Smothered In Time

A Frames “Flies” – At first, I thought of the new A Frames record as being the work of a decent “local band” with potential, but after spending some time with the record, I’ve come around to their subtle charms. It’s a lot like what happened for me with Interpol – I discovered that their music was almost ideal to listen to while reading and doing mindless errands because the consistent mood and dynamics never distracted me too much from my task. I know that this may seem like faint praise, but I appreciate music that can function in this way as a matter of practicality. As a result of doing this site, I have become fairly ruthless in how I process records by unfamiliar artists, so it’s a pleasant surprise to me that I can still take my time with some records. The A Frames certainly have their faults – mainly, I would prefer them to either be artier or poppier, because their middle ground seems like an awkward compromise – but at their best, they are both plodding and graceful, and pull off an aesthetic than many less bands never quite nail. (Click here to buy it from Sub Pop.)

The Gays “Fire To Feed (WASTER electro remix 2) – I’m generally not that fond of downpitched vocals outside of “screwed” rap records, but the trick works on this song. The vocals sound both woozy and wild, which is a good match for the track, which feels like a halfway point between goth and acid. The synth washes at the end as especially great, as is the sudden return of the vocals after the fake-out ending. (Click here to buy it from Pinprick Records.)