***RIVERSLEEM exclusive live set premiere***

RIVERSLEEM
"Live at Amigos Cantina"

exclusive live set premiere

For fans of: Fluoride, Weak Wrists and Dead Hour Noise

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On September 25th, 2021 RIVERSLEEM played their first show. Leading up to it I asked, "For the love of god, is someone filming this?" to which they replied, "Don't worry about it," so I didn't. And here we are, and I get to premiere the full set played at Amigos Cantina in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Included in the set is the entire four-song EP 'A Debut EP By Riversleem', a cover, and brand new song. Please check it out below!

(2021) RIVERSLEEM "Full Set" 'Live at Amigos Cantina'

https://youtu.be/iCnFygq41-I

2:20 - Cavalier 

4:50 -  Eyebrow 

6:41 - Observatory

10:39 - Lenore

16:35 - Mother 

20:05 - Richard

23:39 - Outro

In addition to releasing two sets of tape runs of Tomb Tree Tapes, the band released "Cavalier" on the new Zampler #18 (linked here) on Zegema Beach Records in anticipation of the pressing of their debut on 7", releasing physically in late 2022.

ADDITIONAL LINKS & WHATNOT

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***OPHELIAC exclusive song premiere***

OPHELIAC

"wake up!"
exclusive song premiere

For fans of: Grimes, Boards Of Canada, Nicole Dollanganger, Purity Ring, Black Marble and Grouper

OPHELIAC

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orders open via bandcamp upon album release

SOFTSEED MUSIC

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Another premiere! This one is for OPHELIAC's first single off of the incredible new album 'anthesis' releasing in about 24 hours from Softseed Music. I first met Ophelia (the brainchild of Opheliac) during our podcast centering more around her screamo band Burial Etiquette (podcast linked here), and it was here that I learned about Opheliac. Where am I now? Fucking smitten. Her new album is sensational, bringing together acoustic, synth, gothic, 80s inspired, electronic/folk music and will likely turn major heads if you dig Grouper, Grimes, Boards Of Canada, and Purity Ring. The album has some serious attention to mood and layering, and the flow is beautiful as it starts with synthy 80s pop and ends with acoustic folk.

The cassette version will feature different artwork by none other than Kyle Calvert Design and will go up for pre-order when the full album goes up tomorrow (December 30th, 2021) via the Softseed Music bandcamp as well as in both Zegema Beach Records stores. I will be ordering the cassettes today so I reckon they won't ship until late February/March as the supply chain disruption and covid are slowing things down at the duplication plant.

(2021) OPHELIAC "wake up!" (from 'Anthesis')

https://youtu.be/nvoe1K2pjuY

"when I first started recording music, I wouldn’t stray too far from doing soft loops paired with haunting vocal melodies. It felt warm, and it felt safe. I guess this track in particular is a more advanced version of who I used to be, and the sound I always wanted out there. It is pretty scratchy and mixed in an almost lo-fi fashion, but I think it stayed true to what I wanted out of it. I fight with putting too much reverb or not enough, so I think it was a good outcome. I ended the track with a recording of a local restaurant I frequented, it wasn’t too busy, but I was people watching while I was editing it and made me happy to capture a day I wasn’t feeling too low."

***FORMANTS exclusive premiere***

FORMANTS

"Liar"
exclusive song premiere

For fans of: Xiu Xiu, Aphex Twin, Rabit, Barry Truax, Einsturzende Neubauten, and Nine Inch Nails

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orders open January 10th, 2022

Well, I guess this an official announcement...I am starting a third record label. Yep, a third. Zegema Beach is for screamo. Tomb Tree is for heavy music in general. And now I have Softseed Music, the very obviously "softer" label, thus ensuring that I can release something that doesn't have screaming and maybe it'll still sell. I have released rock/post-rock/noise-rock on both Zegema Beach and Tomb Tree with very limited success. Thus, creating a small label with no limitations on genre (at least, outside of heavy music) will hopefully draw some people over time. Some bands that have projects in the works on Softseed Music are Portugal The Man, Social Caterpillar, Ramona Cordova, Opheliac, and Formants.

