Cover Me premieres J Hacha De Zola's "spooky" take on "As It Was" by Harry Styles

TRACK PREMIERE

The Harry Styles hit "As It Was" became the fourth longest-running #1 single of all-time on the Billboard Hot 100 yesterday, so we can't wait any longer to jump on the bandwagon and bring you the J Hacha De Zola cover we promised last week!

Many thanks out to Cover Me for posting this one!

They say, "No matter his source material, he’s more likely to invoke garage rock or Tom Waits than he is the Top 40 charts. And that holds on his latest, a wild reimagining of Harry Styles’ monster hit 'As It Was' complete with pounding percussion, spooky vocals, and a big flamenco-horn finish."

As I mentioned last week, I had never heard this song (I since have, many times, haha!) and I have to say that I now love what J did with it even more. He took the emotional core and soul of this tune and turned it way up!

J Hacha De Zola's version of "As It Was" hits all streamers tomorrow. We'll have some new Hacha album news for you later this week, too!

Photo credit: Christine Samaroo

Norwegian duo I Was A King may have lost power to their studio, but not to their songs; Band's ninth album "Follow Me Home" arrives Oct. 28

NEWS

The front cover art for Follow Me Home, the ninth album by Oslo, Norway’s I Was A King (Coastal Town Recordings, Oct. 28) displays dotted lines that correspond to colorful cutouts on the back cover, one for each of the album’s twelve songs.

This is an innocent, childlike prompt to play it like a puzzle, literally, but on a more figurative note, this bit of fun also feels like a suggestion to fill in the blanks on what these songs mean to the listener.

“We recorded Follow Me Home in December of 2021 in a building that had been a very important hub for Norwegian music over the last 20 years,” Frode Strømstad, one-half of the duo with Anne Lise Frø, explains. “While we were making the album, the building was emptied, and the heat and water shut off. It has since been demolished.”

Even under these considerably less-than-ideal circumstances, Strømstad and Frøkedal managed to make another reality of the time – producing these recordings during a lockdown – work to their advantage. The minimal take on the sound that I Was A King had been traveling towards all this time is its strongest asset on Follow Me Home.

“The previous two records were very band-oriented,” Strømstad says. “We felt that doing it as a two-piece this time would be a fresh approach, playing instruments we normally don’t play just to get some different ideas and textures and keeping it as simple and organic as possible.”

Fecking Bahamas premieres "Calm Sea," CLIFFWALKER's beautiful new video

VIDEO PREMIERE

The fine folks of Fecking Bahamas invite you to "take a jaunt through something else entirely" via "Calm Sea," the latest video from Portland's bass & vibraphone duo CLIFFWALKER, aka Cliff Hayes (CARCRASHLANDER) and A. Walker Spring (Old Time Relijun).

"At once a breath of fresh air and a deeply nostalgic look into the 1960’s aesthetic... comparisons to espionage composers like John Barry or Lalo Schifrin... The duo casually skirts past math rock, jazz, and minimalist classical like ships in the night."

The video is a beautiful assemblage of clips from the film Impressions of a Drowned Man, with the blessing of its director, Kyros Papavassiliou.

He says, "The film is about the responsibility towards the preciousness of life, and about the responsibility of offering without waiting for something in exchange."

Painted Gray Sky — the debut EP by CLIFFWALKER — is out now.

Alex Lilly dances with books in Berlin for the new "Pure Drivel" clip

VIDEO PREMIERE

Librarians of the world! You are seen! I promised you a video of Alex Lilly dancing with books in a Berlin library and now I am delivering!

"Pure Drivel" is taken from Alex's upcoming new album 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘴 𝘈 𝘚𝘪𝘯 (October 21, Release Me Records) and it's a fun take on a serious topic: book banning.

Alex says, "Germans are quite strict about filming in public places. This wonderful library allowed us to bring a choreographed dance routine."

"Pure Drivel" features contributions from Inara George of the bird and the bee and Griffin Goldsmith of Dawes.

Do what's right and click for your life!

MXDWN highlights Alex Lilly's newest "synth-filled anthem"

TRACK FEATURE

How often do you hear a song that is a "synth filled anthem to booklovers and librarians?"

Now you can!

