By Jake Shenker
How is it possible that summer is two-thirds over and I haven’t been to the beach yet?
On a related note, here’s what’s new this week:
Black Mold – Snow Blindness is Crystal Antz (Flemish Eye)
This record is what I would imagine music would sound like if I took dangerous amounts of hallucinogenic drugs. Black Mold is the new alter ego of Calgary-based singer/songwriter Chad VanGaalen, and his debut album is, in a word, trippy. Loaded with electronic soundscapes, Snow Blindness is Crystal Antz can at times be overwhelming: “Tetra Pack Heads,” for example, features a convoluted and disorienting percussive groove, punctuated by sweeping electronic pulses and African-inspired marimba melodies. But elsewhere, VanGaalen’s unique electronic cobbling succeeds in producing engrossing grooves and breaks: “Toxic Lake” incorporates this album’s most steady backbeat into an array of speech-like synth bursts; the minimalist classical guitar of “Uke Puke” is sustained under layers of sampled drums. There are even moments of great beauty here — most notably the melancholy trio of cello, double bass and glockenspiel on “Metal Spider Webs.” Though Snow Blindness is a bit too experimental for my palette, it’s a damn fine record that is well worth the listen.
Holmes – Holmes (Groove Gravy)
Holmes is the moniker of keyboardist/singer/songwriter Roy Shakked, though it’s pretty unclear where his nickname comes from (Sherlock Holmes? Holmes on Homes?). Regardless, his self-titled second album is pop perfection, and doesn’t stray too far from Shakked’s day-job as a TV music composer. In fact, I’m pretty sure I heard this whole record on Scrubs/Chuck/Weeds at some point. The songs are simple, the melodies undeniably catchy, and the arrangements tight and obvious. Holmes isn’t breaking any barriers here, but a handful of great songs may stop this album from dropping into obscurity.
Holmes makes me miss the days of Spookey Ruben.
This Holmes record is brilliant. Been wearing out my iPod.