Funhouse Mirror is the fifth offering from Danish duo Vinyl Floor. Brothers Daniel and Thomas Charlie Pederson share vocals and songwriting duties and play most of the instrumental parts themselves. Supported by a handful of invited musicians, the album was recorded live in Malmö, Sweden and finished in their native Denmark. Funhouse Mirror’s ten tracks… Read More Vinyl Floor’s Funhouse Mirror Triumphs Over its Melancholy
I think it was WFUV’s Russ Borris who first played Ibibio Sound Machine on the radio on my way to work, and I was instantly hooked. Their fourth album, called Electricity, is an infectious mix of African percussion with electronic keys and horns for days. It’s like Afrobeat dance punk, and it’s stunning. Their latest… Read More A Saturday Night with Ibibio Sound Machine and DJ Sinkane
Ooh that groove. Calgary modern groovers KODAE released “Fractals,” combining the efforts of five intergenerational talents into one smooth beachside cocktail. I was thinking the mix might need a minor tweak until I learned that “Fractals” was recorded live on the floor. Annie Da Silva’s voice is delicate and lush with spacey undertone. This is… Read More KODAE – Fractals
Queens-based newcomers The Heart Attack-Acks have no right to sound as good as they do for a band who “didn’t have anything better to do.” The duo Cody and Candace have been testing the waters with their own brand of discoey post-punk dance tracks. Their beats are properly infectious party music with a snarky sense… Read More The Heart Attack-Acks – “Love Me” and more
First off, let’s start with the fact that Martha Zed is an absolutely bangin’ grunge rock name. It’s earnest but still has that rock and roll purr, much like “Cat Song,” Zed’s debut tune. This track is ice cream and hot fudge alt-rock, a classic slacker rhythm with cutie pie vocals. The wailing guitar at… Read More Martha Zed’s debut – Cat Song
Danish duo Moon Panda have brought their bonus-only track “Submarine” to streaming. This woozy trip-hop tune was previously only available as a bonus track on Moon Panda’s celebrated March debut, What on Earth. The vocals hiss a whispery singing of the fates, and then the melody hits that beautiful coasting-through-existence motif that comes on so… Read More Moon Panda – Submarine now available streaming
You could say hello to the world, or you could say “BLEEP BLOOP ASSHOLES IT’S TOTAL FUCKING DARKNESS.” The TFD’s self-titled debut single is 80s synthpop brimming with delicious irony. It sneers with dark sarcasm and yet earnestly hopeful lyrics… when you get past the calls for death… for things that should die (like fascism). … Read More T F D – Total Fucking Darkness
It’s Sunday night. The rest of New York Shiddy is curling up to watch either football, House of the Dragon, or for more creative potatoes, both at once. But underneath the scaffolding, amidst perpetually dirty streets and fresh graffiti tags, the family was gathering. The almighty Fishbone were coming to the conclusion of their small… Read More A Sunday Night with Fishbone and Action/Adventure
Sparks! Sparks, the ever-morphing pop duo of Ron and Russell Mael, has seen enormous resurgence. I am of that resurgence. The Edgar Wright documentary The Sparks Brothers is a relatable primer for these obscure titans, and a well done doc in its own right thanks to its combination of warm storytelling and slightly warped animations. … Read More A Summer Among Sparks
Berlin composer Rettward von Doernberg has an impressively long list of accomplishments on his website. I listened to this dude’s EP at first wondering why the tracks were like thirteen seconds long. It sounded like all the panorama of a Disney scene without any Disney obnoxiousness. Rettward’s tones are tinkling and pretty and easily conjure… Read More Manic Moondays, a score by Rettward von Doernberg
Music-Survival-Guide 