12 Songs: Radio Obscura
Welcome to Radio Obscura, the only place where putting jaded shoegaze groups and Brazilian vocal quartets on the same tracklist (somehow) makes perfect sense.
We kick things off with Quartet Em Cy, followed by Johnny Greenwood’s Inherent Vice soundtrack centerpiece “Spooks.” I can’t tell if the studio’s decision to leave in Joanna Newsom’s voiceover distracts from the song or compliments it, but I’m leaning towards the latter. Kryzyz are the best band you’ve never heard of, and are basically Poland’s answer to The Clash, both musically and politically. Fascinating story, expect a Down The Rabbit Hole soon. Nigeria’s Ify Jerry Crusade provides your morning dose of psych/funk/soul, followed by a schmaltzy sleeper classic from My Bloody Valentine (hey, who put that there?). Next is the Mo-dettes’ “White Mice,” off the criminally underrated Make More Noise! Women in Independent Music UK 1977-1987 compilation, while tunes from Squarepusher, Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou, Kleenex, Destroy All Monsters, and CSNY follow in tow.
Reject harmony. Embrace dissonance. Radio Obscura will return… —Jackson Todd
Listen to 12 Songs: Radio Obscura here.
[above artwork: Herm The Younger, Jeremiah Van Guilder]
