I want to take a moment to mourn the recent passing of Luis Vasquez and Juan Mendez, two staples of the darkwave scene. Vasquez put out several captivating releases under the name the Soft Moon, while Mendez gained a following for his techno project Silent Servant and label Jealous God. Both artists were beloved by fans and friends.
I’ve changed the format of the newsletter a bit this month, most notably including lots of short reviews and just one long one. Gloomier artists are still leading the pack in January, with the addition of some lighter, funkier music. I’m featuring another Chicago artist, Sick Day, who recently signed to Substitute Scene Records.
With the recent news about Pitchfork (and other outlets), I encourage you to pause and consider your relationship with music and other arts media. Working in this industry can feel like an uphill battle, but it’s worth it when coverage leads someone to a new favorite artist or deepens their appreciation for someone they’re familiar with already. If there’s a critic you love, look for ways to support them. It will benefit them and all of us.
SPOTLIGHT: Sick Day
This is an exciting month for Sick Day’s Olivia Wallace. On January 5, they put out a new single with fellow Chicagoan CalicoLoco. Then the indie folk artist signed to Substitute Scene Records, a label representing acts such as Burr Oak and Den-Mate. Next, on February 6, Sick Day will play Sleeping Village’s $1 Beer Night with No Lonesome and Julia Morrison. I caught up with Wallace amid these new developments.
Can you talk about your recent collaboration with CalicoLoco?
Last year while I was at work, a melody and hook came to me — "I'll put you on the guest list if you want to come to my show. I can't stand the thought of you staying at home." I wrote it down on a post-it note, but I had a hard time finishing the song when I got home. I texted my friend Dani from CalicoLoco and suggested that we do the song together. I mainly just wanted them to help me finish writing the song.
We ended up recording it full-band with Wes Reno at Narwhal Studios, and it was a really fun collaborative experience. We turned the original melody and hook into a cute song about inviting a crush to a show, and in the recording the hook builds in a warm and layered way. I'm super happy with how it turned out.
How has your approach to songwriting evolved since your first release in 2020?
It hasn't. I've always written honest songs about how I'm feeling. I try to relay inner truth in a way that's interesting and meaningful to others. I put a lot of double meanings into my lyrics to capture a multifaceted reality. I also like to be concise, because I don't like wasting listeners' time.
What brought you and Jeb of No Lonesome together? How are you feeling about your show with them and Julia Morrison next week?
Jeb worked at a synagogue with my girlfriend lol. Then I borrowed their guitar at a comedy open mic where we were the musical guests. Jeb is a super kind and warm person and a really talented musician, and I'm excited to finally play a full-band show with them at Sleeping Village!
You just got signed! Can you talk about that a bit?
When I sent my EP to Emily from Substitute Scene, she immediately seemed to "get" my music, and I think her label is aligned with us in a core way. Her approach is grassroots and collaborative, and that fits really well with the spirit of Sick Day. The phrase "signing to a label" often conjures images of selling out to scary men in suits, but Substitute Scene is DIY and down-to-earth. Emily is super kind, and she's helping me with some of the logistical things that it's hard to do as an indie artist. Working with Substitute Scene is more of a friendly partnership for the EP rather than a business deal. I'm really excited to see where things go with them.
What's next for you?
I want to write and record a lot more. If I could, I would spend most of my time making art. Music is a money pit though, and the marketing side is an emotional labyrinth, so we'll see!
New Music
February 2
Militarie Gun, Life Under the Sun EP (Loma Vista) – folk/electronic/emo
The group’s new EP reworks tracks from its debut album Life Under the Sun. The result is gentler–less punk, more electronic–than its typical sound. Features from Bully, Mannequin Pussy and Manchester Orchestra add intrigue to the new release.
Ariel Kalma, Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer, The Closest Thing to Silence (International Anthem) – ambient
J Mascis, What We Do Now (Sub Pop) – alt-country
Meth Math, Chupetones (In Real Life) – hyperpop / techno
Vera Sola, Peacemaker (City Slang) – folk
February 9
Chelsea Wolfe, She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She (Loma Vista) – goth rock
An alluring blend of electronic and metal elements, the singer-songwriter’s latest album showcases her rich vocals and dark theatrics. The release has been a long time coming, with its songwriting dating back to 2020, and many layers of workshopping and production have led to a full, immersive sound.
Orgōne, Chimera (3 Palm) – Afro-psych/soul
A world of funky instrumentals interspersed with occasional vocals, this is an album fit for smoke or work sessions. Spacious guitar melodies evoke the psychedelic soulfulness of Khruangbin, while groovy piano and hearty bass lines nod to older dance acts like Funkadelic.
Madi Diaz, Weird Faith (ANTI-) – folk / pop
David Nance, David Nance & Mowed Sound (Third Man) – rock / experimental folk
Pouty (Rachel Gagliardi of Slutever, Upset), Forgot About Me (Get Better) – rock
Derrick Stembridge and Mike Petruna, Cryptic Logic – electronic / IDM
Helado Negro, Phasor (4AD) – experimental / bedroom pop
February 14 💘
Hannah Sandoz, O Glory (self-released) - folk / singer-songwriter
The Chicago artist’s new single glistens with tempered guitar chords and silky vocals, all in a minor key. It’s minimalist, but with just enough buildup to captivate.
February 16
Prize Horse, Under Sound (New Mortality Zine) – shoegaze / post-hardcore
The Minneapolis band is already rocketing to success with its debut LP, a succinct collection of 10 songs rich with explosive drum lines, fuzzy instrumentals and striking lyrics.
