Q#158 - October to November 2024

 

Download mix from https://www.mediafire.com/file/qyu9itrxsjwr12g/Q#158.zip/file

Please note that the zip file has a password: QCOMPS.BLOGSPOT.COM 

Spotify link at end of notes, follow/subscribe to playlists here 

Q's Compilations

Vol #158 – October to November 2024

 

 

Happy almost end of the year! 2024… it’s been ok. I’ve gotten way into discogs this year, we just passed the 10^th anniversary of Death By Audio closing (Nov 22 2014, see Q#98 for my DBA mix - https://qcomps.blogspot.com/2014/11/q98-october-november-2014.html). Shows included Nada Surf, Vampire Weekend, DEHD, Julian Velard and TV On the Radio. Everything on the mix has been released in the last few months. I write these notes on Thanksgiving Day before flying home and I’m grateful for anyone who is listening to these.

 

01) Tunde Adebimpe – Magnetic: In addition to TV On the Radio playing their first shows in 5 years (I was fortunate to get tickets to their show on the 26^th), and the band re-issuing debut album, Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes on vinyl for its 20^th anniversary, Tunde Adebimpe announced he’ll be releasing a debut solo album on Sub Pop Records. This song will presumably be on it!

 

02) Humdrum - There and Back Again: Humdrum’s debut album, Every Heaven, was released on the 18^th of October via Slumberland Records and is a lovely Pale Saints-influenced dose of dream-pop over the course of its 10 tracks.

 

03) The Laughing Chimes - High Beams: Another Slumberland Records artist, this is the lead single from Whispers in the Speech Machine, which will come out on the 25^th of January. Featuring siblings Evan and Quinn Seurkamp (only guitar/vocals and drums respectively), this Athens (Ohio, although the sound feels influenced from Athens, Georgia!) quartet display a goth undertone to the jangle delivery.

 

04) Good Looks - Chase Your Demons Out: You might remember If It’s Gone from Q#156, this track is one of two that the band just released that didn’t make the record (Lived Here for a While) and I’m glad they’re seeing the light of day. If you ask me, there was a home for them on the album!

 

05) Momma - Ohio all the Time: It’s been 2.5 years since the band’s last album (Household Name), so this tune is hopefully a sign of a new record. They’ve had some fairly high-profile tours as a support act in the last couple of years so it seems like they’ve got good record label support at present.

 

06) Megan from Work - Girl Suit: I don’t know that much about this act from Manchester, New Hampshire but their debut album, Girl Suit (this is obviously the title track) was released on the 4^th of October and has a few power pop bangers on it.

 

07) Squid - Crispy Skin: One of the most interesting bands of the last few years, Squid just announced their third album, Cowards, will be released on the 7^th of February via Warp Records. I missed a recent show in NYC so am hoping they announce a return when the album comes out.

 

08) Bdrmmm - John on the Ceiling: Speaking of British bands announcing their third albums, Hull’s Bdrmmm have essentially been keeping a very similar timeline to Squid! New album Microtonic will be released on the 28^th of February. This track sees the band drifting further away from their shoegaze origins but still retains their essence and seems a natural progression as a band, which has been introducing more electronic influence anyway. Excited to hear what they have come up with.  

 

09) FACS - Wish Defense: Chicago’s FACS just announced new record Wish Defense (another 7^th of Feb release) via Trouble in Mind Records. This marks the return of original member Jonathan Van Herik (albeit he originally played guitar with Brian Case on bass, those are now reversed). Fans got a preview of this song which appeared on a live record the band released in April.

 

10) American Motors - Colonial Lanes: This band’s debut album, Content, was released on the 4^th of October and if you like bleak post-punk then you should probably stop listening to this mix and check it out immediately. Recorded by J Robbins of Jawbox, the album cover depicts an abandoned home with debris everywhere and lonely looking armchair and the synergy between album artwork and music is a triumph.

 

11) Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – Detroit: The world’s best stoner rock band at present, Newcastle’s Pigsx7, just put out this single on the 11^th of November, hopefully the sign of a new record.  

 

12) Fake Eyes - Never Speak: Keen listeners will no doubt remember me using this heavy-shoegaze band from Charlotte, NC, a couple of times before (way back on Q#132 and Q#135 respectively). They’ve just released their debut LP, Saccharine Scream, via Sunday Drive Records, on the 22^nd of November.

 

13) Peaer - Just Because: Brooklyn’s Peaer return with their first recorded music since 2019 with this absolute gem of an understated math-rock track. I last used a track on Q#120 from July 2018 when I saw them live and loved their set, hopefully there’s much more of this to come

 

14) Bedtime Khal - Dumb Stuff: I heard this track from Rosy Overdrive’s blog and instantly fell for this track that appears on Eraser, which was released on the 15^th of November. The tune is breezy yet anthemic in parts and it all comes together in a very low-key way.

 

15) Shower Curtain - Wish U Well: Released on the 18^th of October via Angel Tapes, Words from a Wishing Well is from Brooklyn’s Shower Curtain who self-identify as bedroomgaze which has a nice ring to it. This is definitely the track that jumps out immediately and the record otherwise has that feeling like it will be a grower and reveal itself differently with each listen.

 

16) Blue Zero - Broken By a Glance: Oakland artist Chris Natividad is in a few bands from the area including Public Interest who I like a lot and have used a couple of tracks already, and Marbled Eye who I now need to check out. Natividad plays all the instruments on this debut record (Colder Shade Blue) with additional vocals from Lauren Melton.

 

17) Current Joys - Sister Christian: I used California Rain on Q#156, and now that the new Current Joys record has been released (East My Love), it’s a welcome return to form so I thought I’d throw this track onto the mix.

 

18) Anya Marina - Sunshine or Shadow: New album, Asteroid, was released on the 25^th of October via Good Rope Records, I think this might be her first album since 2017’s Paper Plane (though there have been a number of Eps and singles). Always recommended to see live, I have to confess I haven’t listened to the album in full yet but this track caught my ear and felt like it would go well on the mix.

 

19) Bollard - Jacob the Liar: I loved Montreal Donuts which I used on Q#154 and the Melbourne act put out EP I Was Wide Open at the end of July, this track has a nice hypnotic quality to it.

