It happens: you miss some new music. For us, we’re taking in so many releases on a consistent basis that sometimes we just don’t get the new tracks right as they come. So before June really gets here in full force we’re going to take a look at some music that came out this May, but might not have immediately hit your radar. So get your tape decks ready, ’cause we’re hitting the rewind:
familypet – 5AM
Right off of the heels of Things That Quicken The Heart, familypet continues their dominance with a new track. It’s easy to go into the song treating it as a sequel of sorts to one of their first songs, 4AM, as well as a continuation of their previously noted EP. The first comparison ends up being the more accurate it seems, as where Things That Quicken the Heart saw familypet try out a number of different styles, 5AM seems a return to form of the typical release style the duo have come to inhabit. That’s not to say this song only exists in comparison, rather it demonstrates the growth the duo has experienced over the year. A year that, for familypet, has only lasted an hour. Take a listen here:
barren – once striving for (prod. oilcolor)
Just being plainly honest here: I absolutely love barren. He’s got one of my favorite vocal deliveries and textures in the genre. So, yes, of course I’m going to feature his most recent track. Teaming up with oilcolor on production, barren lessens some of the aggression for a chilled-out haze of a song, replete with his trademark tight harmonies and sustains. Barren has released a ton of music over the past couple years, and the consistency of upload is matched in the consistency of quality, with his latest addendum to this statement changing nothing. Listen to it here:
atlas – patience is a virtue
atlas is musical diversity incarnate. This person came into my life rapping over lofi beats like something out of a Tokyo coffee shop. Since then, he has put out crunchy indie rock that sounds like it should be banged out in a garage, traditional trap that should be blasting over some club-drunk college kids, and yet through all of it retains his artistic individuality. I was really glad to see another collaboration with fats’e for their latest track, a short and sweet showcase of both artists. While I don’t think anything atlas can put out would be considered out of a comfort zone anymore, they continue to show proficiency in so many different sounds. Take a listen to their latest here:
fats’e – broke th door handle w/93FEETOFSMOKE & scum
That wasn’t going to be the last we’d see of fats’e this month, pushing out this amazing collaboration between genre contemporaries a couple days before May ended. The absolute best part of this track is the way that all the artists have these distinct feels and tones in their vocals, but they mesh so well. Like… I’m not saying anything really but we’re seeing the idea of supergroups on the rise in the scene lately and I would not at all be opposed to these artist specifically jumping on that. Wishes and dreams aside, hit up the song at this link:
shinigami – fever_dreams_02
At this point I’m convinced the day shini stops releasing music is the day the world ends. It’s just expected at this point that every two weeks or so we’ll see a new song from him, but I for one am not complaining. Another super eclectic artist, shinigami keeps to the tradition of keeping no traditions in a small preview of his newest full project, his third in the span of less than a year. Paired with the aptly-named cybernetix, fever dreams’ flavor comes way by its tranced-out synths and digital feel. Always excited to see what comes next for shinigami, if this song is any indication, we’re going to see more out of the young artist. Listen here:
demxntia – the day you walked away w/ kaiyko
demxntia has been a relatively recent addition to my catalogue of artists to listen to, and man am I glad for it. Where a lot of the artists I listen to take in a lot of emo influence in their vocals, demxntia’s buttery smooth and clear delivery is a breath of fresh air in a world of rasp and drone. The pairing with kaiyko on this track is a match made in heaven. Truly some impressive work from both involved, and a richly bright production helps to serve this even further. Listen here:
9TAILS – an unnamed journey
And now the crown jewel of the month: 9TAILS’ latest album. I’m not going to lie, I really feel l’m doing this project a great disservice by putting it on the list as opposed to a full on review, but relevancy is dependent on time, and when the time came for this album to drop I completely missed it. I’ll take the blame for that big time. Taking on a gamut of producers and sounds, 9TAILS is very evidently in his element on this album. Opener “factuals” (prod. canis major) blows by with some of the smoothest verses I’ve heard in a long time, out of both underground and mainstream music. Other personal highlights include “for how long?” (prod. hateful) and “friends” (prod. mxdnight.) This is an album that begs of you a listen, as opposed to my dribbling review. Do yourself a favor and check out an unnamed journey right here: