Windy Rotations, vol. 1
So uhh.. yeah. I completely neglected this blog, huh. I had two posts talking about my music collections and my favorite albums of 2024 I've slowly worked on, but then the end of 2024 didn't exactly treated me kindly for various reason, to the point that I practically forgot I even made a blog in the first place. By the time I got this post out, I already got more CDs, so that has to wait for a while. I don't think 2025 will treat me any kinder than the last, but I'll try holding on longer.
But anyhow, I want to actually get myself back into writing, for real this time. So I want to talk about some stuff I've been listening to for a bit. Hopefully this will be an ongoing thing, but no promises.
Alvvays - Blue Rev
I've always like this indie band and I actually heard this album back when it came out, but I don't think it clicked on me until this year. I'm glad that the band is leaning towards a noisy, shoegazy sound on for this album, because the energy this album gives is simply unrelenting. Even the more lowkey moments are able to stand out, like the jangly bop that is After the Earthquake, what a catchy track that was. Also catchy and goofy is Very Online Guy, this should be an anthem for the internet. This album also have one of my favorite 3 track run ever. The everlovinngly dreamy Tile By Tile with its wall of synth and gorgeous outro. The post-punky energy oozing out of Pomeranian Spinster, I love Molly's delivery here, so fucking catchy. And then there's Belinda Says, which is probably my favorite track from them. I don't know how they crammed all that progressions, all that gorgeous melodies, the bridge before the third chorus, the goddamn key change at the start of the outro, the guitar that sounds like a firework firing there, "Belinda says that heaven is a place on earth / Well so is hell" absolute baller line. Perfect song, perfect amount of dreamy noise, 10/10, no notes. I know people have complained about the last three tracks and how they feel like bonus B-sides, which I can understand, but I do like how they slowed things down and ended it off with a lullaby of sorts. And besides, those tracks are still good on their own. What a great album, I'm glad I revisited it in full this year, I can't stop replaying this shit.
Favorites: Easy On Your Own?, After the Earthquake, Many Mirrors, Tile By Tile, Pomeranian Spinster, Belinda Says
venturing - Ghostholding
While her next mainline album is on its way, Jane continues her rockstar journey by bringing up her previously somewhat secret side-project, venturing. While it is an obvious (and somewhat fair) move to compare this to her previous, mainline album Census Designated, I believe that both record serves a different purpose & space, even sonically. When Census Designated focuses on crushing its listeners with the gutwrenching lyrics and a heavy dose of suffocating noise, Ghostholding focuses more on creating bops and bangers, less slowburns and more good ol hooky indie rock tunes. The closest thing this album got to Census is with Guesthouse and it can definitely stands with a lot of highlights on that album. Also, it's good to see that Jane's vocal gets better and better with each new release of hers and this is no exception. Now, we wait to see what Revengeseekerz will turn out to be.
Favorites: Believe, Guesthouse, Something has to change, Dead forever, Famous girl
Sukatani - Gelap Gempita
A brief interstition related to the current state of my country. This album was released way back in 2023, but only gotten a massive attentions as of today. And it's not for a good reason. The song Bayar Bayar Bayar criticize on how money-driven our police & justice system when it comes to both handling citizen's case and letting people of power getting away with their atrocities. Y'know, typical cops stuff. But they have now been captured by the police and forced to not only take the song down from streaming services, but to issue a public apology video to the police, with their real name and identity revealed, breaking their anonimity. This is even more damning considering that my country is undergoing another wave big protest after our president being the massively cutting funds for programs like tuitions and scholarships and redirects it to the oligarchy's next toy, Danantara.
Outside of that heavy context, I do dig the ameaturish energy the group brings in their protests. But it is so fucking infuriating that this is where they're at now, being silenced for telling the truth. Godspeed to our fighters and may these fascists fall into their horrible death.
Oklou - choke enough
Oklou is a curious name that I've seen on many places, mostly on the PC Music adjacent circles, but never actually listen to her stuff. It was only from her collaboration with underscores that really got me into listening and holy shit I never knew I need this kind of music she's making. Ambient pop with europop sensibility is 100% my kind of shit. Every synths made me feel like I'm floating on a Windows Vista era screensaver/wallpaper. And her soothing vocals really do complement the melodies very well. I am surprised by how much I enjoy her integrating the more "real instruments" on here, particularly the trumpets on ict & obvious, and the guitar on the closer blade bird Which, by the way, what a beautiful closer, and a fitting one too on her pregnancy, hope it all goes well and healthy. Also fuck, the title track is so gorgeous with its arpeggiated synth and I love the line "I'll crash this car to take a photo" a lot. I think we need more musicians to mute the kick drum and turn that damn sidechain up. Beautiful album.
Favorites: endless, obvious, ict, choke enough, take me by the hand, harvest sky, blade bird
Pent Up Pup - FURFAG
I have a soft spot for the first EP of theirs. I like cringe art. I like when artists aren't afraid to put their heart out earnestly in their expression in art and I'll always appreciate that these days. But as much as I love the ridiculous gay furry sex bedroom anthem coming from that, this new EP is straight up a fucking glowup. The level up in quality, especially in terms of productions, is kind of nuts, a lot of these wouldn't be out of place on the radio (y'know, if they weren't so unabashedly horny lol). KNOT SONG is now on my list of 2 songs basing themself around Ke$ha's Die Young and having no right for being so fucking good as it is (the other being the credits theme for SnapCube's Sonic '06 fandub lol) and yet here we are. Also, there's 2 new rave/electroclash/(bleugh) indie sleaze bangers on here, which is incredibly fitting after recently being obsessed with The Dare's Perfume and Girls. And honestly? Pup slams his music by good mile lol. It's just great to see the growth of this artist. As we navigate through this increasingly sex-averse world, I'm glad to see some good, genuine expression of sex like this. No one can make me hate this puppy.