Best Albums: Boyfrndz, Matt Stevens, S. Carey, Inventions
Boyfrndz: Breeder
Matt Stevens: Lucid
S. Carey: Range of Light
Inventions: s/t
Video Premiere: Have a Nice Life’s “Dan and Tim, Reunited by Fate”
ALARM premieres a new video by dark post-punk / -wave / -gaze outfit Have a Nice Life — a hazy, red-orange work that tells a chilling narrative with its song.
Contest: Win tickets to see Trentemøller In Chicago!
With only five US stops in his upcoming tour, we’re giving you the chance to see Trentemøller for free in Chicago!
Best Albums: Animals as Leaders, Liars, Glenn Kotche, Owls
Animals as Leaders: The Joy of Motion
Liars: Mess
Glenn Kotche: Adventureland
Owls: Two
Photos: ALARM #41 release party at Isle of Man
Couldn’t (or did) make it to our release party for ALARM #41? Relive the night in photos at Isle of Man Chicago.
Best Albums: Dead Rider, Tycho, Dex Romweber Duo
Dead Rider: Chills on Glass
Tycho: Awake
Dex Romweber Duo: Images 13
Best Albums: Wild Throne, The Unsemble, Nick Waterhouse, Spirits and the Melchizedek Children, Alexandre Desplat
Wild Throne: Blood Maker EP
The Unsemble: s/t
Nick Waterhouse: Holly
Spirits and the Melchizedek Children: So Happy, It’s Sad
Alexandre Desplat: The Grand Budapest Hotel soundtrack
Best Albums: St. Vincent, Beck, Davidge, The Notwist
St. Vincent: s/t
Beck: Morning Phase
Davidge: Slo Light
The Notwist: Close to the Glass
Best Albums: Phantogram, Junius, Angel Olsen, John Zorn / Abraxas, Empty Flowers
Phantogram: Voices
Junius: Days of the Fallen Sun
Angel Olsen: Burn Your Fire for No Witness
John Zorn / Abraxas: Psychomagia
Empty Flowers: The Air You Found
MP3 Premiere: Empty Flowers’ “I Get to Know Its Name (Iconaclass / Deadverse Remix)”
With its radically re-imagined remix album, post-punk band Empty Flowers tabs a star-studded list of collaborators to transform its material.
Best Albums: Atomic Ape, Helms Alee, ††† (Crosses), Whispered
Atomic Ape: Swarm
Helms Alee: Sleepwalking Sailors
†††: †
Whispered: Shogunate Macabre
MP3 Premiere: The Unsemble’s “Waves”
The quintessential example of an album that can’t be assessed on hearing just one track, the self-titled debut from The Unsemble blurs the lines between soundtrack noir, new wave, musique concrète, chamber drone, experimental jazz, and rock with deceptive ease.