bandcamp friday picks, 10-1-21 + some random september picks

we recently got a small bonus at work (not enough to make up for the long pay freeze we went through, but it was at least something). i had a nice little weekend in chicago, did a little record shopping, and i picked up some really top-notch albums from bandcamp for their bandcamp friday.

this is everything i picked up on bandcamp this friday, as well as the odds and ends i’ve grabbed through september.

“Bazan 2021 #2” - David Bazan (digital)
a somber and delicate new track from the master of emotional story-songs, accompanied by an equally somber cover of tom petty’s “walls”.
https://pedrothelion.bandcamp.com/album...

“Now What?” - Siem Reap (digital preorder)
the gentle, sparkling solo sounds of oathbreaker’s gilles demolder. hints of early owen and american football permeate the first track from his earnest solo debut.
https://siemreapholdingco.bandcamp.com/album...

“I Was Trying to Describe You To Someone” - Wednesday
sundays-esque vocals, warbling guitars, and 90s slacker rock vibes. a MLTSHPer recommended this band to me, and i loved their “twin plagues” so much that i grabbed this as well.
https://wednesdayband.bandcamp.com/album...

“…And Again Into The Light” - Panopticon (digital)
dirt-road folk, string-laden instrumentals, and strident atmospheric black metal collide into a surprisingly coherent musical statement about personal failures, growth, and acceptance. discovered lunn’s work by way of a split he shared with aerial ruin and quickly consumed all of the amazingly diverse albums he’d put on bandcamp.
https://thetruepanopticon.bandcamp.com/album...

“Engines of Hell” - Emma Ruth Rundle (digital preorder)
a hotly anticipated followup that sees her showing a gentler, piano-driven singer-songwriter style. can’t wait to hear this whole album in november.
https://emmaruthrundle.bandcamp.com/album...

“ILYM” - Mermaid Heaven (digital single)
sometimes upbeat, sometimes dreamy track from a local band i like. slickly-produced indie pop with touches of synthpop and dream. looking forward to a full LP or EP of material from them.
https://mermaidheaven.bandcamp.com/track...

“Buds” - Ovlov (Clear LP preorder)
warm-hearted, fuzzy indie rock from the resurrected quartet. their prior LPs are frank, fun, and chock full of hummable melodies and riffs; looking forward to hearing the whole shebang.
https://explodinginsoundrecord...

“Old Blues” - Bad History Month (yellow LP)
rambling, wildly-structures indie folk with flecks of electronic boops, crashing drums, and odd sounds. a surprisingly personal, sometimes snarky, and often self-effacing journey through traumas, encounters, and joys.
https://explodinginsoundrecord...

“A Good Winter In June” - Anyone’s Ghost (cassette)
atmospheric, dreamlike folk wrapped in layers of reverb. found this manchester songwriter’s debut by chance and immediately fell in love with the whole, cohesive album.
https://anyonesgh0st.bandcamp.com/album...

“Heaven or Sadorus” - From Circumstances (cassette preorder)
swirling, warbling experimental pieces from a local friend. extended experiments in textures and tones with a healthy portion of shoegaze-like drones.
https://failedpoemrecords.bandcamp.com/album...

“Piecework” - Kowloon Walled City (digital preorder)
the masters of glacially-paced sludge grow more melodic and more personal with the first couple tracks for this upcoming LP. “piecework” sees them tightening their songs, growing their melodies, and pulling no punches.
https://kowloonwalledcity.bandcamp.com/album...

“On Dark Horses” - Emma Ruth Rundle (digital)
taut, dark songs with powerful melodies and smokily dense guitars. beautifully-crafted and perfectly executed, this album has been in heavy rotation as of late.
https://emmaruthrundle.bandcamp.com/album...

“Routine” - Nectar (digital single)
one of my favorite local bands, dropping a sweet, tightly poppy song about finding joy in daily repetitions. hints of juliana hatfield and can’t wait for their new LP next year on lauren records.
https://nectarnectar.bandcamp.com/track...

also pictured:
“istok” - trna
https://trnaband.bandcamp.com/album...
“a patient man” - cult leader
https://cultleadermusic.bandcamp.com/album...