Suche:roc c
BLKG 7 is an essential triple-threat for collectors who go deep into that jazz-funk-psych crate.
Side A features Joe Pass’ haunting “A Time For Us,” lifted from his slept-on Guitar Interludes LP (1970, World Pacific). Heavy w/ cinematic strings, sparse drums & spacious guitar—perfect for blends, loops, or just zoned-out listening. J Dilla thought the same on “Chopped Thoughts”, & for Slum Village’s “Too Much”, but the original stands alone as pure mood.
Side B is a masterclass in moody grooves: “Enchanted Lady” (Milt Jackson & Ray Brown, Much In Common, 1964) is an underrated modal slow-burner w/ a hypnotic swing. Pete Rock & CL Smooth double dipped in “Caramel City” & Escape”, but others were also inspired: Large Professor “Ijuswannachill”, De La Soul“Dinninit”, Rob Swift“Natural Hight”, Knxwledge “3Koins”, among others.
Then comes “Cross Country” by Archie Whitewater—famously Kanye chopped it for Common’s “Drivin’ Me Wild”, but the OG is all groove: head-nod drums, brass stabs & electric piano that goes there.
She Hangs Brightly ist das Debütalbum des Gitarristen Dave Roback und der Sängerin Hope Sandoval.
Es wurde 1990 veröffentlicht und ist eine unglaubliche Mischung aus Dream-Pop und vielschichtigen
psychedelischem Rock. Auf dem Album finden sich Songs wie „Halah“, „Ride It On“ und „Be My Angel“
und es erscheint auf schwarzer Vinyl.
Belgian dance label LA MUSIQUE DU BEAU MONDE turns 20, spawning a massive amount of hits spanning two decades. Ranging from commercial hits by DJ Antoine, Laurent Wery, Remady, Jay Santos, to more credible tracks by Phonkers, Merdan Taplak, Les Mecs, and others.
This is the first record in a series of five, and the first one kicks off with a bang. The importance of Pedro Cazanova’s classic Selfish Love in the house scene cannot be underestimated. It grew iconic in the remix by Gregor Salto, as featured on this 12”.
Rock Your Body by Phonkers was one of the most played tracks on Benelux radio stations during the summer of 2011. The track gained massive popularity not only in Belgium and Holland but also in Australia, New Zealand, Poland, and beyond.
Daniel Bovie is undoubtedly one of the best Belgian dance producers of the past four decades. His 2014 masterpiece Way Too Long is included on this record.
In 2014, Ralpheus had a big international club hit with the catchy clubhouse tune Do What? Gospel chants built around a big clubhouse beat, still a floorfiller today!
'Addicted to the Violence' ist das explosive dritte Album von Daron Malakian und Scars On Broadway. Malakian, der als Songwriter, Sänger und Gitarrist der mit dem GRAMMY® Award ausgezeichneten Band System Of A Down bekannt ist, liefert mit seinem neuen Album, das auf das 2018 erschienene Album 'Dictator' folgt, eine furchtlose Mischung aus Rock, Metal, Punk und Psychedelia. Geschrieben und produziert von Malakian.
Daron Malakian and Scars On Broadway ist das Alternative-Rock-Projekt des System Of A Down-Sängers, Gitarristen, Songwriters und Gründers. Malakian hat zwei Studioalben unter dem Namen DMSOB veröffentlicht: 'Scars On Broadway' (2008) und 'Dictator' (2018).
- A1: London Calling
- A2: Blitzkrieg Bop
- A3: Lust For Life
- A4: Going Underground
- A5: Teenage Kicks
- A6: Boys Don't Cry
- A7: Love Will Tear Us Apart
- A8: Making Plans For Nigel
- A9: Rat Trap
- B1: Hanging On The Telephone
- B2: Hong Kong Garden
- B3: Top Of The Pops
- B4: Ca Plane Pour Moi
- B5: Banana Splits
- B6: Cool For Cats
- B7: Into The Valley
- B8: Shot By Both Sides
- B9: Death Disco
- C1: The Sound Of The Suburbs
- C2: No More Heroes
- C3: Babylon's Burning
- C4: Cherry Bomb
- C5: Another Girl, Another Planet
- C6: (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
- C9: Because The Night
- D1: Brass In Pocket
- D2: Roxanne
- D3: Geno
- D4: Time For Action
- D5: Airport
- D6: Echo Beach
- D7: Over You
- D8: Is She Really Going Out With Him?