 

20) Robber Robber - Sea or War: I found this band because they were opening for Thus Love (albeit a concert I did not end up going to) so I checked out their album Wild Guess, which is a cool mix of post-punk and a little krautrock in places. The record was released on the 26^th of July.

 

21) The Reds, Pinks & Purples - Loves Steep: Is it even a Q-comp without The Reds, Pinks and Purples these days? It’s hard not to when he keeps releasing tracks so frequently! This is from a 3-song EP called Resltess When You Sleep which features two covers and original, of which this is the original track. It is, unfortunately, missing from Spotify!

 

I frantically put these notes together a couple of hours before catching a flight back home to the UK. Del Amitri announced some dates in December and at this point, every show feels like a gift! The next mix will be the usual best-of-the-year and I feel like it has been a strong year, at least for me. I hope everyone has a great time over the holidays and 2025 brings you all happiness.

 

As always, Peace and Love - Q

Q#157 – August to September 2024

 

Download mix from https://www.mediafire.com/file/gir8a3597t079ct/Q%2523157_.zip/file

Please note that the zip file has a password: QCOMPS.BLOGSPOT.COM 

Spotify link at end of notes, follow/subscribe to playlists here 

Q's Compilations

Vol #157 – August to September 2024

 Greetings! We’re obviously a couple of weeks late on this one, I’m writing this on the 14^th of October, but I’m sure the thousands of listeners will forgive me. August/September were nice, saw a few good shows (Dada, The Beths, Pulp, Loudon Wainwright III, The Hives), had a nice few days away in Rhode Island, saw the Mets beat the Red Sox. There are two songs from 2023 but otherwise I think everything is new.

01) Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers – Ahhhh!: I was browsing show listings on OhMyRockness a couple of months ago and noticed this Australian four piece playing Mercury Lounge so I gave their debut album, I Love You (released October 2023) and liked it a lot. Unfortunately it turned out I already had tickets for another show so couldn’t go anyway, but I thought this made for a good opener.

02) Beach Bunny – Clueless: I used Vertigo on the last mix and Beach Bunny have since released this tune as another single and it’s another banger. Sounds like a new album will come out in 2025.

03) Spirit Night - Darker Now: New York’s Spirit Night is the workings of Dylan Balliett, who had a spell in The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, but give me this power pop delight any day of the week, with a hint of bedroom/lo-fi joy to the whole thing, no doubt some Flying Nun inspiration to boot. This is taken from new record Time Won’t Tell was released on the 4^th of October.

04) The Umbrellas – Gone: San Francisco jangle-pop quartet The Umbrellas released Fairweather Friend back in January but I only really just got around to listening to it and bought it on the most recent bandcamp Friday (via Slumberland Records).

05) The Reds, Pinks & Purples - The World Doesn't Need Another Band: What’s a Q-comp these days without a song by the Reds, Pinks & Purples? This is the title track of a collection that Glenn Donaldson notes “some brand new songs and a few remixes of previous singles that felt like they fit with this set.”. Just another great set of songs and I hope he never slows down!

06) Thee Sacred Souls - Live for You: I went solo to see Thee Sacred Souls at a free outdoor show in Prospect Park this summer and it was an incredibly pleasant gig. I played their 2022 self-titled record a good amount when it came out and they just released the follow-up Got a Story to Tell, which obviously this track comes from.

07) Naima Bock – Kaley: If you’re in the mood for some 70s inspired UK folk then Naima Bock’s new record, Below a Massive Dark Land should be up your alley. Even the album cover has a bit of a I Want to see the Bright Lights Tonight vibe to it. The record came out on the 27^th of September via Sub Pop.

08) Emily Frembgen - Are You Listening?: Emily Frembgen’s second album, No Hard Feelings was released on the 13^th of September via Don Giovanni Records, and it’s a lovely dose of Americana. This track kicks off the record and is probably the most upbeat, not that the album is a bummer!

09) Horse Jumper of Love - Today's Iconoclast: Speaking of bands that excel in downbeat tunes, Horse Jumper of Love released their fifth album, Disaster Trick in August on Run for Cover Records and it’s another perfect addition to their glowing slowcore discography.

10) Wild Pink - The Fences of Stonehenge: I’ve flittered in and out with Wild Pink over the years, I enjoy a song here and there, but it doesn’t seem to stick. However, the group recently signed to Fire Talk who can do little wrong as a label, and this album opener immediately jumped out at me. Something about the production really sings here.

11) Lightheaded - Bright Happy Girls: I think this song popped up on a random Spotify playlist and my ears were immediately drawn to the guitars which have that perfect 80s REM sound, or possibly even lifted from the Meat Puppets Up On The Sun record. 

12) Ex-Pilots – Motel: I can’t recall where I heard this track I have to confess. I think it was a bandcamp purchase that then suggested I would like this Pittsburgh sextet. This song appears on their album Motel Cable which was released on the 23^rd of August. The record notes it was recorded at home in Pittsburgh and NYC between 2019-2024. The vocals, while relatively buried, remind me of White Reaper. 

13) Thus Love - On the Floor: I was a big fan of Thus Love’s Memorial record from 2022 and new record, All Pleasure will be released on the 1^st of November (once again via Captured Tracks), this is one of the singles and also opens the record.

14) Louse - Thieves: Sticking with the goth vibe, Louse are from Cincinnati, Ohio whose debut album, Passions Like Tar came out on the 20^th of September on Feel it Records. The album leans heavily on the likes of early Comsat Angels

15) Molchat Doma - Ty Zhe Ne Znaesh Kto Ya: This trio are from Minks, Belarus, and their name translates as Houses Are Silent. We’re keeping the goth run going with this track, albeit in a dance-y synth-pop way. This record, Belaya Polosa was released on the 6^th of September via Sacred Bones.

16) Parannoul - Lights Off Repentance: South Korea bedroom-shoegaze wizard Parannoul surprise-released his latest album, Sky Hundred on the 3^rd of August. He recently announced that he’ll no longer perform live (having only performed a handful of shows in South Korea, one of which is captured on the live album After the Night), but so long as he keeps putting out great music like this, that’s enough of a gift.

