04/09/24 [A Visit from an Old Friend, Avant-Garde Choices and WE’RE BACK BABY]
I’ve had a lot happen with life lately so Before the Break had a brief intermission. I hope you haven’t missed me too much…
Anyways, I’ve stocked up on good shit to show you guys so I hope you enjoy good music and share it with good people.
Here are FIVE new songs to listen to from artists with under 1,000 monthly listeners to elevate the horizons of your musical journey:
Ali Baba’s Tahini, “ARMADILLO”
“ARMADILLO” by Ali Baba’s Tahini is a fusion-jazz breath of fresh air that feels like it belongs as music in a Mariokart race littered with liberal stylistic choices apparent through speakers and headphones alike. The song starts instantaneously with a worn, thick electric guitar base as we’re introduced to the talking point of the song; the avant-garde piano plunking. The piano is spacious and the panning of the feverish plunking is extremely satisfying to the ear. The contrast between the light-sounding piano and the guitar has this beautifully opposite pairing to it that highlights both aspects of the instrumentals. A quick, self-propelled drum solo takes us to the ending of the song where we return to the sound of the first half of the piece, only left wanting more at the abrupt ending of the song that echoes into silence. The South Bend, Indiana five-piece has relations to widely popular jam band Umphrey’s McGee and has been rocking since the 90s, releasing five studio album’s including “Living Room” (2010) and “Bottom Feeders” (2019).
Leslie Nielsen, “Frogg”
Right off the first note, “Frogg” comes off as a suave, bluesy flow with an incredibly tight (and catchy) pocket that just has you nodding your head back and forth. The natural tone of the guitar has a pure feeling to it until the lead guitar comes in, bringing a smooth and flirty sound that pairs incredibly well with the feature of the organ that adds a little soul to the mix. We get shocked out of that trance when the drums ramp things up and take us through the peaks of the songs where the pocket remains tight with a little bit of spice. The bold bass line adds a deeper dimension to the already heightened level of musical consciousness and takes center stage against all other sounds during the repeated motion of the music. The lead guitar has this sort of raw sound to it and you can hear the excess noise coming off of the amp. We traveled far and a little bit back in time to catch the trio in their 2014 release straight out of the Netherlands with the album “Nailticket.” Even through the ending, the consistency remains on point until all the instruments take their short path out of the song, leaving only the organ until the song’s end.
Jonathan Maron, “Lazy Eye”
Hailing out of New York City with a plethora of iconic music names behind him, Jonathan Maron is a bass legend, but no words could’ve prepared me for the creativity that this song emits. The bass line is simple and the percussion is complimentary without stifling each other’s unique sounds. The saxophone acts as the voice in this song as it adds its own melodic “lyrics” to the collection. Each instrument’s sounds aren’t muddy together; they’re distinct and they don’t talk over one another. One of the most pleasant aspects of “Lazy Eye” is that there is a lot of breathing room to let all the sounds sink into their rhythm. Each sonic part (including the sound effects utilized in the soundscaping) meshes incredibly well, fusing into this illusion of a kaleidoscope in your mind. The psychedelic nature of the sound effects makes an incredible partner to the fusion of music we hear. The climax of the song comes a little later in the form of a beautifully strained saxophone solo, almost like it’s putting its all into what it’s trying to sing to us. The entire composition of this song is a work of art (and I’m saying this objectively) and just about anyone can find something that satisfies their ear drums.
Earth Freaks, “Colour Tones”
The title of this song is an omen of what comes out when you press play. “Colour Tones” by four-piece British Columbia band Earth Freaks is colorful, like graffiti on a stone wall; artistic and tasteful. The vocals remind me of the vocal tone of Rex Orange County but if he was in an early 2000s alt-rock adjacent band. Earth Freaks is fairly new to the game after forming in 2021 but off the bat, you can feel how much energy goes into their creative process and the band has been on a roll ever since. The song isn’t overcomplicated but it still feels like a full array of sounds to digest. The drums are spunky and upbeat and the guitar and bass are jumpy and fun. I could definitely see this being a great summer anthem, with its warm tones and pop-rock flow. The lyrics are beautiful and just as colorful as the instruments; “But I’m not too concerned with all this love and death/I’m just here to play some tunes then I’ll go to bed.” The song feels so carefree and introspective and overall is just such a hearty song from the drums to the electric guitar solo.
Indigo Flood, “Stuff It!”
Indigo Flood isn’t new to the blog and if you’ve been here long enough you know that I have such a soft spot for their music. Based in the heart and soul of Chicago, Indigo Flood is a bluesy rock band whose live performances are nothing less than intoxicating; the band just released their debut album “You To Me Are The Blues” at the end of February. “Stuff It!” is a groovy jam that never fails to blow my mind no matter how many times I hear it. Honestly, when I first heard this song I had no words to describe how this song made me feel; and I’m not just saying that because I know the band personally. From the start, this song has a major stank from the drums to the guitar to that killer horns section. This song never fails to get me in a goofy ass mood, I hate this band because of how much talent there is. The organ is tasty and hot, like a light little dance over the rest of the groove of the song. I’d be crazy if I didn’t warn you that the trumpet solo is divine with the addition of that delay and wah (watch out for that “Celebration” lick at the end of that 3-minute mark!!! INSANE) All of the solos are stellar and they truly highlight my favorite part of the band; everyone gets their moment in the sun but the fact that the rest of the band can hold it down in pristine condition doesn’t go unnoticed. I could probably go on about this song (this entire album is HOT) but go hear it for yourself at one of their shows…
As always, I’ve got Bandcamp linked for all artists and I seriously recommend checking their pages out and supporting the artists directly. Support an indie artist directly and give them some love…
If you’ve got a song you think needs a little more attention send it my way and I’ll give it a listen.
Happy to finally be back
where do we go from here? 
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