- E1: Gangsters
- E2: The Prince
- E3: On My Radio
- E4: Mirror In The Bathroom
- E5: Food For Thought
- E6: Life In Tokyo
- E7: The Number One Song In Heaven
- E8: Rock Lobster
- F1: Dog Eat Dog
- F2: C30 C60 C90 Go
- F3: Money
- F4: Nightclubbing
- F5: Are Friends Electric?
- F6: Underpass
- F7: Messages
- F8: Video Killed The Radio Star
- C7: Roadrunner (Once)
- C8: 2-4-6-8 Motorway
Sailing beyond the boundaries of electronic music, Purelink embrace liquidity on their second album, washing live instrumentation and exposed vocals over their patented cascade of dubbed ambience and ebbing rhythmic experimentation. Since 2020, Tommy Paslaski (aka Concave Reflection), Ben Paulson (aka kindtree) and Akeem Asani (aka Millia) have channeled their most euphoric musical whims into the Purelink project. Drifting between brittle '90s drum 'n bass and dub techno on their cult debut 12" 'Bliss / Swivel' and vaporizing Windy City jazz and post-rock motifs with muggy soundscapes on 2023's critically revered first full-length 'Signs', the trio have managed to define a painterly signature sound that's reflective but not reverent. Sure, Purelink's music can be graceful and bucolic, but it's powered by their innate devotion to the dancefloor's soundsystem.
'Faith' illustrates a period of upheaval for the three friends; relocating from Chicago to New York City, they found themselves surrounded by new scenery and fresh inspirations that permeated their compositions as they adapted to the change. On their previous records, the production process was relatively simple, just three laptops jacked into an interface in Paslaski's living room. Here, they augment the intermixed electronics with acoustic and electric timbres, opening up space for vocal contributions from Hyperdub luminary Loraine James and poet Angelina Nonaj. "Always time for rest," James ponders candidly on 'Rookie', "we settle." Her voice floats like smoke over the trio's familiar pattering rhythms and light-headed synths, now enhanced by capsized guitar motifs and subtle bass plucks.
On 'First Iota' meanwhile, Nonaj's deadpan narration grounds Purelink's dissociated echoes, sub swells and delicate improvisations. "Not everything beautiful has to be real," Nonaj repeats as organic and digital sounds sublime into a lysergic haze. And the softly propulsive 4/4 thuds that steered 'Signs' haven't disappeared entirely, either. On 'Kite Scene' a heartbeat-like pulse underpins Purelink's balmy pads and acidic synths, tactfully disrupted by hollow live percussion, and 'Yoke' muffles its chugging, broken beat sequences with swaddled trance hallucinations, gesturing cautiously towards euphoria. Each element falls into place on the album's final track, 'Circle of Dust', when Paslaski, Paulson and Asani find a fertile middle ground, ornamenting the kinetic, reverberating beats with evaporating whispers, evocative instrumental scrapes and hopeful, ecstatic harmonies.
Das dritte Album der Supersuckers aus Tucson, AZ - "The Sacrilicious Sounds of the Supersuckers" von 1995 - ist ein Klassiker und endlich wieder erhältlich, und zwar auf limitiertem, undurchsichtigem, rotem Vinyl! "The Sacrilicious Sounds of The Supersuckers" wurde von Paul Leary von den Butthole Surfers produziert und ist wütender, höhnischer Punkrock, der die besondere Mischung aus Hardrock, Punk und anspruchsloser Country-Kultur der Band perfekt auf den Punkt bringt. The Damned trifft ZZ Top? Die Motörhead des Südwestens? So etwas in der Art, sicher, aber letztendlich sind The Supersuckers ihr eigenes Ding, und auf "The Sacrilicious Sounds..." - und vor allem auf der Single "Born With a Tail" - beginnen die kläglichen Country-Klagen von Sänger Eddie Spaghetti selbstbewusster durch das rohe Punk-Aggregat zu stoßen. Apropos Aggro: Dies ist das einzige Album der Band mit Rick Sims von den Punk-Legenden Didjits aus Illinois an der Gitarre, und Sims treibt die ohnehin schon gewaltige Wand aus übersteuerten Gitarren der Supersuckers pflichtbewusst in die Höhe. Als zusätzliches Schmankerl übernimmt Sims den Leadgesang bei dem rasanten "Run Like a Motherfucker".
