SWEEP FREQUENCY #356: A Place Where Nothing Ever Happens
New tunes from Psymon Spine, Slap Rash, Gaidaa, Blue Bendy, and J. Caesar
OPENING RIFF: "I know relationships can be very difficult sometimes, but it’s always worth it to put in the hard work and care for the ones you love, especially the beautiful ones, who are few and far between. If you happen to find that kind of love, hold it close, hold it tight, savor it, tend to it, and give it everything you’ve got, especially in times of trouble." -- Sufjan Stevens eulogizing his deceased partner, Evans Richardson
SMALL TALK: Whether you've already seen it before or not, I must implore you to try to see Stop Making Sense on the big screen before it leaves theaters for its 40th anniversary screenings. While I don't need to extoll the virtues of arguably the greatest concert film of all time, the sheer power of it is so much more spectacular than the laptop with tinny speakers you probably watched it on in college, and the new sound mixing is a real joy to hear. The new oral history of how the film came together is a great read, too. At home, though, I was in the mood for something romantic with some touches of beautiful experimentation, which led me to Claude Lelouch's A Man and a Woman, which will have you believe in love and second chances all over again. While it'd be a mistake to lump it in with the French New Wave, there's certainly a more accessible use of its techniques, and there's striking gorgeousness in something as random as an extended samba number or a Monte Carlo race in between tense moments of longing. Beyond that, I used a weekend with the house to myself to carve out some time to watch the ultimate dudes rock movie, Heat, just before the sequel film was formally announced. Let's get to this week's new music.
Nearly Every Song From Every 2023 Newsletter Will Be Available in Playlist Form: SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC
1. PSYMON SPINE - "BOYS": Psymon Spine have spent the past eight years or so perfecting their aesthetic, and it seems more of-the-moment than ever these days. As much a party anthem as a brooding contradiction, "Boys" blends dreamy electronics with rocking darkness for a fun as hell ode to playing with the boys.
2. SLAP RASH - "THIS NOTE IS USELESS": Manchester's Slap Rash are dropping their debut EP in a couple weeks, and it's definitely something I'm anticipating after hearing "This Note Is Useless." A furious post-punk number with dashes of big sounds and experimentation throughout, this tune's twists and turns will have you enthralled.
3. GAIDAA - "SOMETHING TRUE": It can be easy to shy away from the messy aspects of life, because nobody likes to feel hurt, but it's always good to get a reminder that it's important to embrace a full life. This is something Gaidaa leans into on "Something True," as she sings over a smooth beat with skittering rhythms, embracing a vulnerability that is often gestured at by others, but rarely practiced.
4. BLUE BENDY - "MR. BUBBLEGUM": I've been following Blue Bendy's career for a bit without having the chance to write about them in this space, but the sheer ambition of a song like "Mr. Bubblegum" is a chance to finally give them their flowers. It's a song that tries and succeeds at putting a million ideas into a song, and the result is a kitchen-sink indie pop tune that has a seriously sinister bent to it.
5. J. CAESAR - "ICON": J. Caesar's got a new EP on the way through newsletter favs Secretsundaze, and it's a seriously deep banger. A churning, soulful house jam, "Icon" never takes its foot off the gas while still having a tender aura to it, and it leads to dance floor nirvana.
PARTING SHOTS: For no reason whatsoever, here is a story about how the struggle to end South African apartheid was an international struggle. You'll find no better example of how much the Democratic Party is trying to kneecap successful progressives than a local race here in New Orleans where they're propping up a Republican carpetbagger. The Internet is simply not fun anymore, and it's probably time to acknowledge that as its permanent state. Predictably, I've been closely following the shattering of marathon records the past few weeks, and what it all means for the future of running is pretty subjective at the moment.
ENCORE: "HEAVEN"