separate from the “adult shows” that take place at bars and DIY spaces they don’t have access to. They’re exultant about their friends’ talent, noting that any of the bands from that scene could have been (or might still be!) plucked up the way they were.

Versions of Modern Performance was recorded with John Agnello (Kurt Vile, The Breeders, Dinosaur Jr.) at Chicago’s Electrical Audio. “It’s our debut bare-bones album in a Chicago institution with a producer who we feel like really respected what we were trying to do,” the band says. Across the record, Horsegirl expertly play with texture, shape and shade, showcasing their fondness for improvisation and experimentation. One can hear elements of the ‘80s and ‘90s independent music the band love so deeply and sincerely—the scuzzy melodicism of what used to be called “college rock,” the cool, bubbly space-age sheen of the ‘90s vamps on lounge and noir; the warm, noisy roar of shoegaze; the economical hooks and rhythms of post-punk. There’s even a bit of no wave mixed in for good measure. But as Horsegirl fuse all of this together, it feels not like a pastiche or a hacky retread but something as playful and unique as its predecessors. They’re best understood as part of a continuum, but they’re building something for themselves.

Horsegirl will tour North America this summer, playing their first ever shows in most cities across the country. This all kicks off with a special record release show at Thalia Hall in Chicago on Sunday, June 5th. Next week, Horsegirl head to SXSW before their debut performances in Philadelphia, Washington, DC and New York City. Full dates are listed below, and tickets for newly announced shows go on sale this Friday, March 11th at 10am local time.
Watch Horsegirl’s Video for “Billy”

Pre-Order Versions of Modern Performance

Horsegirl Tour Dates:
(new shows in bold)
Wed. March 16 – Austin, TX @ SXSW – FLOODfest @ Mohawk @ 2:00pm
Wed. March 16 – Austin, TX @ SXSW – Roskilde Festival @ Cheer Up Charlie’s @ 10:00pm
Thu. March 17 – Austin, TX @ SXSW – SX San Jose @ Hotel San Jose
Thu. March 17 – Austin, TX @ SXSW – Gorilla vs. Bear x Luminelle @ Seven Grand @ 11:15pm
Sat. March 19 – Philadelphia, PA @ PhilaMOCA
Sun. March 20 – Washington, DC @ DC9
Tue. March 22 – Brooklyn, NY @ Market Hotel
Sun. May 29 – Allston, MA @ Boston Calling Festival
Sun. Jun. 5 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall (RECORD RELEASE SHOW) ^
Fri. Jun. 10 – Giessen, DE @ Stadt ohne Meer
Sun. Jun. 12 – Mannheim, DE @ Maifield Derby
Thu. Jun. 16 – Antwerp, BE @ Trix Bar
Fri. Jun. 17 – Paris, FR @ Pop Up Du Label
Sun. Jun. 19 – London, UK @ Paper Dress Vintage (EARLY SHOW)
Sun. Jun. 19 – London, UK @ Paper Dress Vintage (LATE SHOW)
Tue. Jun. 21 – Manchester, UK @ YES (Basement)
Wed. Jun. 22 – London, UK @ Bermondsey Social Club
Sun. Jun. 26 – Bristol, UK @ Rough Trade Bristol
Tue. Jun. 28 – Cologne, DE @ Bumann & Sohn
Wed. Jun. 29 – Berlin, DE @ Monarch
Fri. Jul. 1 – Denmark, DE @ Roskilde Festival 2022
Sat. Jul. 2 – Hamburg, DE @ Molotow Upstairs
Fri. Jul. 15 – Vancouver, BC @ Wise Hall *
Sat. Jul. 16 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos *
Sun. Jul. 17 – Portland, OR @ Polaris Hall *
Tue. Jul. 19 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
Thu. Jul. 21 – Los Angeles, CA @ Zebulon *
Fri. Jul. 22 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo *
Sat. Jul. 23 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room *
Tue. Jul. 26 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line *
Wed. Jul. 27 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon *
Fri. Jul. 30 – Sat. Jul. 31 – Detroit, MI @ Mo Pop Festival
Tue. Aug. 2 – Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe *
Wed. Aug. 3 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop *
Fri. Aug. 5 – Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground *
Sat. Aug. 6 – Montreal, QC @ Petit Campus *

^ w/ Lifeguard, Friko, Post Office Winter
* w/ Dummy

Keep your mind open.

[Get on the subscription horse.]

[Thanks to Jaycee and Jessica at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Review: BODEGA – Broken Equipment

BODEGA, the Brooklyn post-punk outfit, has long been fascinated with technology and all its goods and ills. Their new album, Broken Equipment, references this many times, first in the album’s title. Broken gear is a source of worry, anguish, and / or rage in this day and age due to our over-dependence on technology. BODEGA knows this, and openly discuss how they, too, fall victim to these glitchy woes.

Opening track (and the first single released from the album), “Thrown,” has lead singer Ben Hozie singing about how he has a Bermuda Triangle within him that sucks him into situations where he’s not sure how he got there or how to get out (“I was thrown here by chance…I was targeted by big rock ads…”). “Doers” is a poke in the eye of tech-bros and people who think their moving and shaking is actually going to amount to something in the grand scheme (“Ten minutes planning my next ten minutes!”).