Check out "Pure Drivel," the first single from the new Alex Lilly album 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘴 𝘈 𝘚𝘪𝘯 (out October 21 via Release Me Records) over at mxdwn or here:

"Its lyricism is an ode to banned books whose themes are often challenged in schools and other public spaces such as libraries whether they be LGBTQIA+ or racial justice based."

All true. And it's also a jam and it also has a FAB video featuring FULL-ON dance sequences shot in a Berlin library which we will show you TOMORROW!

It's Psychedelic premieres "As if," the ethereal and mystical new single from Ivory Fields' upcoming debut

TRACK PREMIERE

Guys! I swear, when I start living inside the version of BLADE RUNNER that takes place in the desert, and I'm being driven around by Daryl Hannah in a sand rover, this track by Ivory Fields is what I want playing on infinite.

"As If" hits it out of the dune with this ethereal, mystical, Earth-is-actually-outer-space thing that I need right now (and you need it too, I promise).

Duophonic vibes from Mahadev (Gangi, Fake Estates) and Ale (Pharaohs, Languis, dublab.)

Thanks to It's Psychedelic Baby for the premiere on this one! Hits all streamers this Friday. Debut album out October 28 via Simballrec / Office of Analogue and Digital. Pre-save now.

Photo by Jeanette Getrost.

Alex Lilly releases a new, sexy song about books: "Pure Drivel"

TRACK PREMIERE

I got to use the phrase "nerdy booty call" in a press release and I am so pumped.

The new Alex Lilly single "Pure Drivel" is out today on Release Me Records and it is A BOP… which is what kids say and also why Alex has been demonstrating the TikTok choreography!

On TikTok yourself? Dance with a book ANYWHERE and use this song as your soundtrack because this song is about BOOKS, not just BOOTIES. It’s also inspired by Alex's pandemic book club:

"It was an interesting club as we mostly drank and smoked and never finished a single book (I’m not proud of this fact!) But it was a break from boredom and @beck read us the first chapter of 𝘔𝘰𝘣𝘺 𝘋𝘪𝘤𝘬.”

New album 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘴 𝘈 𝘚𝘪𝘯 is out October 21. Click for your life!

Hear the "night-kissed" new tune from the crushedvelvets, compared by Stereo Embers to Julee Cruise and The Jazz Butcher

TRACK FEATURE

Good morning! Tremendous words today from Alex Green at Stereo Embers about Dani Meza's latest as the crushedvelvets: "Dreamy and soulful shuffles that have all the night-kissed grace of Julee Cruise and the poetic finesse of The Jazz Butcher."

Man, "night-kissed" is something I'd steal if Alex hadn't given it to us. I'm really proud to be working on this project rooted in personal struggle and survival. The groove truly is in the heart here. Read more about Dani and hear the night-kissed tune (already using it!) "Dig To Me" now.

The second EP in a series of three by the crushedvelvets hits streamers tomorrow.

Alex Lilly's "Frank" leads RIFF Mag's new music mix

TRACK FEATURE

Have you heard the new Alex Lilly song about Barbara and John, Samantha and Vikram?

Inara, Daiana, Alice and Juan? Anna, Eleni, Amber and Alex's dead cat Hank? The song is named after a man in a burning chair at the bar. It's called "Frank."

Give a listen over at RIFF and be sure to look our for the new Alex Lilly album 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘴 𝘈 𝘚𝘪𝘯, out October 21 on Release Me Records!

Buzzbands shares Alex Lilly's "decidedly whimsical" song "Frank"

TRACK FEATURE

I have a new policy here at Fanatic! When posting about Alex Lilly on Wednesday, follow up by posting about Alex Lilly on Thursday!

In accordance, here's another chance to hear "Frank" from Alex's upcoming new album 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘴 𝘈 𝘚𝘪𝘯, out October 21 from Release Me Records.

Thank you BuzzBands.LA for posting about this song, which is SO VERY Los Angeles itself as it turns Alex's real-life friends into lyrics. Kevin Bronson writes, "Lilly introduces the album on a decidedly whimsical note — and she’s exceptional at that. She name-checks almost a dozen of her friends (and her late cat)."

Keep your ears peeled for Inara George, John Vanderslice, and Eleni Mandell for starters. The rest I will leave for you to puzzle out when you're done with Wordle.

