Lee Baggett - Just A Minute (1979?)

 

GENRE : psychedelic rock, psychedelic folk, indie rock, 70's psych rock, freak folk

RECORD LABEL : Perpetual Doom

Lee Baggett is a mystifying songwriter/musician who was musically at his most active throughout the 70s and 80s, but seemed to have disappeared into the mists of time. 'Just A Minute' is his legendary album, which was thankfully re-discovered and exhumed by indie record label Perpetual Doom, and eventually released on their label in April 2021.

This sounds like a lost Neil Young album from the 70s, and I'm saying that in the best possible way because let's be honest - 70's Neil Young is the best Neil Young. If you loved Neil Young and Bob Dylan when they were at their peak, and (like myself) constantly crave more of their material from that era - you need this album in your life. It might take a while to get into the vocals, but I plead you to persevere. Since it clicked with me, it just gets better and better with subsequent listens. A perfect album for lazy depressing sunny days.

Stream/Download the album here...

https://perpetualdoom.bandcamp.com/album/just-a-minute

Eric Terino - Innovations of Grave Perversity (2022)

 

GENRE : alternative, art rock, chamber pop, freak folk, indie rock

RECORD LABEL : Perpetual Doom

Here's a gorgeous chamber pop album to soothe your aching spirit. This is the new album by American artist/musician Eric Terino, and the latest release by the ever-growing/ever-mystifying record label, Perpetual Doom.

These songs are deeply personal and confessional, yet rather than dragging you down into the dark pits of Terino's pain and suffering, they help you transcend your human boundaries and frailties, and ultimately elevate you to some higher plane. They make you feel like you can be whoever you want to be in this life. Like in all good music and art, Terino has the ability to turn heartbreak and tragedy into something beautiful and healing. 

Within seconds of pressing play I was lured and lulled by Terino's gorgeous voice - delicate, vulnerable, haunting and melancholic. The music itself is a beautiful mix of chamber pop and alternative art rock - the central focus being Terino's vocals and piano playing, wonderfully backed by soaring orchestral strings, jazzy French horns, harps and a musical saw. 

In the overall sound I hear elements of Anthony & The Johnsons, Tori Amos, Sigur Ros, and maybe even a bit of Bon Iver... yet at the same time it's entirely its own thing.  This is music conjured from the deepest recesses of the human heart. I highly recommend you give it a listen.

Stream/Download the album here...

https://perpetualdoom.bandcamp.com/album/innovations-of-grave-perversity

Autumn Chorus - The Village To The-Vale (2012)

GENRE : alternative rock, post rock, experimental, indie rock

RECORD LABEL : AltrOck Productions

To describe Autumn Chorus as an ''alternative rock band'' is a terrible injustice...yet it's probably the simplest and easiest way to sum up their sound, so I'll stick to it for the time being. Autumn Chorus was a 4-piece British alternative rock band, led by frontman Robbie Wilson who sadly passed away in 2016. 'Village To The-Vale' was their first and last album, and a breathtaking masterpiece that most people will never hear...which I find tragic.

I try to refrain using the word 'epic' these days, because it's such an overused word...but I can't help but describe this particular album as epic. It's powerful and delicate, sweeping and intimate, progressive and melodic, melancholy and sweet....it's a beautiful work of art. Autumn Chorus combines the best elements of post-rock, indie rock, progressive pop and modern classical. Within the sound you will likely identify the post-rock guitar licks of Explosions In The Sky, the high fragile vocal stylings of Radiohead, some of the pastoral lyrical themes of Midlake, and the soaring orchestral majesty of Sigus Ros and Olafar Arnalds. It also features gorgeous guest vocal spots from Swedish singer-songwriter Thomas Feiner, the artist (Robbie's partner) Sephine Llo, and let's not forget their daughter, Constance. 

Even though I never knew Robbie personally, my heart breaks every time I hear this album and think about the fact that he is no longer with us. He was an extremely talented artist and musician, and I'd have loved to have heard more from him. At the very least he left this masterpiece (and a few various singles) behind. For further listening, I also attached these wonderful singles below...

Stream/Download the album here :

https://altrockproductions.bandcamp.com/album/the-village-to-the-vale

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Autumn Chorus - Long Goodby

Autumn Chorus - Snake In The Grass

Thomas Feiner & Fyfe Dangerfield & Autumn Chorus - The Rainbow (TalkTalk cover)

Outcast Tape Infirmary - Hope For Spring (Charity Compilation 2022)

 

GENRE : alternative, indie rock, punk rock, punk, emo, experimental, charity,

RECORD LABEL : Outcast Tape Infirmary

There was a lot of charity compilations released on yesterday's Bandcamp Friday, in support of various different causes. I had a super busy day, so I couldn't keep up with it all myself, unfortunately, but I was able to check out a couple of them and donate. 

