Brandon’s Staff Picks

Scroll down to read an archive of Brandon’s staff pick write-ups.

Corporate Park, Exchange

“Exchange was originally release on a criminally mere 72 copies on cassette via Sexkrime Arts (the former imprint run by Alex K of Climax Denial / Fog Of Joy etc. until the formulation of Virtues) and hence this LP reissue exists as a prime example of the importance of archival reissues and attention to quality: Clangorous, classically sensed industrial rhythms juxtaposed with a ‘noise sensibility’ in freedom, abrasiveness and mood but all under still somehow remaining a good bit more listenable (and dare I say danceable!) than your average ‘industrial’ album. The perfect rendition of an old school vibe all too often poorly imitated but as displayed here, captured to perfection and rendered unforgettable.”

Kate Rissiek, Decayed Signals

“Kate Rissiek departs from her near legendary Rusalka moniker for an only slight detour into similar but dare one say more academic territories. Slow, beyond heavy developments in colossal noise constructions / deconstructions. A unique and cathartic experience. Among the best of 2022.”

No Dreams, Fantasies of Affection

“Perfectly paced nightmare electronics surrounded by beauty. Maniacal attention to detail – Slow burn weed soaked incense telepathic spiritual awakening music.”

Bailey Miller, Still Water

“Gorgeous, ghost-like siren songs. Ohio bred reverb-drenched electronics / vocals coupled with folk-like instrumentation. A super impressive debut- Haunting, ethereal, cerebral and sad – Packed with many ideas and textures not normally so well maintained together. Should be filed right next to the best works of Grouper, Xiu Xiu, Mt. Eerie, early Chelsea Wolfe, Diane Cluck etc. all while very much maintaining her own unique voice and vision. A special one, and absolutely a best of 2022. Mastered by the legend Sean McCann.”

Spirinet, My Kiss

“Like a deconstructed, even more bummed out Actress LP – Excellent electronica with a vividly unique voice and vision of rhythm, decay and otherworldly fidelity. Hi-fi sounds through lo-fi techniques. Excellent. One of the best of 2022 without a doubt.”

Coil, Constant Shallowness Leads to Evil

“Bummer, harsh, and broken burn out electronics and psychedelia from the masters. A more raw and direct snapshot of the genre-defying brilliance that is Coil.”

Joel Chadabe, Dynamic Systems

“One of four beyond stellar audio documents of sound designer and synth extraordinaire, Joel Chadabe. Deep, vivid and highly varied electronic explorations – Extraterrestrial sonic territories. File next to the greats such as Pauline Oliveros, Suzanne Ciani etc.”

Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly

“Best of 2015 no doubt and into the now and beyond. Definitive game changer. Birthed obscene and monstrous vision to the hip hop album format not seen since Ye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Intense, vivid, socio-politically jaw dropping and always poignant Black narrative’s from the West Coast. A life changing LP.”

Nordvest (Sleeparchive), Grondal

“Absolute stunner of a minimalist synth LP from techno legend, SLEEPARCHIVE (Tresor etc.) Apparently these recordings were ‘rejected’ under that moniker, but they elevate above the typical ‘synth jam’ to near classic Sky Records sessions.
Space dwelling saw and sine synths dance via beautiful delay ridden arpeggios that perfectly cascade into hypnotic bliss. Top notch stuff.”

Robert Turman, Flux

“Modern Midwest minimalist masterpiece. Perfect tape music. Sad, slow, intriguing – Contemplative, thought provoking – delicate and curious, yet confident and bold. A completely essential document of a masters work. 2022 repress and who knows it might be the last… R.I.P. Spectrum Spools – R.I.P. Peter Rehberg <3”

Kübler-Ross, Kübler-Ross

“Instant addition on the best of 2022 list. Simultaneously somehow the most lovely produced synth-pop meets industrial meets clangorous minimal synth meets warm analog, gorgeously disgusting mutagenic synthesis all under the incredibly woven blanket of GREAT SONGS!!! Memorable – infectious – Exploratory and never boring.”

RX-101, Hearts Utd.

“Breathtaking 90’s era Rephlex style electronic perfection. Blissful, playful, cold, heady, smart, primitive, and ingenious all at once. Must have material and a great starting point for an artist who’s entire catalog doesn’t miss.”