Prize Horse first emerged in 2021 with “3 Tile,” a gritty single with forlorn, abstract lyrics. Within the next year, they signed to Chicago hardcore label New Mortality Zine and put out an EP, “Welder.” Under Sound is more spacious in comparison but maintains its emo-esque heaviness. This edge differentiates the band from shoegaze contemporaries like They Are Gutting A Body Of Water and Knifeplay.
The new LP starts soft, building gradually from a simple guitar line into a full shoegaze soundscape on the opening track, “Dark Options.” Fuzzy guitar layers and vocal harmonies counter dense drum parts and thick guitar distortion. This balance is especially prominent on “Stone,” where melodious vocal layers float overtop a cacophony of percussion and a soupy, guitar-bass medley. Prize Horse knows how to sequence an album–it uses the particularly dynamic track “Rev” to bridge mellow “Reload” with the intensity of “Stone.”
There is something almost mystical to the vagueness of Beitel’s lyrics, which withhold context from musings like “what did I do wrong here? how could I?” (“Further From My Start”) and “what did it feel like? didn’t like its hold on me so I left it at home” (“Stone”). Listeners must interpret each line for themselves, down to the last one: “I’m alone ‘til you alter my shape while I alter now, can it wait until after? to feel how I think it down” (“Awake For It”).
Chicagoans can catch Prize Horse live for free at Schubas Tavern on February 26.
Lime Garden, One More Thing (So Young) – rock/pop
Shadow Show, Fantasy Now! (Little Cloud / Stolen Body) – psych rock / power pop
Friko, Where We've Been, Where We Go From Here (ATO) – emo rock
Idles, Tangk (Partisan) – post-punk
Serpentwithfeet, Grip (Secretly Canadian) – R&B / electronic
Laryssa Kim, Contezza (City Tracks) – vocal-forward ambient/electronic
February 23
Mary Timony, Untame the Tiger (Merge) – rock / singer-songwriter
Carrie Brownstein has dubbed her Wild Flag co-member as “Mary Shelley with a guitar,” while Snail Mail frontwoman–and Timony’s former student–Lindsey Jordan has called her a trailblazer and innovator. The Ex Hex vocalist/guitarist’s first solo album in 15 years does not disappoint, with biting lyrics and expertly layered instruments. Guitar-heavy melodies hint at the artist’s 90s post-punk roots (Dischord band Autoclave), while twangier hooks offer something almost Americana. Look out for my full review of Untame the Tiger later this month in my (and Timony’s) hometown publication of Washington City Paper.
Church Chords, elvis, He Was Schlager (Otherly Love) – experimental
This album resembles nothing I’ve heard before. Los Angeles-based Stephen Buono blends elements of jazz, ambient and post-punk into a concoction of hypnotic and otherworldly sounds.
The Body & Dis Fig, Orchards of a Futile Heaven (Thrill Jockey) – doom metal / electronic
MGMT, Loss of Life (Mom+Pop) – rock / pop
Laetitia Sadier (Stereolab), Rooting For Love (Drag City) – Europop
John Glacier, Like a Ribbon EP (Young) – experimental electronic / hip hop
Ghost Funk Orchestra, A Trip to the Moon (Colemine / Karma Chief) – neo-soul/psych
‘92, ‘92 EP (Rude) – hardcore / G-funk
North America Tours
Sadurn - Feb. 15-24
Mitski - Feb. 2 - April 13
Militarie Gun - Feb. 2 - May 17
Hotline TNT - Feb. 1-6
Madi Diaz (with Olivia Barton, Jack Van Cleaf, Daniel Nunnelee) - Feb. 10 - April 4
Squid (with Water From Your Eyes)- Feb. 2 - March 1
Squirrel Flower (with Cryogeyser, Alexalone, Greg Mendez) - Now - Feb. 17
Ty Segall (with Sharpie Smile) - Feb. 20 - May 11
Villagerrr - Feb. 9-14
*tours with multiple supporting artists do not include those openers for every show
Chicago Shows
Del Hale (Miss Twink USA) / R. Mohr / Takashi Shallow (techno) - TONIGHT at Podlasie Club
Cruel / Diet Lite / Shoobie / the Courts (post-punk) - TONIGHT at Schubas Tavern
Henning Baer / Amayah / Makeen (techno / house) - Feb. 2 at Smoke and Mirrors
Sick Day / No Lonesome / Julia Morrison - Feb. 6 at Sleeping Village Dollar Beer Night
Emma Ecstasy / Aaayyyaaa / Easygoingtech - Feb. 7 at Empty Bottle
Lunar New Year with Internet Hotspot (Normal Drugs / Dirty Money Beats / Jaxx, Francine / Fefe / Ranee (electronic) - Feb. 10 at Pho Viet
Desolation Jacks with Mark Grusane / Eric Schwab / Conflict Bureau (acid house) - Feb. 10 at Empty Bottle
Indigo De Souza / Mia Joy (rock / singer-songwriter) - Feb. 15 at Thalia Hall
Bric-a-Brac presents Dance to a Dangerous Beat (post-punk / new wave / mutant disco) - Feb. 15 at Podlasie Club
Aurora Halal / Clarissa / Club Drippy (techno) - Feb. 17 at Smartbar
Squid / Water From Your Eyes (experimental rock) - Feb. 18 at Thalia Hall
A Metro Local Series: Pinksqueeze with Uniflora and Sharp Pins (rock) - Feb. 23 at Metro
Signal Records showcase (electronic) - Feb. 23 at Podlasie Club
Frozen Music Dancing: Lifeguard / The Mall / Upchuck / Cel Ray / Nancy / Beloved Radio (DJ sets) - Feb. 24 afternoon outside the Empty Bottle (free)
Porcelain / Stalled /Daarling / Seth Beck (rock) - Feb. 24 at Cole’s Bar
100% Off: Prize Horse / Sign Language / Interlay (rock) - Feb. 26 at Schubas Tavern
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