Los Angles band Split Moon has released a new “dark dream gaze” style album with lush production and a trilogy of music videos to go along with it. The album starts off with a nice little palate cleanser intro, “Speak the Sky.” The record has a few interludes like this providing a break between long conceptual songs, ending with “Everything Ends.” The album starts and ends with these “musical bookends.” The album explodes with the song, “More Clouds,” with accompanying video showing a bird’s eye view of frozen ice landscapes and water. The video reflects the dynamic changes heard in the music, and the simple concept captures the blurred sonic landscape…
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THE ASTEROID No. 4 & ELEPHANT STONE | Bottom of the Hill 1.26.25
It’s hard to get people out to a rock concert on a Sunday night at 9 pm. It’s not necessarily a party night for everyone. However, often bands are on tour, and one plans their whole weekend around when they will be in town because they are just that good and can’t be missed. The Asteroid No. 4 and Elephant Stone show at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco was one of those shows. No matter what was happening that weekend, one had to make it out to support a band like this when it was playing a local show. The third band slated to be on the bill,…
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COOL GHOULS | At George’s Zoo
Released in March 2021, this album includes lots of the band’s songs written during the pandemic era. Formed in 2011, this is the bands fourth album as they continue to hone in on their sound. They are not afraid to be melodic in any way and embrace their pop sensibilities. Songs about beaches and surfboards, with a heavy Brian Wilson influence, sit alongside more garage-type songs and imaginative guitar solos. “It’s Over” starts off the album with bells and vocal harmonies, with a huge sound to follow, including horns and regal fanfare on the chorus section. “To You I’m Bound” is a fun and catchy love song with a memorable…
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W.I.T.C.H. “Zango”
This 2023 release is the first new music from the band in over 40 years. It is also the first album since 1976 to feature front man and co-founder Emmanuel “Jagari” Chanda. Joined by a younger band of European musicians who breathe new life into the music, the album retains classic elements of the band’s signature sound, even with an analog recording feel. The title “Zango” refers to a central meeting place in Zambian villages where the community can gather, and exchange ideas and learn from each other. W.I.T.C.H. recently played a free outdoor show at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in San Francisco. This “Zango” community feeling was present at…
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Melody Fields 1901/1991
Swedish Psychedelic rock band, Melody Fields released two albums last year. The first of the two, 1901, is a great blend of classic ’60s psychedelic, shoegaze, and experimental landscapes. Starting off the album is the powerful opening track “Going Back”. With a rolling “Tomorrow Never knows” drum line, solid baseline, and eastern hook to catch your attention. This psych raga track also has lots of the albums signature three part male/female vocal blends which sounds divine. The second track and first single, “Jesus” has a big horn/saxophone riff creating a gospel/rock vibe. One of the best tracks on the album, it creates a “Big Heaven” sound, with the looping riff…
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Swirlpool | Distant Echoes
After forming in 2017, and releasing an EP and two singles, this is the German shoegaze band’s debut LP. Mixed by Ride’s Mark Gardner, the album has a ’90s “classic” shoegaze feel to it, with all the trademarks of hushed vocals, whammy bar tone bending, reverb and distortion, but with the band’s new 21st century take as well as their other songwriting influences. All the tracks do have that lush tapestry of production on the whole album. The band has some cool videos to match their sound as well. The opening song, and album name, “Distant Echoes” has a deep, slow-moving distortion wave feel to it, setting the tone for…
