90’S ANGST MEETS ALT-ROCK
Alysse Gafkjen
BULLY Losing
7/10
Sub Pop (2017)
T
here’s certainly the feeling that Bully are still a band figuring out their full-fledged sonic identity, but to have the opportunity to witness the first rays of undeniable brilliance offers an weirdly enthralling experience for whoever is paying attention. On their second full-length album, the Alicia Bognanno-fronted band, sound way more confident than with their debut, 2015’s Feels Like. The most noticeable element of that confidence can be found in Alicia’s vocal performance, which doesn’t seem too concerned with stopping or even work around any sort of barriers. For fuck’s sake, it’s even the most audible element in the mix. Their sound is doubtless informed by the alternative rock scene from the 90s, but more importantly is the way the 90s informed Bognanno to write sort of openly and honestly about her. Because with the ravishing, crunchy, and raging loud guitars of Bully, there’s also a soothing side for all the angst and frustration. TIAGO MOREIRA
STAFF PICK
COLLEEN A Flame My Love, A Frequency Thrill Jockey (2017)
7/10
A Flame My Love, A Frequency is the closest Colleen has come to a concept album. Tackling the inevitable fact that life and death are always hand in hand, French musician Cécile Schott – aka Colleen – brings us a powerful and utterly unique meditation about our very own capacity to rise above these troubled and dark times. Tinged with detailed yet explorative soundscapes, there’s always a strong sense of vulnerability and emotional depth, giving at times a few glimpses of optimism but with a strange and evocative feeling of that classic Autumn sadness. A Flame My Love, A Frequency is a pure manifestation of Colleen’s very own artistic statement, an experimental and complex pop affair that will shake you down from head to toes. FAUSTO CASAIS
102
COUNTERPARTS You’re Not You Anymore Pure Noise Records (2017)
7/10
Let’s get one thing out of the way: if you were expecting that Counterparts would have changed their sound then you were right, but if you think that they’ve lost their raging aggression then you’re so wrong, because this new effort is significantly heavier and even more in your face than any previous work. You’re Not You Anymore is abrasive and perfectly balances the best of their previous efforts along with the natural evolutionary next step. It’s a change but it’s quite easy to notice that frontman Brandon Murphy’s lyrics are also tackling a sort of change in life, in the band and everything. With You’re Not You Anymore, Counterparts aren’t afraid to shuck typical hardcore conventions, the song-writing is top notch and the end result is remarkably fresh-sounding. FAUSTO CASAIS
ISSUE 23
DÄLEK Endangered Philosophies Ipecac Recordings (2017)
8/10
“The son of immigrants/Our rise is imminent/ I’m your antithesis/Our sound is infinite/I’m your worst nightmare/Educated and born here/Prepared for warfare/We ain’t going nowhere”. Quoting MC dälek in a review might look like a cop-out but the truth is, there’s hardly a better way to exemplify the brilliance and relevance of his message. “Son of Immigrants” isn’t the undeniable pinnacle but rather another significant part of their work on their latest album, Endangered Philosophies. These pioneers of industrial/experimental/shoegazing hip-hop were always sonically on point and their messages always relevant, so it might not come as a big surprise that in these dark times they’ve managed to respond accordingly. Many have been failing to deliver, but not dälek. Not this time. TIAGO MOREIRA