Weekly Roundup - Unreviewed Releases: April 21-May 5, 2023

 

Calliope Music Weekly Roundup

Unreviewed Releases

April 21-May 5, 2023

Rated Albums

Margarita Witch Cult - Margarita Witch Cult 

6/10

Best Tracks: The Witchfinder Comes -- Lord Of The Flies -- Aradia -- Sacrifice

Grinding guitar electrifies impulsive Doom Metal developments. Wiccan imagery is laced throughout, giving edge to vibrant riff packages and upbeat drumming. The U.K. band's debut album leaves room for distinctness, but lays out a foundation of thriving Sabbath-like progressions and zealous vocals. Despite the title's suggestion, MWC is a focused and quite bright Metal affair, showering in the blood of their legendary influences.

Baby Rose - Through and Through

5/10

Best Tracks: Go -- Dance With Me -- Stop The Bleeding -- Power

The second long play for Atlanta's Baby Rose is a syrupy kiss of easygoing Neo-Soul. Inebriating bass lines fill chiming beats and Hip-Hop drum patterns, booming under Rose's chocolaty voice. Despite many static progressions, evocative vocals and voluptuary melodies bring a relaxing romanticism. Alas, the sensual mood established by Rose is unable to develop much beyond an initial tone. Through and Through therefore remains in an area of sybaritic indifference, gushing in glossy timbre, but arid in innovation.

Susanne Sundfør - blómi

5.5/10

Best Tracks: ashera's song -- Fare Thee Well -- Alyosha -- náttsǫngr

The Norwegian Singer-Songwriter delivers dainty, yet robust Folk ballads. With a focus on growth and perseverance, Sundfør pens edifying acoustic progressions and dramatic piano developments as letters to her new born daughter. Classic Chamber movements are met with jazzy saxophone and atmospheric background vocals, enhancing Sundfør's retro Pop voice. Although blómi skillfully mingles soft Folk with shaking Art Pop and mythological spoken word, the songwriting runs vapid over the 45 minute runtime. Still a delightful sound, the Norwegian's 7th studio LP declines in furthering enchanting concepts to greater, more divertive heights.

Indigo De Souza - All of This Will End

5.5/10

Best Tracks: Smog -- Always -- Not My Body -- Younger & Dumber

The third full length album from North Carolina singer, Indigo De Souza is an expansion on shrill Indie Rock and anxious Bedroom Pop. Grating electric guitar tracks are complemented by waltzing Alt Country licks, where De Souza laments on abusive relationships and self-deprecation. Perturbed vocals and distorted Pop progressions give an attractive edge to quirky lines and bright synths. While sunset tones and Midwest imagery heighten Slacker Rock movements, jejune developments leave the record feeling lost in a desert of much more puissant writing possibilities. With the help of a few increasingly poignant tracks at the end of the project, All of This Will End ultimately becomes an endearing, but naïve collection of gravelly Indie Rock.

Other Notable Releases

Billy Cobb - In My Restless Dreams...

Indie rocker, Billy Cobb is back with this emotive Alternative Rock EP. Based on the 2001 horror game, Silent Hill 2, Cobb explores themes of isolation, regret and atmospheric abstractness, all major themes of the videogame. Using samples from the game's acclaimed soundtrack, dark Emo tracks are formed, where liminal ambiance becomes distorted guitar. An intriguing look into Cobb's experiences with the themes of Silent Hill 2, In My Restless Dreams... ultimately malfunctions in displaying a distinctive and additory sound to the horror game's already well established musical canon.