Reviews

John Villegas

Guiding Light Fear On My Own Time LP

Incredibly lush and well-defined production on this collection of art-pop. The lineage of VELVET UNDERGROUND to CHRONOPHAGE to 2026 is complete with this one. Every instrument is showing you most if not all of their best tricks, but not at any detriment to the music. The songs are engaging and short enough that this one will be over before you realize it, and the only proper thing to do would be to listen again. The lyrics are mostly in German but sung at a frenzied canter whose exigency is reminiscent of Minneapolis’ AQUARIUM. If you, like me, are a barely functioning adult with untreated ADHD, I would suggest you lightly jog through the streets while listening to this on a loop. It will make the world seem like a video game—a game whose ending will probably disappoint you, but until then, you will have a great soundtrack for this round of samsara.

Esperanza Freedom and Equality 12″

The drums sound like drums. The guitar sounds like a real life guitar. And the bass, well, you get it. This is human music through and through. Raw aggression that cannot be faked. This sounds unique. You cannot pin this down, and it is all the better for it. Punk should sound like this. Like movement. Like an inexhaustible energy reminiscent of one’s wasted or at least misremembered youth. This touches on UK82 but is not defined by it. This is its own well-cornered niche of punk. You can taste eclectic notes of their countrymen PAINTBOX, you can detect a little metallic flavor of ENGLISH DOGS, you can breathe in a whisper of IMPACT, you can close your eyes and wish they were coming to your town. Until then, this record will do a more than serviceable job and be well worth your time and money.