Cronies – ‘Cronies’
New York’s Cronies were formed by brothers Jack and Sam Carillo in June 2020, the creative offspring of Covid and isolation. Initially laying down tracks in a make-shift home-studio, they pulled in Shea and Brad, (their fellow bandmates in other New York bands Stugots, Drink Brothers, Filthy Gorgeous), swapping sounds and crafting the songs until the band could safely collaborate in person to record this beast of an album, which comes at you kicking like a mule on PCP.
Black Tempel Pyrämid – ‘Infinite Tombs’
Black Tempel Pyrämid is an experimental American primitive Krautrock band from Fort Collins, CO. It’s one of Patrick R. Pärk’s sonic endeavours that frequently turns meandering drunken-stoned midnight introspections into lo-fi, drone-fuelled soul eviscerations. Infinite Tombs was recorded in March 2021 at FoCo Sonic Studies in the Horsetooth Mountains, around the one year anniversary of when COVID became an official nightmare. This album is dedicated to all of the front line workers who have selflessly given their time and souls to humanity as there’s no looking back.
Easter – ‘Live at SSR’
Recorded at the School Of Sound Recording, Manchester behind closed doors on the cusp of the big lockdown, this set captures the band at their most freewheeling; with a new line-up giving the songs a fresh take off the back of a tour with Bromide and Dark Globes. Manchester indie-rockers Easter have released two albums, two EPs and a clutch of smaller releases, building a reputation as one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Spurred along by singer/songwriter/guitarist Tom Long with a rotating cast of Manc-underground shredders, they’re a formidable live act who have toured the U.K extensively; embodying the spirit of ‘Ragged Glory’-era Neil Young, Television and Dinosaur Jr while also the likes of Chris Forsyth’s Solar Motel Band and Yo La Tengo.
e & H – ‘Road To Saturn’
e & H is the duo of eleOnora and Richard Thompson. Based in the Baltics (Tallinn and Rīga respectively), their practice is based around live, improvised expression through vocals, guitar and microsynths. These live recordings were made in Riga in April and June 2019. eleOnora is an avant-garde singer and vocalist, who resides in Estonia – being half Latvian and half Estonian by descent. She studied extended vocal techniques under the guidance of Anne Türnpu (Estonian actor & director). In 2014 she formed the avant-garde blues duo Ringhold with guitarist Kalle Tikas. Richard Thompson is the founder of the experimental folk project Lost Harbours, the grass-roots, organisation Culture as a Dare and tape label Liminal Noise. He also plays guitar in the post-punk band Abuses.
Ryosuke Kiyasu + Watts – ‘Zero Gap’
Snare drum and vocals collide on a long-distance collaboration by Ryosuke Kiyasu (SETE STAR SEPT, Fushitsusha. Shrimp et al) and WATTS (Lump Hammer, Plague Rider, Lovely Wife et al). Recorded in Japan and the U.K. respectively, and mixed by David Curle at First Avenue Studios, Newcastle. Zero Gap is constructed entirely from one snare and one delay drenched throat. Clattering and rasping around each other for just over half an hour they explore the outer range of their respective instruments’ sound worlds.