Running, “Wake Up Applauding”
Available: Jan. 15
Label: Castle Face Records
Being a teenager in the pre-Internet ’90s meant that you consumed music differently. Vastly so. Maybe you coveted the music section in Thrasher or picked up regionally-made-and-traded zines from your local record store. Hopefully, like me, you were fortunate enough to have those independent record stores in your town (thank you, Antiquarium and Drastic Plastic) staffed by older, better-versed employees willing to turn us young, eager music lovers on to obscure artists and bands alike. You may have even purchased your records or cassettes directly from a record label and learned a valuable lesson: With certain independent record labels you could, more or less, trust an entire label’s artist roster. Many examples are out there, but for me it was Dischord, SST and Touch & Go.
In 2016, it is Caste Face Records (and a handful of others, to be sure. Email me to discuss).
Coming off a stellar 2015, Castle Face is starting the year off Running. Pun intended. The Chicago trio comprised of Alejandro Morales, Jeff Tucholski and Matt Hord have unleashed a chaotic swirl of corrosive noise-punk, its second LP for Castle Face. This is a dark, dense album nine tracks and two interludes deep that careen in and out endurance-test noise and heavier-ilk punk/rock. At a succinct 33 minutes, I recommend repeated listens.
Recommended if you’re a fan of Lightning Bolt, Coachwhips, Ex-Cult, Oneida, early-Liars or The Soft Moon.
Jon E. Lynch[email protected]
