OPM: Rock Around the Solar System

So?ing Machine – Une Histoire de DMs avec Bleu

Warm and fuzzy blend of ambient, IDM and vibed-out explorations of sound and space. A lot of the tracks are content to ooze, float and slide along, all atmosphere and very little drive, while others, such as “squinty lifestyle” lean into the beat-driven side of electronica. Those tracks incorporate elements and tropes of dubstep and EDM into the mix, while still keeping it weird – none of them do what you expect for very long, if at all. 

Some throw in some splashes of vaporwave, too – it fits nicely in this mix. Others include vocals: weirdly naked spoken word here, and processed fragments sounding a bit like Kate Bush leaning into the murmurations and incomprehensibility of Cocteau Twins there. From beginning to end, each track is full to bursting with ideas and influences, and the whole is intriguing, impressive, and accomplished.

(Listened to the entire album)

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Mentat – Solar System

A cosmic trip thru kosmische, ambient, soundscape and IDM that collectively covers the birth of our solar system. Space ambient and kosmische are a smart choice for a concept album about the creation and evolution of our solar system; a true match of form and function. From track to track you get pulsing sequences, abstract waves of ambient synth, abstract metallic pinging and mysterious melodies in various mixes and configurations. 

Some planets hold surprises – “Mars” dips into industrial territory, for example; “Neptune” into post rock – so don’t get too comfortable on your journey thru space! By the time it’s over, you won’t know any more about our solar system, but you’ll definitely feel like you’ve been on a trip.

(Listened to the entire album)

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Plague Clock – Junk Drawer

Noisy, abstract post industrial with a fondness for heavy rhythms and brutal distortion. These clattering soundscapes are dense and claustrophobic, with a dark intensity and relentless drive. A few heavily distorted voices pop up here and there – I think? – but nothing that would be considered “vocals” by most people. There seem to be some guitars and maybe a 303-style synth in there on various tracks, but everything is so heavily distorted and processed, it’s hard to say where things started.

It’s just patterns of heavily distorted sound in various flavors of totally fucked, and it works as long as you’re good with the premise. Partway between a noise album and the weirder side of industrial, this is another fascinating entry in the growing annals of post industrial exploration.

(Listened to the entire album)

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Bound to the Earth – Trust Me. I’m No Weirdo

Hard charging rock album that blends punk, hardcore and emo with splashes of grunge, metal, and math rock. Opener “Heretics” kicks things off with a familiar punk/hardcore tune that could have existed any time since the early ‘80s. A few tiny moments of that song hint at something deeper but the very next tune, “Buried in the Rough,” opens on riffs that would sound at home on a thrash metal anthem and continues to tease little elements of weirdness throughout. 

Most of it sticks to the core formula, but an acoustic guitar and vocal tune tests the boundaries a bit, and a few of those grunge influences make an appearance. It’s not a lot, but those little touches help keep the classic punk and hardcore material from becoming nostalgia-bound or stale. 

(Listened to the entire EP)

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Lines of Drift – Dedicated to No One

Earnest indie rock apotheosis – polished and natural and meticulously constructed. A suite of well-written songs are delivered with strong performances by skilled players and some excellent, transparent production that brings it all together. This can be connected to ‘70s singer-songwriter acts, thru punk, emo, and the Americana strain of indie. 

That no doubt reflects the experience of the creators, lifelong musicians all, with deep roots in the indie music world. It’s a distinctive sound with a lot of personality that nonetheless could be accurately, and adequately to most people, described as just “rock.” No slight there, tho – when you’re this sure of what you’re doing, and this good at doing it, why gild the lily?

(Listened to the entire album)

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