Vákoum
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Tractor Tavern
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The Complex Dialect make their very prog debut
*photo by Hanna Stevens
With sounds and lyrical content as indicative as their moniker implies, The Complex Dialect blend jazz, blues, hip-hop and rock in the makings of their progressive tunes. Their atmospheres are indeed complex, yet, incredibly easy to get lost in. For a band comprised of eight members that makes total sense, as each contributing element help make The Complex Dialect one of the more dynamic newer acts to hit the scene. Their debut album Change shows that.
With Change, the band has tried to symbolize the problems and solutions in our current state of the world. Each song hones in on subjects fraught but true with society (like police brutality and capitalistic slavery), meant to spark internal and external debate and reflection through music. The Complex Dialect contend their intention is to hearten the dispirited, stating that "We look for non-conventional solutions to conventional problems. We strive to be the change we want to see in the world."
Feel the change and listen to one of the album's tracks "Look For A Friend For The End Of The World" below.
The Complex Dialect
Tenderfoot to release new LP on 02.02; listen to single "Semiprecious Life"
Brooklyn via Seattle Tenderfoot's newest single "Semiprecious Life" (streaming) has a low hum which lends a calming touch to a song about an existential crisis. The track, which is included in the upcoming LP Break Apart (out February 2nd), features frontman Adam Kendall Woods's breathy voice waxing about his old and changing home of Seattle, as construction noises pulse behind the rhythm. The other songs on Break Apart will deal with different kinds of change: relationships fading, health deteriorating, hopes dying and growing. To celebrate the release, Tenderfoot will play a show in Seattle in February and then one in Brooklyn on March 16th at C'mon Everybody. Listen to "Semiprecious Life" below. - Will Sisskind
Mood Music: hERON - 'hERON'
Though they live in two different states, the collaborative efforts of San Antonio, Texas's Erick "Progeny" Frias and local Rob Castro as hERON are undeniably some of the best in modern trip-hop around. Long distance relationships don't often work out but for these two, it's proven successful. A listen to their self-titled debut album marks such.
With Frias blasting the beats and sometimes guitar, and Castro handling the brooding air of bass lines and keys every once in awhile, the textures they create are both introspective and groovy. Their debut album offers tracks for every vibe, from the laid back mellow moods of the short album opener "Chillmode" to the bluesy boho riffs on "EvilFortress" and the slightly country western twang to "Melt Away." The duo create plenty of soundscapes, complicated and simplistic at the same time, and there's something new to appreciate about it with every listen.
Give hERON's self-titled record a few run-throughs below.
<a href="http://heron01.bandcamp.com/album/heron">hERON by hERON</a>
DIY/Lo-Fi
Party down West Coast style with The Flavr Blue
There's a certain vibe that comes to mind when people think of the West Coast, aesthetically and sonically. For many people in other parts of the country, the West Coast is basically just southern California; what's produced is thought to be heavily influenced by endless sunshine, palm trees and warm beaches. But despite being tucked away in this northwest corner there's still pretty good representation of what the West Coast sounds like, particularly with The Flavr Blue.
Since 2011, The Flavr Blue has mixed electronic influence with a mellow R&B manner of vocals. They've got quite a few releases under their belt, but one of the bangers of the year was the trio's early summer track "Top Down," a song perfect for that evening turn up.
Considering the fact that New Year's Eve is the biggest turn up of the year, head over to Q Nightclub to see The Flavr Blue do a DJ set. VIP tables for the night are sold out, but there's still admission tickets if you're trying to roll through.
<a href="http://theflavrblue.bandcamp.com/track/top-down">Top Down by The Flavr Blue</a>
The Flavr Blue