Dig ‘in: Surgery Cult, New Pagans, Spiral XP, En Attendant Ana
Check out what the No Wristbands team is listening to and what’s in our show calendars this month on our latest Dig ‘in.
INCOMING
Surgery Cult - Torso Exchange (self-released cassette LP)
Surgery Cult bears a name that might suggest that they exist on the industrial side of the spectrum. While distortion infiltrates their output, the overall effect of their music tilts towards a melodic psychedelic vibe. Vocalist and guitarist Paul Foreman (Salisman, Soft Speaker) elicits a forlorn feeling with a wistfulness that captures life’s disappointments and disillusionment. He and bandmates Tony Assimos (guitar/owner of Tone Deaf Records), Evan Berodt (bass) and Bill Brown (drums) recorded Torso Exchange over the past two years with Doug Malone at Jamdek Studio in Humboldt Park. There’s plenty of reverb-soaked goodness to be found, punctuated at times with a maelstrom of guitar howl. The songs stretch out comfortably, but the band remains aware not to linger in one place very long. Torso Exchange maps a journey that gives way to some adventurous sonic exploration. It’s a trip truly worth taking. -Bruce Novak
New Pagans - Making Circles of Our Own (Big Scary Monsters LP)
The second album from Belfast, Ireland’s alt-punk quintet New Pagans is an impressive slice of guitar-driven post-punk/indie rock. Making Circles of Our Own is propelled by the twin guitar attack of Cahir O’Doherty and Allan McGreevy. The rhythm section of Claire Miskimmin (bass) and Conor McAuley (drums) combines to provide the perfect palette for singer and songwriter Lyndsey McDougall. O’Doherty does a fine job producing this one. “Better People” kicks things off in high gear and songs like “There We Are John” and “Karin Was Not A Rebel” showcase McDougall’s unique view of the world. There is a definite vintage late ’80s/early ’90s Pixies vibe to these ten songs—not surprising since they are one of McDougall’s influences. The record closes with the dreamy/folky “The State of My Love’s Desires” showcasing the range of New Pagans. Definitely one of my favorite records of 2023 so far. -Tom Novak
Spiral XP - It’s Been a While (Danger Collective Records EP)
Spiral XP has been a welcome addition to the Seattle scene, and a bit of a godsend for those awaiting more recorded output from the beloved Versing. Max Keyes, Versing’s drummer, heads up Spiral XP, who are back with EP number two following 2021’s Drop Me In. It’s Been a While raises the aggression and tempo, employing repetition and release patterns. “The End” simmers in a trance-like vibe before uncoiling with a guitar squall that turns things topsy-turvy. “Deja Vu,” on the other had, is buzzy from the start and is finished off in under two minutes for a dizzying sugar rush. Last time Spiral XP tried to break out of the state of Washington they were thwarted by their faulty van—here’s hoping that the new record leads them far and wide this time. -Bruce Novak
En Attendant Ana - Principia (Trouble In Mind LP)
Margaux Bouchaudon has described Principia as a lighter album, with deliberate attention paid not to clutter up the instrumentation by having everyone play simultaneously. Undeniably, Principia sounds more crystalline—Vincent Hivert’s elastic bass playing is particularly distinct and Camille Fréchou’s horn work embellish the songs like never before. There’s nothing on the record that provides the frenzied rush of “In/Out” from their prior album, Juillet, but there are plenty of highlights that showcase the inherent strengths of this French pop quintet.
“Same Old Story” reinforces Bouchaudon’s selective approach with dynamic syncopation dished out by Hivert and drummer Adrien Pollin supporting a tussle between Max Tomasso’s guitar and Fréchou’s sax. “Wonder” flows gently until it gives way to a motorik pace framed by swirling synths and phase-shifting guitar. “The Cut Off” is like a gleeful skip down the sidewalk, breaking out a bubbling keyboard to bolster its punchy arrangement. Throughout, Bouchaudon’s voice is resolute, setting the tone for a range of emotions. Lighter though it may be, Principia carries its weight remarkably well. -Bruce Novak
UPCOMING
Astrobrite
Where: Burlington Bar / Directions
When: March 1, 8:30 PM
March 5, 7:00 PM
Scott Cortez takes a painterly approach to creating music—a blank canvass offers a myriad of opportunities for him with no predetermined outcome. The soundscapes that he documents on his Chicago 4-track recorder are at turns dense, conceptual, ambient and cinematic. Eschewing the preciseness of synths or keyboards, Cortez opts for a more variable guitar vocabulary to shape sounds by leveraging delay and loop effects. Voices are captured for their harmonic value—providing texture as opposed to generating lyrical text. Individual elements are somewhat hard to discern resulting in a wall of sound construct formed by intellect and intuition. Astrobrite produces music that can engulf a room, leaving the listener little choice but to get swept up by its impact. -Bruce Novak
Cel Ray
Where: Cole’s / Directions
When: March 3, 10:00 PM
Cel Ray’s debut EP, Cellular Raymond, dropped in February and the band is wasting no time hitting the stages with this Cole’s appearance coming on the heels of an Empty Bottle performance two weeks ago. Their chosen cassette release format further signifies that they aren’t waiting around for industry vinyl backlogs to clear in order to get their music heard. Cel Ray spit out spirited, spiraling-out-of-control punk in tongue-in-check fashion. Singer Maddie Daviss attacks life’s formalities and phobias with a wink and a smirk. Her clever wordplay energizes seemingly mundane topics concerning cleanliness and job monotony. Her “Woof Woof” rallying call on “Dog War” sounds like a perfectly suited invitation to mosh pit frenzy if there ever was one. Dive in at your own peril. -Bruce Novak
Unwound
Where: Thalia Hall / Directions
When: March 7 & 8, 7:30 PM
Unwound often appeared as a band on the verge of collapse—a sense of desperation pervaded their go-for-broke approach with Justin Trosper singing himself hoarse with emotion. The Pacific Northwest trio did survive for an initial decade-long run with critical acclaim, although their most popular release, Repetition, was south of 20K in overall sales. The frenzy surrounding the region’s grunge and riot grrrl movements never quite caught up with Unwound’s less categorizable sound.
Thankfully, in 2013 Numero Group began compiling the group’s output with the first class treatment they so deserved. Last year Unwound unexpectedly announced that they were reforming for a slate of 2023 shows, which was a tough decision with the passing of founding member Vern Rumsey in 2020. Trosper and drummer Sara Lund have enlisted Jared Warren (recently of the Melvins) to play bass and expanded the trio with the addition of Scott Seckington (Nocturnal Habits) on guitar and keyboards. For a band who once reveled in punishing audiences with their sheer force of sound, there assuredly will be no complaints from the listening crowd this time around. -Bruce Novak
UNCOVERED
Christina Vantzou - No. 4 (Kranky LP)
Brussels based composer Christine Vantzou works within a largely classical context using voice, acoustic instruments, and electronics to construct an ethereal world that is equal parts sound exploration and melody. On No. 4 she uses space and stillness to compelling effect, and a couple of pieces here recall Eno’s Music for Airports and Discreet Music albums. In fact, the opening of “Some Limited and Waning Memory” could almost be a sample of “2/1" off of MFA. No matter, this is beautiful and patient work, perfect for an overcast afternoon of reading and reflection. It’s hard to gauge how well her work is known, but a quick glance at her discography reveals an active practice with numerous collaborators along the way. I look forward to exploring her entire catalogue. -Wade Iverson
We recommend listening along over at our Spotify page. Here’s this week’s content: