Preview: ACRN Prom with Space Gondola, No Stars and Camille Jeanne

Fellow Rock Lobsters, we here at ACRN have worked hard to persevere through the obstacles that the global pandemic has thrown at the music world. In November, we successfully put on our annual Battle of the Bands, which was conducted remotely through pre-recorded live sets. We are continuing this virtual format with this year’s Prom. Three amazing local artists will be featured this time with all sets having been recorded at Ohio’s Scripps Amphitheater. Join us for the premiere this Saturday on ACRN’s YouTube Channel.

Q&A: Kiid Spyro

First off, I personally do not hear about hip-hop artists from Australia often. What is the scene like there? Who and what inspired you to start making music?

Kiid Spyro: The scene in Australia is drill, and I don’t make drill. People don’t really listen to this stuff I make. People really don’t make it. I grew up listening to American music. Kid Laroi was the only person from here making American style hip-hop. He was getting seen a lot because his style wasn’t popular down here. It was different, and people were like, “Why is an Australian making American music?” What’s popular here is, like, pop, EDM and whatever is on the radio. I’ll play a trap song, and people will be like, “What was that?” If people do listen to rap, it’s mostly drill.

Beli and the Pulse of L.A.

If the band Beli were a car, they’d be a 1974 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Not a lowrider, but a nice vintage ride with the potential to be converted into one. The body of the car is painted orange copper candy pearl, but the roof’s exterior is a seamless white. On the dashboard is a laminated image of the virgin Santa Maria. Hanging from the rear view mirror are two Royal Pine car fresheners. A purple LED mood light lines the inner rim of the car’s roof. When this car drives by during the day, one would expect it to serenade a quiet suburb with the classic trumpets emblematic of musica ranchera. But at night, when the LED lights are turned on, this car looks like the wheels could invert and turn into jet engines. You’re more likely to find this car parked on a cul-de-sac, windows up, with the faint sound of Lil Peep playing.

Boston shoegaze outfit Trash Sun releases “Besides”

By Ethan Bloomfield, Staff Writer Boston, Massachusetts, rock band Trash Sun self-released their seventh full length project since 2019, titled Besides. Read more: Middle Kids Release New Track “Stacking Chairs” The fully self-written and self-recorded album showcases a slowed down sound, moving away from their previous noisy shoegaze timbres to achieve a “thinner, stripped back,…

Read More

Album Review: Mogwai – As the Love Continues

Post-rock is a genre dominated by textures. Soundscapes are crafted, layering electronic instrumentals and guitars over complex percussion to form a musical experience and casting aside the usual structure of the rock genre. Scottish band Mogwai are no exception to this. Twenty-four years after the exceptional Young Team LP, the band is still releasing music, and their new studio album, As the Love Continues, does a delightful, though safe, job delivering the shimmery haze and atmosphere that post-rock employs.

Album Review: Danny L Harle – Harlecore

Harlecore is the long-awaited debut LP from PC Music affiliate Danny L Harle (HUGE DANNY). In an Arte Tracks video released in 2020, Danny is quoted saying, “The one thing that we maybe all [PC Music] dislike is things halfway between things. If you’re going to make something loud, it’s got to be the loudest thing you’ve ever heard. If it’s going to be quiet, it’s got to be incredibly quiet. If it’s got to be simple, it has to be the simplest thing in the world.” Harlecore lives up to this by unapologetically exploring the extremes with pure indulgence.

Middle Kids Release New Track “Stacking Chairs”

By Kwase Lane, Features Editor
[Photo courtesy of Imogen Wilson]
Sydney-based alternative indie-rock outfit Middle Kids have released a new single, “Stacking Chairs”. The piece is the fourth song from the group’s upcoming project, Today We’re The Greatest, releasing March 19. “Stacking Chairs” focuses on Middle Kids’ childhood memories and thoughts on love.

Movie Review: Nomadland

Sometimes, a movie feels like it’s yelling at you. It’s screaming “pay attention to me” because that’s all it can really do. Nomadland is the opposite. It’s never in your face, and instea,d it lets itself sort of pour over you and slowly be let in. Nomadland knows exactly what it needs to be and executes it well.