One of the only non-screamy Zegema Beach releases to do well was the Lower Automation LP released in the summer of 2021. Straight up, it's fucking incredible and my favourite album of 2021. So when Derek Allen (guitar/vocals) of Lower Automation asked me if I knew anyone who might want to release his experimental/noise project FORMANTS I shot him a few friends that I knew of that released that kind of thing and, "come back to me if you can't find anyone." Well, a few weeks later Derek returned with 'You'd Think It Was A Mistake' and said he was unable to find help. As this new label was ramping up I asked if he wanted me to release it...and now here we are. The tapes are ready. Premieres are set. A music video has been created. Full release on Softseed Music January 10th, 2022.

(2021) FORMANTS "Liar" (from 'You'd Think It Was A Mistake')

https://youtu.be/kYjMjj2fe7s

Derek has this to say about the project and the song:

A few years ago, I started Formants to work on more electronic based music. Even in my punk band, I’ve always been really influenced by experimental and electronic artists like Rabit, Xiu Xiu, Barry Truax, and Einsturzende Neubauten.

"Liar" was written during a battle with a hospital and insurance company over some ridiculous bills, and how this coincided with the end of a relationship. 90% of the song was performed live on a synth with some processing applied after.

NEW GRASS

Band: NEW GRASS
Genres: Punk / Rock / Post-Rock / Hardcore / Post-Hardcore / Mathcore / Emo / Screamo / Skramz / Noise / Ambient / Experimental
Related artists: Guillemet.
Country: Illinois U.S.A.
Years Active: 2013-present
For fans of: Capsule, Itto, Kidcrash, Smile To The Wind, Edhochuli, and Crowning.
Label(s): Zegema Beach Records / The Ghost Is Clear Records

NEW GRASS is the (mostly) solo project of Lucio Oquendo. His first recording for the project came out in 2015 in the form of three phenomenal, mathy-screamo jams titled 'Fake Drums'. A few years later 'Pop Songs' was released and the six tracks have much more of a dreamy rock vibe. 'Four More' followed the year after (in 2020) showcasing more of the same, before throwing down two singles and a three-song EP  ('Three Nocturnes') in early 2021 with more electronics, noise, and ambiance. If you were to look at this trajectory you'd assume nothing more of the mathy-screamo variety would be forthcoming. Well, you'd be fucking wrong.

Because about a year ago Mr. USofDave himself (Dave Cullen of Crowning/Zegema Beach Records USA) contacted Lucio in order to release the 'Fake Drums' EP on 7" lathe. Good news, he found out that Lucio had an entirely new EP written in the vein of the first release and would record it so we could put both the old and the new EPs on a 12".  And thus 'Scordatura_Perforations' was born. With this housing all of my favourite skramz jamz, it only seems fitting for me to shed some light on a genre I actually know shit about, and will bypass the rock/electronic releases.

Starting off both the LP and the new set of songs, "dip loop/the light" blazes right outta the gate with the force of a rocket heading into space, which is where one of the guitars tends to end up when it's not making a steaming pot of noodles. At the 1:15 mark that absolutely essential bass riff makes its first appearance, and then loops around like the title suggests for about 30 seconds before taking a dip into swirling post-hardcore. "grayland pack" was the album's first single and is similar to the opener in its onslaught of layers, melodies and riffs. 2:20+ is probably the highlight for me but the entire track is one helluva journey.

The vocals haven't been mentioned yet and are very reminiscent of James from Itto/Crowning fame in the fact that they are yelled more than screamed, and are bursting with emotion. "k-14_1.13" is another brain overload, although this one is done through wonderfully constructed layers and less mindboggling noodles, which are more present leading up to the close. This jam also features Aeryn from Massa Nera screaming the shriller "lost forever" lines. "op/we're all so fucked" is probably the most mature and complete song on here, but for some reason the epicness is dwarfed by my near-constant hunger for noodles, although from 2:30 onward it's right up my alley.

