Odds & Ends: July 3, 2023

Band: Chafouin | Album: Trois, quatre | Genre: Math rock, Progressive rock | Bandcamp

I liked this band’s 2021 album Toufoulcan, so I was excited when I saw they had something new coming out. Where Toufoulcan had a sense of sonic continuity between the tracks, this release feels more like a collection of unrelated (or barely-related) songs. The music itself is good, and none of the songs overstay their welcome. When taken as a whole, though, Trois, quatre feels a bit unfocused.

Score: 74/100

Band: Numidia | Album: South of the Bridge | Genre: Hard rock, Progressive rock | Bandcamp

This album was a huge disappointment. I loved this band’s Middle Eastern-tinged debut record, which expertly blended Near-Eastern flavors with prog and psych in very satisfying ways. Here though, the band has stripped away anything that makes them unique and put out a bland, bluesy hard-ish, vaguely-prog-adjacent record that often reminds me of ‘90s Pink Floyd (and not in a good way). The music isn’t bad, per se, especially if you’re looking for something evocative of certain 1970s blues rock acts, but it’s a major step down from their self-titled, in terms of both creativity and impact.

Score: 52/100

Band: Perséide | Album: Les couleurs d’été | Genre: Psychedelic rock | Bandcamp

The contrasts between this album and the band’s last release are evident right in the cover art. Where 2019’s Parmi les arbres had a stark, intricate design, Les couleurs d’été is warm, fuzzy, and full of soft shapes. That contrast carries through the music. The title of this album translates to “the colors of summer,” and most of these cuts have a warm, relaxing, summery feel to them. Though there are no bad songs on this record, it can begin to feel a bit same-y at points. The music is still enjoyable overall, but at times it all bleeds together into a vague, psychedelic haze.

Score: 72/100

Band: Squid | Album: O Monolith | Genre: Art punk, Krautrock, Post-rock | Bandcamp

Following their stellar 2021 debut, Bright Green Field, Squid has returned with a strong sophomore release. This is identifiably the same band, but there have been some evolutions. Trumpet has been incorporated prominently into a few songs, and synthesizers play a bigger role. However, it’s still full of tense, anxious guitar lines, madcap vocals, and krautrock-like repetition and builds. I might still slightly prefer Bright Green Field, but O Monolith is a strong addition to their discography.

Score: 84/100

Band: Thy Catafalque | Album: Alföld | Genre: Black metal, Avant-garde metal | Bandcamp

Compared to Naiv and Vadak, the first few songs on Alföld seem downright conventional. They’re more straightforward black metal than I’m used to hearing from this project. Keyboards are greatly reduced in prominence, and harsh vocals are the norm. However, past the first three songs, the album veers into the experimental territory I’ve come to expect from Thy Catafalque. The title track has an extended folk section, and “Folyondár” is mostly electronic. Synthesizers and folk elements continue to blend with black metal effectively throughout the remainder of the record. As always, I like that the songs are relatively focused. Sole bandmember Tamás Kátai shows it’s possible to be progressive without needlessly overextending your compositions.

Score: 84/100

Band: Ultraphauna | Album: No No No No | Genre: Art rock, RIO | Bandcamp

This band’s debut record is focused around the keys, violin, and vocals of its two founders, alongside a strong bass performance from Toby Driver of Kayo Dot. The music here ranges from dense and experimental to light and accessible. The violin often adds a slight Middle Eastern flavor, and the rich variety of synth tones makes this release glisten. Quiet moments draw many elements from chamber music. Parts of this album can run a bit long, but it’s nothing egregious.

Score: 78/100