Custard Flux: show @ Underground Lounge in Chicago

Detroit based psychedelic rock band Custard Flux are playing at the Underground Lounge in Chicago on August 15. Expect lots of songs from their latest album Enter Xenon: "Curvey is always up for a challenge, for himself, his band mates and his listeners. Why take the easy route as the unchartered waters are beckoning? Yes, there is some Pink Floyd in there, some Porcupine Tree, but followers of the underground can pick his band out of any line-up within seconds. The kaleidoscopic twirling sound on the twin guitars, the smart use of progressive psych-rock go-to instrument the Mellotron, plus the subtle interaction of the bass and drums, all work together for a sonic experience that is dreamy, uplifting, and captivating."

» custardflux.bandcamp.com

HCTF review of Enter Xenon

We Stood Like Kings: Pinocchio

Belgian post-rock We Stood Like Kings are playing with light and shade on their new album Pinocchio, switching between gentle piano, neo=clssical inspired progressive rock and full on heavy metal. They have built a wall of sound, but left some room for a door and a couple of windows. It is a widescreen music, with attention to detail, zooming in and out by way of sound.

The band have been part of the instrumental rock underground, catering to an audience that can handle adventure and time signatures that people can't dance too. They took the story of a wooden toy puppet that wants to become a boy of flesh and blood, questioning both its motifs and the ones of its creator. It is their most ambitious effort to date. Concept albums often suffer from plot holes, but since they don't use words, it is up to the listeners to create the story themselves.

The Slow Clock: Gaze At The Raisin

Dutch singer and guitarist Harmen Kuiper once again has wrapped himself in the cape of his one-man band The Slow Clock. On Gaze At The Raisin he covers a lot of ground within the space of half an hour: 16 tracks about beekeeping, preparing for the apocalypse, secret handshakes, cancel culture, politics, love, and the supposedly healing powers of dried grapes.

His knack for coming up with intricate melodies and serve them as on point lo-fi psych-pop songs is in full force, with actress and musician Amarins Romkema helping out to smooth things over just a bit. The percussion is so dry that having a choice beverage on hand is probably a good idea.

Dez Dare: These Days Are Wild & Blind

photo: Michiel de Wilde

Darren Smallman keeps it a bit closer to home and more personal on These Days Are Wild & Blind, the latest album by his one-man trash punk band Dez Dare. That doesn't mean that he is no longer shouting at the heavens (and for good reason), but a bit of introspection has found its way into his music - some of it is even played on acoustic instruments. He is pretty intense throughout, like a volcano that is about erupt, with a rumbling rhythm shift as a last minute warning.

Fuzz is still a huge part of his sound, but like the Stooges are already knew having a freewheeling sax player on hand, does not hurt either. He has expanded his musical palette and left the safety of his comfort zone behind, which must have been both a scary and liberating experience. Imagine Traffic having a jam session with Can and Sonic Youth.

Sewage Farm: Wasted Mind

English garage rock power trio Sewage Farm have released another fast-paced single, Wasted Mind, which will appeal to anyone who can't be bothered caring for other people's problems, because they are busy trying to cope with their own hassles. The video was made by Bjorn Dorfal.

Wasted Mind is released thru Desert Mine Music.

Live dates:

• 06/04 York @ Black Horse
• 06/10 Leeds @ The Attic Brudenell Social Club

» sewagefarm.com