Mxdwn premieres "Frank," from Alex Lilly's just-announced and stunning new LP Repetition Is A Sin

PREMIERE

I've been cooling my jets waiting to talk about the new Alex Lilly album and now I don't have to wait anymore!

Alex has made one of my fave albums here. 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘴 𝘈 𝘚𝘪𝘯 just speaks to so many aspects of what I adore about awesome songwriting, production, and life in general.

I'll be saying lots more about it in the months to come, but for now, please enjoy the album cut "Frank," in which Alex turns her friends into her lyrics! Listen for mentions of Inara George, John Vanderslice, and so many others.

So fun! So fab! Thanks to the fine folks at mxdwn for the post. 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘴 𝘈 𝘚𝘪𝘯 is out October 21 via Release Me Records!

Debut album from Ivory Fields manages to sound modern even though it was largely recorded a decade ago; RIYL: Psychic TV, Wire

NEWS

“Ivory Fields has been years in the making,” says Mahadev, (fka Matt Gangi) (GANGI, Fake Estates), one-half of the Los Angeles-based duo which also includes Alejandro Cohen (Pharaohs, Languis.)

Many of the synths and vocals on the record were tracked between 2010 and 2012 in what Mahadev describes as “a slow-burning collaboration.”

This scenario is similar to Mahadev’s other recent release as one-half of GANGI. Somehow, in both cases, it feels right that these compositions have had the time to silently evolve.

In their own words, Ivory Fields “combusts layers of synths, drum machines and guitar over songs composed more around sonic imagery than chord progressions.”

The description is as accurate as it is mysterious. Indeed, the music here often feels like it is both floating just out of grasp, and overwhelming and omnipresent at the same time.

Even so, Mahadev reminds that the record is grounded in a “flare for pop context in its songwriting and production.” Cohen concurs, saying, “Ivory Fields mixes a desire for pop songs, dance production values, and experimental influences.”

Treble Zine premieres the "strange and disorienting" new short film from GANGI

PREMIERE

The following was created on a $5 Mattel Vidster camera purchased on eBay.

I submit, courtesy of Treble, the 12-minute short film for Gangi's just-released three-track EP As Fake Estates, yes!

"Distorted and hazy imagery... a perfect pairing with the group’s songs. Pulsing, dub-inspired rock to psychedelic pop and more abrasive industrial grooves... Accessible melodies with sonic chaos."

What more do you want from outsider art than this, huh? A comfy chair to sit on while you watch? Click for your life!

Physical setbacks almost ended his career, instead Dani Meza of the crushedvelvets adapted his style for three new 2022 EPs

NEWS

After citing Al Green, Marvin Gaye, and Prince as influences, it is only natural that Dani Meza of the crushedvelvets concludes, “These songs are all about the groove.”

The nine new tunes by the crushedvelvets are presented three at a time, as if placed on a dark club’s bar like mixed drinks over the course of a mild summer evening.

EP 1 is out now, with the second arriving Sept. 2, and the third on Oct. 21.

For Meza, getting to that stone cold groove meant first getting his own groove back, and not just in the sense of the popular turn of phrase. Meza literally lost his ability to write and perform following an aneurism and stroke.

“These new songs and style came out of necessity,” Meza confides. “The incident forced me to change my perspective on how to write and perform. My vocal delivery had to be more laid back and the groovy pace of these songs keeps me from over-stimulating myself.”

The circumstances surrounding these recordings are out of the ordinary, but for listeners, they are even more alive with Meza’s soul and survival because of it.

Ghettoblaster speaks with CLIFFWALKER's Cliff

INTERVIEW

Hey!! How are you?!

That's my less-mild Daniel Johnston impression. Like it?

Check it out: Cliff Hayes from CLIFFWALKER chatted with Ghettoblaster Magazine about the duo's debut EP Painted Gray Sky recently.

"Edgy, pulsating... The melodic bass work from Hayes adheres to A. Walker Spring’s enthralling guitar and synth lines. In total, Painted Gray Sky naturally moves from track to track with shadowy underlining that is compelling and progressive." This is accurate!

The instrumental pairing of Cliff's bass and Walker's vibraphone is a sound that I have been here for all year long. I love it! Please give a look-see and a hear-hear (is that the ear version of what eyes do? I don't know.)