Writing about music in lieu of human interaction
The Don’t Let The Scene Go Down On Me! collective has organized another benefit album to support the one and only Mr. Roboto Project, one of Pittsburgh’s most indispensable DIY venues. COVID-19 is still happening even if some people ignore it, and who knows when we’ll be able to have the full live music experience again, so please … Continue reading The Mr. Roboto Project Benefit Compilation Vol. 4
℮st℮ll℮ is a Pittsburgh experimental artist who recently released a musical exploration of colors in three parts. In telemagenta--a sort of grapefruity pink color that I had not heard of until today--released last week, follows November's in carmine and in auburn (props to ℮st℮ll℮ for picking some unusual hues). While much of the album series … Continue reading Daily Yinz – ℮st℮ll℮ – and see the girl with stars in Her eyes
On The Petals's first single since last year's excellent Seven Stops, the group swaps out that record's jangly guitar tones for lush synth experimentation. "A. flowers" does in fact feel like a blossom in spring, its chittering drum programming, twinkling bells, gentle guitar adornments, and brushed cymbals creating an atmosphere as delicate as the insect … Continue reading Daily Yinz – The Petals – a. flowers
Rapper Hubbs and beatsmith C. Scott join forces yet again on "Moorpheus," a standout track from Hubbs's recent El Ron Hubbs project. When Hubbs starts in over a beat, he commands the ear, his complex rhyme schemes, gritted teeth flow, and deep voice turning his lyrics into weighty proclamations. "Moorpheus," an apt title from an … Continue reading Daily Yinz – Hubbs – Moorpheus (prod. C. Scott)
As Shield of Heracles, sound artist Devin Angiolieri will sometimes create one-off "cassette rips"--overwrites of previously existing tapes that retain the originals' title. His latest is The Golden Ball, a noisy, beat-driven collection of experimental pieces. SIDE ONE begins with a snippet from the source tape; some cheery, kid-friendly narration rendered disconcerting by interjections of … Continue reading Daily Yinz – Shield of Heracles – The Golden Ball
Slowdanger are a multimedia duo who set experimental dance pieces against homemade electronic soundscapes. Most of slowdanger's projects contain both audio and visual components, but AR, a two-track album released in late November, is pure, propulsive sound. Its first song, "yourtime," opens with grimy drum programming--subterranean warehouse rave stuff--before Anna Thompson's voice appears for a … Continue reading Daily Yinz – slowdanger – yourtime
BLKNVMBR (a monthlong project highlighting Black R&B musicians in Pittsburgh) closed out with a single release from project cofounder INEZ. "Reload" is rawer, more hard edged, than most anything I've heard from INEZ. Sure, 2019's Voicemails and Conversations included biting shoulder brush-offs like "Pardon Me" and jealous lover jams like "Insecurity," but this new single … Continue reading Daily Yinz – INEZ – Reload
Urban Heat Island, a purveyor of placid guitar meditations, rounds out his often-acoustic sound with amplified twinkles and a few droning horns on August's Quarter EP. According to the trusty Wikipedia, an urban heat island is "an urban area or metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas due to human activities." … Continue reading Daily Yinz – Urban Heat Island – Q Three (ft. Baseball Dad)
A playlist containing some of the songs featured on Bored In Pittsburgh last month https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7AVfw3fih0nXbRDOvUyaaL?si=Dzt6cwqqT2u83WGI3YVkrQ November 2020 songs that aren’t on Spotify (and where to find them) Empty Beings - In Between Shin Guard - Perfect Boy Killer of Sheep - Click Bait Bring Her - Give Me To Them
Brittney Chantele's new single picks up the romantic thread of 2019's A Fire On Venus, rather than the more political one of this year's The Golden Opportunity. "Be With You," released alongside "Leave Like That," is a trap-tinged ballad whose featherlight instrumental, all pillowy hi-hats, hazy melodic swatches, and wavering guitar plucks, provides ample space … Continue reading Daily Yinz – Brittney Chantele – Be With You
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