The beginning of summer is upon us in Boulder, Colorado. The sun is beaming, the winds are blowing, and we have some great new adds to our rotation to share with you!
Aldous Harding – Train on the Island
Aldous Harding’s newest album is odd…in the best way possible. Stripped down acoustic tracks such as “Worms” and “Riding That Symbol” may give the impression that the project could fit in with other alt-folk works, but the album refuses to fit into any paradigm. The illusion of normalcy given by the traditional folk elements of acoustic guitar and rustic percussion is broken by fantastical, off-putting lyrics, subversions in tone, and Harding’s unique vocal expressiveness. “What Am I Gonna Do?” features drastic shifts from jaded and gruff verses to pleading, heartfelt moments of earnestness. The main piano part on “One Stop” is simplistic, with a bubbly and prideful tone, but the lyrics are disorienting, and by the end of the song, Harding’s words are muttered and slurred. And yet, these moments of diversion do not detract from the album’s cohesion. If anything, they give the record a unique flavor that leaves the listener wanting more. –Corey
Nara’s Room – Tearless, thoughtless
Tearless, thoughtless wears the Y2K futurism aesthetic proudly, featuring an album cover that looks like it could’ve been the default desktop image on a Macintosh in an early-2000s computer lab…and the tracklist does not disappoint! At its core, Nara’s Room is a shoegaze band, with the hazy, drowned-out atmosphere that has become classic to the genre. However, the group’s lo-fi production style and use of 8-bit synth sounds on this latest release give it a nostalgic, retro feel. They even included an interlude halfway through the album that announces to the listener that they will now be listening to Side 2 of the record, offering a truly immersive Y2K experience, even to those listening in the modern age of streaming. –Corey (again)
Lowertown – Ugly Duckling Union
Lowertown’s newest record does the whole “happy music but deep lyrics” thing very well. The instrumentation is playful, with bouncing bass lines, twangy guitar licks, fun percussion, and a sense of childlike wonder in the singer’s voice. The lyrics, however, offer a stunningly accurate depiction of the struggles of young adulthood. The opener “Mice Protection” deals with uncertainty about the singer’s identity and future, while “Echo of Desire’ and “I Like You A Lot” are nuanced representations of the unhealthy obsession that often accompanies young love. The lyrical themes about the troubles of adolescence work in great harmony with the jovial, cutesy accompaniment to capture the awkwardness that we face as we become young adults. It’s comforting to hear music that displays the struggles of growing up while maintaining a humorous, playful spirit. –Corey (hi!)
Shelby Natasha – It Was Mine
This is a really great EP, full stop. Shelby Natasha plays the guzheng (an ancient, plucked string instrument originating in China, known for a graceful, fluid sound). Because of this, the songs have a very ethereal quality to them, which Natasha blends with nature sounds, a child’s laughter, piano, and lo-fi beats. It feels like she wrote it sitting in her childhood home’s backyard and as a result, it feels like a meditation on growth. Similarly, the lyrics don’t necessarily follow a traditional structure, they feel like poetry set to song, and every word feels intentional. –Everett