In No Particular Order – May 1, 2020
Happy New Music Friday!
Today is a little extra special!
(If it’s your birthday and you’re reading this, it’s not because of you – sorry).
It’s special because Bandcamp has waived their revenue share fee for the entire day! So if you enjoy any of the albums below, I’ve included their bandcamp link so make sure you purchase a copy to help artists in these trying times.
Speaking of trying times, feel free to give us a follow! You can find Dusty Organ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify to stay up to date on new releases!
And more importantly, if you enjoy anything you hear, remember to pass it along!
Chicano Batman – Invisible People
Alternative rock/Funk
7/10
Los Angeles funk quartet Chicano Batman are back with their fourth album Invisible People. Channelling their West Coast origins, the record is brimming with bright melodies and breezy energy. It’s easy to listen to, taking a slight turn into the modern sounds of Daft Punk and Damon Albarn to bring the funk/Tropicália elements of their sound to life. Sharing the bright tones of the music, the album revolves around the theme of hope to prevail over societal and racial discrimination.
Notable tracks: “Blank Slate” // “Pink Elephant” // “The Prophet”
Diet Cig – Do You Wonder About Me?
7/10
Indie rock/Pop rock
Known for their peppery pop rock sound from their debut release, Diet Cig have spent some time growing and re-evaluating themselves as artists and humans. The duo put less focus on the “process” of music making and instead looking inwards to create music they wanted to make. Do You Wonder About Me? is an open book about relationships, anxiety, frankly how it feels to be a millennial. Mostly charged singles bursting with energy, there’s a handful of slow-burning acoustic tracks, which is a rare feat for the duo. The delicateness and softness to their sound makes everything feel more personal and genuine.
It’s short (only 24mins), sweet, and laid-back. There’s a carefree attitude to it that feels as if they don’t care if you listen or not. It’s for them, but if you enjoy it too, all the better.
Notable tracks: “Who Are You?” // “Flash Flood” // “Staring Into the Sun”
Austra – HiRUDiN
Art-pop
8/10
Katie Austra Stelmanis’ fourth album HiRUDiN gets its name from the peptide released by leeches that is the most potent anticoagulant in the world. And the album gets its content from a toxic relationship Stelmanis left. It’s certainly not a lighthearted record, but the heaviness of the music comes out as a cathartic expression through a powerful vocal performance from Austra. At times, she sounds delicate and lamentable, and others invigorated and poignant. Austra has never been one to shy away from transposing her experiences and perspective into her music.
She spent some time in Toronto studios experimenting with improv musicians she’d never met before. They included two thirds of contemporary classical improv group c_RL, the cellist and kamanche duo Kamancello, kulintang ensemble Pantayo, and a children’s choir. With a handful of interludes and avant-garde pieces scattered throughout, it gives an odd shape to the record, but one that captures your attention.
Notable tracks: “Anywayz” // “Risk It” // “It’s Amazing”
Pure X – Pure X
6.5/10
Indie rock/Shoegaze
It’s been six years since Texan indie rock group Pure X released music. Their hiatus was a quiet one – travelling, having kids, making music on their own, but back in 2018, the boys got back together to write and record their fourth album, Pure X. Despite their heavier, distorted past, the new album is a lot softer, and makes for an easy listen on a weekend afternoon.
Notable tracks: “Middle America” // “Fantasy” // “How Good Does It Get”
Man Man – Dream Hunting in the Valley of the In-Between
Experimental alternative rock
8.5/10
Fronted by the wacky Honus Honus (or Ryan Kattner on legal documents), Man Man have been a staple in the world of quirky alt-rock and party music. Fascinated with the uncertainty of the world, Honus has been known to turn the ambiguity of the world into colourful sounds and melodies. The band’s sixth album Dream Hunting in the Valley of the In-Between is their first in over six years, after going on a hiatus in 2015. Kattner’s creativity instead shifted gears into movie and television. Scoring, acting, and writing filled in the gaps as he tinkered away on new music for Man Man.
Once again, his ringing piano chords are front and centre on the album, providing a weird polka-rock feel to the entire track list. It’s joyous, chaotic, fun, and absolutely unpredictable. Man Man are a secret weapon in the alt-rock world and it’s exciting to have them back.
Notable tracks: “Cloud Nein” // “Lonely Beuys” // “Inner Iggy”
