Poltergeists is a biweekly feature in which Michael and Wes share tracks that they have had on repeat over the past two weeks.
Michael
Ulver - “Cromagnosis”
Through the ever-wise guidance of Brant Showers (SØLVE and ∆AIMON), I discovered Ulver this week. I have mixed feelings about the tracks. There are parts that I would not be a fan of if they were on their own (for example: if “Cromagnosis” was only the last two minutes of the track - where all the bongos are crazy and the bass is just super prog-funk-but-fast). But the tracks really draw me in! I get so lost in the calm, Tool-like bass lines and minimalism that I don’t mind that it gets crazy and weird in the end. This song is a good example of how important the background sounds are in a track. The main bass riffs are solid and with the drums and wispy guitar in the background, the track is pretty well rounded - but the strange atmosphere behind all of that is what sells me.
Tigre Dente De Sabre - “B-Side Of A Trucker Man”
I have been a little fascinated with the Sad Rave parties in Brazil: combing through the different bands and pictures and secretly waiting for my phone call to go down to join those beautiful weirdos. Tigre Dente De Sabre is one of the many artists to play Sad Rave and I can definitely see why. This two person group puts out some ridiculously fun music - in one live video I saw there was a drummer and then a person playing bass guitar and keyboard. They both looked like they were having the time of their lives and I think that the music reflects it. “B-Side Of A Trucker Man” is a fun track that hits me in that dance-y place. At just about the end of the song, around 2:50, the song breaks out into an almost completely new rhythm and melody that punctuates this song nicely.
Wes
Deadcrow - “THVGGIN”
I had seen Deadcrow would be working with Saturate, and after hearing their track “BLVCK” I have been looking forward to seeing what that would bring. I gotta say I am not disappointed. In this track we have a beautifully layered song combining influences from future bass and trap, and more classic hip-hop sounds. On the surface level, we’ve got the deep kicks, snappy, rolling snares and trilling hi-hats, layered over this nice sampled track that feels soulful in a way you don’t hear with a lot of trap tracks. Additionally, the way the snare rolls, some of the airy crashes, and the little synth elements that slide in and out of the track give it a distinctly future feel. While the track is not as dark as “BLVCK”, it is still well worth your time.
Schwefelgelb - “Auf Der Anderen Seite Vom Fenster”
Man, I’ve been sleeping on Schwefelgelb. The most stand out features of this track are the mix of that rolling bassline and that hard as kick. The bass morphs and evolves in timbre, but maintains the same rhythm for most of the song. If you think that sounds like that would get to repetitive, allow me to assure you that it does not. It’s more like a sound foundation, where you have these wonderful percussive hits - snappy snares, heavy kicks, and rapid claps; huge toms, woodblocks and stabbing hi-hats - coming in and out to create a constantly changing, constantly driving texture that forces you move. I cannot not move my head when listening to this track.