Looking for new music? DJs at student-run radio station WVAU share their thoughts on a range of recent releases.
Click here to read past Audiophiles.
Mikal Cronin
S/T
The first track of Mikal Cronin’s album begins with a soft vocal harmony that instantly brings to mind Grizzly Bear, an influence not usually seen in the current fuzzed-out San Francisco rock scene from which Cronin hails.
But the softness doesn’t last long. A few moments later, he introduces the crashing cymbals and power chords that will be heard time and time again on the album.
Mikal Cronin picked up a thing or two from fellow San Francisco rocker Ty Segall. The first track “Is It Alright?” is no exception.
However, Cronin often chooses acoustic guitars over the fuzzy distorted electric guitar that has become Segall’s staple.
But that is not to say that Cronin doesn’t indulge in distorted rock. “Green and Blue” is an onslaught of tambourine, pounding drums, distorted vocals and fuzzy guitars.
Cronin’s debut features surf and garage rock songs with fun hooks, but with nearly every song having something in common with its predecessor, it feels tired and drawn out at times.
The album’s dynamic final track “The Way Things Go” is a spectacular closer that separates itself entirely from the rest of the album. It has a fun synthesizer motif and even speeds up about halfway through from a crawl to a sprint.
Cronin’s self-titled debut displays his ability for crafting enjoyable, poppy rock songs, though the consistency of the album’s sound can make it a wearing listening experience at times.
Recommended if you like: Ty Segall, San Francisco, music
Recommended Tracks: “Apathy” “Green and Blue” “The Way Things Go”
By BEN NIGH
Young Man
Ideas of Distance
It is obvious why Young Man, aka Collin Caulfield, became famous.
His YouTube covers of indie standards like Beach House and Deerhunter drew attention for their precise replication of the original songs, and his new EP “Ideas of Distance” exemplifies the heavy influence of these bands, especially Deerhunter, Bon Iver and, of course, Animal Collective.
And he’s not distancing himself from the comparison. Throughout the EP, Caulfield’s voice, inflection and mixing purposefully draws an almost immediate parallel to Panda Bear.
On the new EP, Caulfield shows some basic songwriting improvements, veering from the predictably straightforward indie-pop approach and creating some interesting atmospherics with decent production value.
However, the basic elements are still the same, with Caulfield’s guitar meandering above drum loops, his reverb-laden vocal droning layered on top.
While at points the record seems long-winded and overly emotional (the added string arrangements feel a bit out of place, especially when mixed with the cheesy ’80s drum beats), it’s a definite improvement from his past releases and may take him one step closer to being on par with the artists he shamelessly mimics.
Recommended if you like: Atlas Sound, Panda Bear, Youth Lagoon
Recommended Tracks: 2, 4,6
By Maxwell Tani
Zola Jesus
Conatus
The title of Zola Jesus’ new album is Latin for “moving forward,” so it is no surprise that we find mastermind Nika Roza Danilova advancing her sound with chilling strings and thunderous drums that sound like they came straight from a Florence and the Machine single.
Regardless, it is the opera-trained voice of Danilova that commands listeners’ attention, as she navigates these songs through their cool atmospheres and eerie textures.
This is a great headphone album, particularly in the moments where “Vessel” hits a wall of white noise and “Ixode” surrounds you with layers of Danilova’s vocals.
An often-chilling listen, “Conatus” creates its own mesmerizing world that only gets more rewarding with further listens.
Recommended if you like: Nico, Former Ghosts
Recommended Tracks: 3, 5, 6
Click here to listen to the album.
By Cameron Meindl
Youth Lagoon
The Year of Hibernation
Youth Lagoon is Boise, Idaho native Trevor Powers. His debut LP “The Year of Hibernation” reflects a mature sense of melody and song structure, which is quite impressive considering Powers is just over 22 years old.
Each track prominently features piano, synthesizers, programmed drumbeats and even some guitar, most notably on the third track “Afternoon.”
What begins as staccato pick strokes evolves into a slick riff that slips and slides casually in between a whistling motif that mirrors the opening piano chords of the song.
Powers displays an uncanny ability for slowly building each song by layering beats and other instruments on top of what usually begins with nothing but piano and his vocals.
What stands out the most is Powers’ fantastic vocal range. Though his vocals are soaked in reverb on nearly every track, this does not take away from the fact that Powers can actually sing.
“The Year of Hibernation” is a fantastic first effort for Powers. Every track on the eight-song LP is an excellent dose of melodic dream pop, hinting that Powers’ greatest work is yet to come.
Recommended if you like: flannel, Idaho, People who play the piano that aren’t James Blake
Recommended Tracks: “Cannons,” “Afternoon,” “Montana,” “The Hunt”
By BEN NIGH
