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Cuneiform Tabs is a correspondence recording project between Matt Bleyle (Violent Change/Sopors) and Sterling Mackinnon (False Berries/Violent Change). Compiled from 18 months of recordings traded between their respective homes in the Bay Area and the UK, this eponymous debut was assembled with Tascam portastudios and entry-level home studio software. For anyone familiar with Violent Change and the False Berries, this will sound like a hybrid of both.
A friend of mine recommended them to me today, and I’ve just been playing their album on repeat.
Mar 28, 2024
Related Recs
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Really raw midwest emo song that comes out of the gate swinging. The vocals might not be for everyone but I find that they really cut through things. Love the drum sound too.
Also love that they were from Sandown NH, really small town somewhat near where I grew up in MA. Had a friend that lived in Sandown growing up but she went to my HS because her dad worked at the school.
Apr 26, 2024
I haven’t heard someone have a neutral take on this album (except pitchfork, ever the hipsters and perfectly on brand for reviewing this), people seem to either despise it for its hypercynical meta-satire, perfectly poised to deflect any possible criticism thrown at it, or love it. Though I largely agree with what the haters are saying, I end up falling into the latter camp. I fucking love this project, both from an intellectual and from a basic standpoint, flanking the naysayers at both sides of the bell curve meme.
“Meme” — that’s the headline of this project. C&W’s 90s-indebted breakbeat pop chugs along with Weezery guitar riffs and droll narration, only broken up by random (in the xD sense of the word) meme snippets. This may sound torturous, but something about the way they weave these brainrot vine compilation samples through their tracks is really special. I want to compare it to John Oswald’s Plunderphonic manifesto, where he (Im probably misphrasing) argues for utilising highly recognisable microsamples in experimental music, because the feeling of fleeting recognition is a powerful one unique to that technique. But also it’s just fucking funny! But I won’t give any spoilers as it feels like explaining a YLYL challenge before you watch it.
As for the actual content, I will maybe come back to write about this later. There are some really great (and not so great) reviews online about this project, which I highly recommend checking out, as well as the surrounding discourse.
AOTY. bring back tinymixtapes
Dec 30, 2024
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If you like hyper pop/glitchy alternative music, then this is a must!
Been a fan of the artist for awhile and it’s been one of my favourites since it dropped last summer
Feb 10, 2024
Top Recs from @violette
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Poet & songwriter best known as the frontman of “Silver Jews,“ and the lesser known “Purple Mountains,“ Berman has a way of exploring the beauty in the darker aspects of life. Berman tragically took his in 2019. He had such a special way with words both as a poet and a songwriter. My favorite song of his, “Famous Eyes” is linked above.
Jan 25, 2024
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Founded in 1995, Broadcast was an English band that drew influences from 60s psychedelia, electronic, and experimental music. Following the death of their lead singer in 2011, Broadcast has found a new life and a cult following due to the mystery surrounding the band. I’ve linked my favorite album, Tender Buttons above.
Jan 29, 2024
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Due to the involvement of the US Military Sponsoring SXSW, many bands and artists have opted to pull out of SXSW as protest for the ongoing genocide and Ethnic Cleansing in Palestine. I’m very proud of my friends from Perfectly Imperfect and Baby’s All Right for dropping out of SXSW, and for standing in solidarity with the people of Palestine. Free Palestine 🍉
Mar 13, 2024