17) Pom Pom Squad – Spinning: Mia Berrin’s Pom Pom Squad return with second album Mirror Starts Moving Without Me on the 25^th of October, following 2021’s Death of a Cheerleader which is a really great record (2021 also provided both a cover of Nada Surf’s Popular in addition to opening for the band on tour). The new songs released so far sound a bit more produced and I’m curious to hear what the full record sounds like.

18) The Hives - Bogus Operandi: I never really listened to The Hives, but I ended up with a couple of free tickets to see one of their recent shows at Kings Theatre and they put on a hell of a show. Looking at their discography, they released an album in 2023, The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons, which this track opens and is a pretty solid rock and roll album.

19) Leaving Time – Wise: Keen listeners may remember Jacksonville Florida’s Leaving Time from Q#152, at the time they’d released a couple of Eps but they’re soon to release their debut full length, Angel in the Sand will come out on the 1^st of November via Sunday Drive Records.

20) Mondaze – Linger: Sticking with Shoegaze, but this time from Faenza, Italy. This band appeared on a couple of mixes in 2021 and will be releasing a new record on November 22 called Linger, of which this is obviously the title track. 

21) Yoo Doo Right - Spirit's Heavy But Not Overthrown: Montreal band Yoo Doo Right will release t their third album on the 8^th of November and the two songs they’ve released so far sound like it’s going to be another triumph of kraut/space/post-rock.

I’m sure the next one will be late but it’ll also be the last “normal” mix of the year before we round up the best of 2024, where did it go?!

As always, Peace and Love - Q

Q#156 - June to July 2024

 

 Download mix from https://www.mediafire.com/file/w5rlrljbvpr171a/Q#156.zip/file

Please note that the zip file has a password: QCOMPS.BLOGSPOT.COM 

Spotify link at end of notes, follow/subscribe to playlists here 

Q's Compilations

Vol #156 – June to July 2024

 

 

Greetings! It has been a busy couple of months so as usual, this mix is a little “late”, whatever that means anymore. Travelled well in July, visiting Milan, Venice, Zermatt, Zurich and a stint back home in the UK. As usual most of this mix features brand new songs so hopefully there is something of interest.

 

01) Ben Seretan - New Air: This is the opening track of Ben Seretan’s latest record, Allora, which just came out on the 26^th of July. Recorded over three days in Montebelluna, Italy, the story goes that the band booked a European tour around a festival in Switzerland, but ended up not touring and recording this instead. This track is basically a majestic guitar wig-out a-la Neil Young and Crazy Horse.

 

02) Good Looks - If It's Gone: Lived Here for a While is the debut record from this Austin quartet that was released on the 7^th of June (they also released an EP, Bummer Year in 2022). I think this track came on recently while Emily was randomly playing Spotify and sometimes the algorithm gives you a solid hit. It can be hard to nail middle-of-the-road rock, but there’s something about this tune and really draws me in.

 

03) Beach Bunny – Vertigo: A new Beach Bunny single! This track was released on the 17^th of June and is hopefully a sign of a new record, but I’ll take what I can get.

 

04) Bad Moves – Hallelujah: Washington DC’s Bad Moves will release their third record, Wearing Out the Refrain in September via Don Giovanni Records. Based on the three songs released so far, it’ll be another fun fill record with anthemic choruses.

 

05) Oceanator - Get Out: Another artist about to release their third record, NYC’s Oceanator is releasing Everything is Love and Death on Polyvinyl records on the 30^th of August. This lead single rips and I’m sure the rest of the record will too.

 

06) Noun – Wanted: Speaking of songs that rip, Marissa Paternoster has resurrected her Noun project following the breakup of Screaming Females and just released this song along with another called Consumed. I also subscribe to Marrisa’s patreon which has featured some amazing songs and great guests.

 

07) Antenna - Don't Cry: Antenna is a new band fronted by Tim "Shogun" Wall, best known for his work in Royal Headache, who are missed but this song could well have been them and sounds perfect. Let’s hope they stick around for more than this self-titled 5-track EP.

 

08) Chime School - Give Your Heart Away: I loved Chime School’s self-titled debut from 2021 and their follow-up, The Boy Who Ran the Paisley Hotel, will be released on the 23^rd of August via Slumberland Records. If you need some jangle in your life, Chime School pass with flying colours.

 

09) Eyelids - Bound to Let You Down: Speaking of jangle, to celebrate the band’s 10^th anniversary, Eyelids released No Jigsaw on vinyl (their 20^th vinyl release as well), which features unreleased tracks, 7” singles and other rarities, onto a 2LP set.

 

10) Macseal - Permanent Repeat: You could be forgiven for thinking this was an Oso Oso tune, but that’s a compliment if you ask me. The Long Island band’s second album, Permanent Repeat was released on the 12^th of July.

 

11) Jessica Boudreaux - Be Somebody Else: I don’t know much about Portland, Oregon’s Jessica Boudreaux, she fronted a band called Summer Cannibals who broke up in 2023, but I don’t know them either. I heard this song, which is on her debut solo album called The Faster I Run which came out on the 19^th of July, due to a bandcamp recommendation.

 

12) Chalk Talk - Loveseat: This four-piece was a recommendation on Oh My Rockness’ website (who are usually pretty reliable!) and when I noticed they were signed to Graveface Records and Curiosities I was further intrigued. Sometimes I Call You is their debut album and was released in December 2023 (quite ancient for this mix!).

 

13) Snarls - Moon Tides: Columbus, Ohio band Snarls released their second album, With Love, back in May although the vinyl didn’t ship until July so it feels like a brand new record now that I have a physical copy. I had the pleasure of catching the band live in June and they were utterly fantastic, maybe the best set I’ve seen all year. Anyway, the record is also one of the best of 2024 as well.

 

14) Wand – Smile: Vertigo is Wand’s first album since 2019’s Laughing Matter although frontman Cory Hanson has released two solo records in that time, so while it hasn’t really felt like they’d been away, they do seem missed now that this new record is here!

 

15) Fox Gang and Parannoul - Lullaby for a Memory: I’ve used a bunch of Parannoul tracks on Q-comps (expect another one soon as he just surprise released a new album), but I had never heard of cloud rap group Fax Gang, who are from the Philippines. The record, Scattersun, is naturally a little disjointed and this feels like the most Parannoul-esque track which is perhaps why it was chosen as the lead single, but I also need a little more time with the album.

