REVIEWS STAFF PICK
ALELA DIANE Cusp
9/10
All Points (2018)
B
ecoming a mother is a life-changing event. Even for those who haven’t experienced that (myself included). It’s obvious that giving birth to a human being must be something quite magnificent and unique. At her sixth full-length, Alela Diane was inspired by motherhood and she wrote it when alone for the first time since becoming a mother. Cusp is a beautiful and sublime album and is Alela’s most piano driven album of her career. Her delicacy and contagious strength to write these songs is inspiring, she puts everything in perspective as a mother and a woman. Cusp also marks her near-death experience while giving birth to her second daughter, and that’s why she named the album that way, “Life and death meet in a cusp.” Cusp is undoubtedly Alela’s best work to date, an album that takes you into her journey of joy, growth and living life to the fullest.
ANDREIA ALVES
AMERICAN NIGHTMARE American Nightmare
ANNA BURCH Quit The Curse
F
Q
Rise Records (2018)
7/10
rom changing members, breaking up to even changing name (remember a band called Give Up The Ghost?), it’s fair to say that this new album is the perfect way to expand their legacy, but most importantly, to establish themselves in a genre that so far lacks American Nightmare’s enigmatic and fresh approach. American Nightmare is the band’s third installment, featuring vocalist Wes Eishold, bassist Josh Holden, guitarist Brian Masek and Garcia-Rivera who were all part of the original lineup of the band that disbanded in 2004. There’s something poetic and dark in American Nightmare’s trademark sound, in a little less than thirty minutes they easily show us the hard hitting intensity of their in-your-face attitude. Eishold’s brutal vocal delivery perfectly portrays the emotional heaviness of their sound, it still sounds bleak and fucking raw, but it also has a new sense of depth that truly transcends most hardcore outfits.
Polyvinyl Records (2018)
8/10
uit The Curse marks a top notch debut by Detroit singer/ songwriter Anna Burch. It’s a cathartic and empowering personal effort which clearly marks the end of an era of uncertainty and emotional struggle for her. Quit The Curse takes us on a journey of self-discovery and forces us to confront past or current emotional issues and makes us wonder if our approach in life has been the best or we simply keep avoiding tackling the issues that really haunt us. Burch’s expression of emotions is not defined by any kind of structure, it almost feels improvised. Her crystal clear vocal and the catchy and upbeat tunes are the perfect match for her forward and dark lyrical approach, creating a strange sense of harmony and peace. Anna Burch’s Quit The Curse is effortlessly one of 2018’s gems and one hell of an impressive debut, a perfect statement of liberation, gracefully crafted.
FAUSTO CASAIS
FAUSTO CASAIS
STAFF PICK
BAPTISTS Beacon Of Faith
7/10 Southern Lord (2018) Vancouver, BC… Nardwuar told us multiple times of how good it can get. On their third full-length, Baptists keep delivering their metallic hardcore - now more infused with an extremely enhancing noise rock punch to it – in the same old high standards and quality fashion that has now been established as a given. It starts off fast and unforgiving, as you could more or less expect, but Baptists really shining moment is when they slow down. On tracks like “Indigo Child” and “Eulogy Template,” for example, we are denied the chance to look away and instead we feel obliged to stare as their tremendous guitar work keeps building up with density, rage, and a rhythmically imposing pulse. Beacon of Faith is another urgent statement of a band that can’t miss apparently. TIAGO MOREIRA 106
BEACH HOUSE 7
8/10 Bella Union / Sub Pop (2018) 7 represents a rejuvenation on Beach House’s sound, but is also the duo’s richest and most organic effort ever. Inspired by the social insanity from the past two years, from the political non-sense, discussion surrounding women’s issues and to the overall tension that still brings gloom and chaos to our days, 7 is also a smart stand on that dichotomy between hope and despair, love and hate, beauty and darkness and a dream pop pleasure with foggy electronic emotions. They’ve refined their trademark harmonies and raucous energy and there’s a clear feeling of social and cultural disenchantment. The way they rise to those challenging times is impressive and very inspiring. They are not pushing any kind of boundaries anymore, but overall 7 is a nice and fresh rebirth of Beach FAUSTO CASAIS House as a band. ISSUE 24
BEN CHISHOLM & FELIX SKINNER Burgeoning Verse Weyrd Son Records (2018)
8/10
After five years in the making, waiting to be released, Burgeoning Verse finally comes out. Ben Chisholm and Felix Skinner have concocted a beautiful whirl of lush soundscapes (which you’ll be hard-pressed to figure how they pulled off) that wouldn’t be misplaced if it were playing amidst the peace of undisturbed nature, all the while marrying its ambient post-rock with near classical inclinations. Contrasting moments of sorrowful grace with uplifting energy, the build-ups are at times so gradual that they force us to instead appreciate the sonic palette of the moment, saving us from cheap pay-off. It’s the kind of music that justifiably takes five years to make. Somebody please give these guys a chance at soundtracking a high profile motion picture. BRUNO COSTA
