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Top of The Drop
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
March 2022
CULTURE & ARTS
By Daniel J. Springer
Each month, Daniel Springer of the Gwangju Foreign Language Network (GFN) picks his favorite newly released tunes that you may not have heard yet, along with some upcoming albums and EPs that you might want to keep on your radar. — Ed.
SANCHEZ. – “BURGUNDY” While we usually dedicate this column to singles, rules are made to be broken. Local singersongwriter Oisin Magee, soon to return to Ireland, is out with his debut album Burgundy, which is both a stylistic surprise and a diverse LP that showcases both the talents of Magee and our music community here in Gwangju. Produced on the main by Gwangju’s Man on the Drums Dan Lloyd at his Jiri-san studio, the album goes from the indie folk sound that those who know the artist will be familiar with on tunes like “Knock Them Down” to the out-and-out hard rock of “Paranoid.” The production work of Kindle Records maestro Andrew Vlasblom also cannot be denied on his single production on the album, with “Sadness (Never Felt So Good)” featuring a male–female duet and a piano and string arrangement that is so sentimental and warm that you would be well advised to bring a tissue or two on first listen. Overall, a very solid debut album and absolutely brilliant showcase of the talented artists and wildlings that call Gwangju home. BIG THIEF – “TIME ESCAPING” The Brooklyn-based indie folk outfit had an extremely busy 2019 with the release of two albums just months apart, and now comes a full double album in Dragon
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New Warm Mountain I Believe in You. While typically there is a lot of chaff and filler on 2xLPs, this one is not only beautiful and crafted to perfection as a whole, but every single song also stands very well on its lonesome, even if totally unconnected to the overall narrative and other songs. SPOON – “FEELS ALRIGHT” Lucifer on the Sofa, the veteran band’s tenth career album is here, and it is a banger. In what is definitely the Austin band’s most raucous record to date, it seems like the band has finally gone to unabashed rock without the electronic extras of their last couple of records. Huge plaudits all around for this record, with even the notoriously snooty Guardian giving it five stars, which previously I had only thought was a target for artists to aim for but never attain. KHRUANGBIN & LEON BRIDGES – “MARIELLA” Texas Moon has finally arrived, and while it is arguable whether this follow-up EP to Texas Sun from early 2020 indeed measures up to that classic, this one indeed has moments of mega catharsis and beauty that, like the day and night, might not match up completely, but that is indeed why the two exist separately. On “Mariella” in particular, the instrumental arrangement from the Houston-based galactic funk trio and vocalist Bridges dance in perfectly complementary balance. DEHD – “BAD LOVE” Chicago-based trio Dehd have continually gained profile with each release since their debut, with their last LP, Flower of Devotion, being a pointed example and one of the best albums of 2020. Now, the band have announced the release of Blue Skies this spring with “Bad Love” being the quick-hitting though massive lead single. Lead singer Emily Kempf is really howling out the lyrics on this one, with the band’s signature maximum twang and reverb going underneath on a tune that has a good bit more drive than what is found on Flower. ARJUNA OAKES – “THE TEACHER” While this artist is still building a profile, the release of Recovery, Pt. 2 was indeed a lengthy and drawn-out
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