 

16) Current Joys - California Rain: I didn’t really get into Current Joys’ previous record, Love + Pop from last year, but this single from upcoming record, East My Love seems a return to form, although having said that, the record was written before Love + Pop, so we’ll see in the longterm!

 

17) Allegra Krieger - Never Arriving: Another new artist for me, Allegra’s second album, Art of the Unseen Infinity Machine will be released on the 13^th of September via Double Double Whammy and this tune is the lead single from it. There’s a breezy quality to it that feels appropriate in the oppressive summer heat we’ve been having here.

 

18) Christina's Trip - My Friend: This album, Forever After ended up in my bandcamp wishlist but I honestly couldn’t tell you how I heard about it but aside from each song starting with the same cowbell four-count, it’s a blast.

19) Laughing – Bruised: Montreal quartet Laughing released Because It’s True on the 28^th of June and it’s a perfect power-pop for fans of Teenage Fanclub, Hurry, etc.

 

20) Taxidermy – Today: A lot of this mix has been very nice, so I simply didn’t know where to fit in this math-y, angular attack. Taxidermy are a five-piece from Copenhagen who released this individual track in May, but appears on their Coin EP that was released in June, which is an all-killer EP, I’d love to catch them live.

 

21) The Ganjas – Resistance: This is the title track to Chilean psych greats The Ganjas’ fifth record, released in 2011. The reason for its inclusion here is that I picked up a vinyl copy on discogs last month, this track kicks off the album but it felt like a decent closer here.

 

Brief notes but lots of great new music, I hope you enjoyed!

 

As always, Peace and Love - Q

Q#155 - April to May 2024

 

 Download mix from https://www.mediafire.com/file/t5r0rsxtxi9lu76/Q#155.zip/file

Please note that the zip file has a password: QCOMPS.BLOGSPOT.COM 

Spotify link at end of notes, follow/subscribe to playlists here 

Q's Compilations

Vol #155 – April to May 2024

 

 

Another late one! No particular excuse because I’ve been enjoying this mix for a few weeks at this point, but it’s the middle of June and I’ll have completed another orbit around the sun on the 13^th and I’m still somehow keeping most of the grey hairs away. Almost everything here is entirely new so I hope you find something to love. Oxford United also managed to get promoted to the championship for the first time this millennium so things are going ok!

 

01) Nada Surf – In Front of Me Now: It still feels a little alien, but Nada Surf have signed to a new record label and will release new album, Moon Mirror, in September via New West Records following a long run on Barsuk. This lead single has their classic sound and I’m looking forward to seeing them in October, it’s been three years since they played NYC which seems crazy.

 

02) Supercrush - Lost my Head: Seattle power-pop trio Supercrush have featured on a couple of qcomps previously and this track is featured on a new compilation called From Far It All Seems Small which is a collection of Seattle underground tracks.

 

03) Pile of Love - Happy to Hide: I think I heard this track on a random spotify mix, sometimes the algo has a direct hit! This LA quintet have put out a record and two Eps since 2021, with the most recent being Super Sometimes from December 2023 on which this track appears.

 

04) The Reds, Pinks & Purples - Rare Night (Don't Say Goodbye): In typical Glenn Donaldson fashion, he released a digital-only record weeks after the last “proper” album, Unwishing Well, which was released in April (and naturally had a song on the previous mix). He’s currently on tour in the UK and Europe but has yet to play NYC but surely it can’t be too long before he plays a show here! This track is from the aforementioned This is Adult Art School that came out on bandcamp on the 1^st of May. B-sides don’t really exist anymore which is a shame because he’d be the king of them.

 

05) A Country Western - The Dreamer: Philly quartet A Country Western released their latest record, Life on the Lawn, in March, and it’s a great low key record with elements of americana, slowcore and indie rock. Primarily recorded live in their practice space with a few overdubs, it’ll be one of those records that probably gets forgotten about during the best of year roundups but totally deserves to be in the conversation.

 

06) Quivers – Apparition: Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Quivers have just signed to Merge Records to release new album Oyster Cuts on the 9^th of August. I own and like their two previous albums so am happy to see them getting the Merge treatment! This has one of those earworm choruses that will creep up on you.

 

07) Why Bonnie - Dotted Line: Newly signed to Fire Talk, which meant this track ended up in my bandcamp collection as I’m a digital subscriber, it felt like an instant win and I ended up going back and listening to previous record 90 In November from 2022 which I have since picked up on vinyl. Self-coined as Shoegazeicana which feels apt for this track, which I’m hoping is a sign that a full album is on the way.

 

08) Parks, Squares and Alleys – Shadows: I can’t remember how I came about this record (Zero Division Error) that was released in July 2023, or even that much about the artist at this point other than their bandcamp page lists them as from Tbilisi, Georgia. It feels weird to say this sounds like a throwback but this does hark back to when I first moved to New York when you had bands like Diiv making waves, I can totally see this band on stage at Glasslands (RIP).

 

09) Milly - Drip from the Fountain: If it hasn’t been hammered down your throat enough times already, shoegaze is back, and I’m fine with that! Keen listeners may remember the track Illuminate from my October 2022 mix (of course you do…), their follow up record, Your Own Becoming is coming out on the 28^th of June and this is about as classic a shoegaze sound as you can get.

 

10) Majesty Crush - No.1 Fan: The only re-issue/old track on this mix is, almost inevitably, was re-issued by Numero, with the career spanning Butterflies Don’t Go Away in March 2024. This was originally on their only album, Love 15 from 1993 and the quartet were active from 1990 to 1995. In 2017, frontman David Stroughter was killed by LA police officers while wielding an axe, he had been diagnosed as schizophrenic with bipolar disorder many years prior.

 

11) Thou - I Feel Nothing When You Cry: Baton Rouge metal greats Thou just released new album Umbilical via Sacred Bones Records, and while it’s their first full length album since 2018’s Magus, they’ve released numerous Eps and collaborations in that time.

 

12) Ride - Portland Rocks: Oxford legends Ride have been on a nice run since reforming in 2014 and just released their third record since getting back together, Interplay was released on the 29^th of March and while the band have said it was a difficult one to record and put together, it doesn’t really feel that way as a listener.

