2 (3?) Quick Album Reviews

Coming back to writing about music because I think it helps me keep track of what I’ve listened to in my head which is something that I have difficulty doing now that my life is actually busy.

Strange Creatures – Drenge

If you, like me, were disappointed by the 2018 IDLES release Joy of Resistance, this release from UK punk outfit Drenge will certainly make up for it. The tracks “This Dance” and “Teenage Love” were especially catchy tracks with memorable punk riffs. Drenge channels some of the heavier and slower punk that IDLES failed to capture on Joy of Resistance, and the later tracks in the album start to fall into laid back guitar and synth tracks in a similar vein to bands like Shame and some of the newer tracks Wand have been releasing. There is a lot of variety in sound and energy to be found on Strange Creatures, making for an enjoyable listen through.

Mazy Fly – Spellling

This album is a great listen, each track has a lot going on and it makes for a very intriguing listen. Some of the sounds on here remind me a little bit of a band called The Moog Cookbook, a synth duo that release covers of various chart topping hits with weird stylings. Regardless of an intentionality it the influence, the timbre on Spelllings tracks leads to a carefree and lighthearted atmosphere. “Dirty Desert Dreams” especially almost sounds like it was played on my childhood toy keyboard. “Golden Numbers” contrasts with the synth tracks nicely, with a guitar track more in line with typical dream-pop. Some of the tracks on Mazy Fly are sparse and rely on Chrystia Cabra’s vocals, while others are filled with a variety of sounds and textures. As much as I hate to use the word haunting, Cabra really does embrace a haunted aesthetic, with the short track “Melted Wings” sounding like something from an art house horror movie soundtrack.

Suspiria (Music for the Luca Guadagnino Film) – Thom Yorke

Speaking of art house horror, the soundtrack to Suspiria has been my go-to study music lately. If you need music that is good for studying, i’ll direct you here, but otherwise I would highly recommend the movie itself instead. I had nightmares about it for a solid week after seeing it, and is one of the best examples of how scary a movie can be just through its cinematography.