Here's an awesome charity compilation from new-ish DIY tape label Outcast Tape Infirmary. See below for info...

(I'm going to do a separate blog post for compilation albums in support of Ukraine)

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100% of all purchases will be donated to Hope For The Day - an organization that provides important resources for mental health issues and suicide prevention. It's no secret that we're all struggling right now, and we all know somebody else who is struggling. There is always hope. There is always someone out there who cares. It's Ok Not To Be Ok. For more info, check out HFTD.org

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The artists who have contributed to this compilation are of no specific genre or style, which makes the whole thing unpredictable and chaotic, and brilliant. It bounces from lo-fi indie folk to emo to abstract electronica to dark ambient to ear-splitting punk rock. It's a great compilation of songs, and it's for a very worthy cause. Give it a blast and please consider donating.

A few personal highlights :

Ali Murray - Dear Evelyn - a stunning electro-acoustic dark atmospheric pop song by sinfully unrecognized Scottish songwriter Ali Murray. I'll be reviewing his new album when it comes out on 17/04/22, which is now available for pre-order.

Jonny Fallout - Dark Space - a breathtaking ethereal electronic pop song by Boston synthwave artist Jonny Fallout. Awesome stuff. Check out his Bandcamp page here.

Frick. - Bike - a cool fun simple lo-fi punk song by a band called .frick that would be right at home on any of the wonderful 90's Epitaph or Fat Wreck Chords compilations. I love it.

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Stream/Download the compilation here :

https://outcasttapes.bandcamp.com/album/hope-for-spring-compilation-22

Pushflowers - Close For Comfort (2019)

 

GENRE : indie pop, indie rock, power pop, fuzz rock,

RECORD LABEL : Forged Artifacts

Here's a cool power pop record from the amazing Forged Artifacts record label. Pushflowers are pure fuzzy pop goodness. They have a thundering rhythm section, unique dual guitar chords/melodies that never get dull or predictable, and beautiful vocals layered over the top. This band have an interesting thing going on - their music sounds like it was largely influenced by punk and post-hardcore and (dare I say) grunge...but the vocals sound very pop influenced. The singer's voice reminds me of certain contemporary pop singers like Morgan Kibby (White Sea) and Danielle Haim (Haim). I dig it very much. This is an awesome EP. 

Stream/Download the album here : 

https://pushflowers.bandcamp.com/album/close-for-comfort

Forged Artifacts :

https://forgedartifacts.bandcamp.com/

Kids On A Crime Spree - Fall In Love Not In Line (2022)

GENRE : power pop, indie rock, pop punk, post-punk, noise pop

RECORD LABEL : Slumberland Records

Here's a high-octane blistering noise pop album from Oakland trio Kids On A Crime Spree. I'm personally not familiar with their previous work, but from what I've read they kept their fans waiting a looong time for this release. 11 years, to be precise!

Anyway, this is a fantastic album. I hear infectious 60's pop melodies, 70's Spector-esque echo chamber production, 80's post-punk instrumentation, and 90's noisy shoegaze in their sound. It's a joyous collision of many things that I love from different decades of music. The guitars are simultaneously jangly and fuzzy, the basslines are fierce yet melodic, the drums are thunderous and mean, and the vocals cut through the noisy reverb-soaked mix quite beautifully. 

I think this band would appeal to fans of The Feelies, My Bloody Valentine, The Ramones, Joy Division and 60's pop music. Give it a listen. And while you're at it, you should have a browse through the Slumberland Records Bandcamp page. There's great stuff on there.

Stream/Download the album here :

https://slumberlandrecs.bandcamp.com/album/fall-in-love-not-in-line

Slumberland Records :

https://slumberlandrecs.bandcamp.com/music

Feast of Smoke (2021)

 

GENRE : psychadelic blues, freak folk, psychadelic rock, alternative, indie rock, dark pop

RECORD LABEL : Perpetual Doom

Feast of Smoke is the husband/wife duo of Paul & Amber Oldham, and this is their fantastic debut record. They managed to merge ghostly psychadelic blues with whispered downtempo folk, dirty punk riffage and straight-up rock n roll. To steal a quote from the music website Raven Sings The Blues  - ''This record is both intimate and aloof'''. I think that description nails the vibe. In fact, I find quite a lot of interesting juxtaposition going on in this record. It's dirty and beautiful, weird and wonderful, comforting and eerie, haunting and reticent, joyful and depressing... even the way both their voices seem to float in and out of tune, but somehow create a great overall tone.