The next set of songs were initially released as 'Fake Drums' but make up the incredible b-side to this record. Beginning with the utter beast of a track titled "Moksha" (complete with distant synths) and transitioning to the astounding 'Vidya' with its chaotic tornado of notes and time signatures, the EP ends on "Kama", another epic track on par with "op/we're all so fucked" but slathers the heaviness over the entire thing. You've also got a previously unreleased track "Caskette (Guillemet)" which features Bryan from Guillemet contributing some additional vocals. It's a gorgeously constructed track that brings to mind Capsule, Kidcrash, and Edhochuli aka some excellent goddamned company. Closer "organ solo" is 3:19 of ambient/noise, providing an introspective breather before going back and starting this sensational album again. And again. And again.

I don't know what is planned for the band next, but I heard some shows might be in the works. In the meantime please do yourself a favor and listen to this in full with headphones...it's otherworldy.

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DISCOGRAPHY

2021 - Scordatura_Perforations 12"LP (stream/donate/download here)

2021 - Three Nocturnes EP (stream/donate/download here)

2021 - 32 Bars single (stream/donate/download here)

2021 - Klimt's On His Deathbed single (stream/donate/download here)

2020 - Four More EP (stream/donate/download here)

2019 - Five Pop Songs EP (stream/donate/download here)

2015 - Fake Drums EP (stream/donate/download here)

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(2021) NEW GRASS - "dip loop/the light" (from 'Scordatura Perforations')

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek9jtnkoWNA

(2021) NEW GRASS - "Vidya" (from 'Scordatura Perforations')

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxxSe2-Gnfc

(2021) NEW GRASS - "Caskette (Guillemet)" (from 'Scordatura Perforations')

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-6yc6tCdbE

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NEW GRASS additional links

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PODCAST #77 Christian Segerstrom (Mathcore Index, Dark Trail Records, Antarctica)

Christian likes mathcore. A lot. Christian likes a lot of other things, too. Besides from heading up Mathcore Index (blog, fest, podcast) he also runs the very sick Dark Trail Records, played in the genre-defying band Antarctica, is engaged, and works a real job as well. I've been aching to have this most excellent human being on this podcast, so this was definitely a treat.

Besides Christian's sultry, mesmerizing voice, you can also jam a brand new song from DITCH ORGAN (members of Fawn Limbs, Fargue, Creinium, Mireplaner), hear more songs from Fromjoy, Future Trash, In Reverent Fear, Sine Nomine and Willzyks, and listen to us chat about: the origin of "mathcore", cool uncles, skipping out on post-hardcore, joining the Mathcore team, Eeli Helin, the creation of Dark Trail Records, bands climbing the musical ladder, pressing plants that don't suck, Antarctica...on vinyl?, discussing the new Every Time I Die/Frontierer/The Armed/Genghis Tron/Code Orange albums, screamo, jobby jobbersons, videogames and anime, etc. Bands played in this podcast: Ditch Organ (exclusive premiere!!!), Fromjoy, Future Trash, In Reverent Fear, Sine Nomine and Willzyks. Listen to podcast #77 which is available to stream and/or download for free via this link.

MATHCORE INDEX

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DARK TRAIL RECORDS

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1
WILLZYKS "Flexible Lies" (Christian)

***DITCH ORGAN "Quiver" (Dave)*** exclusive premiere!!!

2

FROMJOY "So Young, Too Old" (Christian)

SINE NOMINE "Ice Station Zebra" (Dave)

3

FUTURE TRASH "Dream Lives" (Christian)

IN REVERENT FEAR "Santa Ana" (Dave)

~Dave

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PODCAST #77 linked here
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