Albums I’m Excited About, June 7th
Echo — Brandt Brauer Frick
Brandt Brauer Frick is the last names of the three German musicians who collaborate on this project — classically trained and jazz aware, their music is structurally German minimal electronic, but manages to be special because of their wide and daring orchestrations.
I’ve come across this band in the past, but nothing stood out enough to me to make it into rotation — one listen in though, I think this album will be the one that brings them into my rotation. It’s dark minimal house music with only a dusting of the traditional arrangement. Cellos Pianos, and orchestral percussion make up the midrange of this moody concept-house album.
https://music.apple.com/us/album/echo/1460309047
https://open.spotify.com/album/3DuUCCshIj3IJGISFEVa2f?si=aqRV8z6TQHe9Hhj7Fgom2A
Black Friday — Palehound
Palehound is a part of a new grunge/indie scene that is exemplified by bands like Girlpool and Snail Mail. Their first lo-fi record was almost Elliot Smith adjacent, and the second charted a clear path to something all their own.
Black Friday is not the album that will define this band — but it is a fantastic collection of songs and it includes some composition ideas that I think are really impressive. This is an album for fans, but it would be a mistake to underestimate it. Palehound is a force live, and the laid back nature of this album hints at a really special tour this summer.
https://music.apple.com/us/album/black-friday/1457103738
https://open.spotify.com/album/4rXeKYqUL4swEixXxg9KFG?si=JO_V1FetQi6tZgeiEkWQzA
Sweet Candy Power — Shonen Knife
Shonen Knife is a 3 piece all-female pop punk band from Osaka. I just got back from Primavera Sound where I saw them put on one of the highest energy sets at the festival, despite being around since 1981(!!).
This is not an artistic or creative album in the sense that it will challenge you or show you something new. Shonen Knife is however unique in that they capture the essence of a genre and perform an unpretentious, pure-fun version with tactical efficiency. Mastery comes in many forms.
https://music.apple.com/us/album/sweet-candy-power/1460433534
https://open.spotify.com/album/2upk0Wal0nGHbqlzosm69y?si=BzP1ZtEGTHGOfFLtZzavbQ