- 01: River
- 02: The Destroyer
- 03: Constellations
- 04: Tsunami Waves
- 05: Star String Radio
- 06: We Are The Clouds
- 07: Time Machine
- 08: Magical Thinking
- 09: Shattered Stars
- 10: Broken Dragon Wings
- 11: Eulogy
Suzzallo (pronounced Süe-zahh-Lōw) is a new Seattle based rock band fronted by Rocky Votolato. After the devastating loss of his child in a tragic car accident, Votolato created an entire new world inside of aggressive anthemic rock songs to transmute extreme grief and loss into something healing and beautiful. This is a return to form for Votolato, who for the past 2 decades has had a successful career as an Indie-rock solo artist, but who started out playing in heavier bands - most well known for his work in Waxwing.
With Rudy Gajadhar on drums (ex-Waxwing), Steve Bonnell on bass (ex-Schoolyard Heroes) and teaming up with legendary producer John Goodmanson, Suzzallo recently finished recording their debut album “The Quiet Year” at Robert Lang Studios in Seattle, WA. Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie / The Postal Service) is featured on several tracks on the album, adding some levity to the songs with beautifully placed backing vocals, electric guitar, bass 6, and piano.
Funded via a crowdsourcing campaign that raised over 100K dollars, Suzzallo’s highly anticipated debut is due to be released on Thirty Something Records in the spring of 2025.
- A1: Rockit Man
- B1: Millennium Man
Rockitman and Millennium Man were recorded in the summer of 1996 around the time bushpilot re-emerged from a hiatus following making the recordings that would become the album '23' to appear 3 times in short sucession at that years Leeds Sound City festival. The appearances led to interest from a major label in the USA, but as usual life got in the way ..With a new drummer in the shape of Nick Tonge of Leeds heavy noise merchants Zoopisa Rockit man and Millennium Man took from improvisations developed working with legendary Leeds producer Richard Formby in his studio and turning them more into songs: Richard thinks of them as 'Frankenstein creations'. We think noise rock with heavy Can influence compressed into two 3 and half minutes blasts of furious joy.The video was created by award winning Leeds artist Sarah Doyle, who also created the cover artwork. The video stars British rocker Vince Taylor, a key unfluence on a young David Bowie, and a host of model spaceships.
Originally intended for release in 2021, well covid got in the way, so here it is at last!
- 1: Bellicose Rhetoric
- 2: Damyata
- 3: Screw The Naysayers
- 4: Sunblood
- 5: For All The Wrong Reasons
- 6: Tranquility Base
- 7: The Last Tree
- 8: The Hidden Hand (Theme)
- 9: Divine Propaganda
- 10: Prayer For The Night
Clear[25,17 €]
Things just get heavier and heavier in Scott ‘Wino’ Weinrich’s career and his short-lived classic band The Hidden Hand is no exception. Formed in 2002 and already disbanded in 2007 the trio featured Wino, Bruce Falkinburg on bass/songwriting/vocals and drummer Dave Hennessy.
If The Obsessed, St. Vitus, Shrinebuilder, Probot and Spirit Caravan aren’t enough to bring Wino's CV to legendary status, stop reading now.
LINER NOTES from WINO:
"When I returned from California after The Obsessed Columbia record deal fell apart, I didn't have any gear at all and after we put together (SHINE) which became Spirit Caravan, I was hustling to put a guitar rig together. I discovered ATOMIC MUSIC a super cool store in MARYLAND that encouraged trades, and had a lot of cool shit there,we had met another cat Sonny, who being the gregarious friendly cat he was befriended us (the band) and introduced me to his friend who's recording studio shared space with Atomic Music, Bruce Falkinburg and Phase recording studio. Bruce was a very interesting and hyper intelligent guy, bassist, knowledgeable in all things but specializing in recording rock music. We had decided to diversify our recording process and parted ways with one of my old friends Chris Kozlowski and PolarBearLair studios who had recorded everything Spirit Caravan had done so far.