 

13) Vago Sagrado - K is Kool: It wouldn’t be a qcomp without a Chilean psych track (spoiler alert, you’ve got another one coming) and so I’ve dipped back into 2019 with this track fomr the band’s Vol. III album (this is the opening tune).

 

14) Special Cases – Believe: Here’s your two-fer Chilean psych selection this time around. Special Cases is fronted by former Follakzoid bassist/vocalist Juan Pablo Rodriguez and very much leans into the Spiritualized and britpop sound that crops up in the Chilean scene a lot.

 

15) Mdou Moctar – Imouhar: Funeral for Justice was just released on Matador Records on the 3^rd of May and sees Mahamadou Souleymane (aka Mdou Moctar) absolutely shredding on a few tracks, this one in particular.

 

16) The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick - April 25: I was a couple of years late on this band’s debut album Ways of Hearing, which came out in 2020 and featured a track on my Feb 2022 mix, but they just released new record The Iliad and the Odyssey on the 25^th of April no less (much like the title of this song!), via Count Your Lucky Stars records. I liked their debut a lot but this album feels like a step up in songwriting and confidence.

 

17) Sour Widows – Cherish: I loved this band’s 2021 EP Crossing Over and I’m slightly amazed I didn’t use a track from it… but they recently signed to Exploding in Sound Records who are always good value and their new album, Revival of a Friend will come out on the 28^th of June. 

 

18) Royal Headache - So Low (live): Australia’s Royal Headache burned bright for a short few years, seemingly threatening to break up at any given moment, it seems a small miracle I was able to see the band twice (2015/2016) and I’m grateful they announced a live record Live in America that will come out this month.

 

19) Julian Velard - Money, I'm in Love With You: Singer songwriter Julian Velard just released his seventh album, In the Middle of Something, which as the title might suggest, centres around mid-life crisis. Seeing him live felt like a semi-regular occurrence while he (a native New Yorker) lived here but it’s more of a rare treat these days now that he lives in LA, but I managed to see him in April and heartily recommend catching him perform if you ever can.

 

20) Fastball - Rather Be My More Than You: Like many people at the time, I had a softspot for The Way when it came out but truth be told I was a big fan of their follow-up record, The Harsh Light of Day from 2000, I’d never seen them live before so jumped at the chance when they announced a date at the Mercury Lounge this April. This song is from their upcoming record Sonic Ranch which comes out in June.

 

 

As always, Peace and Love - Q

Q#154 - February to March 2024

 

 Download mix from https://www.mediafire.com/file/716x252itfr1acu/Q#154.zip/file 

Please note that the zip file has a password: QCOMPS.BLOGSPOT.COM 

Spotify link at end of notes, follow/subscribe to playlists here 

Q's Compilations

Vol #154 – February to March 2024

 

 

Ok we’re a little late on this one… but it’s the first regular mix of the year and almost every track is brand new.

 

01) The Follies - I Idled: Fronted by Evan Radigan of Vanity (whose 2016 album Don’t Be Shy is well worth checking out), The Follies have a little more jangle to them and Permanent Present Tense, the band’s debut, came out on the 23^rd of February via Feel It Records. I love all the little guitar licks on this tune, which opens the record and felt like the perfect opener here.

 

02) Bollard - Montreal Donuts: I have to thank my buddy Felix for this track that he sent me on a spotify mix. From Melbourne, Australia, this tune from their album Lo that came out in October, really evokes the band Kitchens of Distinction (truly one of the most under appreciated bands in history).

 

03) Snarls - Heavy Drinker: Columbus Ohio band Snarls are gearing up to release their second record, With Love, on the 3^rd of May (their 2020 debut Burst was one of my favourite records of that year). This tune features one of their signature big choruses and I’ll hopefully catch them on their first headline tour this summer.

 

04) Glass Beams – Mahal: Another Melbourne act, they have two Eps to date, this is the title track to their March 22 release of this year and it’s a hypnotic, groovy, psychedelic treat.

 

05) Bad Bad Hats – TPA: Minneapolis’ Bad Bad Hats will release their latest album (self-titled) on the 12^th of April on Don Giovanni Records. I saw the band open for The Beths in 2019 and enjoyed their deadpan humour in addition to their quirky tunes.

 

06) DEHD - Mood Ring: Chicago trio are releasing their fifth album, Poetry, on Fat Possum Records on the 10^th of May (it still feels a bit weird they aren’t on Fire Talk Records, alas) and the two singles from the record suggest they have another great record to add to the discography. There’s some about that guitar tone that’s so beautiful.

 

07) Cloud Nothings - Running Through Campus: Another Ohio band on the mix, Cloud Nothings will release their eighth record, Final Summer, on the 19^th of April via Pure Noise Records. I haven’t seen the band in six years so feel like I’m due to fix that! This song has their signature sound down to a tee.

 

08) Porcelain – Disgrace: The surprise discovery of the year so far for me is Porcelain’s self titled debut which came out in February on Portrayal of Guilt. The Unwound influences seem like they are worn fully on their sleeves but obviously for me that is a massive plus point for me and it’s my favourite record of the year to date. I sadly had to miss their NYC show recently so I’m hoping they come back soon!

 

09) Frail Body – Refrain: Screamo trio Frail Body’s second album, Artificial Bouquet just came out at the end of March, which is new enough that I haven’t actually listened to the whole album yet. This was the lead single from the album and if it’s half as good as their 2019 debut A Brief Momentum then it’ll be one of the best of the year.

 

10) METZ - Entwined (Street Light Buzz): Toronto trio METZ have released four incredible albums since their 2012 self-titled debut and are one of the best live bands I’ve ever experienced (seven times to date, soon to be eight). On their fifth album, Up on Gravity Hill, which comes out on the 12^th of April via Sub Pop, the singles so far show a degree of subtlety and layers of atmosphere that they’ve only hinted at on occasion.

 

11) The Smile - Read the Room: I have to confess, I haven’t spent as much time with The Smile’s second album, Wall of Eyes, as I dedicated to their debut, I think that’s largely because the album was released in January while our kitchen renovation was in full swing so I couldn’t play records (for better or worse, I feel a bit weird about hearing an album digitally before the physical release if I’ve paid for it).

