ALL SIGNS POINT TO YES: When I put on the new album A Daily Reminder by Check The Signs, I certainly wasn’t expecting it to blast out of the speakers with a tune worthy of both Stevie Nicks and Sade. But that’s exactly what you get with “Along The Way,” and it’s due in no small part to Mindy Towe’s saxophone. This is the group’s first full-length album since 2019, and it’s another packed outing full of tight instrumentation, creative melodies, in-the-pocket rhythms and overall very strong songwriting. The band has Athens Walk Of Fame inductee Michael Guthrie featured on the psychedelia-tinged instrumental “Reflyte,” and features cellist Eunice Kang on the title track. In addition to the ones I’ve mentioned already, specific highlights here include “As You Like It,” the gorgeous Carole King reprise of “Every Shade Of Blue” and the Carpenters-esque “Goodbye Is All You Know.” The band celebrated its release last week, and you can get in on the ground floor via major streaming services and gather all other information at facebook.com/CheckTheSigns.
DARK AND LOVELY: A new split release between Marcel Sletten and Ohmu, the long-running recording project of Winston Parker, came out last week. It features two tracks from each, with Sletten’s selections including an 11-minute noise meditation “Lipstick and Leather,” which would be categorized as completely relentless if it weren’t for Sletten’s allowing some melody to exist below the surface. Sletten also contributes the markedly different, gentle, nearly pastoral “Mare,” based on loops and an acoustic guitar sample. Ohmu starts with the 13-minute “The Three Beggars,” a majestic tune full of specific movements traversing euphoria, dedication and resolution—at least that’s what I hear through this heady piece. Ohmu’s “Hexachrome Listlessness” is deliberate in its modern construction—in the album notes Parker references composer Tim Hecker as an influence —but relatively recognizable with its electronic journey from a nervy peace then into introspection and then, again, reaching some resolve. None of this is for the faint of hearing, so prepare yourself and listen in at primordialvoid.bandcamp.com.
LEAVE A LIGHT ON: There’s something about the title of the new Quentin Love album, which is called Home Music, that I find quite charming. Now, the first time I listened to the opening song “Mrs. Wonderful,” I didn’t care much for its waltzy construction, but I eventually came around to it. I was immediately taken, though, by the second track “Pi R2,” which joins its indie pop sensibility to a new wave undertone. “Losing You” occupies a similar musical space. Love explores several styles here, each with his own mark. These include indie psych pop (“For Orchid’s Eyes”), acoustic sentimentality (“Hold Me (Don’t)” and the baroque-y “Solitary Stem”) and bedroom electropop (“Broken Boy”). Find this at quentinlove.bandcamp.com.
ZENITH ON THE TV: Kaanan Tupper is the man behind studio and label Major Appliance Recordings, as well as recording project MikeRobeTheDemon. Now, first, this is among the best label names in recent memory. Second, this debut release by the aforementioned project, titled Redeemed Demon Arrives, deftly blends electronics with analogue instrumentation. The looped vocal effect at the start of “Black Orange Out The Airlock” isn’t terribly different from Kraftwerk’s “Boing Boom Tschak.” From there the track escalates somewhat into a robotic fury. The destructed and heavy “Star Spangled David Banner” is a noise fest with the national anthem smack dab in its middle. Closing track, “Friendship Forthwith,” features demonic-sounding screwed vocals atop outsider artist acoustic guitar plunking. Check out the record at majorappliancerecordings.bandcamp.com, and get the whole scoop at majorappliancerecording.com.
NEVER FORGET: OK, there’s no real reason for me to mention this show—no disrespect to those involved, but it’s not like there’s going to be dancing elephants or a parade or anything at it—except for the name of the touring band. On Friday, Aug. 1, Athens’ rock-and-rollers Wyld Staleyz will play Buvez. Also on the bill this night are the utterly fantastically named punks from Portland, OR The Last Responders. See, for a very long time I felt that first responders are great and, obviously, necessary but that no one ever really thinks about the last responders. Well, you are now. Doors are at 7 p.m. and music is at 8 p.m. sharp. For more information, please see facebook.com/lastresponderspdx and facebook.com/rockforeverandeverandever.
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