We're back and blogging again, baby! The most exciting thing that happened since we last spoke was probably the publication of an open letter from a collective of Chicago-based independent musicians pledging to remove their music from Spotify. In just a few days, over 75 artists have signed the letter, in an incredible display of solidarity and collective action. The campaign was written up by folks at the Chicago Reader and The Sun-Times and has already sparked a lot of conversations among musicians and music fans I know, which is very encouraging.
I hope if you're still holding onto your Spotify subscription for one reason or another, you take a look at the letter and consider cutting the cord, transitioning either to another marginally less evil streamer or even away from the streaming model completely. I haven't fully gotten to the latter yet but doing the former was easier than you'd think.
Anyways, see below for ten blurbs about ten more cool songs I listened to this month. Here's part one if you missed that the first time around!
Modern Nature - “Radio”
I never fully clicked with any past Modern Nature releases despite their cited influences (Talk Talk, Can, Nick Drake) being favorites around these parts, HOWEVER I have been spinning their new one, The Heat Warps, like crazy. “Radio” is a pristinely produced slow motion heartbreaker, bringing to mind Low’s work with Steve Albini on classics like Things We Lost In The Fire.
Emily Hines - “All Of Our Friends”
The folks at Keeled Scales did it again with Emily Hines’ debut EP These Days, a collection of seven songs that mix the lo-fi intimacy of Adrianne Lenker’s solo albums and the folk traditionalism of The Weather Station’s early work. I was won over by “All Of Our Friends” on first listen and it’s still the standout track on an album full of gems.
Really loving this new album from Nashville’s Total Wife. Sure “second spring” is pretty blatant MBV cosplay and it’s easy to write off bands who wear influences on their sleeves this overtly, but you know who doesn’t release a lot of music or play very many shows? My Bloody Valentine!
Teethe - “Iron Wine”
Some nice slowcore from Texas, I love the unexpected violent bursts of fuzz on this track. Other songs on the Teethe record that aren’t this one feature Wednesday/MJ Lenderman & The Wind member Xandy Chelmis on pedal steel which is always a welcome addition.
Florian T M Zeisig - “Die Große Natur”
I was once again looking at Instagram and was shown a video from writer/director/music fan Tynan DeLong discussing some recent new releases, including the new James K and Lucrecia Dalt records. He also mentioned A New Life, the new album from Berlin-based ambient musician Florian T M Zeisig; I wasn’t familiar with his work but given the company he was being mentioned alongside I made a point to give it a listen and I’m glad I did! Thanks Tynan!
Algernon Cadwallader - “Revelation 420”
I was the perfect age for the first wave of Algernon Cadwallader mania that swept the Northeast back in like 2009. Those early singles and EPs are among my favorite music ever recorded and bring back memories of some very impactful and formative basement shows. The two full length LPs that followed were never as meaningful to me, and I approached the new, post-reunion Algernon record, Trying Not to Have a Thought, with reluctant curiosity more than anything. Turns out I love it and I’ve listened to it almost every day since then. Huge respect to any band that cashes in their infinite well of goodwill and influence on a reunion record where half the songs are about the fatal flaws of nostalgia and the other half are thrillingly direct invectives about life in a dying culture ransacked by the failures of capitalism. Rock on, fellas.
M. Sage - “Witch Grass”
I’m probably most familiar with M. Sage’s work with Horse Combinations favorites Fuubutsushi, otherwise trying and failing to keep up with his fairly regular clip of solo/collaborative releases. I checked out the latest single from his new album Tender / Waiting on the train ride to work earlier this week and was immediately hooked by the cozy, homemade soundscapes. If this track is any indication of what the rest of the album has in store, it’s going to be a go-to for me in the coming months.
The Cords - “When You Said Goodbye”
Justin recommended I check out Slumberland recording artists The Cords and I’m very glad he did. Indie pop (in the old sense of the word) is alive and well and that’s so nice.
Horse Lords & Arnold Dreyblatt - “Advance”
The latest installment in RVNG Intl.’s longrunning FRKWYS series, which pairs modern experimental musicians with legends of the old guard for album length collaborations, features Baltimore avant rock freaks Horse Lords joining forces with minimalist godfather Arnold Dreyblatt. The mind-expanding polyrhythmic dirge “Advance” is the first taste of FRKWYS Vol. 18: Extended Field and I’m so excited to hear more.
Kieran Hebden & William Tyler - “Secret City”
Speaking of cool as hell collaborations, Kieran Hebden & William Tyler have delivered on the promises of their previous collaboration, the Darkness, Darkness/No Services EP, with their new album 41 Longfield Street Late ‘80s. Closing track “Secret City” is maybe where Hebden's presence is most obvious, layering odd textures and warbling synths over a blissed-out William Tyler riff, sounding like a lost Michael Rother B-side.
Embedded below is the still in-progress September 2025 playlist on Tidal. Back soon with more!
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