INSIDE NOISE: Week of 10/13
From experimental vocal jazz to energetic, action-packed afrobeat, this week’s popular releases had it all! Come dive in with us!
I Killed Your Dog by L’Rain
Combining the elegant grace of vocal jazz with the experimental nature of the New York indie scene, I Killed Your Dog by L'Rain explores the depths of self-loathing depression while maintaining a bright, approachable sound. The L'Rain project launched in the wake of the artist watching her DIY community get bulldozed by New York's rampant gentrification, and the latent lonliness and rootlessness that resulted still figures prominently in the themes of I Killed Your Dog. Through emotionally complicated compositions and varied production that shades each song in its own satisfying tint, this record shows us twenty first century malaise from every angle, combined with L'Rain's personal experiences of grief that feel so familiar to so many of us. 8/10. -Michael
SUCCUBUS by COBRAH
COBRAH proves slut pop isn’t dead with her new release SUCCUBUS. Proudly featuring her signature intoxicating mix of thrumming synths, driving bass, and industrial ornamentation, COBRAH continues to showcase liberated feminine sexuality to the tune of high-energy club bangers. SUCCUBUS also boasts a stunning visual aesthetic, an element of her artistry that has become more precise with each new release. With yet another strong project that will do wonders in dance mixes around the world, COBRAH remains an underrated fixture in dance pop. 9/10. -Carrie
Vapor by Bixiga 70
If you're in the mood for some straightforward, feel-good, funky, jazzy afrobeat, I've got just the thing. Brazilian group Bixiga 70's new record Vapor scratches every itch of danceable jazz, with a rhythm section that locks down a groove from beginning to end. Surrounding this groove, horns and various auxiliary percussion pull the compositions in a slightly cooler direction. These instrumentals alternate between catchy lead lines, constructive solos, and held-out chords, all of which pair well with the kinetic energy deep in the songs' foundations. Making funk without vocals puts Bixiga 70 in a difficult position, but they handle this challenge wonderfully, giving us beautifully full and lively compositions that don't feel like they're missing anything. 7/10. -Michael