I was anticipating the release of this album for what seems like forever. I can't explain why I was getting so impatient and desperate...I just was. It was a shitty year, and something about this album convinced me that I was going to love it. Maybe it was a combination of the artwork and Perpetual Doom's great promo work...I don't know, but it felt like months of unbearable torture. When it finally came out, I played the shit out of it, mostly during pitch black commutes to and from work. The songs are cool and comforting, yet they also make me feel kind of sick and anxious. I love it though, and I'd highly recommend it. I really hope this great musical duo release more in the future.

Stream/Download the album here :

https://perpetualdoom.bandcamp.com/album/feast-of-smoke

Sock Jock - Well (2021)

 

GENRE : indie rock, indie pop, pop rock, power pop, bedroom pop

RECORD LABEL : Totally Real Records

Sock Jock is Taylor Marie - a young songwriter/musician from the suburbs of Chicago. 'Well' is her lovely debut album. It's a delicious slice of pop rock pie. Just listen to it. If you don't at least like the song 'better' then there's something seriously wrong with you. I don't dance but it makes me want to try. 

Also, Totally Real Records is a cool little record label. If you like Sock Jock, you should definitely check out their other artists and support them.

Stream/Download the album here :

https://sockjock.bandcamp.com/album/well

Totally Real Records :

https://totallyrealrecords.bandcamp.com/

Charlotte Carpenter - Blood Ties pt.2 (2018)

 

GENRE : alternative rock, alternative folk, singer-songwriter, indie rock, indie folk, alternative folk

RECORD LABEL : Babywoman Records

I first became aware of English songwriter/musician Charlotte Carpenter via the podcast appearance she did on The Subliminally Inevitable Show, where she discussed her record label Babywoman Records and her own personal story as a DIY songwriter, musician, and entrepreneur. I really enjoyed listening to what she had to say. She seemed like a cool, sweet, fiercely independent woman that's wise beyond her years, and works really damn hard to carve out her own little niche in the big bad world of music. I knew I had to check her music out, and her record label.

Her songs generally tend to fluctuate between raw powerful alt-rock and delicate acoustic indie folk. Regardless of what musical direction she chooses to explore, she always packs a hard punch.  

'Blood Ties pt.2' isn't one of her newer singles, but who cares. It's an unsettling yet beautiful reflection on the nature of loss and grief, and how these terrible but inevitable human experiences affect relationships.

Charlotte is currently working on her debut full-length album, which I'm looking forward to hearing.

Stream/Download here :

https://charlottecarpentermusic.bandcamp.com/

Babywoman Records :

https://babywomanrecords.bandcamp.com/

Old Amica - Constellations (2019)

 

GENRE : alternative folk, indie rock, ambient, dream pop, bedroom pop

RECORD LABEL : Fox Food Records

This album was my introduction to the fantastic Fox Food Records label. I randomly found it in the Bandcamp recommendations section and was sold in seconds. I don't know anything about this band other than they're a Swedish bedroom pop duo. I don't really need to know anything else, to be honest. All I know is that they write beautiful, sweeping, ethereal, sparkly bedroom pop that makes me think of snowy mountain peaks and cold rivers.

If you like this album, you should dive into the Fox Food Records label Bandcamp page and feast upon its glorious contents.

Stream/Download the album here :

https://foxfoodrecords.bandcamp.com/album/constellation

Gratitude - If Ever (Acoustic)

GENRE : emo, acoustic, post-hardcore, alternative rock, indie rock

RECORD LABEL : Atlantic Records

Like most people, I was first exposed to this song in the first episode of the Masters of Horror series (''Incident On and Off a Mountain Road'') and was gripped immediately. The beautiful hushed voice of Jonah Matranga floating over simple acoustic emo guitar chords while you're watching the car driving along a deserted moonlit road, before the horror begins...

Anyway, this is a gorgeous song. I wasn't too taken with this particular band (Gratitude) tbh, but this one song is beautiful.

Jonah Matranga was the frontman of the legendary post-hardcore band Far, who you should definitely listen to. Great band. Also check out his lo-fi singer/songwriter solo project OneLineDrawing.

Official website :

https://jonahmatranga.com/