SWEEP FREQUENCY #405: Bunker Down
New tunes from HotWax, Sunken, evilgiane & Guapo, Straw Man Army, eat-girls, and more...
OPENING RIFF: "She hoped that she could crack herself open like a nut and know herself, at least. Then she'd be able to start figuring out everybody else." -- Bonnie Jo Campbell, Once Upon a River
SMALL TALK: It's been quite a while since I've been one to go clubbing, and even longer still since I could successfully survive marathon DJ sets. I still have a love for those sounds and those runtimes, though, even as living in a smaller city and getting sufficiently old have confined the dancing to my own home. Back when I danced the night away, though, the Bunker parties were one of those spots where I'd have no regrets about my sleepless hangovers, and Mike Servito was often spinning in those situations. It felt appropriate, then, that while I was looking for something long-form to listen to beyond my mainstays, a new five hour mix from Servito and Jeffrey Sfire found its way to my speakers. Like those fun nights out, this massive set is a relentless combination of jacking house, freestyle, and Italo in a way that makes me want to properly party again. Even though I won't, it's still putting me in a dang good mood while I work. Speaking of mainstays, it had been a while since I listened to Anu's Soup to Nuts show on NTS, and her surprise drop of the new LCD Soundsystem song led me to listen to the new episode in full. In addition to the latest banger from James Murphy and company, there are plenty of favorite songs new and old in this particular episode, ranging from Gil Scott-Hero to MIKE to the new Speakers Corner Quartet cover of Arthur Russell I mentioned last week. If you're looking for just the LCD track, I still recommend starting a few minutes earlier to hear a very lovely new song from Tesia. Let's get to this week's new tracks.
Nearly Every Song From Every 2024 Newsletter Will Be Available in Playlist Form: SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC
1. HOTWAX - "SHE'S GOT A PROBLEM": HotWax are getting ready to unleash their debut album early next year, and "She's Got a Problem" is the kind of track that's getting me pretty excited to hear the rest. A slow burn of a track, this one almost lulls you from the start before roaring to life throughout its runtime, with just a few moments to catch your breath before its grunged-out conclusion.
2. SUNKEN - "FRIENDS": It was beginning to seem like Sunken were a bit of a one-off after dropping a soothing 2020 EP, but the band now has two singles to their name. "Friends" is especially lovely, a moody, reverb-laden tune that has a melancholy tinge to it and well-placed shoegaze riffs to boot.
3. EVILGIANE & GUAPO - "HALLOWEEN FREESTYLE": evilgiane might be the most prolific hip-hop producer around these days, and his latest is a seasonal banger. Teaming up with Guapo, "HALLOWEEN FREESTYLE" finds Guapo in rapid-fire form over a beat that's downright spooky and bumping, which of course feels appropriate.
4. STRAW MAN ARMY - "LOOK ALIVE": An already bleak period in history feels worryingly like it's about to get worse on the eve of the election, and the manic post-punk sounds of Straw Man Army feels right for the mood. Everything from the sharp bass line to the refrain of "America will never last" is especially apt, and this could be the soundtrack for a rocky end to 2024.
5. EAT-GIRLS - "PARA LOS PIES CANSADOS": Despite the Spanish song title, eat-girls hail from France, and their music operates in a way that feels unnerving in a good way. Backed by kraut-rock keys and fuzzed-out synths, "Para los Pies Cansados" is about pushing through that tiredness to do something with your life, but the vibes feel like the foreboding crunch of living under late capitalism.
PARTING SHOTS: Early voting is underway in New Orleans, so be sure to check out local guides from New Orleans DSA and Antigravity respectively. The government being able to track your every move (including at abortion clinics) feels as inevitable as it does depressing. The NBA season is finally here, and Defector's annual preview is slightly less comprehensive than usual but still a fun primer. Sharon van Etten is making a full band album, and the left turn of the debut single is really fucking good.
ENCORE: "CAVERN"