New Wes Sounds
KILBOURNE (Photo by Jesse Ray Guillory)
This summer, Wes’s alum and student musicians have been hard at work recording and releasing new material. From debut EPs to music videos, there’s plenty of new goodies for you to jam out to on your commute back to campus. Aural Wes contributors reviewed some of these releases and compiled them all into one jam-packed collection of summer sounds:
KILBOURNE’s Sourland EP is a growling, strobe-blasted beast. Across its 5 tracks, Ashe Kilbourne (’14) channels her grindcore expertise (honed at Wesleyan with her band Pyka) through the electronic hardstyle idiom to create music that's pummeling and liberatory, aggressive yet tender. Check out Ashe closing out the #KUNQ Boiler Room takeover in August (@3:11:00). Wes artist FXWRK also performed earlier in the night (@1:38:00).
Listen to Sourland below.
Also, keep your ears peeled for the return of Yer Trash this fall. IMO, they're the most exciting, boundary-pushing band at Wes. Zeno Scott, Will King, Dan Muro, and Ryan Breen sound like Slint, Drive Like Jehu, and Rage Against the Machine had a baby. Watch them slay a basement recording session.
- Chris
On the Henry Hall x Ellis Introduction EP, sunny, stripped down beats float around underneath Hall’s expressive falsetto. Soaked with reverb, the swirling samples and melodies create a delicate suite of tracks that recall being young, seemingly craving the chance to be “little again.” The production is incredibly slick, coming from the Ellis half, while the occasionally goofy lyrics from Hall read as callbacks to simpler times when hot Cheetos and permit tests ruled the lunchroom convo. It’s a glossy package, and an interesting tangent from the previous guitar driven work of Henry Hall ('14).
- Ryan
Jess Best’s ('14 and of former Sky Bars fame) newest release, Kid Again, was aptly timed. When better to listen to nostalgic soul-pop E than the middle of July, when even the busiest of us can’t help but remember the hot days before thankless internships and heartbreak induced by the ghosting of cruel tinder matches? Kid Again is like soft-serve ice cream--indulgent and sweet. The EP is groovy and fun, layered with self-harmonies and jumpy bass lines, and it excels the most when Best embraces her wide range and R&B sensibilities, as she does on the standout track “More”. The EP’s intricate flow keeps the release moving at a fast pace, and the many treats weaved throughout tracks keeps it fresh: an instrumental string break ends “Possessions Pt. III;” a chorus fills out Best’s vocals on “The Stranger One;” listen for the kazoo on “More.” Each of the seven tracks is tightly composed, and the overall product is surprisingly danceable, even in its quietest moments. Kid Again is tightly mixed, catchy, and begging to played on that perfect 70° day.
To be paired with :
-polka dots
-a bouquet of flowers
-red lipstick
-Al Green’s “Love and Happiness”
-an animal print dress
-Dirty Projector’s “Stillness is the Move”
-macaroons
-Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate
- Meg
After having played numerous shows at Wesleyan this past year, the good lonely (all '19), newly established staple of the Wesleyan music scene, have finally dropped their first recorded effort. On Could Be Flowers, the good lonely bring their signature funky R&B live sound to record. While the trio’s instrumental virtuosity is clear, it never eclipses the songwriting and catchy melodies.
- Adam
3cho is producer Eric Poretsky ('18) AKA Locus's new side project. Take a listen to the spacey beats he released this summer.
Saint Savage, (Connor Schon ‘16, Ethan Currie ‘15, and Kitsch Wakeman,) released a new album entitled Stranger earlier this summer. Below is a review of the album, as well as a review/interview discussing the band’s Fall 2015 release.
- Kelsey
Double Twins, project of recent alum/electro-rock-pop heartthrob Matan Koplin-Green ‘15, released a music video for his newest track, “Knock Knock.” Check out the video and other Double Twins tracks below.