Else Marie Pade, Electronic Music Works 1958-1995

“One of the greatest of all time – Hunted for this box forever and the quest was beyond worth it – I’ll let her work and voice speak for itself: ‘The sounds outside became concrete music, and in the evening I could imagine that the stars and the moon and the sky uttered sounds and those turned into electronic music.’ ~ Else Marie Pade”

Fela Kuti, Expensive Shit

“True Afrobeat masterpiece. Blacker than dread. Hasn’t left my turntable in weeks – and I’m still pissed off. The sound of Nigeria 1974/ 1975. Revolution now!!!”

Xylouris White, Goats

“Underrated modern psyche-folk ripper. Saw these cats open for the greatest band in the world (SWANS) and it was completely mind blowing. Entrancing and free – Old, seemingly extremely knowledged sounds but with a fresh take on classic folk instrumentation. Excellent.”

Henry Grimes Trio, The Call

“The near hidden Black General holding down the low end (bass) on countless essential Jazz recordings gets his ESP debut as a leader. Cult, mandatory LP showcasing a power trio emanating spiritual ascendance through freedom and form.”

Birth!, I Will

“Revisited this Midwest classic after hearing of Doug’s passing. An album ahead of its time – and even though it has been years since witnessing a live Birth gig, I can vividly remember him standing far and above many so called ‘digital hardcore’ artists past and present. Real nasty goth shit with a vehemently pissed edge and true heart wrapped in a call to arms self aware / intelligently self challenging stance. RIP”

Discharge, Hear Nothing See Nothing

“The definition of D-Beat – The D in DIS!!! The original punk destruction audio horror show. Maybe one of the most influential LPs of all time? Crucial can’t begin to describe. Total blow out. Hear Nothing…ever again!!!”

Fela Ransome—Kuti And The Africa ’70 With Ginger Baker ‎– Live!

“Top notch Afrobeat perfection with the best drummers to have ever lived. Energy off the charts. An essential, classic record that’s also a great starting point for the incredible black legacy that is Fela Kuti – Hail Tony Allen.”

Bad Brains, Bad Brains

“More than perfect hardcore punk LP – The realest deal. Hails Beyond Infernal!”

The Howling

“Robert Picardo (the doctor in Star Trek Voyager yo!) as a werewolf! Beyond essential. Terrifying zone but also with a sense of humor- killer soundtrack. Top top horror flick. Hails beyond internal!”

Barrington Levy, Poorman Style

“Must have beyond classic 79′ Levy – Unforgettable dancehall. Proper reality check. Heavier than life itself. Scientist on the boards – unbelievable frequency testing masterclass.”

Normal Brain, Lady Maid

“Beyond top notch weirdo electronic industrial madness but also none of those things. Kinda chill yet unsettling and beautifully intriguing.:

Dead Heat

“DEAD HEAT (Blu Ray) – Utterly insane peak 80’s action-horror-black comedy gnarliness. Re-animator meets Lethal Weapon meets Dead & Buried meets Frankenhooker- amazing. Hails!”

Ambienti Coassiali, Six Operators

“Divine explorations into FM synthesis – tonal bliss – The future meets the past. Electronic nostalgia meditation.”

Air LQD, Repeat Itself

“Top tier mutant techno!!! Left field as fuck! Cerebral. Danceable too but in that realllly gnarly shroom trip kinda way. As good inna dance as it is when staring blankly at the ceiling in your apartment questioning the reasoning and possibly infinite and futile realities of this fleeting mortal existence itself.”

Joe Colley, Deformation of Tone

“Painfully brilliant sound design. Frequency destroying, mind bending electronic mastery. Instantly added to the best of 2022 list.”

Club Skull, The Origins Of…

“HAIL AUBE!!! GREATEST MASTER OF MICRO-DRONE FOCUS TONES EVER. File the homie next to Pauline Oliveros – Here he is jamming with the mega-psychedelic maniacs from C.C.C.C. and beyond – Top tier sonic materials.”

A Handful of Dust, Dragging Her Wings of Rusty Knives: Selected Recordings 1994-2016

“Beyond destroyed real time improvisational slow motion decay New Zealand underground broken noise no-wave-ish brilliance. Completely perfect. Hail The Dead C!”