 

12) The Reds, Pinks & Purples - Your Worst Song is Your Greatest Hit: Glenn Donaldson has been pretty prolific in the last five years, with numerous records and Eps (I wish he’d compile the Eps into a physical release, however!), and his latest record, Unwishing Well, is out on the 12^th of April. I’ve ran out of ways to describe The Reds, Pinks & Purples, but I am starting to wonder if between this song, and having a tune called Don’t Come Home Too Soon, that he might be a Del Amitri fan…

 

13) Fruit Bats - On the Avalon Stairs (live): For the last couple of tours, Fruit Bats have been recording shows where possible and they’re about to release a 20 song live collection called Starry-eyed, in Stereo, on the 10^th of May. So far this is just a digital release and this is the only tune that is available on it, but I’m sure it’ll be good!

 

14) Joyer - Drive All Night: Brooklyn band Joyer’s third album, Night Songs, comes out on the 26^th of April, their previous records were fairly entrenched in slowcore (which is why I came on board!) and the new songs sound a little more expansive, so I’m really intrigued to hear the full album.

 

15) Asian Glow - Unwired Detour: The bedroom shoegaze scene from South Korea has given us some great music, but one of the most prominent artists, Asian Glow, has just released his fourth and final album as Asian Glow, Unwired Detour, which came out on the 4^th of February. It’s a typically ambitious record which jumps around all over the place. Hopefully he (real name Shin Gyeongwon) continues to make music in another name.

 

16) The Polvos - In to the Space: If there are Chilean psych rock bands out there, I will find them. The band are from Concepción and this is from their second record, Floating, which was released in December. This track opens the album and is a little faster than the rest of the record, which is a little more space-rock/jammy.

 

17) L.O.G. – Om: Another Chilean psych band! L.O.G. stands for Low Oniric Guidance, and this track opens their self-titled (and only, to my knowledge) album which was released in 2016.

 

18) Torrey - No Matter How: With another thanks to Felix here who sent me this track, I’d had this band on my bandcamp wishlist but had not gotten around to listening to them before he sent me this track. This Oakland quintet just released their self-titled album on the always reliable Slumberland Records.

 

19) Jess Cornelius - People Move On: I heard about this artist via Mikal Cronin, who plays on and produces her upcoming album, Care/Taking, which comes out in June. Cronin himself is well overdue a record at this point with his last full album being Seeker in 2019.

 

20) Bnny - Good Stuff: Fire Talk artist Bnny’s second record One Million Love Songs was released by Fire Talk on the 5^th of April. I liked debut album Everything (2021) a lot but on the first couple of listens, this album seems to be more confident and I haven’t noticed it get many reviews which is a shame.

 

21) PACKS – Honey: Another Fire Talk artist, Madeline Link’s latest album as PACKS is called Melt the Honey and is a pretty breezey garage rock record, it kinda feels like it should have come out in the spring rather than January, but what do I know?

 

22) Arushi Jane - Imagine an Orchestra: I was utterly besotted by Arushi Jain’s 2021 masterpiece Under the Lilac Sky, so immediately pre-ordered her new album Delight, and I just received the vinyl, which I haven’t had the chance to play yet! Suffice to say, this felt like it had to close the record out. She goes by the name Modular Princess, which really almost tells you all you need to know.

 

Really hope there’s plenty to like on here, please do let me know!

 

As always, Peace and Love - Q

Q#153 - December 2023 to January 2024

 Download mix from https://www.mediafire.com/file/9btwz631fgy6mop/Q#153.zip/file

Please note that the zip file has a password: QCOMPS.BLOGSPOT.COM 

Spotify link at end of notes, follow/subscribe to playlists here 

Q's Compilations

Vol #153 – December 2023 to January 2024

 

Happy New Year! 2023 treated me pretty well in general I have to confess, we travelled a good amount and even bought a condo, a big year! I saw 38 shows in total, which was the exact same number that I saw in 2022 and seems a good amount to shoot for these days, at least for me (long gone are the 150+ shows a year times!).

01) White Reaper - Asking for a Ride: It’s easy to forget about January albums when putting together “best of” roundups, but the band’s fourth album is a hard one to forget! This is the title track but I would have been happy using any track from the record. Fog Machine from the same album also appears on Q#148

02) The Dirty Nil - Free Rein to Passions: Back to back album title tracks… and to keep the similarities with White Reaper, this is also the bands fourth album (and I also think they should be much more popular than they are!). I’m not sure there’s a better power trio at the moment. Nicer Guy from the same album also appears on Q#149

03) Cory Hanson – Wings: One album I keep going back to and should have gotten a lot more press is Cory Hanson’s solo record Western Cum, which evokes his band (Wand) much more than his other solo records, which were typically more acoustic/folk-tinged. If I had the real estate on the mix I’d have probably used the 10-minute Driving Through Heaven, but this, and indeed the record as a whole, is fantastic. I also used Housefly from the same record on Q#151

04) Fruit Bats - Rushin' River Valley: Om Q#149 I used It All Comes Back and mentioned that I was still getting used to new album A River Running To Your Heart, and slowly but surely the songs started inserting themselves and while I wouldn’t call it a classic, it’s another incredibly strong and worthy album in the Fruit Bats discography. This is probably the most immediate/best track from the record and I love all the little guitar licks that come in and out of the track.

05) Maura Weaver - Ease on the Eyes: I Was Due for a Heartbreak is one of those kinda low-key records that you don’t realise how much you enjoy until you come back to the record on further occasions and notice that the songs have ingrained themselves into your brain. Released on Don Giovanni Records in September, I also used As If Your Love on Q#151.

06) The Reds, Pinks & Purples - The Town that Cursed Your Name: Another title-track for you here, Glenn Donaldson has had a fairly prolific year, with one record (this one) and 12 other digital releases (Eps / singles) as well as being one half of the band Helpful People who released a full length this year too (Brokenblossom Threats). I also used Life in the Void from the same record on Q#148, if you put a gun to my head it might be my favourite album of the year.

