Zola Jesus - "Dangerous Days"/"Diamonds" (Rihanna Cover)

A preview from her upcoming album "Taiga," new single "Dangerous Days" may be the best thing I've heard yet from Zola Jesus. This shimmering, ethereal electronic composition is far more suited for play in the club than anything Nika Roza Danilova has produced to date. Zola's early work seemed more rooted in noise and experimentation, while recent years have found her flirting with mainstream pop sensibilities. As further evidence of this metamorphosis, I've also included her cover of Rihanna's "Diamonds." "Taiga" will be released October 7 on Mute Records.

 

Asylum Party - "The Grey Years" Vol. 1 & 2

During their six-year tenure together as a group, France's Asylum Party they were the progenitors of some of the finest coldwave ever produced.  Stretched across 3 full-length albums and some singles, they left behind a rather impressive body of work.  However, even among fans of the genre, Asylum Party were relatively unknown in America during their lifespan and beyond.  In 2006, Infrastition Records did the world a great service by collecting Asylum Party's entire output on 2 double-disc CD collections, making their music much more available to the public.  If you are a fan of the contemporary wave of synthpop/post-punk bands sprouting up everywhere, you owe it to yourself to at least give a listen to "The Grey Years."  The chronological discography opens with "Julia" from 1988's "Picture One," possibly the band's best-known song and catchiest single.  But that's just the tip of the iceberg.  Included in this comprehensive assortment are compilation tracks, demos and all the deep cuts you would want from this self-dubbed "touching pop" trio.  There's a lot to discover here, but if you are even remotely interested in this sound, it's a must-have.  Asylum Party deserve much more recognition for the beautiful music they made.

ASYLUM PARTY - "THE GREY YEARS VOL. 1"

Infrastition Records 2006

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ASYLUM PARTY - "THE GREY YEARS VOL. 2"

Infrastition Records 2006

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Death Of Lovers - "Buried Under A World Of Roses"

A new project comprised of members of Whirr & Nothing, Death Of Lovers have released a very solid debut outing in their EP "Buried Under A World Of Roses."  The echoing vocals & chiming guitars of "Shaken" are reminiscent of Asylum Party or "Faith"-era Cure, while the title track bears more than a passing resemblance to the recent spate of Cold Cave singles.  The driving opener "Cold Heaven" is the most aggressive track here, letting you know that the band members haven't forgotten the word "punk" is the key part of "post-punk."  4 songs in under 19 minutes leave me wanting to hear more from this band, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the full-length debut from Death Of Lovers.

DEATH OF LOVERS - "BURIED UNDER A WORLD OF ROSES"

Deathwish Records 2013

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Lust For Youth - "International"

I saw Lust For Youth open for Pharmakon last year, which ranks among one of the stranger shows I have ever been to.  It was outside, in the front area of a small local record shop.  A handful of young children watched Margaret Chardiet stalk through the sparse crowd like an animal as she emitted feral howls of pain.  People were walking along the quaint suburban neighborhood during the entire performance, lending to the surreal "Blue Velvet" atmosphere of the whole scenario.  Even the combination of artists themselves was an odd mixture.  Lust For Youth were touring on the heels of their previous release, "Perfect View," which was much more pop-oriented than their earlier work.  They played a few unreleased songs that day which showcased hints of an even poppier direction.  When "International" was released this year, I can't say I was surprised at the new sound of Lust For Youth, but I was definitely floored at what a consistent album they produced.  Tracks such as "Illume" and "Armida" have memorable melodies and moody beats that call back to Depeche Mode or New Order.  Lust For Youth have scrubbed some of the dirt and grime from their sound, only to reveal beautiful layers of introspection contained beneath.

LUST FOR YOUTH - "INTERNATIONAL"

Sacred Bones Records 2014

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The Hunt - "The Hunt Begins"

One of the saddest things for any lover of music is discovering a band or album you really love, only to find out that the band is no more.  That happened this past fall when Sacred Bones unearthed the lost debut album from The Hunt, a post-punk band from NYC.  From the first time I heard their earth-shaking single "Fifteen Minutes," I fell in love with this group, only to have my heart broken when I read that they disbanded sometime in 2010.  They did, however, leave behind one fantastic epitaph in the form of "The Hunt Begins."  Dark, aggressive and with more than a touch of self-awareness, The Hunt managed to encompass everything good about the deathrock genre in just 9 memorably catchy songs.  Download this album, dust off those steel-toed boots and prepare for the summer of hate.

THE HUNT - "THE HUNT BEGINS"

Sacred Bones Records 2013

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