Last Week’s Jams (10.30 – 11.2)

Last week was a bit of struggle. Had a bit of the post-Levitation exhaustion, plus that whole Halloween thing with my little kids. So, maybe not as on top of it as we usually are, though we filled in the latter bit of the week with some jams. We got to post incredible indiepop from the likes of The Laughing Chimes and Postal Blue, with an added bonus Rock n’ Recipe piece from Lightheaded. Good to see the announcement of Austin’s Wet Dip‘s forthcoming LP, so we made sure that was included in our coverage. Plus, since last week was Bandcamp Friday, we had tons of recommendations such as the Smashing Times, Erik Nervous, and more…just because it’s not a Friday doesn’t mean you can’t buy an LP!

Light Beams Drop Friendly Single

If you’re looking to invest in something fun and playful today, might I suggest you dive into the new Light Beams album? Seeing as the band are tied to Dischord/Mud Memory and DC, its definitely hard for someone living so far away to not hear similarities to some of the work of acts like Q and Not U, particularly as that band aged. There’s this revolving sound, primarily focused on the rhythmic nature; the song snakes its way across the stage, pulsing, bobbing and bouncing. Relying upon such rhythms allows the listener to really feel the movement in their soul, and it all gets punctuated by the rapid vocal delivery from Justin Moyer; even those vocals have a percussive nature to them. If you’re into this sound, get into Wild Life today!

Check the Video Premiere of Light Beams Desiring Creatures

Not too long ago, I was raving about the work of Light Beams, and they’re back with a new hit single to go feature on their split with Ian Svenonious new solo project, Escapism. I love the flash video work done on this new track; it seems to step right in long with the groove-laden track, pulsing as the vocals are released. I’m continuously impressed by the band’s minimalism, working with synth loops, bass and drums; it also encapsulates an evolving sound for those familiar with the band’s hometown of Washington DC (and singer Moyer’s other band, Puff Pieces). The split 7″ with Svenonious will be released on September 22nd via Lovitt Records…you can grab yourself a copy right HERE.

Intrigued by New Light Beams

Light Beams came to my attention because of the participation of Justin Moyer, who plays in one of my favorite current acts, Puff Pieces. I’m even more intrigued because the apparent use of samples is all done sans laptops and click tracks…just operated by drum pads. It does give this single a slightly jittery vibe, but that seems to give off the vibe that this might be the natural progression left off since Q and Not U’s Power. Like the perfect blend between dance music and post punk…dance punk done right, if you will. Look for their self-title debut via Don Giovanni on September 22nd.