07) Eyelids - Everything That I See You See Better: A Colossal Waste of Light was released in March and is the band’s fourth album (I Can’t Be Told also appeared on Q#149) and they can do little wrong if you like your guitars to jangle. The band are celebrating 10 years in 2024 and will be releasing a double album of rarities and other non-album tracks; No Jigsaw comes out in March.

08) Connections - It's a Start: I think the record I get the biggest kick out of each time I hear it (in the sense of “wow, this record is fantastic, why don’t I play it all the time”) is Connections’ Cool Change, which came out in March via Trouble in Mind Records. I also used In Space on Q#148 which is probably the stand-out tune but the whole record is killer and this was the hardest album to pick a song from for this mix.

09) Screaming Females – Titan: Possibly the biggest musical shock for me this year was Screaming Females announcing their break-up after 18 years. I’ve consistently described them as the best live band around for over a decade at this point and I’m not sure I’ve fully processed the fact that I won’t add to the 14 times I was fortunate enough to catch them live, including twice this year. Perhaps fittingly I bookended my live experience with them with shows at ABC No Rio (first time) and Kings Theatre, quite the difference in venue. Anyway, the band released Desire Pathway in February, their eighth studio album, I also used Ornament on Q#148. Singer/guitarist Marissa Paternoster has just started a patreon which I’d recommend fans sign up for https://www.patreon.com/MarissaPaternoster

10) Mandy, Indiana - Pinking Shears: One of the more difficult records to explain this year, I’ve Seen a Way was released in May on Fire Talk Records, and it’s got a little bit of industrial but dance-like quality to a lot of the tracks, but that doesn’t really tell the story. Maybe if someone threw an experimental dance party in the middle of a (live) construction site? I don’t know, I just know that I keep coming back to the album if I want something a little weird and out there.

11) Parannoul – Arrival: The third Parannoul album, After the Magic, was released on January 28, 2023 (I used We Shine at Night on Q#148) and was inspired by dreams he had during the making of his previous album (To See the Next Part of the Dream, which was also a fantastic album). We also got a live album this year called After the Night.

12) Squirrel Flower - Alley Light: Ella Williams can’t really seem to do a whole lot wrong and new album Tomorrow’s Fire was released in October via Polyvinyl Records (I used When a Plant is Dying on Q#150 and Full Time Job on Q#152).

13) Indigo De Souza - The Water: Indigo De Souza’s third album, All of This Will End was released in April on Saddle Creek and I was also fortunate enough to see her perform at Prospect Park in the summer. Parking Lot also appeared on Q#149, and while I played previous albums Any Shape You Take and I Love My Mom constantly, the new record hasn’t quite pulled me in to the same degree. It’s still a good record, I should add!

14) Deathcrash - Distance Song: We’ve been blessed with some great slowcore acts in the last few years, and this London act’s second record, Less, is up there with the best of them. I also used Dead, Crashed on Q#149

15) FACS – Slogan: Still Life in Decay is another one of those deceptively brilliant records that I hoped to see on more end of year lists. I’d have probably used New Flag but for time constraints, and I used Slogan on Q#148, the whole records is the sum of its parts with Brian Case’s guitar textures coupling with the monster rhythm section majestically.

16) Public Interest - Why Bother: I used Undone from this same record (Spiritual Pollution) on Q#149, it’s probably my favourite post-punk record of 2023 and fills some of the gigantic chasm I feel that a band liked Girls Names left in my life after they broke up in 2018.

17) Deeper – Glare: It still feels like a bit of a shame that Chicago act Deeper moved from Fire Talk to Sub Pop, but I love the latter label too anyway. The band’s third album, Careful! was released in September and is another fine addition to their discography (I also used Build a Bridge on Q#150).

18) Hurry - Like I Loved You: Matty Scottoline has been rattling off jangle-indie records as Hurry for over a decade at this point and latest album Don’t Look Back keeps up his impeccable track record. I used Begging For You on Q#150.

19) Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs - Pipe Down!: Land of Sleeper dropped in February and I was fortunate enough to see the band twice this year, the first of those was released as a live album to make things even better! The band can’t really do any wrong in my eyes and are my favourite stoner act at present.

20) Samia – Amelia: Honey was released at the end of January and I listened to it incessantly at the time, but I’m not sure the last time I played it front to back. It’s a good record but I think some of the production loses me the more I listen to it and I long a little bit for some of the earlier material. Regardless, there are some great songs on it and this is a real earworm. I also used the title track on Q#148.

21) Foglake – Motorcade: I really thought I’d used a track from this record (Midnight Society) on a mix this year but alas, I have not! The record was released in May and is another fine collection of lo-fi bedroom indie, you’ll either dig it or not!

22) Ratboys - Bad Reaction: Ratboys’ fifth album, The Window was released in August on Topshelf records (It’s Alive! Was featured on Q#150), this song also closes the record and it seemed like once I’d picked this track it couldn’t go anywhere else.

And there you have it, the definitive, unambiguous best of 2023.

As always, Peace and Love - Q

Q#152 - October to November 2023

 

 Download mix from https://www.mediafire.com/file/pa0wr2z7j4zhegg/Q%2523152.zip/file 

Please note that the zip file has a password: QCOMPS.BLOGSPOT.COM 

Spotify link at end of notes, follow/subscribe to playlists here 

Q's Compilations

Vol #152 – October to November 2023

 

It completely passed me by that Q#151 was the 20^th anniversary of the first Qcomp! Back when they were monthly and purely on burned CD-Rs with printed notes and artwork… a lot has changed for the better and I’m very thankful for my current circumstances. It has been a busy couple of months with a work trip to Toronto (first time in 21 years I had been there), a quick jaunt back home and even a reasonable amount of shows lately. As always, I hope there’s something for everyone here.

 

01) Weakened Friends – Awkward: I’ve been a fan of Portland, Maine trio Weakened Friends since their 2018 debut Common Blah and managed to see them open for Laura Jane Grace in the summer. They haven’t released an album since 2018’s Quitter but this single was just released, which is supposed to be an upbeat/joyful song by comparison to their other work!

 

02) Rodeo Boys - Feel the Same: Home Movies was released back in June but I only just recently noticed it in my bandcamp library from Don Giovanni Records. This song opens the record and has some fun guitar licks including a spaghetti western riff in parts and a killer solo.

