Julia Wolf - R.I.P. to the Club

The production value behind the gliding 808s that power Julia Wolf’s “R.I.P. to the Club” is a work of art. It’s the lifeblood and the driving force behind what’s turning out to be one of our favorite songs of the year. Over the last few years, this Queens-based classically trained singer/songwriter has been meticulously crafting her musical persona. She’s already got the aesthetic down pat, but what we hear in “R.I.P. to the Club” is an evolution of her sound - and a clear message to fans and critics alike that Wolf has no intentions on doubling down on something just because it works. Back to the release of her first single since her Girls in Purgatory EP, “R.I.P. to the Club” is way more than than just those aforementioned gliding 808s - it’s also a coming of age story about someone who’s finally outgrown the club scene (at least, that’s our interpretation). The juxtaposition between the innocent, acoustic guitar undertones of the pre-chorus and the dark, grimy underworld so provocatively laid out in the chorus also seems to demonstrate Wolf’s shift from shy girl by day to vampire lusting for blood by night. It’s not just a melodically captivating song, it’s also a refreshingly cohesive one from the standpoint of bridging underlying message and sound. As we continue to blast this tune whilst reminiscing on our own club misadventures, we’ll be patiently waiting for more new Julia Wolf material in 2022.

Dora Jar - It’s Random

Dora Jar transcends labels and constructs. Where I’d refer to another group/artist as an (adjective) band, Dora Jar’s just a band. That’s because this California native has no intentions of restricting herself to the confines of one particular genre. What’s funny, is that we wrote these sentiments and then proceeded to read a little more about her. The first thing we came across, via Dora’s label Wasserman Music, was the following: “Dora Jar is an artist who refuses to be defined.” It sounds like we’re on the same page. And when it comes to “It’s Random,” we are on the exact same same wavelength. Featured on her brand-new comfortably in pain EP, “It’s Random” is more anthem than song. It’s a bubblegrungy, distorted, hardcore piece of art that deserves to be put on display for the world to hear. And as admirers of said art, we’re simply doing our part as we broadcast this amazing tune out to our tiny corner of the blogosphere.

Destroyer - June

Let’s get the most important thing out of the way first: Destroyer’s Kaputt is a masterpiece. If you haven’t listened to it, then I suggest you stop what you’re doing and dive right in. Dan Bejar’s experimental, adventuristic nature wasn’t necessarily going to allow him to continue with the same formula just because it works - but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been longing for a sound that resembled Kaputt since the decade or so it was released. That is until Destroyer released his newest single “June,” off his upcoming Labyrinthitis LP - and it’s exactly what I needed to fill that aforementioned void. It’s actually more like two songs in one, with the opening half sounding stylistically similar to “Kaputt” (the song) before a stark shift into a sound that’s completely wild, unconventional, and absolutely necessary. Initiated by a basic plucky guitar riff, Bejar produces an ever-evolving melody of pads, guitars, and swirling vocals that vibes with every chemical building block in my body. And honestly, that’s all I can say before concluding that you’ve just sort of got to hear it to believe it.

Sipper - ily<3

Say what you will about Sipper, but it’s hard to criticize the guy’s work ethic. This NYC artist has seemingly put out a song a week for the last century - and the only reason that’s a noteworthy feat is because they are all, well, quite good. Our personal favorite of the batch is his newest release, “ily<3,” which blends hazy lo-fi rock with some retro synth pads that you might find in a cheesy 80s pop song, such as this gem from When In Rome. Part of the Sipper appeal is that he clearly doesn’t take himself too seriously, but that hasn’t prevented his ever-expanding catalogue from gaining mainstream momentum. We’ll be looking forward to his next LP release later this year.

Barrie - Quarry

Barrie’s sophomore LP Barbara is shaping up to be something special. This week she released her excellent new single "Jenny" off the much anticipated record. But we want to take a moment to backtrack and reminisce on the the single before that, “Quarry,” and call it out for the spectacle of sound that it is. For us, it’s a song that was conceived in this time period, but it doesn’t necessarily belong here. And it’s not just the feel-good track of the year, it’s also layered with heart, substance, and a steadfast intensity that comes on rather quickly at the arrival of the slightly impromptu hook. The sheer goodness of this song is also a testament to Barrie’s natural songwriting abilities. It’s not going to bombard you with sound textures and percussive elements in every nook and cranny of the mix space. Instead, all she needs is a lush synth melody, a sleek guitar hook, and her ever-so-charming vocal presence. We can’t wait to hear Barbara in it’s entirety - out March 25th.

