We’re halfway through the year, and as we were intimating on the podcast last week, it’s around now when we tend to start thinking about which records seem likely contender to make year end lists, and what horses, dark or otherwise, are still approaching. What have been your favourite records of the year thus far? Which releases still to come in 2017 are you most excited for? Get at us in the comments, and check out this week’s Tracks, why don’tcha.
Seems a likely approximation of what's happening in Edward's head at any moment.
Comaduster, “Selfsimilar”
Speaking of highly anticipated records, it’d be difficult to think of anything still to come this year which we’re more excited for than the forthcoming Comaduster Solace LP (and the accompanying EP of non-album tracks The Strands of Time We Left Behind). Real Cardinal’s comments about the the process and themes of the record have been intriguing to say the least, and we now have the first official track from it. The rhythmic and harmonic shifts “Selfsimilar” goes through are staggering on a first pass, but that first listen also shows just how immediate and, well, catchy Comaduster work can be. Real’s vocals are stellar as always, and the panoply of styles and sounds he’s capable of bringing together has only expanded. A very exciting sign of things to come.
Ancient Methods, “Andromeda feat. Zanias (Daniel Myer Bootleg Clubmix)”
We’re not gonna front like we’re old enough to remember the golden age of bootleg DJ edits and remixes, but who are we to front when Daniel Myer wants to resurrect some of the magic of that era. Inspired by a track off of Ancient Methods’ new EP The Asking Breath Comes to Each (which features “It” vocalist Zanias) Daniel whipped up a good ol’ fashioned club mix of the ethereal original. Thrilling and totally unofficial, play this cranked loud for maximum illicit thrills. And go peep that Ancient Methods EP, too: it features collabs with Azar Swan, Tropic of Cancer, and Huren.
FIRES, “Believe Me (Instrumental Mix)”
Longtime friend of I Die: You Die and recent Metropolis Records signee Eric Sochocki’s project FIRES has just released their debut EP, and man, is it stocked with hot mixes from various folks who hang on our Slack channel. Not to take a thing away from FIRES’ original sound which combines elements of industrial rock, bass music and state of the art production into a fresh whole, but boy were we chuffed to see friends like Ad•ver•sary, Null Device, Dub Jay, Mangadrive, Lain Hiro, Cryo Unit and Wesley Mueller amongst others, all in one spot. Have a listen to one of the EP’s originals below, nab the Morning Tide Grey EP and be ready for some fresh FIRES related content we have coming up soon right here on ID:UD!
Phil Western, “Garbage Hoard”
Phil Western’s back in action with a new full-length, and some quick skimming shows Neuro-Plastique to be a snappy and almost sunny variation on the psych-heavy techno sound Phil’s been an undisputed master of for decades. The laid back yet wholly expressive feel on this one hearkens back to the stone classic Dark Features LP.
Chrome Corpse, “Lonely God”
Folks might remember that we’ve been heartily impressed by the first record from Seattle’s Chrome Corpse as well as the pure punk energy of their live set. A split cassette with Night Terrors is yielding two new tracks from the still very young and fresh act, which deliver plenty of the raw and punchy brand of EBM we’ve come to love from Chrome Corpse, but might also show some slightly more ambitious instrumentation and arrangements.
The Tear Garden, “Strange Land”
We’re such stans for the long-running collaboration of Cevin Key and Edward Ka-Spel that the release of a new Tear Garden album is basically a national holiday at the HQ. We haven’t spent as much time with The Brown Acid Caveat as we’d like yet, but one thing we’ve noted is how upbeat many of these songs are, not too far off from the band’s latter albums for Nettwerk. We’ve been accused of overstating how sad current day Ka-Spel material seems to our ears, but this is different, reflecting that wry melancholia that has always been his trademark.
