Tabs Out

V/A – Now That’s What Your Parents Call Drone
2.3.16 by Mike Haley

Parents are lame. Right, fellow youths? They call remotes “clickers”. They call texts “phone emails”. I don’t even want to mention what they call people of color. And apparently this is what they call drone. Bringing a digital release from 2014 to the physical realm, Big Sleep Records presents the 102 minute compilation “Now That’s What Your Parents Call Drone”. Like any genre, it’s debatable exactly what “drone” is. Some curmudgeons will undoubtedly waste time, energy, and WiFi grumbling over the lack of “drone” on this compilation. But if you ease up for a moment (you gosh darn drone gendarmerie) you will see that this comp handles the noble job of traversing spongy, gratifying dimensions keenly. Plus it’s a funny title. Good enough for me. So ease up.

16 artists take a swing at revamping “parent music” into lush vocal forays, drenched guitar spells, glistening electronics, and/or modified originals. Far from a collection of vaporwave or hardvapour or whatever the kids… er… I mean my peers from Spencer’s Gifts (hey guys!) call it. There is no pace car on NTWYPCD. It trots from a loitering version of the 1984 George Michael single “Careless Whisper”, to an Amy Grant slash-n-dash, to a squirmy rewiring of not just Alan Parsons, but his Project as well. When boiled down to it’s core, it’s a good time comp for good time folk.

Tracklist:
1- C. Vadi – Careless Whisper (Wham! feat. George Michael)
2- Jackknife Barlow – Songbird Origin (Kenny G)
3- Via Vegrandis – Baby Baby (Amy Grant)
4- Cinchel – How Did I Exist (Air Supply)
5- Neil Jendon – I’m Not In Love (10cc)
6- Anaphylaxis – Stay Awhile (The Bells)
7- Bishonen Knife – Sail On (Commodores)
8- Otologist – Hello It’s Me (Todd Rundgren)
9- Bílý Dehaen – If You Leave Me Now (Chicago)
10- The Kendal Mintcake – Can We Still Be Friends (Todd Rundgren)
11- Teutholimax – Just the Way You Are (Billy Joel)
12- Vapor Lanes – Save the Best For Last (Vanessa Williams)
13- Mute Neighbor – Hello Master (Lionel Richie)
14- Patrick Cosmos – The Osiris of This Shit (Alan Parsons Project)
15- CPI – You Don’t Own Me (Lesley Gore)
16- XYZR_KX – Suddenly (Billy Ocean)

There are 50 copies of “Now That’s What Your Parents Call Drone”. Become a proud mommy or daddy of one today.

New Batch – Sacred Phrases
1.29.16 by Mike Haley

In the shadow of last night’s shit show of GOP debates and miscellaneous conservative nonsense, Sacred Phrases is kind enough to bestow on the world some much needed positive energy. That should not be interpreted as an announcement of uplifting, jubilant musical formulas. The two new cassette tapes from the prolific pairing of German Army and Andreas Brandal deal deeply with ominous and sour blueprints. The tone is obviously doom and gloom, but far from pithy platitudes and desolate outrage. GeAr and AB’s anesthetic bleakness is vivid and alive. They are downers that bring hope.

German Army is a marathon machine with a wildly copious discography. Yet somehow the quality control is an impeccable beast. And “Yanomami” may be one of their best. Each track trenches into your skin, hunting and gathering goosebumps. T(he)y furl a collection of beats around skeptic vocals and illusory rhythms to soundtrack vacant gas stations and sketchy European post cards. “Yanomami” is full of smoke and has no time for filler. Each of it’s ten tracks are present and sticky with purpose.

Norway’s Andreas Brandal is no stranger to the world of blank stare sounds. For about 20 years Brandal has been leaving a trail of stale bread crumbs on imprints like Stunned Records, Sweat Lodge Guru, DumpsterScore, Lighten Up Sounds, Tranquility, his own Twilight Luggage, and many others. “The Thursday Curses” is a selection of austere mood music. Lurching through a premium of plaster-like drones, Andreas Brandal dredges up paralyzing vibes. Another beautiful cassette added to his long list.

Both tapes are available from Sacred Phrases in editions of 100 copies.