Java.Feb-web.2016

SNAILMATE
Dine + Dash EP
REDEMPTIONS
Broken Hearts & Shattered Glass EP
RUCA
This Garden
Quick on the heels of their debut EP, Snailmate has
somehow found time between tours to release a
sophomore effort of heavy synth-hop fusion. Dine
+Dash is a six-song EP that further establishes the
unique sound and vision of the duo Kalen Lander
(TKLB?) and Ariel Monet (formerly of Sister Lip).
The record begins with the first single, “Jumper/
Cable,” which is probably their most excitable
song to date. To be fair, this is the soundtrack to
videogame nightmares, but in a good way. Just listen
to Monet screaming “Jump!” and wait for that to
turn up in your dreams. It’s disturbing and catchy, but
that’s how most of this EP is. “Worry Wort” follows
and seem to be cut from the same mold—clever
lyrics, screams and all. The light synth-hop brilliance
of “Virtuous Reality” is a highlight, and Lander’s rap
almost comes across as spoken-word poetry.
“Both” is one of their most interesting ventures
musically and would make a great follow-up
single. Meanwhile, the drum track and synth work
on “Doctor’s Blues” blow my mind, and this lyric
by Lander, “I swear there’s no god but I can’t prove
it” followed by Monet’s shout of “It’s true!” is
brilliant. “Boogie Man” finishes this installment
with some aggressive and infinite weirdness, both
lyrically and musically.
One great thing about Snailmate is that they cram so
much into a song that you hear something different
every time—whether it’s a strange sound effect or
a lyric you never noticed, usually one that makes
you laugh. These are the sounds of a couple of crazy
musicians in love, and their music is some of the
most unusual and unmistakable in the scene right
now. Be sure to catch Snailmate at Time Out Lounge
on February 12 for the release of their EP.
Years ago Anthony Fama was the frontman for one
of my favorite local groups of all time, Doctor Bones.
After his departure, he laid low for a while before
emerging with his new project, The Redemptions,
about two years ago. With Danger Paul Balazs (The
Psychedelephants), Spencer Ferrarin (Something
Went Awry), and Kostantin Bosch and Solo Lounsbury
(both of The Woodworks), this collective has come
together with Fama as frontman to produce the long
overdue debut EP, Broken Hearts & Shattered Glass.
They had well over an album’s worth of songs, but
clearly picked their five best as a calling card to the
world. “Stay” is an absolute stunner of an opener
and a favorite from their live set, catchy as hell and
something that’s been hanging in my mind since it
was released as a preview single. This is followed
by the dark and brooding “There with You,” which
sounds like it was pounded out of the desert heat.
It’s a beautiful, complex number, and Fama has never
sounded better, with a near Elvis croon happening.
“Walls” was another preview single, and it has a
loping rockabilly feel, with Fama evoking vocals from
a cache of ’50s records that he must have stashed
somewhere. The live ambience on “Seventeen”
distracted me when I first heard it, but on further
listens it became a favorite track. The interplay
between Bosch’s drumming and Balazs’ bass pulls the
whole thing together. The record ends with “Secret.”
After repeated listens, I realize why this may end up
as one of my favorites of the year.
It’s taken five years for Ruca to follow up their debut
album, Flow, but just take a listen to This Garden and
tell me it wasn’t worth it. Since their debut, Ruca
has played hundreds of gigs and that kind of stage
time really shows in the confidence, groove and flow
that their new album has going for it. Ruca is the
lead singer, backed by Jack Howell on lead guitar,
Jake Johnston on bass and Josh Montag on drums.
You may note that Ruca overlaps completely with
Scattered Melodies, which may explain why this
album has taken a while to arrive.
In another era, I would have called singer Ruca a
hippie chanteuse or an Earth goddess, which is what
her seductive voice evokes. This is absolutely an
album to get high to if that’s your thing. Even when
Ruca sings of sadness and loss there’s something
positively radiant about her energy. Plus the genres
she explores from classic rock, soul, blues and reggae
would just go well with “a swig and a toke,” as she
says in “Pierpoint.”
This is one of the most feel-good records I’ve heard
in a while, with no filler across all twelve tracks. The
entire album is a delight. There’s no picking favorites,
but the horns on “Get It Back” are brilliant. Then
there’s the combination of keys and horns on “You
Crossed Me.” Seductive “Sirens” has persuasive
percussion, and there are harmonies and unexpected
rap on “Sunshine.” Then there’s the calypso groove
of “We Are All One Love” and the sheer magic of the
title track. The brave finale is Nancy Sinatra’s “Bang
Bang” with a stunning, original arrangement. Pure
listening pleasure for forty-four minutes straight.
32 JAVA
MAGAZINE
Sounds Around Town By Mitchell L. Hillman