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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 10th 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 26th),
and the band re-issuing debut album, Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes
on vinyl for its 20th 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 18th 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 25th 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 4th 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
7th 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 28th 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 7th 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 4th 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 11th
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 22nd 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 15th
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 18th 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 25th 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 26th 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
