Heavy Rotation: White Hills
New York’s White Hills first came to my attention on a show with doom purveyors Telekinetic Yeti. Though I’d never heard a recorded song of theirs, their loud-as-fuck performance despite the fact that they were a duo playing inside of a diner instantly made me a fan. They’ll be off to Europe soon, but before they are, MetalSucks connected with frontman Dave W. about what he’s been listening to recently.
Gewalt – “Unterwerfung”
Gewalt are a contemporary Industrial Rock trio out of Berlin. “Unterwerfung” is off their first full length album, “Paradies”, and what an album it is. Hard hitting, dark and down right danceable. I just can’t get enough of it.
The Gentle Cycle – “Eyes Landslide”
I’ve always been a sucker for a well crafted song, full of hooks, great guitar playing and lofty vocals. The latest offering from The Gentle Cycle (Derek See and Roger Brogan) fits that bill perfectly. Derek’s guitar playing is so fluid and the songwriting is impeccable. Fans of The Dream Syndicate, Rain Parade and Big Star / Alex Chilton will drool over this excellent release.
The Art Gray Noizz Quintet – “Here’s Johnny”
Stuart Gray (aka Stu Spasm) of Australia’s Lubricated Goat, now based in NYC, offers up a trashy, noisy and dirty slab of rock n’ roll depravity with this track. One of my favorite local NYC bands at the moment and one of the cities best kept musical secrets. If you like your rock sleazy this one is for you.
Latest Fad – “Cocktails By The Pound”
I do love my music spacey and cosmic. Latest Fad is a contemporary duo who hail from the Pacific Northwest, yet one might think they were from Berlin in the early 1970’s. This is some of the best cosmic music I’ve heard in years. Their album LSD Spider is a masterpiece. If you’re into Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schultze, Cluster or any and all things Krautrock and electronic you should definitely add Latest Fad to your list of music must haves.
LOOP – “Halo”
First proper album by Robert Hampson and crew since 1990. Well worth the wait if you ask me. Heavy and hypnotic fuzz driven rhythmic mantras that hit the spot. I dig how simplistic yet complex the music is. The layers are dense and churn like magma deep under the earth’s crust.
High Vis – “Talk For Hours”
I knew nothing about High Vis before receiving a new signing announcement email from Dais Records. Always interested in something new I checked out the link in the email to this track and was hooked. Their album “Blending” is infectious.
Wovenhand – “Masonic Youth”
Not their most recent but my go to lately from this great band. The first US Tour White Hills did was supporting Wovenhand. I’ve been a fan ever since. David Eugene Edwards is a master songsmith with a depth that many strive for but few achieve.
Jim Carroll – “Falling Down Laughing”
I’ve been digging back into Jim Carroll’s catalog quite a bit lately. This track, off of his album, “Pools Of Mercury”, breathes New York City to me. When I listen to it I can smell all of the scents, good and bad, the city has to offer on a hot summer day.
Einsturzende Neubauten – “Vox Populi”
Einsturzende Neubauten is one of those bands I just can’t get enough of. This track is from the album “Grudnstueck”. I love how it starts off so etherreal and ends so jarring.
Phew – “Signal”
This collaboration between Japanese musician Phew, Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit of Can has been getting a lot of playtime lately. In some way it reminds me of Brian Eno & David Byrne’s “My Life In The Bush With Ghosts” but more twisted.