“Territorial Call of the Female” has Nikki Belfiglio taking on lead vocals, which always means you’re in for a treat. Belfiglio’s vocals are often a great mix of snarky and sweet, and this track about ladies sometimes unintentionally sabotaging each other is a great example. “NYC (Disambiguation)” takes a brutal, honest look at NYC’s history – warts and all. “Statuette on the Console” ups the punk in their post-punk, taking off like a hot rod from the green light in an illegal street race. Belfiglio embraces her love of Patti Smith, Wendy O. Williams, and Poly Styrene, and the guitar solo on it by Dan Ryan is top-notch.

“C.I.R.P.” takes a shot at media elitists (backed by a wicked bass line from Adam See). “Pillar on the Bridge of You” is a delightful love song Hozie wrote to Belfiglio in which he claims all he wants to do is support her. “I have so many things to offer,” Hozie sings on “How Can I Help YA?” – a song that seems to be about self-proclaimed influencers. Ryan unleashes another solid solo right in the middle of it. “No Blade of Grass,” influenced by the bleak (but excellent 1970 disaster film of the same name), has Hozie and Belfiglio singing about how we’re constantly pummeled by disasters both real and imagined, mainly to benefit those with more wealth than us (“We need strength and discipline…So, give more power to the rich, they say. Inequality, it is natural.”).

The band’s fondness for The Velvet Underground comes through on “All Past Lovers,” which has that cool, driving beat (provided by Tai Lee, who sizzles on the entire record, really) and almost-drone guitar that is hard to do without sounding like a damn mess. Hozie dreams of rest and escaping loneliness on “Seneca the Stoic.” The album ends with “After Jane,” an acoustic ode to Hozie’s mother – with whom he admits he had a rocky relationship at times, and that her battle with mental illness was one of the hardest challenges of their life together, but he acknowledges that he now can “channel your hurt when I sing my songs.”

Broken Equipment is another sharp record from a band that has taken critique and self-critique to Zen levels and can make you pogo while doing it.

Keep your mind open.

[Don’t forget to subscribe before you go.]

[Thanks to Patrick at Pitch Perfect PR.]

P.E. discuss capitalism on “Contradiction of Wants.”

On March 25th P.E. will release their latest LP The Leather Lemon on Wharf Cat Records (Water From Your Eyes, Palberta, Lily Konigsberg). The follow up to 2021’s The Reason For My Love EP, which earned praise from outlets like Stereogum, BrooklynVegan, Bandcamp, The Guardian (who had the EP’s title track on their 2021 Best Songs You Haven’t Heard list) and Pitchfork (who had the EP on their list of Great Records From 2021 You May Have Missed), the album has seen the release of two singles so far, lead single “Blue Nude (Reclined)“, and “Tears In The Rain“, a track that features Parquet Courts‘ A. Savage, and was described by Rolling Stone as “the perfect soundtrack for a neo-noir, with just a bit of tongue-in-cheek.” Today, P.E. are back with a final preview of their new LP, a track called “Contradiction of Wants”.

LISTEN:
to P.E. – “Contradiction of Wants” on
YouTube

“This song is about the heartache and burden that is capitalism,” singer Veronica Torres explains. “Simultaneously experiencing disgust over consumerism and exploitation while singing along to the theme song. The Levi’s jeans commercial telling us to buy their product to waste less. Pink dolphins crying into the earth’s rivers. Climate change is real. Vegan’s snorting cocaine.”

To celebrate the album’s release the band will be playing a Brooklyn release show that will take place at Union Pool on March 23rd and will also feature A. Savage as a DJ and support from Pop 1280. Tickets are available to purchase here.

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Tom at Hive Mind PR.]

The Wife Guys of Reddit cook up some “Pig Fat” with their newest single.

Following the fêted success of 2021’s Wet and Tired, The Wife Guys of Reddit are back with their forthcoming single “Pig Fat” – a song that poses two questions:

What would happen if I literally decided to fight God?
What would happen if God turned out to be a little bit sexy?

Arion Xenos and Niamh MacPhail once again lend their vocal talents to the track, melding their trademark irreverence with a healthy dose of spunk. The addition of seasoned instrumentalists Elise Atkinson and Angus Fernie to The Wife Guys of Reddit’s ranks shines through on this single, with the band concocting their thickest
sound yet. While their hardest studio release to date, this shift should come as no surprise to those who have managed to catch one of the band’s protean live shows; Xenos said of “Pig Fat”: “With the band being able to flesh out the single together in the studio, we were able to properly experiment and push the boundaries of what we want The Wife Guys to be: “Pig Fat” bridges that gap between mellower past studio releases, and the wired energy of our live performances.” Not content with stopping there, the single release will be accompanied by a found footage horror-inspired homemade video, demonstrating the full creative prowess of this outfit.

In spite of their recent inception shortly before Christmas 2020, the self-titled ‘purveyors of soupy rock’ have already sparked interest in DIY circles across the globe, gaining coverage in BBC Radio Scotland with Vic Galloway, NARC. Magazine, Tenement TV, Amazing Radio with Jim Gellatly, and KXSF Radio, among others. The
band are additionally looking forward to weirding out the 2022 live circuit at Left of the Dial Festival, The Great Western, NXTGN Festival, and supporting She Drew The Gun on tour; as well as working on their forthcoming
EP, produced by Catholic Action’s Chris McCrory.

“Pig Fat” is out 25/02/2022.

Keep your mind open.

[Don’t forget to subscribe while you’re here.]

[Thanks to Arion of The Wife Guys!]