Tag: albums/eps

[album] Pablo Volt – C​ó​mo Sobrevivir al Verano

acute.pop

Pablo Volt’s third release for Barcelona’s independent label Ediciones Populares is titled C​ó​mo Sobrevivir al Verano (How to Survive Summer) and it analyses this time of year in quite an uncommon way. He focuses on the struggles and problems which go hand-in-hand with the season such as abnormal heat, sleepless nights and lack of money.

Despite the themes mentioned, the album does not sound negative at all. More likely it can be perceived as an escapist trip, a way to put yourself in comfort when the surroundings are not comfortable at all. It is an adventurous and abstract record (due to its improvisational nature) but also pleasant and soothing. It also feels quite spiritual, with the transformed sounds of keyboards/voices/percussions that are making this journey magical and mysterious.

Check it out below and purchase the tape here.

[album] Vaermina – Tantrum

acute.pop

Wild, uncomfortable, unpredictable and really catchy — all these adjectives can be used in equal measure to describe Tantrum, the debut album by London experimental noise rock trio Vaermina.

Drawing its aesthetic palate and inspirations from the uncanny landscapes of Japanese Anime and classic Horror, the record introduces the band sounding at their haunting best. All the songs here are very punchy and in-your-face, with barely a second to take a breath of relaxation (probably only “Irish Blessing” could count for the brief moment of calm, yet still quite unnerving).

Mixing genres and combining uncombinable, the trio produced a brutally beautiful and chaotic album with manic rhythms and trance-inducing grooves. A fantastic present for the end of the year and the one that will stay with you long after you’ve finished listening. It is terrifying but also extremely exciting.

Stream below.

[album] Frog – Grog

acute.pop

Last Friday New York duo Frog (brothers Danny & Steve Bateman) returned with the new LP Grog, and it is an absolute triumph. Rarely do we get an indie folk album that is arranged in such an emotive and nostalgic way, with rich instrumentation, a healthy dose of humour and relatable lyrical material.

Vocals and storytelling are truly in the spotlight here, and you cannot help but admire the work the pair did on those elements. Grog has this very open and friendly vibe, there’s no pretentiousness and you believe and feel every single moment. Bateman brothers put their whole souls in these songs and the overall result is a deeply moving and authentic collection.

It makes very little sense to dissect the record for separate songs. Like a good old classic LP, it is best experienced as a whole and with your full attention. Give it an honest listen and this record will stay with you for a long, long time.

Check out some of the tracks below and buy the whole album here.

[ep] University – Title Track

acute.pop

Uneasy and unpredictable, University’s debut EP Title Track just works. It is hard to describe it with actual words, as it is one of those albums that is probably best experienced without any introduction at all. It is loud, deranged, and skull-crushing, ticking all the boxes of an excellent noise punk release.

What also makes the group stand out from the crowd is their attitude. Everything about this mini-album is extremely raw (title, artwork, production), but it is made with such precision, dedication and furious energy that makes it special. Title Track swallows the listener fully with its raucous power. It is hard to even imagine how exciting it sounds in a live setting.

Stream below and purchase the EP here.

[album] The Embassy – E-Numbers

acute.pop

“You’re wrong and you’re a grotesquely ugly freak!” by Chris Morris is the first thing you hear on E-Numbers, an incredible new record by Swedish cult outfit The Embassy. Quite a charming way to start an album, right?

After this brilliant quote from Brass Eye, we hear the irresistible and groovy instrumental intro “Escape”, which is followed by the paranoid “Control”, a song which (described by the band to Brooklyn Vegan) derives from city planning and the term “soft exclusion”.

Later we get “Amnesia”, an ultra-catchy cut that samples sheep (who, as the duo apptly comment, are probably all dead, reminding us of the ever-ongoing animal mass slaughter). So far sounds like this is definitely a record by The Embassy. We can go on as everything that comes after is no less remarkable, but there’s little sense in doing so — the best thing to do is to go in and experience it all yourself.

Long story short, the group made another masterpiece, a compact and clever record which organically combines uncomfortable and dark subject matters with delightful, instantly appealing synth pop. Another amazing achievement for indie veterans who have been around for almost 25 years now.

Check it out below and buy the LP here.