White Crate — Jan 15, 2021
White Crate — Jan 15, 2021
You don't have to listen to the fascist-leaning hypnagogic pop of yesteryear, there's more than enough high-quality music for the here and now
It has already been over a week since the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Only—been over a week. And so, if you’re like me, you’re just beginning to fully process the incident. To so many of us who have been watching the news in horror over the past 4, 8, 16, 32+ years, the attack itself—and the flaccid response by law enforcement—wasn’t all that surprising. So perhaps that’s why the most difficult thing for music lovers has been trying to crack this puzzle: What happened to Ariel Pink and John Maus?
Who cares.
With all due empathy to my friends who enjoyed or even loved the work of those artists, please remember that there’s no shortage of great musicians that deserve our support today. Here’s the best music out of the Bay Area in the past week!
Peace,
ronny
THAT NEW NEW
羅伯特, aka Robert Yang of SF party crew Honey Soundsystem, released Heirloom on his new label Piece of Work. The full-length album is brooding, heavy, and industrial, marching steadily ahead through 38 minutes of synths and soundscapes.
Oakland’s Astronauts, etc. (aka Tony Peppers and Anthony Ferraro) released chill indie pop single “Cherry Plum”. Ferraro, who you may remember as touring keyboardist for Toro y Moi, has been busy: In November, his cover of “Riddles” by Ed Schrader's Music Beat appeared on No Cover: A Carpark Covers Comp and, in September, he released a brilliant solo piano album called Gestures.
Another one from Oakland’s Toro y Moi circle: Brijean (also of Poolside) released “Ocean,” the third dreamy pop single from Feelings, her upcoming full-length debut on Ghostly International.
Dark Entries Records released its deluxe reissue of the 1983 underground funk classic I Need a Freak by Cleveland’s Sexual Harrassment. Order the vinyl on Bandcamp, and then check out Old School Mix 8 by legendary SF DJ Cameron Paul, a 1993 mix of funk, soul, and r&b featuring Sexual Harrassment.
We’re only two weeks into January, but SF professional skateboarder and musician Tommy Guerrero just released an album today that sounds like he’s ready for the summertime: Sunshine Radio is straight carefree-by-the-beach vibes.
Palo Alto composer and pianist William Susman is releasing A Quiet Madness next week, an intriguing collection of classical, minimalist, and experimental music featuring solo piano plus chamber pieces with violin, flute, and accordion.
SMARTBOMB announced the third volume of Water for the Town, a mixtape of hip hop, jazz, and electronic music benefiting The Village in Oakland. Preview a couple tracks by Salami Rose Joe Louis and Vallejo artist Azuah on Bandcamp. Also be sure to check out LIGHT BEINGS #2, a mixtape by SMARTBOMB and Lower Grand Radio.
MAY HAVE MISSED
Anthony Ferraro just released a new single (see above), but I have to draw extra attention to this album he released in September. Partly planned, partly improvisational, Gestures is a half hour of stunning solo piano. Read more.
On New Year’s Day, modular and vintage synthesizer-obsessed artist Jerod S. Rivera (Oakland) released Virgo, an album of percussive, beat-oriented pieces influenced by hip hop and experimental electronic music.
Oakland post-pop-punk (is that a thing?) group Low Praise released two singles last summer worth a listen: “Angela” and “Supermind”.
In case you haven’t had a chance to dive into The 10 Best Bay Area Albums of 2020 by KQED, my favorite from the list so far is the cumbia album Y Te Cuento by Discos Resaca Collective & Mariposas del Alma. Watch a video of the title track.
Speaking of 2020 round-ups, indie SF blog 48 Hills published a mix highlighting the wide variety of music released by Bay Area artists in 2020, including Los Mocosos, Xyla, Too $hort, Keak da Sneak, E-40, Christina Chatfield, and Metallica.
CLASSICS
Bay Area Tex Mex? Flown in from San Antonio, inspired by the North Coast, and recorded in San Francisco, this 1969 rock & roller from the Sir Douglas Quintet deserves to be more well-known. Read more.