OPM: Cosmic Soul Crunch

Five Reviews of Independent Music on Equitable Platforms.

Umbranaut – Reliquary

Classic Berlin School vibes with a production aesthetic that leans into the hyper-defined sonic realm of synthwave. Like the classics of the kosmische genre, these tracks are typically propulsive without being strictly beat-driven, and showcase a chilly, precise sound that fits the stripped down arrangements. 

Sometimes the beats do dominate, and those tracks start to lean more toward synthwave, tho they never get all that close. Evocative song titles suggest a deeper story or lore of some kind, and certainly the energy here would work well along some kind of sci-fi/fantasy RPG – perhaps try this to soundtrack your next gaming session?

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Like Minds – The Like Minded

Two eerie and unsettling experimental manipulated audio tracks. The first warps a music-box style lullaby into something weird and creepy. The second takes an experimental approach to an almost techno or industrial place. A series of repetitive loops resolve into distorted synth and clicky percussion lines, while some dissonant tones unspool over the top. 

This is continuously modulated and occasionally other elements, like resonant filter sweeps or sample-and-old modulated noise, are mixed in to keep things interesting. It’s an unusual approach that recalls some early/mid period Autechre and other millennial IDMers, but carves its own path all the same.  

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Jude Kerr – Digital Personas

Deep and varied set of electronic music that encompasses elements of ambient, IDM, electro, rock, breakbeat, and beyond. There’s a small hint of an experimental, or perhaps simply exploratory, edge here, generally expressed in some unusual timbral or harmonic choices, plus the general “anything goes” approach. 

The range on display here sort of displays the limitations of genre as a descriptor – these tracks share plenty of traits with all sorts of popular genres, but the precise combo… not so much. And despite that, they are clearly all of a piece, imagined and realized with a coherent aesthetic approach. I guess that’s my way of saying, forgot the genre, if you like moody electronic music that offers up a variety of ideas, check this out. 

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Little Ways – The Velvet Underpants

A two-track album that’s nominally a Velvet Underground tribute/pisstake, but is actually a pretty nice little bit of raw indie pop. Sure, there’s more than a few Velvet references/rip-offs, but c’mon, that’s like at least 20% of all indie pop anyway. Catchy tunes, raw production, cheap guitars and sneering vocals – a classic recipe, with or without Velvet spice. 

The liner notes suggest more may be coming, but it’s also an April 1 release, so it’s hard to say where the jokes end and reality begins – I’d sure listen to more of this, tho. 

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Bosco and Peck – Just When You Thought You’d Never Smile Again

Immaculately produced album of soul that incorporates everything from classic ‘60s/’70s influences to contemporary R&B-inflected takes. All fourteen tracks – thirteen originals and Bob Dylan cover – offer something a little different, from funky and upbeat to a little more relaxed and emotionally charged. 

Strong performances, including the lead and vocals, are paired with excellent production that doesn’t do too much. If this one intrigues you, definitely make time for it – I think for the right people, this could be a special album to find. 

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