By Riley Hamilton
i’ve seen a way – Mandy, Indiana
The debut album from noisy, dynamic European rockers Mandy, Indiana creates and maintains a dark atmosphere across its 37 minute runtime. But the darkness on i’ve seen a way is not doom-filled or frightening. It’s dark in the same way the club is dark — when flashing lights are the only way to identify your friends, or to guide you to the bathroom or the exit. The album is constantly evolving and often abrasive, but always approachable. The world of the album exists only at night. It’s a space for chaos, heartbreak, sweat, disruption, noise, and dancing. It’s certainly unlike any record you might hear this year. On i’ve seen a way, Mandy, Indiana defies and breaks genres to endlessly cool, affecting results.
Calling Out of Context – Arthur Russell
Years ago, a friend sent me a meme created by Instagram royalty @katebush.420 that read, in part, “Listening to Arthur Russell with my girls. None of that disco shit either, just the freak tracks.” Beyond the silliness, the meme reveals the wide range of music Arthur Russell made. And no Arthur Russell album reveals his range as much as Calling Out of Context. Perhaps his most well-known song, “That’s Us/Wild Combination,” is rightfully a standout track, but the magic is much deeper. Over the grooving drums, meticulous keys, and classic subtle-but-moving cello, universal themes of loneliness and love prevail. Moments of blunt vulnerability — like “I Like You!” — are either shrouded in vocal effects and heavily saturated production or are barren compared to other tracks — like “You Can Make Me Feel Bad.” The world of Arthur Russell is vast and growing as Russell’s longtime partner Tom Lee continues unveiling his unreleased projects, like this year’s Picture of Bunny Rabbit. There’s an Arthur Russell song for everyone, for every feeling. What a great loss. What a great talent. For a touching interview with Tom Lee, check this out.