 

03) Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs - Ultimate Hammer (live): Probably the best stoner rock band around at the moment. I recently got to see Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs at Elsewhere, but I also saw them at Mercury Lounge earlier in the year which just got released as a live album, which is obviously where this is taken from.

 

04) The Holydrug Couple - Light or Night (live): One of the Chilean psych-rock heavyweights, the band (which is for the best part, a solo project of Ives Sepulved) followed up 2018’s Hyper Super Mega with a couple of soundtracks and lo-fi records, just released a live record from Berlin, recorded in August which is pretty great. This track originally appears on 2015’s Moonlust.

 

05) Squirrel Flower - Full Time Job: Ella Williams aka Squirrel Flower released her new album, Tomorrow’s Fire, on Polyvinyl Records, and her current run of full length albums (2020’s I Was Born Swimming, 2021’s Planet (i) and now this one) is outstanding. It’s a bit strange that she’s often advertised as a folk/acoustic singer, but a lot of her recorded work is filled with scorching, almost volcanic sounding guitars like this one.

 

06) Leaving Time – End: There are a few shoegaze tracks on the mix (that’s probably true of most mixes), I recently ordered this I + II on bandcamp, which as the name somewhat suggests, is a collection of two Eps (you guessed it, I and II, released in 2020 and 2022 respectively). This track is from the second EP.

 

07) Rocket - Pipe Dream: Another recent bandcamp purchase, which happens to be the LA act’s debut EP, and that’s about all the info I have!

 

08) The Beths - Watching the Credits: A fairly recent pet peeve is when bands release deluxe editions of albums a short while after the normal album is released, and it slightly pains me when bands I love do it. I almost always pre-order the “deluxe” or otherwise limited releases when a new record is released, which I did for Expert in a Dying Field, purchasing the Rough Trade exclusive that came with a flexi disc. Less than a year later the band released a version with an entire record’s worth of demos and extra tracks, which of course I had to buy…

 

09) Ducks Ltd - The Main Thing: One of the best jangle pop bands of the last few years, Toronto’s Ducks Ltd just announced new album, Harm’s Way, which will come out in February. I don’t have anything insightful to say about this, it just sounds like joy to me.  

 

10) Small Crush – 5: This track came up on Emily’s daily spotify mix one time, and then wouldn’t stop playing. This song is featured on their second album, Penelope, which was released in September.

 

11) Tennis Courts - Yellow Lays: This Brooklyn quartet put out their debut album, You Won’t Find It On Your Own, in September and while I haven’t properly digested it, this track got in my head a lot in the last couple of months.

 

12) Gigolo Aunts - Mrs Washington: File among bands I never thought I’d get to see live, I was slightly amazed to read that power-pop greats Gigolo Aunts were opening for Letters to Cleo. Flippin’ Out was a staple record for me in the 90s and the band played an amazing set (to me, anyway!). I try not to re-use songs on Qcomps and I’m almost certain that I used Where I Find My Heaven probably on an early mix (if I do a power-pop specific mix I may re-use it!). They did open their set with this tune.

 

13) Ron Gallo - Foreground Music: Ron Gallo is one of those artists I’ve conspired to miss a few times, including one of the rare times I’ve been persuaded with the “we don’t know who the opener is, let’s have another beer before the show instead” argument, and is a great reason why you should never do that. Anyway, I finally got to see Ron Gallo in November and Brooklyn Made in support of his most recent record, Foreground Music, which was released in March this year and where you’ll also hear this song.

 

14) Hotline TNT - I Thought You'd Change: Sometimes records end up in my bandcamp wishlist and I honestly couldn’t tell you how they got there. That’s true of Brooklyn’s Hotline TNT, who released their third album, Cartwheel, last month.

 

15) Oceanator - The Last Summer: When bulking out an order on Polyvinyl for Squirrel Flower’s latest record, I threw in Oceanator’s two records for good measure (well, I wanted the free shipping, which is how they get you). This is taken from the most recent record, 2022’s Nothing’s Ever Fine.

 

16) Snarls - Big Fish: Columbus, Ohio act Snarls released one of my favourite records in 2020 (Burst), and followed up with an EP (What About Flowers) in late 2021, and they seem to be gearing up to a new album with the release of this song that was released in October.

 

17) Occult X – Dead: I really don’t have much information on this Nashville artist aside from the dozen or so individual tracks on Bandcamp that are all pretty delightful bedroom pop ranging from March 2020 to September 2023 (which is when this song was released).

 

18) Josh Ritter - Bright Smile: We recently caught Josh Ritter in London while spending a few days in the UK, he’s currently on tour celebrating the 20^th anniversary of his third album, Hello Starling, and he played the album in full. I’d have used Snow is Gone on the mix but for time constraints so you get the album opener. Originally he didn’t have any US dates but since announced shows in February, so we’ll see him do the record again!

 

19) The Reds, Pinks and Purples - Build Love: I feel like I use a Reds, Pinks and Purples track on every mix, such is the rate at which Glenn Donaldson has released albums and Eps lately, but it turns out I don’t, so I should really rectify that! This is the title track from a four song EP that was released in September and has more of an acoustic/slowcore/sadcore vibe than most of his releases, and I’m absolutely here for it.

 

20) Helena Deland - Saying Something: Montreal singer/songwriter Helena Deland just released her second album, Goodnight Summerland, on the 13^th of October, following up her low-key but beautiful debut, Someone New from 2020. The record should appeal to fans of Big Thief’s early work and folk side.

 

21) Deathcrash – Unwind: March feels like an age ago when Deathcrash released Less, their second album (I closed out Q#149 with Dead, Crashed). At the time, their debut album, Return, from 2022 was out of print already but I managed to snag a repress a couple of months ago, and so here’s a track from it! 

 

22) REM – Parakeet: It’s hard to think that REM haven’t been a band for 12 years at this point… Their eleventh studio record, and first without drummer Bill Berry, Up, is celebrating a 25^th anniversary. I’ve always loved it, although it’s pretty hard for me to objectively think about REM albums, and it’s been gratifying to revisit.

 

This is the last normal mix of the year. The next one will be a roundup of my favourite releases of 2023. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a great time over the holiday season.

 

As always, Peace and Love - Q