I’ve put together a slightly-but-not-really eclectic edition of The List today. It features some Vehlinggo stalwarts, along with a wild collab, some horror bliss, a song that isn’t exactly new but about which I haven’t yet written, and some chest-thumping on my part. In other words, a pretty typical The List.
To be fair, the chest-thumping is because my wife and I just saw a fantastic The Midnight set at Brooklyn Paramount and it reminded me that I’ve been covering some of these marquee artists for quite some time. The hours, minutes, and seconds blend together so easily these days that it can be easy for me to forget some things. Anyway, enough about me. Let’s get to the music!
FM-84 — “Radio (Feat. Josh Dally)”
Col Bennett (AKA FM-84) has been actively teasing a new chapter for his project over the past few months. It’s been 10 years and something like seven or eight represses since his blockbuster debut album, Atlas, was released. FM-84’s last big single was before COVID and when Ollie Wride was still an official band member. He hasn’t been idle, though. He’s been working on new material for a promised followup to Atlas, a process during which he and his family left California for his native Scotland.
On Saturday we got some fruits of that labor. In advance of a new album we’re treated to the delightful “Radio,” which some of you might remember as a Soundcloud demo several years ago or perhaps as a Wride single last year (he initially worked on the track back in the day and Bennett and collaborator Josh Dally gave him his blessing to issue his own version). It has the dreamy, ethereal quality of FM-84’s best work, and Dally certainly brings his all to the mix with his soaring vocals. Vehlinggo is pretty damn eager to hear what he has in store for us with this new album. “Radio” is available now in digital form on Bandcamp and your favorite streamers. (BTW, the first-ever FM-84 interview was published on this site in 2015. In case you’re wondering how old Vehlinggo is.)
Various Artists — The Music of FANGORIA
The storied horror mag Fangoria has compiled a stunning roster of composers for a compilation album release tied to its hyper-successful Compendium Kickstarter campaign. The book’s billed as “The Complete History of Horror from the Pages of the #1 Horror Magazine” and has earned $1,045,308 from 11,121 supporters so far (over a goal of $25,000). To accompany this gem as part of its campaign, the magazine has gathered the following talented souls on that aforementioned vinyl/digital comp: Harry Manfredini (Friday the 13th); Joseph LoDuca (Evil Dead, some Chucky titles); John Harrison (Creepshow); Richard Band (Puppet Master); Charles Bernstein (A Nightmare on Elm Street); John Massari (Killer Klowns from Outer Space); Brian Satterwhite (Cell); Christopher Cozzi (The Ties That Bind); and Ignacio Rosado (an up-and-coming maestro).
I don’t have any cues to share. Furthermore, I’m told the release is exclusive to backers of the Compendium — for now, while the crowdfunding exclusivity is operative. Here’s what Fangoria says on the Kickstarter page: “Thanks to iconic composer Harry Manfredini, known to FANGORIA readers for his many classic horror film scores, including the original Friday the 13th, people in these tiers will be getting their vinyl album cover signed by Harry himself! These signed versions will include the special blood-red colored LP created exclusively for this Kickstarter project and will be randomly numbered from the total quantity that are produced.”
SCORE.
Highway Superstar — “POWER SHIFT”
My pal Highway Superstar has been somewhat quiet over the past few years, although when he does release material he’s either collaborating with Sally Shapiro or dropping some sweet singles. Recently, he announced the upcoming release of a b-sides/previously-unreleased-songs collection entitled Hidden Treasures. The first single off it is the kinetically cinematic “POWER SHIFT,” a new cut that unfurls with the sonic confidence of your favorite 1980s film synth score. There is no official release date yet for the album, but I’m told it could be within the next few months.
Tom Waits and Massive Attack — “TK”
What’s there to say? It’s fucken Tom Waits and fucken Massive Attack collaborating! It’s like some genie granted me a wish. The lyrics are poignant and the video itself is engaging. Out now on streamers.
Patriarchy — “New Way”
“New Way,” from Patriarchy’s Twin Shadow-produced Manual For Dying, came out last summer, but I never wrote about it. So I figured, why not do it now? It’s a delightfully seedy dark electro-pop number with sick guitar riffs and a compelling vocal melody. The video below is super cool, too. Overall, her songs are so very good and I like that she’s doing something outside the polished realm. Check out her merch store, which has CDs and tapes of the album (vinyl is sold out). Also: shirts and undies.
For all editions of The List, walk this way.
You made it this far, here are a couple quick bonus offerings you might have missed at some point:
