Bandcamp Picks of the Week 8/10/16
Bandcamp Picks of the Week serves you two more stellar records to check out.
Risa Rubin – JEWISH UNICORN
Genre: Synthpop
Favorite Tracks: “Cry Longer,” “Motherhood,” “Twin Symphony,” “An Autobiography”
Risa Rubin croons like a 20s Jazz singer, but about subjects far too taboo and unromantic to ever really be from such a bygone era. Her compositions are soft and sweet, but simultaneously arid and minimal enough to make them sound like a music box about to break. She makes what could be labeled as synthpop, but creates small, intimate songs instead of the walls of over-produced sound the genre is often known for (“Patience”). At times, her lyrics read like a particularly well-written blog (“Twin Symphony”), and at other times strangely, powerfully socially aware (“Motherhood”). As for the presentation of the record as a whole, Rubin continually adds more music videos to JEWISH UNICORN, making this feel like a completed album that is a continual work in progress. All around, this is a record of delightful contradictions that introduce us to the multitudes contained within Risa Rubin. You can enjoy some of those contradictions yourself here.
Khiazma – THE ENTRANCE OF THE BLACK CIRCLES
Genre: Death Metal
Favorite Tracks: “Khiazma,” “Dreams of Death,” “My Final Breath Lost in Pain,” “Sapphire”
Here’s a little secret: All heavy metal is silly nerd music. Whether it’s death, black, or doom, it’s all dork music. The tolerable metalheads among us understand and embrace this, and a lot of the best metal bands do, to a certain extent. Khiazma is a death metal band well aware of how goofy they are, without making their whole act seem like a huge joke. THE ENTRANCE OF THE BLACK CIRCLES is a chaotic mishmash of tech-death, black metal, and dungeon synth that really shouldn’t work, especially when coupled with the theatrical vocals. Yet, somehow, when all the pieces come together, this is a thoroughly fun and ridiculous listen. Don’t take my word for it, bang yer head here.
Carter Moon
Carter Moon grew up in the desolate Evangelic capital of the world and responded by developing a taste in counter culture, which eventually bloomed into a love for filmmaking and screenwriting. Carter has average opinions on most things, but will defend them adamantly and loudly until no one else wants to bother speaking up. He runs Crossfader's podcast, IN THE CROSSHAIRS.
