Feature Friday is Bandcamp Friday
#FeatureFriday is a Bandcamp Friday special where we all get to pick one release we would really like to promote or give some love to.
No Love Songs, Vol. 2
My pick for this week is the just released “No Love Songs Volume 2” by @mboezi.bsky.social
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Michael Boezi and a bunch of fine musicians bring us a great collection of songs about the unfortunate state of the world.
Despite the subject matter, which is presented through great lyrics and excellent instrumentation, the album is not depressing because it’s a perfect example of how art is essential in hard times, of how we can work through chaos by using our creativity.
langa ferðin
Taking shape over 6 distinct tracks, the album highlights 6 places from “The Lord Of The Rings”: Mt. Doom, Minas Morgul, Moria, Fangorn forest, Lothlórien and Silfurgler (Icelandic for silver glass), which I interpret as the journey into the Undying Lands. Each of the tracks has a very different atmosphere and soundscape, but all of them have an otherworldly, magical and ancient feeling to them. Some of the directions the artist went in surprised me, challenging me to get into their headspace and imagination. “langa ferðin” is a fascinating journey, at the same time relaxing and stimulating.
The amount of time that had to have been spent, crafting this world with sounds, must have been extraordinary. For everyone who wants to experience Middle-Earth in another way than through Howard Shore’s (still amazing) soundtrack, or those who want to dive into gentle layers of sound, I very highly recommend this incredible album.
Sick
You want earworms, not brainworms, and fortunately, Mohaynow’s Sick has plenty of the good worms. Sometimes I hear music by someone and I automatically feel part of their tribe. As a professional loner I prefer to choose my friends with caution. Music has always been a place to feel safe. Music like this feels like a warm hug. It’s Lo-Fi and what I would consider outsider music, but it’s so damn catchy and tactile.
There’s melancholy, but it feels really fucking uplifting, which makes no sense, but fuck me if you don’t dig this, I really can’t help you. Hard to pin down, it’s like Beck and The The had a beautiful baby robot. In parts, I feel like Lou Reed is in the room.
What all this rambling is trying to convey is that this is 5 tracks of Lo-fi pop goodness and deserves so much more attention. The recordings and arrangements do exactly what is needed. It has clarity, it has a purpose, and it is smartly thought out. More importantly, it enjoys itself. How can you deny something like that?
Listen to it
Buy it.
Do it now.
Also released this week:
- “Muay Thai Bag” by Foxcall
- A Place To Go When You Need To Hide by Rose Alaimo
- #FeatureFriday – And the Bones by Dr. Organ
- #FeatureFriday WIENER DEMEANOR by Cheer Captain
- #FeatureFriday – Effusion by Sweet Freeze
- Beginings Revisted by Jim France
- Recording in Progress by Aaron Smith
- Believer, a.k.a. The Last Shall Be the First
- Scrapyard Boyz: Ultra Despair Duo – Grizzly, Slogan
- The Nirvana Fallacy (or, Mania and Her Sophomore Slump) – Saint Louie
- The Cocker Spaniels Are Still Alive, And So Are You
- X by Everything’s a Crime
- Take to The Streets by Eparapo
- Ashenheart – Faded Gold
- Underground by Trina Chakrabarti
- Happy New Year #Feature Friday
- Adrift by Angry Blue Planet
- Hells Bells – Dallas Orbiter’s Spaceman Things