The Golf Club - funny lil thing

There are some tracks you simply want to cozy up and live inside. We knew The Golf Club’s “funny lil thing” met these high standards as soon as the hypnotizingly catchy chorus dropped. It comes from another band we’re just discovering as of this early Friday morning - and we are all the better for it. It’s hard to find much of anything about The Golf Club, because any relevant info is understandably masked behind links for country clubs and swinging tutorials. Nonetheless, we’ve got all we need with this brilliant tune and their remaining three Spotify singles at our disposal. “funny lil thing” is a fusion of funk, lo-fi bedroom pop, and even a little vaporwave. But don’t let those genres deceive you from the fact this is one of the most polished productions we’ve listened to in 2022. In its brief 2:17 runtime, it fills the panoramic soundscape with sleek guitar riffs, vocal harmonies, and some percussion cut outs that leave you momentarily suspended in eager anticipation of what’s to come next. We absolutely can’t wait to hear more from this up-and-coming California-based duo.

Brimheim - hurting me for fun

Brimheim’s “hurting me for fun” is more than just a song. It’s an anthem. It’s a moment in time - suspended in dark matter. It’s a heartfelt journey into all the experiences and memories that make us uniquely human. And it’s a character study into the driving forces behind Brimheim, aka Helena Heinesen Rebensdorff’s, sonic makeup. This Copenhagen-based artist is new on the scene, but her debut LP can’t hurt myself into a different shape is as polished and mature as it gets. The reservoir of emotions “hurting me for fun” taps into seems endless, but what magnifies this powerful track even further is the production value behind it. Throughout the record, she and producer Søren Buhl Lassen rely on some creative reverb automation, particularly on the vocals, to amplify the point(s) they’re trying to convey. And they take it one step further on “hurting me for fun,” as they close out the song, and the album, with an absolute bang using some crushing distortion and a quick window of deep house sidechain pumping before a final moment of clarity. It’s the instance of coming across these sorts of goosebump-inducing moments (also know as frisson) that make the often-exhausting job of music curation and discovery more than worth it.

Anaïs Mitchell - Watershed

Anais Mitchell is one-of-a-kind. No one makes music like her, but that doesn’t mean we can’t convey our point with a few apt comparisons. She’s got the poignant lyrics of Phoebe Bridgers, the sentimental charisma of Damien Rice, the unbounding authenticity of Destroyer, and the legendary folk status of Bon Iver. If that ringing endorsement doesn’t convince a newcomer to begin their journey down Mitchell's transfixing catalogue, nothing will. And looking back on that catalogue, it’s one we’ve grown up to. And, coincidentally, some of her songs have grown up, too. “Now You Know,” formerly featured on her compilation record Xoa, received quite the full-band makeover from its original, acoustic upbringing. You’ll find that tune alongside nine others on her brand-new, self-titled album - which we’re crowning as the first exceptional record of 2022. It was hard to choose just one song to feature here, but we’re going with the closer, “Watershed.” It’s an elegant and touching tune, powered by a grand piano melody and Mitchell’s heartfelt lyrics that weave tell a tale of hardship, adversity, and human resilience.

Lisa Mitchell - I Believe In Kindness

I can’t figure out Lisa Mitchell. You look on her Spotify page and she’s clearly mainstream, but then you dive in to her catalogue - and it’s all over the place. From a series of popular covers to hits from her 2009 record Wonder, which, if I am being honest, don’t sound much at all like her new releases. But I don’t know enough about her to determine whether this is Lisa Mitchell reinventing herself, simply exploring a new genre of delicate folk, or a little of both. What I do know is that her newest single “I Believe in Kindness” has shook me to the core. It takes a poignant dive into the best and worst elements that make up the human condition - and the result is something overwhelmingly……real. The stellar production of this spellbinding tune (lead by Big Scary’s Tom Iansek) is worthy of a discussion its own, but it’s going to take some time for us to fully digest and appreciate. For now, we’re simply over the moon about this excellent track and intent on sharing it with everyone we know.

Mild Orange - Oh Yeah

We did not anticipate liking Mild Orange’s “Oh Yeah” as much as we do. And that’s not a knock against them. In fact, we had never heard of this New Zealand-based indie rock four-piece until earlier this morning. It’s just that, when you’re taking one last deep dive into the darkest recesses of the weekly new release bin, you don’t often like what you find at the bottom. Except when you come across a brilliant gem like “Oh Yeah,” which validates the seemingly endless hours you spent “nexting” your way through abrasive sound after abrasive sound that masquerade as music. We’re getting some serious Dinosaur Jr./Pavement vibes, but there’s also something intrinsically modern about this song - and it’s one we’ll be coming back to a lot this year. Look out for their new record, Looking for Space, due February 11th.