I hired Bruce to record the version of Darkness and Longing that was our song on the Sixty Watt Shaman -Spirit Caravan split single. We liked what he did on that recording and decided to record more with Bruce at Phase and so we did ;the last SC single -" So Mortal Be/ Undone Mind" and recorded three tracks that were eventually released on "The Last Embrace." Bruce and I had firmly cemented our friendship and when shit fell apart with Spirit Caravan , we decided to form a band. Out of a very interesting list of possible band names Bruce's idea" The Hidden Hand " seemed to resonate the most and once Bruce had recruited Dave Hennessy (guitarist for OSTINATO) to play drums it was ON. Over the next couple years and a couple different drummers, The Hidden Hand would record one single, one split ep ,one compilation song and Three full length albums. Knowing Bruce, and working with everyone in The Hidden Hand realm enriched my life greatly . Bruces enthusiasm, knowledge, creativity, intellect and musical abilities remains an inspiration. Thanks Bruce, Sonny, Louis and Eric and all at ATOMIC MUSIC, Dave Hennessy,Matt and Jeremy Osinato ,Evan Tanner, J Robbins, Mcarthyism records, Andreas at Exile from Mainstream records, Greg Tubevision, 930 club ,Black Cat, Gussound, Diana W, Woody, Stinking Lizaveta, Jadd Schickler and Meteor City, Southern Lord records and extra special thanks to Gianluca and Improved Sequence for keeping this music alive!"
Wino - summer 2024
Things just get heavier and heavier in Scott ‘Wino’ Weinrich’s career and his short-lived classic band The Hidden Hand is no exception. Formed in 2002 and already disbanded in 2007 the trio featured Wino, Bruce Falkinburg on bass/songwriting/vocals and drummer Dave Hennessy.
If The Obsessed, St. Vitus, Shrinebuilder, Probot and Spirit Caravan aren’t enough to bring Wino's CV to legendary status, stop reading now.
LINER NOTES from WINO:
"When I returned from California after The Obsessed Columbia record deal fell apart, I didn't have any gear at all and after we put together (SHINE) which became Spirit Caravan, I was hustling to put a guitar rig together. I discovered ATOMIC MUSIC a super cool store in MARYLAND that encouraged trades, and had a lot of cool shit there,we had met another cat Sonny, who being the gregarious friendly cat he was befriended us (the band) and introduced me to his friend who's recording studio shared space with Atomic Music, Bruce Falkinburg and Phase recording studio. Bruce was a very interesting and hyper intelligent guy, bassist, knowledgeable in all things but specializing in recording rock music. We had decided to diversify our recording process and parted ways with one of my old friends Chris Kozlowski and PolarBearLair studios who had recorded everything Spirit Caravan had done so far.
I hired Bruce to record the version of Darkness and Longing that was our song on the Sixty Watt Shaman -Spirit Caravan split single. We liked what he did on that recording and decided to record more with Bruce at Phase and so we did ;the last SC single -" So Mortal Be/ Undone Mind" and recorded three tracks that were eventually released on "The Last Embrace." Bruce and I had firmly cemented our friendship and when shit fell apart with Spirit Caravan , we decided to form a band. Out of a very interesting list of possible band names Bruce's idea" The Hidden Hand " seemed to resonate the most and once Bruce had recruited Dave Hennessy (guitarist for OSTINATO) to play drums it was ON. Over the next couple years and a couple different drummers, The Hidden Hand would record one single, one split ep ,one compilation song and Three full length albums. Knowing Bruce, and working with everyone in The Hidden Hand realm enriched my life greatly . Bruces enthusiasm, knowledge, creativity, intellect and musical abilities remains an inspiration. Thanks Bruce, Sonny, Louis and Eric and all at ATOMIC MUSIC, Dave Hennessy,Matt and Jeremy Osinato ,Evan Tanner, J Robbins, Mcarthyism records, Andreas at Exile from Mainstream records, Greg Tubevision, 930 club ,Black Cat, Gussound, Diana W, Woody, Stinking Lizaveta, Jadd Schickler and Meteor City, Southern Lord records and extra special thanks to Gianluca and Improved Sequence for keeping this music alive!"
Wino - summer 2024
- Laugh
- Living Machine
Cradle was a late-60s/early-70s Detroit rock band that evolved from the groundbreaking all woman rock group The Pleasure Seekers, led by the Quatro sisters-Patti, Nancy, Suzi, and Arlene, By the final lineup of The Pleasure Seekers, Nancy Rogers had joined as drummer, bringing a new thunderous presence with her double bass drum kit and playing a key role in the group's transfornation into their heavier sound under the new moniker, Cradle. With raw, intricate instrumentation and powerful dual vocals-Suzi's Joplin-esque edge and Nancy Quatro's Robert Plant-like wail-the band delivered socially relevant hard rock with grit and attitude. Touring extensively, they shared stages with legends like Mountain. Ten Years After, Jeff Beck, Santana, and Jefferson Airplane, cementing their place in Detroit's hard rock movement. Despite theit undeniable talent and determination. Cradle faced industry roadblocks, disbanding in 1973. But today, their music sounds better than, ever-and their legacy serves as an important chapter! in music history, helping pave the way for women in heavy rock.
