Gunk

ROYAL BATHS - LITANIES, CD, 2010, WOODSIST RECORDS, USA

Brooding and self-depricating garage splatter, these San-Franners sinister musings on 'this' and 'that' intrigue the senses and call to mind bands like Crystal Stilts and the darker side of the Slumberland catalogue. Signing to Woodsist last year, it seems more than fitting, I would even call them a kind of Joy Division meets Ganglians with a bit of surf rock turned mope styling. This album hits all of the high water marks that good garage punk never seems to hit. Royal Baths have a promising career ahead of them, one can only hope, because this shit right heres be the good jamz kids.

Link

BEULAH - THE COAST IS NEVER CLEAR, CD, 2001, VELOCETTE RECORDS, USA

It might be easy to tell that I'm a sucker for the good pop song. I listen to all kinds of music, but there's something to be said of the simplicity of hearing that occasional tune that refuses to unjam itself from your head and heart. Beulah are experts in fusing 90s pop rock with innovative progressions, and a wide variety of styles and instruments. Lumped in with the Elephant 6 collective, and appropriately so, there are many similarities to bands like Elf Power and The Essex Green. However Beulah does stand out on its own merits, and have a way with writing those perfect pop numbers that are pure ear candy; and they do it with great aplomb. The Coast is Never Clear is their third full-length, and the maturity that they have reached far out-surpasses their previous LP, When Your Heartstrings Break. It's hard to really pinpoint with words the kind of mojo this band is working with, but when they're in full-swing and those harmonies shine and all of the varied instruments fall into place, it's a beautiful thing to hear. Someone tell them to reform already, it's 2011 for god sakes.

Link

SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS - ALPINISMS, CD, 2008, GHOSTLY INTERNATIONAL/VAGRANT RECORDS, USA

Ex-Tripping Daisy/Secret Machines and all around good guy, Benjamin Curtis, teams up with identical French twins, Alejandra and Claudia Deheza from On!Air!Library! for this post-shoegaze outfit that takes its name from a mythical pickpocket academy in South America. Easy reference points are Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine, but with a deliberately more electronic bent. Crafting synthetic serotonin landscapes with lush dual floating vocals, it's no mistake that Alpinisms was a labor of love in its origins and one that rewards repeated listens. Though given the formula and somewhat revival of many nu gaze (a term I loathe but will use only once for this review) bands in recent years, School of Seven Bells sticks far above the rest due to their eclectic approach to the genre, and let's face it these three know how to create an engaging melody. Ethereal, transcendent and a tad new-wavey, Alpinisms is a stunning debut from a band that's going places, even despite the recent departure of Claudia from the lineup. Bravo. A++

Link

CLARK - BODY RIDDLE, CD, 2006, WARP RECORDS, U.K.

Obtuse electronic chameleon, Chris Clark, shortens his name to just Clark for his third full-length album and unleashes upon us a pulverizing, beat-centric, analog odyssey that leaves many the fine-tuned detail lodged in the deep recesses of the subconscious. Body Riddle is that record where Chris finds his own unique voice, steps away from being the Aphex Twin disciple of yore, and combines many different elements from many Warp electronic staples to produce something that doesn't sound quite like any of his contemporaries. You can hear bits of Boards of Canada, old Seefeel and Flying Lotus among many others. This synthesis of elements not only sounds good on paper, but is executed so flawlessly that it's kind of mind-blowing for the uninitiated. Body Riddle perfectly exemplifies Chris Clark cutting off the fat and shooting for the stars, where he landed however is even more exciting than anybody could have imagined.

Link