Good morning, Midweek. Spring is officially here. I've opened the windows.  First thing I checked out today was the title track of the upcoming new collaboration between Danny Brown and JPEGMAFIA , Scaring The Hoes .  The distinct and character-rich voices of each artist aside, the snare beat sounds like it was mic'd in a crawlspace, scratchy tenor sax scribbles across the track like a kindergartner enthusiastically dragging a marker across paper with a tight fist. Add a simple bass groove and claps.  I love it.  When thinking about minimalism in terms of production, the tinniness and sonic anemia of trap/drill beats and the ubiquity that this sound has had over the last decade or more across a multitude of artists hasn't had consistent appeal for me. That said, I get it: soundtracking a club, the bass drops are effective and the vibe is the draw.  But, "Scaring The Hoes" is minimalism done well. Looking forward to this album. __________ The Laurie Anderson all...

Album pre-order https://smarturl.it/JZunzHibiscus J. Zunz is the solo work of Lorena Quintanilla of Lorelle Meets The Obsolete. The new single and video for the track "Y," which is featured on the upcoming new LP, Hibiscus , exudes an ever-heightening level of electro-induced tension despite its minimalist presentation. Effectively discomforting, the subtleties of Quintanilla's work are intensified once the addition of abrasive synthesized elements. Hibiscus will be out 8/21 via Rocket Recordings . All info and links were provided by Rarely Unable. ENTER THE BEGUILING OTHERWORLD OF J. ZUNZ (THE SOLO WORK OF LORENA QUINTANILLA OF LORELLE MEETS THE OBSOLETE) SECOND ALBUM HIBISCUS INCOMING ON ROCKET RECORDINGS ON 21ST AUGUST PRE-ORDER LP & DIGITAL VIA BANDCAMP & OTHER OUTLETS + CASSETTE Hibiscus is the strikingly confident and singular second album from J. Zunz, the solo reinvention of Lorena Quintanilla - better known up until this point as...

Acting somewhat contrary to his normal work with the doom metal colossus Ufomammut , vocalist/bassist Urlo performs as The Mon , whose new album, Doppelleben , will be out November 8th. The title track is gorgeously layered and the track's accompanying video adds a hypnotic quality to this already meditative and immersive piece.  You can view the video below: Doppelleben will be released through Supernatural Cat . All info and links were provided by Rarely Unable. Via Rarely Unable: THE MON SHARES A VIDEO FOR THE TITLE TRACK TO DOPPELLEBEN , THE DEBUT FROM THE NEW PROJECT BY THE UFOMAMMUT MEMBER, DUE FOR RELEASE ON NOVEMBER 8TH VIA SUPERNATURAL CAT The Mon, the new solo project by Urlo - best known as the lead vocalist, bass and synth player in heavy trio Ufomammut - officially announces the debut album Doppelleben , due for release on Supernatural Cat on November 8th. An official video for the album’s title track has been shared. In addition, the artwork, track...

Dale Crover : "Little Brother" (via Speakeasy PR/ Joyful Noise Recordings /YouTube) One Master : "Will of the Shadow" (via Earsplit PR/ Eternal Death / Bandcamp ) <a href="http://eternaldeath.bandcamp.com/album/lycanthropic-burrowing">Lycanthropic Burrowing by One Master</a> Slothrust : "Pigpen" (via Tell All Your Friends PR/ Autostraddle /YouTube) Pattern Language : "Total Squaresville" (via Shameless Promotion/ Happy Robots /Bandcamp) Total Squaresville by Pattern Language Pink Frost : "Seek and Recover" (via Us-Them Group/ Under Road Records /Soundcloud) Man Forever : "Twin Torches (feat. Laurie Anderson )" (via Thrill Jockey Records /YouTube) Ex Eye : "Xenolith; The Anvil" (via Relapse Records /YouTube) Caretaker : "Swallow" (via Mike Mehalick Music Marketing/ All Things Go /Soundcloud) De La Soul : "Drawn (feat. Little Dragon )"(via De La Soul ) ...

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez ( The Mars Volta/At the Drive-In ) is at the start of a very heavy season of solo releases, which, with help from Ipecac Recordings, will carry through till year's end.  For the second installment of this series, a video for the track "Running Away," featured on the album Corazones , has surfaced and features cameos from Buzz Osborne ( Melvins ), Teri Gender-Bender ( Le Butcherettes ) and John Frusciante ( Red Hot Chili Peppers ) to name a few.  And they all inflict onto Rodriguez-Lopez physical harm.  Pitchfork premiered the video, which you can check out below.  A schedule of Rodriguez-Lopez's solo releases can be found below along with other information, all of which was provided by Speakeasy PR. OMAR RODRIGUEZ-LOPEZ PREMIERES “RUNNING AWAY” VIDEO VIA PITCHFORK https://youtu.be/YM-IjSQjruU CORAZONES , SECOND IN BI-WEEKLY SERIES OF FULL-LENGTH ALBUMS, AVAILABLE NOW Aug. 1, 2016, El Paso, Tex. – Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (At The Drive In/Ma...

