100 Unheralded Albums from 2010

Zach Hill: Face TatZach HillFace Tat (Sargent House, 10/19/10)

Zach Hill: “Memo to the Man”

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In 2008, drumming dynamo Zach Hill took time from his impossibly crammed itinerary to release his first solo album, Astrological Straits.  Packed with friends and guest musicians, it showcased his pop side — albeit one with crazy beats, complex polyrhythms, and weird vocals.

Face Tat is the second in what should be a long line of solo releases, despite Hill’s renewed activity in Hella and more releases with Marnie Stern, Bygones, and others on the way.  Though still intricate, noisy, and strange, it’s a little easier to follow than its predecessor, with a few more parts being focused on a single melody, rhythm, or vocal line.