The Knocks - Walking On Water (ft. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs)

In the rare instances when two of my favorite artists join forces, I’ll typically demonstrate a set of conflicting feelings: excitement and anxiety. While both of these artists are unconditionally loved by us, that doesn’t mean that every track of theirs unconditionally resonates with us. But by the time we were halfway through our first listen of “Walking on Water” by The Knocks and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, any anticipatory concerns of disappointment were fully squashed. And instead, we’re now having a discussion about where this is going to fare in our EOY top tracks category. And if you listen close, this track features way more than just that mesmerizing pulsating, filter-sweeped synth with a slight swing variation. TEEDs lush vocal harmonies are crucial, but it’s those subtle, yet inexplicably essential bird calls spruced throughout that wind up as a key driving force behind this fascinatingly brilliant tune.

Rostam - Changephobia

We featured Rostam’s “Wood” and “Don’t Let It Get to You” in the “before time” of the Lower Frequencies blog. Back then, circa 2012 or 2013, they were two rather mysterious singles floating around the fringes of the blogosphere. We even recall reaching out to him around that point to inquire about the status of his debut LP, but a “Soon!” was all we got in response. About four years and some change later, the magnificent Half-Light came out. And while that response of his may imply that we can’t necessarily rely on Rostam to show up for a dinner engagement on time, we’ll never have to worry about the quality of the product he puts out. The title track off his 2021 sophomore LP Changephobia weaves a sentimental tale about those creeping feelings of self doubt and fear of change that seem to infiltrate us all from time to time. And while the world is certainly a different place from that “before time,” it’s nice to know some things, like Rostam providing us with excellent listening material, haven’t changed a bit.

Sticky Fingers - Saves The Day

Our infatuation with Sticky Fingers started all the way back in 2013 with a tune that I’ll confidently proclaim as one of the best songs ever made: “Australia Street.” For those who haven’t heard it, I’d strongly encourage you to watch the music video, which also holds a special place in our heart. This is a group that self-admittedly doesn’t take themselves too seriously, yet at the same time are capable of producing some of the more profoundly sincere tunes I’ve ever heard. Most recently, that honor goes to “Saves the Day.” And while I admittedly don’t fully understand the story Sticky Fingers might be trying to tell in this tune, I think the real measure of a good song is when none of that even matters — and it’s got you floating on a new existential wavelength anyway.

Hovvdy - True Love

We jumped on the Hovvdy bandwagon late. And if someone were to ask us what draws us to their work, the response would undoubtedly include more than a few references to Elliott Smith. From the enchantingly somber chord progressions to the all-too-similar vocal parallels, there are plenty of tunes in Hovvdy’s catalogue that lead us right back to Smith’s. But when it comes to the title track off their new record True Love, the comparisons end there. Characterized by a bright strumming guitar, reverse acoustic textures, and their powerful vocal harmonies, “True Love” is an inherently uplifting tune that testifies to the healing properties of love. With plenty of folk pop gems like this one on one of our favorite records of 2021, we’re excited to see where the evolution of Hovvdy’s sound goes from here.

Illuminati Hotties - Protector

Our discovery of Illuminati Hotties wasn’t an especially organic process. Rather, it was more a result of us succumbing to the peer pressure of the seemingly endless array of positive critic reviews of their debut LP Let Me Do One More. In this case, we’re all the better for it, because what we heard was a genre-bending record that pulled no punches and certainly wasn’t afraid to go against the grain. Sarah Tudzin’s had a few years now as Illuminati Hotties to establish her identity as a music producer, but with the eclectic stream of tunes coming from Let Me Do One More as any indicator, you shouldn’t expect her to nestle into one particular category of sound anytime soon. And by the time “Protector” rolls around at track 6, you’ll be more than welcoming of the downshift in pace. If you’re lucky, what transpires for the following 4:32 might leave you feeling as entranced and existentially dilated as we were the first time this gem of a tune graced our headphones.

Flight Facilities - Lights Up (feat. Channel Tres)

In our return from a hyper-extended hiatus, we’re going to run it back with a few of our favorites of 2021. We’d be remiss if we didn’t begin with our personal favorite tune of 2021, “Lights Up” by Flight Facilities. At this point in their career, Flight Facilities are OGs on a block full of eager new faces. And yet they’ve found a way to keep their material fresh and original, while still incorporating that signature sound that got our attention all those years ago. Their sophomore LP, FOREVER, features a potent concoction of danceable gems, with none resonating more than the opening track, “Lights Up.” There’s one thing clear about a tune like this. It didn’t just happen. It was meticulously crafted, blueprinted, and planned in advance. And that’s most apparent by the way it builds on itself, like the endless folds of that delicious holiday layer cake you’ve committed to work off with your New Year’s resolution.