Whispers of Granite is the exciting new collaboration between Norwegian vocalist and vocal composer Trude Eidtang and German keyboardist and composer Andreas Hack. Their debut album, Liquid Stone, offers a unique fusion of melancholic folk, indie and progressive rock, enriched by Trude's expressive vocals and Andreas' atmospheric instrumentation. Trude Eidtang is renowned for her evocative, haunting voice and deep emotional resonance within the progressive rock genre. She first gained recognition as the lead vocalist of White Willow, later founding her own project When Mary, where she crafts vocal-driven organic-electronic music that blends art-pop, indie, and conceptual storytelling. Andreas Hack is a celebrated German composer and keyboardist known for his innovative work in progressive rock. As a founding member of Frequency Drift, Andreas helped shape the band's distinctive, atmospheric sound. He has also expanded his creative range through projects like Feeling of Presence, which delves into ambient and post rock, and most recently, Haven of Echoes, known for its progressive and evocative sound. The collaboration between Trude and Andreas in Whispers of Granite brings together their individual strengths to create a compelling and immersive musical experience, drawing influences from folk, indie, and cinematic music, combining melancholic progressive rock with lush, atmospheric textures. Trude's vocals are at the heart of the music, intertwining seamlessly with Andreas' atmospheric keyboard work and intricate guitar arrangements. Together, they craft a sound that balances melancholy and hope, fragility and strength. The album's title, Liquid Stone, reflects the thematic duality that runs throughout the project. It symbolizes the tension between fluidity and permanence, capturing the transformational shifts Trude explores in her lyrics. The fusion of organic and industrial elements in the music mirrors the interplay between raw human emotion and the rigid structures of the world. Liquid Stone marks a bold step into new musical terrain.
- Ics Machinique
- Cotes De Cachalot À La Psylocybine
- Méchammment Rock
- Cocaïne Blues
- Aurore
- Virgin Swedish Blues
- Ocean Boogi
- Zind Destruction
- Doctor Bloodmoney
Es ist fast ein wenig gespenstisch, was sich auf "It"s Always Rock"n"Roll" abspielt. Zwar hat Richard Pinhas nichts von seiner charakteristischen Angriffslust eingebüßt, und auch die aus den ersten beiden Heldon-Alben bekannte sägende Gitarre ist neben den vertrauten Sphärenklängen seiner Synthesizer nach wie vor vorhanden. Doch dazu pulsiert durch dieses Doppelalbum eine düstere Energie, eine fröstelige Aura, die selbst den ruhigsten Stücken eine Art bebende Anspannung verleiht. "Zu diesem Zeitpunkt wollte ich aus Heldon eine düstere Band machen", gesteht Pinhas. "Wobei düster für mich nichts Negatives bedeutet." Es geht ihm auch gar nicht um die Düsternis an sich, sondern darum, das Verborgene zu erforschen und Althergebrachtes zu hinterfragen, unter die glitzernde Oberfläche zu tauchen, um dort Geheimnisvolleres zu entdecken. Was "It"s Always Rock"n"Roll" vielleicht aus dem Repertoire von Heldon heraushebt, ist seine Ausdehnung, sowohl was die Größe der Ideen als auch die Länge der Stücke angeht. Die meisten Tracks sind jedenfalls über sieben Minuten lang, zwei Werke nehmen sogar eine ganze Plattenseite in Beschlag.
- You Are
- Pieces Of Never
- Fade Out
- The B-Side
- Over And Over
- Ever After
Resolution Alley is the musical vision of Jason Wilson, a musician and composer hailing from Maryland. The music combines 80's pop and rock melodies with progressive rock concepts, creating a unique but strangely nostalgic sound. Jason performs extensively throughout the Baltimore / Washington, DC area. From the smallest clubs to the Kennedy Center, Jason has shared the stage with some of the biggest names of stage, screen and music. Resolution Alley combines the influence of a career in rock and theater into a distinctive creation. Resolution Alley is getting ready to release their brand-new album Pieces of Never which contains the catchy first single "The B-Side" and follow up "You Are". Jason Wilson has crafted a wonderful release with just the right amount of balance between Rock and Prog which is sure to capture the ears of folks who like something familiar yet new. So if you like your music with big hooks and interesting arrangements and instrumentation then Resolution Alley has cooked up just what you ordered with Pieces of Never.