About a month ago, I started receiving PR about Holy Sons , which is a solo project from the multi-instrumental talent Emil Amos of Grails and Om .  Amos will be releasing The Fact Facer in late September via Thrill Jockey Records and, while I haven't heard actual tracks from the album just yet, interesting pseudo-covers of punk tracks emerged that I thought were worth checking out.  Also included is "More Therapy," which is a Holy Sons original.  All info, links and sounds come courtesy of Thrill Jockey Records. Hear Holy Sons bonus tracks featuring covers of hardcore legends Black Flag, Circle Jerks and Slapshot Brand new Holy Sons album 'The Fact Facer' on 22nd September Holy Sons is Emil Amos, a musician whose chameleonic tendencies and technical versatility has lead to him becoming an in demand multi-instrumentalist as a founding member of Grails and Lilacs & Champagne , as well as a member of Om . The Fact Facer , his Thrill Joc...

Bo Ningen : "Slider" (via [PIAS]/ Nowness ) Bo Ningen: Slider on Nowness.com J Mascis : "Every Morning" (via Sub Pop/YouTube) Open Mike Eagle : "Doug Stamper (Advice Raps) (feat. Hannibal Buress)" (via Friends of Friends/ Bandcamp ) Dark Comedy by Open Mike Eagle The Hissy Fits : "Last December" (via Video Director, George Booker /YouTube) Rabbitsss : "Incdntly" (via PMA PR/Vimeo) Rabbitsss - 'Incdntlly' - Music Video from anfw on Vimeo . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Tobacco Ultima II Massage Ghostly Released: 5.13.14 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

News of an upcoming J Mascis album found its way into my inbox yesterday.  J will be releasing Tied to a Star this Summer following his last solo release, 2011's Several Shades of Why .  That was one of my favorite albums to come out that year and I was lucky enough to see his Philly stop during his Several Shades tour.   No singles just yet, but here's the cover: And, here's some PR from Sub Pop. J Mascis performs with Fred Armisen’s 8G Band on Late Night with Seth Meyers Announces Tied to a Star , his forthcoming album, due later this summer on Sub Pop Legendary guitarist & Dinosaur Jr. frontman J Mascis is currently sitting in with Fred Armisen’s 8G Band on Late Night with Seth Meyers through Thursday, May 22nd. And on last night’s show, S eth spilled the beans about J’s forthcoming solo album , Tied to a Star , which will be released worldwide later this summer on Sub Pop (see May 20th episode ). J Mascis has scheduled a few headlining and festi...

Damaged Bug Hubba Bubba Castle Face Records Released: 2.25.14 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Carla Bozulich: "Deeper Than the Well" (via Rarely Unable/ Consellation Records /Soundcloud) Woods: "Leaves Like Glass" (via Force Field PR/ Woodsist /Soundcloud) Cripple Bastards: "Malato Terminale" (via Earsplit PR/ Relapse Records /YouTube) Damaged Bug : "Eggs At Night" (via Tell All Your Friends PR/ Castle Face Records /Soundcloud) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Dylan Carlson , mastermind behind drone progenitors, Earth , will be touring solo and releasing "Holly's Jeans," a new single to be featured on a split 7" he'll be sharing with touring mate, Rogier Smal .  Those familiar with Earth and Carlson's penchant for meditative and lengthy instrumentals won't find anything really new here, but "Holly's Jeans" is still engaging enough a listen.  Carlson has an ability to sort of hone in on what will musically inspire an individual to sit and drift along, repetition and resistance to variation resulting in no true consequence to his vision. You can listen to the track below.  All info is courtesy of Rarely Unable. Apparently, there's also news of an upcoming Earth album.  If interested, you can find reviews on the following Earth albums below: A Bureaucratic Desire for Extra Capsular Extraction (via Stereokiller) Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light I (via No Ripcord) Angels of Darkne...

A new video from Lee Ranaldo 's recent release, Between the Times and the Tides .  Lee Ranaldo STRANDED Official Video from Lee Ranaldo on Vimeo . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Call my attraction to this type of non-melodic, structureless "music" some attempt at appeasing my need to establish myself some wannabe sophisticate.  Or, just understand that, since listening to both John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman trespass into unconventional means of musical expression, some of which remain the most severe and extreme forms I've ever heard, I'm prone to subjecting myself to the free form language of any instrument, saxophone, guitar, or whichever medium suits its author.  Today, I listened to John Butcher , whose solo saxophone album, Bell Trove Spools , will be out this November on Northern Spy Records.  Butcher's sax work breathes and hums, bellows and moans, reaches shaky peaks of vibrating tone, a sputtering verse followed by a more fluid line of wavering stress.  This admittedly sounds more like an exercise than a piece of music, but Butcher eventually gains some level of riff and rigor, almost as if he's playing a song at half ...

