Welcome to “The Indie Inspection!”
With this monthly feature, I’ll dive into new releases from three to six different up-and-coming bands that I find worthy of attention. This regular column will take full advantage of the malleability of “indie” as a concept and aesthetic. So please set aside any preconceived notions about what that term could or should mean. In terms of a working definition, I’m talking about relatively unknown artists releasing either a first or second album independently or on a smaller label.
Let’s get into it!
For the August 2022 installment of Indie Inspection, we’re digging into five fantastic bands that all fall within the wider spectrum of rock. We’ve got some dreamy disco, buzzy alt-rock, zippy garage rock, hooky punk, and fuzzy funk. All of these acts love strong grooves, creative vocals, and superb production.
Brijean – Angelo (Ghostly)
Imagine the chillest possible road trip you could ever take. We’re talking about a comfy car with just enough room for your favorite people and limited luggage. You and your companions barely even have a destination in mind. You just want to travel together while enjoying some lovely scenery and excellent conversation.
Angelo might be the perfect soundtrack for your voyage. This taut nine-song project from partnered duo Brijean combines shiny ‘70s disco with ‘80s dance-pop. We’re talking about low-key Balearic pop and gauzy Italo disco. As if a Southern California version of Khruangbin made music with Sally Shapiro or Goldfrapp.
Upfront, the laconic grooves and relaxed vibes crafted by Doug Stuart will grab your attention. Right down to the banks of sunny synths. However, it’s the hushed and dreamy alto of Brijean Murphy that holds your gaze and will keep the album on repeat for miles and miles. My favorite tracks include “Take a Trip,” “Shy Guy,” and “Ooo La La.”
Pack those bags, friends!
Child Seat – Bad Holiday (Moonboot!)
Whoever said rock was dead definitely has forgotten how to search for new music. There is so much excellent music still being made by young and hungry bands that are distilling 50+ years of rock history into powerful albums. I’m talking about records bursting at the seams with the sort of over-the-top energy that Boomers and Gen Xers complain doesn’t exist anymore.
One of the newest entrants into this pavilion of contemporary rock is Child Seat, a duo comprised of Madeleine Mathews and Josiah Mazzaschi. On their debut album, entitled Bad Holiday, the twosome fuses ‘00s indie rock with ‘80s New Wave goodness into a righteous whole. Imagine early Arctic Monkeys, Sam’s Town-era The Killers, and Duran Duran with Karen O on lead vocals.
Indie Inspection was instantly enamored with the size of this project, even though it was created by just two people. I loved their arena rock ambitions, right down to the heft of the guitars in the mix. Their righteous riffs pair well with the deft drumming and lovely keyboard work. The band isn’t afraid of going big, especially when Mathews’ slinky voice enters the mix. You’ll hear exactly what I mean on songs like “Fever Dream,” “Loving You,” “Oh Anyways,” and “Dancing Without Me.”
Get ready to dust off your favorite air guitar!
Dust Star – Open Up That Heart (Lame-O)
Few things make Indie Inspection happier when listening to rock music than being nearly overwhelmed by an overflow of hooks. I’m talking about the sort of swings, grooves, and contortions in the arrangements that give the listener sonic whiplash. Unabashedly making them beg for more. These are the tunes typically born from the instant connection formed between talented musicians who meet each other on a whim and decide they MUST make music together.
That is the genius born when Justin Jergens, Cameron Wisch, and Oliver Hill formed Dust Star. Across Open Up That Heart, the trio fuses the buzzy power-pop sounds of Beach Slang and Goo Goo Dolls with the ineffable American rock of Tom Petty and The Hold Steady. Imagine locked-in artistry that still sounds loose and organic, complete with clean leads and just enough folk ideas for a ballad or three.
The phrase “approachable bar rock” instantly sprung into my head upon my first few listens. But then I decided that was too simplistic. From there, I decided Dust Star represents that classic punk-inflected garage rock sound. But updated with high-end pop ideals and quality production crunch. It’s the music you make in your 30s when you have fully formed artistic sensibilities and the ambition to bring those sounds to life. Check out “Back to Start,” “Too Late,” and “Ash” to understand what I mean.
All hail self-assured rock music!
Faye – You’re Better (Self Aware)
One of the easiest crutches for young music writers is to simply list more established bands as a way to describe a young band’s sound. Sure, it gives readers a helpful baseline of comparison, but eventually, you need to talk about the actual craft and creativity at play. No one really wants to read a review that says, “If you like this older band, then you might like this newer one.”
So, when I tell you that Faye gave Indie Inspection the shivers in how the band hearkens back to nearly 30-plus years of fuzzed-out garage rock, I don’t want to simply list influences. Yes, I hear plenty of Bikini Kill, Sleater Kinney, Vivian Girls, Jay Reatard, and Camp Cope, but I also detect a duo who know how to stand on their own two feet. Susan Plante and Sarah Blumenthal create loud and powerful rock music that makes me stand up at my desk and search for the nearest mosh pit.
You’re Better features so much more than the generic three-chord arrangements you may assume from a youthful twosome bursting with frenzied energy. Yes, the strong guitars and driving drums conjure up images of dirty, sweaty clubs packed with stale beer and staler cigarette smoke. However, the band knows how to deliver the sort of crafty arrangements with bristling grooves that get you dancing, smiling, and wanting to change the world.
Aggressive tempos and gang vocals for the win!
Golden Dawn Arkestra – The Gold Album (Spaceflight / Eye in the Sky / Terrorbird)
Just hearing the term “Arkestra” outside the confines of Sun Ra’s career should immediately make you suspicious. That legendary backing ensemble brought the imagination of Sun Ra to life for nearly fifty years. To call upon its memory should either be verboten or approved exclusively by the great man’s estate. We’re talking about pioneering music combining Afrofuturism, jazz, soul, funk, and rock into iconoclastic permutations nearly impossible to copy.
However, it didn’t take Indie Inspection long to realize the Golden Dawn Arkestra weren’t interested in creating hollowed-out versions of the original Arkestra’s art. Led by Topaz “Zapot” McGarrigle, this Austin, TX-based collective creates fun and funky rock perfect for your next house party. Or psychedelic trip. It’s as if Daft Punk, Silk Sonic, and Talking Heads decided to create a cult that worshiped Prince. However, what really helps The Gold Album succeed is how it totally cops to band’s artistic debt to Sun Ra’s entire aesthetic.
I was instantly bowled over by the passion and depth of the bass guitar licks. Especially when they dialed up the energy and started flowing up and down the neck. The guitar riffs and keyboard melodies twirled around each other like the most intimate of lovers. Meanwhile, the syncopated drumming encouraged everyone to get off their asses and start dancing. And when horn bleats straight out of Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” entered the picture alongside brash vocals reminiscent of Dawn Richard, it’s hard not to be swept up in the musical ecstasy.
Praise be to the groove!