Maybe Mars Records out of my new home city of Beijing (I have to meet these guys one day) put out an indie rock album in 2019 that sounds as good as anything the early Cure ever put out. Brilliant work by Future Orients, indeed!
Alternative
Wild Pack Of Canaries – Agua Amarga
Wild Pack Of Canaries hail from California and have the sound of a Hispanic prog Captain Beefheart. Great listening.
Rose McDowall – Our Twisted Love EP
It’s amazing to think that this EP is the latest (and hopefully not last) artifact released by former Strawberry Switchblade front-woman Rose McDowell. She had been active singing with groups like Current 93 and her own project, Sorrow, for many years, and this EP continues on that dark and eerie Continue Reading
Xmal Deutschland – Early Singles (1981 – 1982)
Xmal Deutschland was one of the treasures of the German gothic rock scene. From their Bandcamp page: “Punk’s independence from the stiff grip of tradition allowed the band to find solace in anti-establishment art and music, far from the conventions of the past.With their peacocked hair and thick kohl-lined eyes, Continue Reading
Masian Love / Frequency – Incheon City Pop Vol. 1
I have no info on either Masian Love or Frequency, two bands out of South Korea, but they do a fine take on the quintessentially Japanese City Pop genre.
Various Artists – Singles Club: 2023 (Engram Recordings)
We are sad to report that German indie record label Engram Recordings has ceased operating. They have, thankfully, decided to leave their catalog online as long as Bandcamp exists. This sampler is a great way to get to know about their quirky releases.
Kassyus Clay – Kassyus Clay EP
Kassyus Clay come to us from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and sound nothing like samba or bossa nova. Instead, they bring a brutal instrumental sound that crosses post-rock with Sonic Youth.
Death Of Heather – Death Of Heather
We haven’t featured a band from Thailand in quite a few months, so it’s time to rectify this. Death of Heather are from Bangkok and offer a really well-done take on dreampop.
The Drone Pilots #054 – Ghazal
Our friend, the erstwhile lad known throughout Beijing and parts of Western Europe as The Drone Pilots, presents a fine podcast as we begin the wrapup process for 2024. As he so eloquently describes: “Ghazals are a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a repeating refrain word or phrase, Continue Reading
Ясный-Svetly – Песни (Songs)
There is such a gentle lilt to the voice of Nata Boundriver of Ясный-Svetly that I can imagine this being what Kate Bush or Hope Sandoval sounding like if either had fronted post-rock era Mark Hollis or some band specializing in ethereal, ghostly music. A sublime listen.