Baldi / Gerycz, Ignorants Stupidos

“Top level Midwest beyond free-free-jazz ! Most killer cover I’ve even seen on a cassette cuz fuck that guy. Was one of the most lame moments ever. Revenge is a dish best served FREE!!!”

XV, Fresh Lettuce

“Honestly, perhaps the best Michigan band at it right now, released on easily one of Michigan’s best imprints, ALL GONE TAPES. Live set of totally broken no-wave nothingness. Near free improv rock that feels almost industrial. For fans of The Dead C, DNA, Mars etc. and being psychedelically deranged.”

Cluster, Grosses Wasser

“Top notch Cluster – Proper, transcendent synth laced space dwelling komische musik!!! Acoustic instruments fuse with electronics and swirling soundscapes. Mandatory in any collection.”

Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe / Ariel Kalma, We Know Each Other Somehow

“Masterful explorations in psychedelic serenity from two legends in electronic and etho-ambient music. Swirling synths, looped horns, meditative vocal emanations and more. A must have and a perfect primer to these two legends’ vast catalogs.”

VA, Deutsche Elektronische Musik (Experimental German Rock and Electronic Musik 1972-83) – Volume One

“Perhaps the best primer EVER into the world of Krautrock, Berlin School, Komische Musik and beyond. Lots of classics and rarities on here, plus an amazing write up of the history and evolution of the music found within. Exceptional grip for the newcomer or seasoned collector!”

MattxIbarra, Feeling of Despair

“Subterranean dwelling mutant techno gone horrifyingly and wonderfully wrong. Clip length style ideas and a tape style approaching closer to a sound collage mixtape in spots – Doze off drop out electronics crossed with late night speedball kick drums. Top!!!”

Cost, Fourth Utterance

“Bleak and brutal harsh noise blaster from this demented heathen from Portland USA. Sounds like 90’s Macro stuck in a bad trip – Weird samples abound from fried tapes coupled with the most lo-fi black gutter gunk electronics and junk metal (?) heard since the hay-day of that good good $hit. Top tier New Old Noise. Excellent.”

Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe, Cognition / Observation

“The deepest of dubbed out modular synthesis and swirling psychedelic riddims. The mad genius behind the 2021 Candyman score as well as countless jaw dropping collaborations with Om, Ariel Kalma and many more. Essential modern electronics.”

Nape, Ten Tonne Angel

“Top level techno. Raw, primitive, engaging angular sounds all under the umbrella of dance inducing psychedelia. A MUST HAVE OF 2021!!!“

Alien

“Greatest of all time.”

Dalibor Cruz, Realizing Requisites

“Wildly eclectic, dark yet playful Chicago techno with flavors of deep cultural roots and explorations of heritage. A proper modern vision of what underground dance music can and should be.”

Brett Naucke, Seed

“Top tier electronic composition through layers of gorgeous and advanced synthesis. An exercise in deeply disciplined patching and listening.

Cluster & Eno, Cluster & Eno

“Best Cluster. Best Eno. Beautifully frail and contemplative yet extremely intentional music. Piano, guitar, synth, ambient textures and micro rhythms all combine into  incredibly well placed, expertly paced and brilliantly crafted unforgettable sounds.”

GX Jupitter-Larsen, Digging Through Time

“Incredible recollections of innumerable live actions of The Haters capturing the legendary experimental unit in wonderful photography as well as insanely delightful blurbs on the techniques and concepts explored per gig. A truly essential experimental document.”

Tim Hecker, Love Streams

“Beyond bummer decayed synths and achingly beautiful tones by the electronic based mastermind. Debut for 4AD. Essential loner zone sad sad jams.”

The New Me, It’s 1999

“Exceptionally unique Detroit proto-minimalist techno. Near industrial-like rhythms saturated in tape hiss and atmosphere. Equal parts danceable as it is cerebral.”

Pita, Get On

“Potentially and quite sadly the final full length masterpiece from the incredible sonic visionary behind Editions Mego etc. Mind bending modern electronics. Peter Rehburg R.I.P.”

C.C.C.C., Cosmic Coincidence Control Center

“Debut release from the Japanese masters of psychedelic space dwelling harsh noise.”

Body/Head, Coming Apart

“Beyond bummer tranced out psyzone collab between Kim Gordon and Bill Nace. Equally as beautifully broken as it is free.”

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  October 8, 2021  |  Staff Picks