"Oh Loneliness" is a new single from Bambi Lee Savage , noted Bad Seeds , U2 and Einstürzende Neubauten collaborator.  She is releasing a new solo album that's produced by Bad Seed Mick Harvey called Darkness Overshadowed .  The song is a tad contemporary, but there is a subtle country twang and midnight mystery to its tone that I find engaging.  Lee Savage has a lot of character in her vocal, so this is like "sing" noir, and Harvey provides much of the album's instrumentation, so I'm doubtless the music is stellar.  All info comes courtesy of Us/Them Group. Oh Loneliness by Bambi Lee Savage Bad Seeds, Daniel Lanois collaborator Bambi Lee Savage announces new album produced by Mick Harvey Bambi Lee Savage announces the forthcoming release of her third solo album, Darkness Overshadowed . The album is produced by Mick Harvey (Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey ), who also plays most of the backing instrumentation. Check out the sultry Twin Peaks -esque...

Ihsahn Eremita Candelight Records Released: 6.19.12 Stereokiller review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Today, I had the opportunity to preview the new Ihsahn album, Eremita .  Loud and aggressive, a shrieking monster that exhibits remarkably crafted songs.  It was exciting to listen to. The single, "Introspection," is not my favorite cut on the album, as it sounds rather reserved next to a lot of what goes on during Eremita .  But, I believe it'll get you in the door, as singles do.  "Introspection" was made available at the end of May at Guitar World , so I'm a little late with my acknowledgment. "The Paranoid," however, is pretty awesome.  Sample below.   All info below comes courtesy of Earsplit PR. IHSAHN: New Track Stream Available Via Guitar World Today Guitarworld.com hosts the exclusive premiere of IHSAHN’s “Introspection,” the third track off the legendary vocalist/guitarist’s forthcoming new full-length, Eremita . Set for release on June 19 via Candlelight Records, the nine-track opus was recorded and produced at Telemark...

Sam Chown , half of the experimentalist duo known as Zorch , is putting out a solo album called Discipline/Communication under the name, Shmu .  Steely Dan would be proud of Chown's new single, "House Of Stares." All info and links come courtesy of Us/Them. Zorch multi-instrumentalist Shmu posts first track from solo debut via Consequence of Sound Click image above to watch video   Sam Chown, drummer/singer/multi-instrumentalist in Austin's hyper-kinetic duo Zorch premieres the first song from his forthcoming solo debut under the moniker Shmu today. The track, " House of Stares " is available at Consequence of Sound to stream/download HERE . "House of Stares" showcases a much more subdued and dare we say "pop" side of the musician's talents seldom heard in Zorch. Throughout, Shmu's album Discipline/Communication is a melodic exploration into combinations of pop, shoegaze, glitch, psych and experimental rock into a c...

Listening to Greg Ginn and the Royal We , which is performed solely by the legendary Black Flag guitarist, (my comments discounting his instrumental work with Gone ), I would call this a technologically modern continuation of his Process Of Weeding Out / John McLaughlin -inspired jazz punk excursions. His guitar work is still marvelously primitive, though the electronic elements sound kind of flat next to the rhythm section provided by Bill Stevenson and Kira Roessler . I guess you could say there’s a tad less jazz, less of Ginn’s atonal wheeze and a more melody-based approach. Of course, I’m judging based upon the song “Baiting,” which may or may not summarize the breadth of this project. All info below comes courtesy of Speakeasy PR. GREG GINN AND THE ROYAL WE AT COACHELLA; FOUR CALIFORNIA DATES ADDED   Mar. 21, 2012, Austin, Tex. -- Greg Ginn and The Royal We, Ginn's solo electro-instrumental project, has added a handful of California dates leading up to his Apr...

So, Daniel Martin-McCormick ( Mi Ami ) and Darren Keen ( The Show Is The Rainbow ), both of whom I've interviewed, are wrapped up in circuits, wires and plugs, generating electro-based side projects. Martin-McCormick, even before he converted Mi Ami from avant-garde noise rock to an electronic translation, worked in this medium as Sex Worker , so Ital shouldn't be that much of a stretch, though Ital seems to be a more enhanced and involved project.  Martin-McCormick released a three-song Ital album earlier this year via his own Lovers Rock label, Culture Clubs . Altered Zones recently posted a live set, which isn't a bad listen, and a video of the track, "Only for Tonight (Dubout/Saviour's Love Megamix)."    Ital - Live @ Shea Stadium by LiveatSheaStadium ITAL - ONLY FOR TONIGHT (Dubout/Saviour's Love Megamix) from 100% Silk on Vimeo . Reviews : 1). Mi Ami — Watersports 2). Mi Ami — Steal Your Face 3). Mi Ami — Dolph...