OPM: Slowcore, Ska Punk & a StrayHorse

Liam White – The Secret Telephone EP

Three tracks of sharp, moody electro breaks with an intriguing edge. The EP opens on a slow burn of spoken word and wavering, watery synth sounds over a laidback breakbeat. The second (and arguably best) track opens on some bursts of weird synth sound and swirling noise pads before blooming into a delightfully skewed techno shuffle with more great synth tones squirming around it. 

It closes on “We Are Retro,” a nice breakbeat and synth concoction that delivers on the titular promise. In sum, a fascinating set of tunes that really allow the sound design to shine without requiring them to carry the entire composition.

(Listened to the entire EP)

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Jimmy Halliday – The Way it Starts

Raucous, rough hewn and smart collection of ska and hardcore influenced punk rock. Appropriately political for the times we find ourselves in (seriously, if you’re making apolitical punk right now, wtf?) but the message never gets in the way of the songs. It features strong guitar work, and a generally loose, rough-edged overall vibe. 

Full of simple, catchy riffs, shouted and/or inelegantly sung vocals, and primitive but energetic drumming, it’s a fun collection of ska, hardcore and even classic rock influenced punk that would have sounded right at home on a cassette in 1990.

(Listened to the entire album)

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StrayHorse – “I Got So High that I Saw Jesus” (cover)

The country-pop of Noah Cyrus’s original version of the song is deftly transformed into a languid alt-country/indie rocker here, to excellent effect. The song, which arguably always had a spiritual tie to the Jesus-and-hard-drugs vibes of outlaw country, finds those ties reaffirmed here, with a bit of an indie rock push. 

Some understated but solid guitar work and minimal rhythm section carry the song, lending a very distinct energy to the track. Reminds me of the kind of thing an indie band with alt-country leanings would have busted out live as an encore circa 2007, to great acclaim. Fun stuff.

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BENJAMINTO – Maso Demos

Delicate, gentle folk pop tunes in the same vein as Belle & Sebastian, Sufjan Stevens or Elliot Smith, presented in a raw, unpolished demo form. As demos, these songs are presented with little more than a warm and inviting voice and some straightforward (usually acoustic) guitar parts. This allows the raw material to shine, and it’s generally strong enough to justify its presentation in such stark arrangements.

After all, this kind of heartfelt bedroom pop/twee stuff has always thrived on a sense of intimacy, and that is definitely supported by the presentation. The subject matter is classic stuff – depression, loneliness, getting old– and the execution is generally earnest but smart. Bottom line, if these songs connect with you, you’ll really dig this.

(Listened to the entire album)

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phoneswithchords – piecemeal

A dark, moody album of quietly powerful slowcore, perfect for soundtracking looking out a rain-streaked window while smoking cigarettes. The typically subdued production vibe of this style – quiet, almost lo-fi, rough edges sanded down to fuzzy memories – is the order of the day, as are the sad songs and melancholic guitar lines. 

That’s not to say it’s generic or formulaic, just that it embraces the stylistic trappings of its chosen genre. Luckily it carves out its own space, delivering a quiet epic reminiscent of both masters of the genre (Morphine, Low) and dabblers like My Morning Jacket. 

(Listened to the entire album)

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Got time for one more? My album The Mechanics of Mysticism released earlier this month and I’d love it if you’d give it a listen. It’s a psychedelic musical tour thru the tools and technologies of mystical experience, or a dozen tracks of wild, trippy instrumental post-industrial ghostwave and weird wizard synth, if you prefer. Have a listen and let me know what you think!