January 19, 2025

Shawna Virago: "Climb To The Bottom" video

Shawna Virago has a made a video for Climb To The Bottom, a track from her Blood In Her Dreams album: a mix of broad strokes and intricate details, a musical quilt that fits her like a glove."

» shawnavirago.com

HCTF review of Blood In Her Dreams.

OK Go: A Stone Only Rolls Downhill

American power pop quartet OK Go have announced a new album, And the Adjacent Possible, their first since the release of Hungry Ghosts in 2014. It looks that they are sticking to their guns, with the deceptively sunny side up sounding lead single A Stone Only Rolls Downhill proclaiming " Oh how I wish that I could tell you it would be all right". The video ties footage of 64 smartphones together, which takes product placement to another level.

Words about music (770): Bob Mould

Beyond my personal reasons for not looking back, a Hüsker Dü reunion would surely tarnish the history of the band. It's the rare occasion when a reunion tour is close or equal to what a band looked, sounded, and felt like "back in the day." ...I've left Hüsker Dü in the past. I'm not interested in diminishing whatever legacy exists just so people can say, "I saw Husker Du." If you have an original ticket stub dated 1979-1987, you saw Hüsker Dü. If not, you missed out.

Bob Mould

January 18, 2025

Jumble Hole Clough: Potpourri or Popery?

English avant-garde musician Colin Robinson takes a look at - among other things - religion, Greek mythology, superstition, food and old school means of communication on Potpourri or Popery?, the new album by his Jumble Hole Clough project. His love for acts like King Crimson, Captain Beefheart, free jazz and Krautrock in general is mixed with beeps and purrs..

He plays quite a lot of guitar on this one, but the percolating keyboards get their place in the spotlights as well, sometimes within the same track. Occasionally Mordred is a mashup of a pirate's drinking ditty and an off-kilter prog rock song - it also mentions John Travolta's vest. He gets funky with Scylla Black Mass and Semaphore Signal a manual for the art of stop-and-start chopped notes.

Hotgirl: On The Brink

photo: Niamh Barry

Irish quartet Hotgirl take a little warming up on their new single On The Brink. After a soft bedroom pop start the track explodes into Pixies-esque mayhem, with lead singer Ashley Abbedeen shouting at the heavens.

Emotions run high as she tries to come to terms with being lonely, as the onlookers are having a laugh at her expense. Sophie Boxwell's gnarly lead guitar will get a thumbs up for noise and metal fans.