Bask in the warmth of a Bay Area September with "You Would Do Well" by the Dirty Snacks Ensemble
An ambient meditation on Alzheimer's by Mike Cadoo; brilliant new video by Shy'an G; plus new albums by Almond Joy, Mamaleek, Saint Solitude, Tycho, Tyler Barber
Wow. Thank you.
Thank you to Salami Rose Joe Louis, Mejiwahn, and James Wavey for blessing our first-ever live music showcase at Public Works last night. And thank you to everyone who came out with the good vibes and healing energy.
More to come.
Peace,
ronny
A LOVE LETTER TO THE WORKING ARTIST
Crashing waves soundtrack a woman’s voice as she whispers, “I want to be a wave… I want to be a warm blue wave that loves you” to open the track “I Want to Be a Wave” on You Would Do Well, the latest full-length album by Oakland-based post-jazz group the Dirty Snacks Ensemble. Recorded at Tiny Telephone’s San Francisco studio and released on Slow & Steady Records, You Would Do Well flows like the tide pulling an ocean of influences—including Kool Keith instrumentals and 70’s Japanese free jazz grooves—to shore.
To preface the record, Mark Clifford (vibraphonist, composer and leader of the ensemble) writes “[the] through line is a devotion to craft.” I would add “playfulness” as the other through line. The tongue-in-cheek Stones Throw-esque hip hop groove “One Must Plan for Succsess” and missing Sub-Pop 12” single “Showmen” highlight the ensemble’s willingness to embrace and play with genre. Each player strikes a balance between compositional adherence and improvisational muscle. The dance between Crystal Pascucci-Clifford’s cello and Cory Wright's bass clarinet on standout title track “You Would Do Well” exemplifies not only the musicianship of each player, but the ease of which they improvise with each other. An earnest record at its core, You Would Do Well feels like the warmth of a Bay Area September just before the sun loses that summer shine.
— Gabriel Lopez
RESONANT BALM
“I wanted to honor my father by touching as best I could the view from his eyes.”
Bay Area-based musician Mike Cadoo (and “owner operator” of one of my favorite Bay Area labels n5MD) released The Dissolution of Recall, an aural immersive meditation on Alzheimer’s. 11 distinct tracks of cathartic drone create a portal into Cadoo’s attempt to understand the magnitude of his father’s experience: “Confusion and memory loss are well-known issues among people that suffer from neurodegenerative diseases; however, anxiety, frustration, anger, and, most importantly, fear are some of the more enormous hurdles; this makes The Dissolution of Recall somewhat of a challenging listen. I wanted to honor my father by touching as best I could the view from his eyes.” A beautiful offering and resonant balm to anyone who may need this album in their life right now.
In honor of his father’s passing, all proceeds from the album will go to Hope Hospice.
— Elise Mills
MORE SELECTIONS
“Do the Math” by Shy'an G & Dominé Brishawn
hip hop, rap, soul, Berkeley
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Oh Henry! by Almond Joy on perennialdeath
alternative, indie pop, San Francisco
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Diner Coffee by Mamaleek
black metal, experimental, rock
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Sugar Pill by Saint Solitude
alternative, garage rock, indie, pop, Oakland
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Back to Mine by Tycho
ambient, post-rock, psychedelic, San Francisco
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8th Grade Pole Vaulter by Tyler Barber
ambient, drone, electronic, Oakland
LIVE
Our top show recommendations for the coming week:
[folk] Hardly Strictly Bluegrass ft. AJ Lee & Blue Summit, the Brothers Comatose, Crying Uncle, Ismay, Marco and the Polos, Meklit, Moonalice, the Quitters, Rainbow Girls, Satya, Wreckless Strangers, and more — Sep 30 - Oct 2 at Golden Gate Park
[electronic] Sutro FM Grand Opening ft. Abayomi, The Creatrix (live), Cat & Matt, Carlos Souffront, Infinite Jess, Piano Rain (live), and Oso Feo — Sep 30 at 50 Brady St
[club] 11 Years of Direct to Earth ft. Etapp Kyle and SPFDJ — Sep 30 at F8
[experimental] Gray Area Festival ft. YACHT, Clipping — Sep 30 - Oct 1 at Gray Area
[rock] Aluminum, The Hook Ups, Rotary Club, Julian Never — Sep 30 at Golden Bull
[club] Boiler Room ft. Annika Wolfe, Bae Bae, Divoli S'vere, DJ Spiider, Englesia, ESTOC, Guerrilla Pump, MikeQ, Séverine, and Squish — Oct 1 at Space 550
[club] Syd, RITCHRD, Aircrax, Rental VHS — Oct 1 at Club Waziema
[rock] Bonny Light Horseman, Vetiver — Oct 2 at the Chapel
[rock] Vital Form of Rebellion ft. Artsick, Quivers, Massage — Oct 2 at Golden Bull
[pop] Rosalía — Oct 4 at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium