Fluxblog Weekly #229: Modern Nature, Magdalena Bay, Samia, Fountain
September 16th, 2019 4:23pm
No Gaps Just Sound
Modern Nature “Footsteps”
It takes a little over a minute for the saxophone to show up in “Footsteps,” and when it does, it entirely shifts the emotional register of the song. Everything else in the song up to the point it enters – and then on through the end of it – feels cool and neutral, but the sax lead is forceful and emotive. It’s somewhat jarring, particularly in contrast with the cool and aloof tone of the vocal. It takes over the song as it moves along, and it’s like this strong and sort of inappropriate emotion cracking through in a situation that calls for polite decorum. The feeling is held somewhat in check, but it’s still a disruption of a chill vibe.
Buy it from Amazon.
September 17th, 2019
It’s Something Magic And I’ll Never Quit
Magdalena Bay “Only If You Want It”
There is no shortage of young artists aiming for late 90s/early 00s pop aesthetics, but a real dearth of artists who can actually provide this beyond a surface-level glossiness. But here’s Magdalena Bay, a duo who have somehow written a bright, hyper-infatuated bop with the melodic grace and effortless bounce of an actual early Britney Spears hit. “Only If You Want It” sounds great and feels very authentic in large part because the composers understand that writer-producers like Max Martin were aiming to replicate ‘90s R&B, and the bones of the song are rooted in those traditions even if the aesthetics are all neon plastic and overbearing sunshine. They push the cheery hyper-pop vibe to an extreme, and follow through on a conceptual level with lyrics that come across as playfully unhinged as they push the “I’m obsessed with my crush!!!” boilerplate sentiments of teen pop to a deranged conclusion.
Buy it from Amazon.
September 19th, 2019
Synthesize My Legs And Eyes
Samia “Ode to Artifice”
A title like “Ode to Artifice” suggests a song that’s overly cold and clever, but Samia’s music and lead vocal exudes a warmth that overwhelms the more arch elements of her lyrics. The melody, which at some points sounds like it could break out into “This Old Heart of Mine,” seems to wind gently around a guitar groove that feels very casual without sounding particularly loose. The lyrics address some anxiety and social confusion, but it’s nothing too heavy – like, how stressed can she be when she’s affectionately addressing someone as “honeybun” in every chorus?
Buy it from Amazon.
September 19th, 2019
Static With No Nuance
Fountain “Cataclysmic Fusion”
Fountain call back to a sort of indie rock that’s been out of fashion for quite a while: extroverted, rowdy, weird, and abrasive but heavy on grooves. Think of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, or Royal Trux, or Girls Against Boys, or maybe the more aggressively strange side of Pavement. Their songs are well put together but feel like they’re being improvised on the spot, thanks in large part to the wild energy of drummer Laura Jeffery. “Cataclysmic Fusion” has a geeky strut to it – not quite funky, but it moves with a lot of attitude. It’s the sort of tune that could be very obnoxious if the band weren’t so charming in a bratty sort of way.
Buy it from Bandcamp.