- I Ride
- Sleeping With My Boots On
- Eagle Eyes
- Old Time Religion
- This Mortal Bed
- Murder In Slow Motion
- Stolen Kiss
- The Life In Me
- I Will Forget You
- The Knife Within
- We've Come A Long Way
- Dark Matter
"After the success of his album Le Bal des Crocodiles in 2023, the Parisian label Teenage Kicks Production has announced the imminent release of the new album by the artist Homme Bleu, titled Dark Matter. Recorded at Garage Studio in Montpellier, this album will feature 12 tracks in English. The mixing was done in New York by Alex Conroy, except for the track The Life in Me, which was mixed by Steve Lyon (Depeche Mode, The Cure, etc.). A resolutely rock album that highlights guitars with modern arrangements. Introspection, existential questions, human relationships, and the passage of time are the artist's favorite themes, with a distinctly pop-rock influence infused with an electro whirlwind. Three singles have already been released from the album: The Life in Me, a high-energy rock track dominated by guitars; I Ride: a groovy mid-tempo ballad reminiscent of Radiohead's universe, an ode to inner freedom and resilience; titletrack Dark Matter, an eponymous track, a piano-vocal ballad. The album cover was designed by Frank Loriou (Manu Chao, Miossec, etc.), with whom Homme Bleu has collaborated since the beginning of his career." Double-LP in gatefold sleeve, blue vinyl.
- A1: Little Louder
- A2: Block To Block
- A3: Change Things
- A4: Do Our Thing
- A5: Legendary
- A6: Merry Go Round
- B1: Middle East
- B2: Soul On Top
- B3: The Core
- B4: Weather Report
- B5: Yellow Submarine
- B6: You Ready
Pete Rock’s Return Of The SP-1200 Volume 2 in an opaque red pressing. Pete Rock is widely recognized as one of the greatest hip hop producers of all time. His name is oft included in the pantheon of the greatest, alongside DJ Premier, RZA and J Dilla. In addition, Pete has one of the world’s most extensive vinyl collections, the sort of collection whose size can only be estimated, and that estimate stands in excess of 100,000 LPs.
Neuauflage zum 15. Jubiläum nach längerer Nichtverfügbarkeit!
Black Light ist das sechste Studioalbum des englischen Elektronik-Duos Groove Armada. Es verbindet den
eher Mainstream-orientierten Sound seines Vorgängers Soundboy Rock mit dem Rock-Spirit von Lovebox,
und die Band setzt erstmals 80er-Jahre-Synthesizer ein. Das Album ist von David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac,
Gary Numan, New Order und Roxy Music beeinflusst. Zu den Gesangseinlagen auf dem Album zählen
Bryan Ferry, Fenech-Soler, Jess Larrabee, Nick Littlemore, Saint Saviour und Will Young.
Mainstays of the D.C. DIY scene, Pretty Bitter live up to their name. Masters of all kinds of dissonance, they juxtapose stories of haunting and heartbreak with dazzling pop-rock arrangements. Pretty Bitter makes music that gets the emo kids dancing. They’re unafraid to infuse their blistering breakdowns with hits of disco and synthpop—and that’s exactly what they’ve done on Pleaser, their sophomore album, co-produced by Evan Weiss (Into It. Over It., Pet Symmetry) and Simon Small (Strawberry Boy) and out July 25th, 2025 via cult favorite indie label Tiny Engines. Following a string of ethereal singles, their 2022 debut Hinges formally introduced Pretty Bitter and their dreampunk to a rapidly growing audience. Fearlessly led by Mel Bleker and sharing studio and touring members with D.C. punk all-stars Ekko Astral, Pretty Bitter has been embraced by DIY fans far and wide. On Pleaser, Pretty Bitter have amped up the drama of their lush arrangements—a match made in heaven for the emotional ferocity of Bleker’s lyricism. “If everything is out there, nothing’s embarrassing,” they sigh on “I Hope You Do,” expertly toeing the line between the personal and the universal over bright, bubbling synths. On the arresting closer “Outer Heaven,” Bleker sings “Time isn’t a lover in the way it likes to play / I’m getting older, every due I pay / Time isn’t a bandage in the way you always say / I won’t be abandoned by myself again this way.” Their observational, heart-on-sleeve songwriting is as effortless as their flittering between the jangly, dreamy inclinations of rock, pop, and folk. Pleaser is a triumph, an instantly lovable record that reveals just how bright Pretty Bitter’s future is.




















