In comparison to the drowning of music in the two months prior March felt like a quieter month. That isn't to say it was a bad month, it absolutely wasn't, we were treated to a number of great releases.
Gesaffelstein - Gamma
Producer Gesaffelstein is back with his first solo album in around 5 years and one that finds him exploring the sounds of EBM cheese of bands of the past. This has to my experience always been an influence on his work, but here it feels like it takes complete hold, it is bombastic beyond belief and I love it for it. The textures explored work wonders, suffocating bass and satisfying unique melodic elements keep it consistently engaging. One bit of praise is that Gesaffelstein works as a vocalist excellently, he has that over-the-top gothic delivery which fits this sonic palette very well. It isn't all cheesy though, songs like "Mania" and "Psycho" dip back into a more menacing sound while remaining cohesive with the rest of the record. In short, this is a great success for Gesaffelstein and something I can see being repeated listening for me this year.
Kidnapped - Disgust
Just as crushing as the band's previous record, Disgust demonstrates the band's great ability for short but rewarding Powerviolence. Each song flies by in a second but have enough texture to give them sticking power. The vocals are fierce and the riffs are filled with hate. As with several records of this nature, I was left wondering what would happen if the band allowed themselves to write longer songs, but here even with these shorter tracks the band shines, I just wish they'd cut the unnecessary outro from the final song.
Kim Gordon - The Collective
I am firm in my belief that Kim Gordon is the best member of Sonic Youth and one of the only legacy artists who has a genuine interest in experimentation and The Collective is proof of this. It seems the goal for this record was to develop the concept explored on "Paprika Pony" off No Home Record and I am so glad because this is a sound she pulls off well. Here we have an album of absurdly blown-out Hip Hop instrumentals supplemented by Kim Gordon's signature deadpan, which you'd think would be an ill-fitting sonic touch, but they contrast each other better than you'd think. However, it isn't all one thing, songs like "The Believers" are insane Industrial cuts which lessen the Hip Hop influence to explore new ideas and they work. Two proper albums deep and Kim Gordon is still pushing boundaries and presenting new and amazing ideas.
Kyle Gordon - Kyle Gordon Is Great
After long delays, Kyle Gordon's debut album is here, with 8 different songs all playing different characters and different genres all broken up by radio skits. The songs do vary in quality pretty heavily, but thankfully most of it is good. "Girls Are the Best" is a ridiculously overblown parody of 2000s country which works specifically because of how far he pushes it. "Planet of the Bass" remains excellent, it is played so straight and lets itself be a really good song even outside the parody. "Crucial Life Lessons for Young Children" is such a fun spoof of children's music, and the violently bad advice provided makes it all the more entertaining, and the advertisements in between skit-esque feel. The album also ends off strong as "The Irish Drinking Song" is a pretty hilarious lampooning of Celtic Rock but in all honesty mainly The Pogues. Kyle Gordon is very talented and has taken a lot from music satirists of the past such as "Weird Al" Yankovic but added enough of his own flavour and style to be individually entertaining. I'm looking forward to where he will go from here.
Liv.e - Past Futur.E
After a while reigning as Neo-Souls rising star, Liv.e has surprise dropped an album of full-on Synth Punk, a complete tonal and sonic shift from much of what came before. If you think I am kidding, our opening track is full on Egg Punk, and Liv.e pulls it off well, a pummelling song with a killer driving groove. It doesn't stop there, later tracks dip into EBM and Minimal Synth textures with the production following suit. If I were to place a wide net over this album, it feels like one of those Synth Punk tapes from the 80s created by one science-fiction-obsessed nerd in their bedroom, adapted for the modern day, and it works. There are occasional moments where it gets a bit much, especially the high-pitched sounds on "$$$$ $" which is never texture I love, but these moments are limited. I doubt this will happen, but if we were to get more music of this style from Liv.e I would be delighted. But if any following new music, no matter the direction, is done with this much creative spark I am not going to complain. This is a great and short project with some killer ideas executed very well.
MIKE & Tony Seltzer - Pinball
After an incredible last record, Pinball sees a Trap turn for MIKE with producer Tony Seltzer and he absolutely sticks the landing. MIKE's hazy style of delivery may seem as if it would contrast against these more punchy beats but it's a pairing that works exceptionally well. This whole project has the potent energy of a late night at the casino, where you no longer know what time it is or how much you've spent. Our features here, while in limited amount, add to this energy well, especially Earl Sweatshirt who feels so at home in this aesthetic. Fantastic production and excellent performances make Pinball another huge win from MIKE, and another reason for me to just get around to the rest of MIKE's discog.
Roc Marciano - Marciology
Marciology's greatest strength is just how terrifying it sounds, the production is intensely sinister and Roc Marciano's deadpan delivery makes this a deeply unnerving listen. This atmosphere isn't all that makes this a worthy listen though, we have some great verses here from Roc Marciano and the other performers with no verse not working for me. This is one of those albums that is great but I find myself struggling to say much about, it's great but of course it's great, what else would it be?
Rx Cowboy - COWBOY KILLER
If there is one thing I continue to make clear, it's that I love loud and blown out Hip Hop and my god COWBOY KILLER delivers. Drawing from the stylings of Digital Hardcore Rx Cowboy crafts an intense and menacing collection of tracks that manage to be both texturally fascinating and also just really entertaining. These songs pretty consistently have a great driving groove which allows our rapper to deliver some great verses, he has a flow reminiscent of other lethargic Industrial Hip Hop MCs but with enough unique style to separate him from his contemporaries. This is a must if you are into Hip Hop of this style, this project is delivered with a natural talent and I look forward to what comes next.
Turnabout - Obscura Noctis Mortis
Here Turnabout has given us an EP of intense and suffocating Witch House with some great Industrial flavour to keep it exciting. Our vocalist also does well, giving a pained vocal delivery. "Better Off Alone" is an excellent cover as well, giving an intense misery to the original that fits better than you'd expect. I was massively impressed by the production and performances here and I am excited to hear more.
Yung Lean & Bladee - Psykos
Psykos sees an Alternative Rock turn from Yung Lean and Bladee, and while a sonic aesthetic Lean has explored in side projects, we are now in primary project category. But do they deliver? Yeah! The style the two go for is a very reverb-heavy blown-out one focused more on sound than structure and it isn't a style I gravitate toward so that was working against me here. That said the sounds here really are good, and are good enough that I did greatly enjoy myself here. Especially in the second half, the first half is okay but the second is excellent and makes the album. I was shocked at this because I was ready to write this off at the start but I am all for more of this.