Hello! I’m playing a few Options (Computer Music) shows out of town. Also I’ve added a “recent listening” section here, where I’m going to write about what I’ve been digging.
Music stuff
Live:
I’m going on a short tour/solo road trip in early May as Options (Computer Music)! I’ll be playing Pittsburgh 5/4 at the Government Center, Philly 5/5 at Candy Jail, 5/7 in Brooklyn at Purgatory, 5/8 in Boston at Shratsford Foray, and 5/20 in Chicago at Cafe Mustache. I’ve got new shirts (the first Options Computer Music shirts !!!) too.
Patter is playing 5/19 at Cole’s, follow us on Instagram (@patterband) for updates!
Releases:
Mister Goblin’s newest LP Frog Poems is out now on all streaming platforms. This album was recorded (mostly) and mixed by me at Ohmstead, plus I played drums. I think it’s Sam’s most diverse and exciting record yet, full of thoughtful lyrics, exciting guitar playing, and so much more.
the Eikon Lamp released their new record at the center of your hope is a device, which I played drums on in December. It turned out great and I had a lot of fun learning and playing these songs, with these fellas.
Nature’s Neighbor released Live Collections Vol. 2, which I tracked/mixed/mastered and played drums on. The recordings are taken from two live sessions for Puddle Splashers - one from 2019, and one from 2024. The release features 3 brand new tunes that will appear on Mike’s forthcoming release.
Recent Listening:
Welcome to a new section of the newsletter! I keep meaning to include this stuff, and then forgetting, sooooo….
Surface To Air Missive
Holy shit, we’ve all been living under a rock…. unless you’re already familiar with Taylor Ross’ music project, Surface To Air Missive. It somehow feels both “from the future,” and “from the past,” at the same time.
Elements of jangly 70’s pop and baroque music are present here, but he uses melodic and lyrical devices that feel fresh to my ears. One of my favorite qualities in music, is not being able to tell if I like it or not. This usually means that I’m unable to find an easy point of reference, which usually means I’m hearing something new to me, which I cherish!
The record that really hooked me, is Shelly’s Secret, released under the name Shelly’s Gone… which is also the name of a record that was released under the Surface To Air Missive moniker, but scrubbed from the internet. Fortunately for us all, some kind folks have uploaded it on youtube… But, back to Shelly’s Secret - imagine a funhouse-mirror version of the Beatles/Beach Boys/Elliott Smith music… but putting into that box doesn’t really do it justice, as it’s very much its own thing. The whole record’s got an eerie/lost-in-a-haze quality to it, that really drew me in.
It’s important to me, to continually find new music that moves me, but sometimes I forget the depths to which I’m able to be moved… clearly evidenced by listening to Shelly’s Secret, Shelly’s Gone, and Shadows Leap a bajillion times in the last couple of months. I hope you love this as much as I have.
The new Sinai Vessel record is so, so excellent - every now and again, I’m lucky to be given a sneak-peak at a record before it comes out, and there’s something that feels kind of sacred, about listening to a completed work in this state - totally finished, yet still unreleased. Caleb’s last release Ground Aswim totally kicked ass, and his newest offering is just as awesome. I got to catch Sinai Vessel at the Empty Bottle in March and it was probably my favorite set I caught that month.
In December, I went to a great 5-band-bill at Chicago venue Sleeping Village. I had heard Disco Doom’s music before, and enjoyed it, but hadn’t made the time to dig in. Their set blew me away… yet, it took me until this month to give an earnest listed to their newest, Mt. Surreal. It’s awesome! This record has been a welcome companion on late night drives and moments where I just *don’t know what to listen to*.
If you made it this far, thank you, and hopefully see some of y’all on the road!
- Seth