Semya - "Spectral Growth Reel"

Last week Richard over at Rose Quartz pointed out a new track via Altered Zones by Baltimore's own Semya. It's called "Spectral Growth Reel", check it out below.



This new offering from the Wigflip cohort Semya (the same dude who makes beats under the Lexx moniker) is a brilliantly lit-up affair. With new age hums and off-kilter warbles that could cast a spell over just about anything, this sun-drenched stunner shows much promise for the forthcoming full length. "Spectral Growth Reel" starts out with subtle tones and warm vibes, only to let up and drift off deep into a realm of weird and cosmic sounds. Some resemblance of a beat can be found throughout the haze, starting out in the distance but eventually becoming the focal point as the song fades off into space.

The new cassette is out on Matthewdavid's label, Leaving Records, in July or August.

Wigflip End of Summer Comp 2010

Our neighboring sound-seekers over at Wigflip Records continue their aural onslaught of gorgeous tunes with a fresh compilation to help commemorate the end of summer. In addition to some new jams from some local and familiar favorites, this compilation features some stellar new tunes from afar.



This is my first run-in with My Friend Wallis, which is the project of Crystal Dorval who resides in Vancouver, Canada. Above is "Be Free", a steady romp through the clouds that is chock full of ethereal pop bliss. Highly recommended for the Indian summer days of October, and another stellar addition to the Wigflip family.



Another radical new find is the work of Acid Flashback. A somewhat mysterious entity based out of both Atlanta and Toronto, their contribution to the compilation is certainly a highlight. "Big Dreams" recalls the head-bobbing 60s pop nostalgia found in Run DMT's "Spruce Bringsteen" (also on this comp), adding layers of even more dreamy vibes.

These new find are paired with some gems from some of our favorites including Dead Drums, Happy Family, Semya, Do While, Gem Vision, and more. Download the entire compilation for free right here, and check out the full track list after the jump.

Lexx - "Palm Shades" video, plus "Bamboo Shoot"

Baltimore's Semya also has a project under the moniker Lexx, an outlet to relinquish beats of the crunked-out Ninja Turtles pizza-shooter variety. Lexx just tossed out another batch of jams, including one of his new favorites, "Bamboo Shoot".



This one's a slow-burner that lights up easy, with rhythms and zones that that hit you just as slick. The rest of the new ones feature all kinds of sounds - wonky rolling beats that are tweaked and twirled like the final obstacle course from Double Dare. They all pretty much make you want to get drunk and play Nintendo on the dance floor.

Lexx also just passed along a dreamy new video for "Palm Shades".



Both of these tracks can be found on BEATS VOL. 1, which can be downloaded right here from Lexx for free. Lexx also made about 12 cassettes, and would be happy to mail one along with a booklet of original artwork for six dollars if you email him here.

Premiere: Wigflip Comp - SUN SUN SUN

I am extremely excited to premiere a brand new compilation from our friends over at Wigflip Records. Caleb Moore (Lands & Peoples / Dead Drums) passed along this doosey of a release last night, the first compilation to come out of the new Baltimore label.

The comp is called SUN SUN SUN, and features new and exclusive things from a whole mess of Baltimore goodness. It is available as a free download, which Bmore Musically Informed is proud to premiere at the link below:

Wigflip Records Compilation - SUN SUN SUN

Wigflip's compilation sports some pretty heady ambient jams from the likes of Dead Drums, Semya, Winks, Zu Shapes, Brendan Sullivan, Amy Reid, Run DMT, Dustin Wong, Happy Family, Rod Hamilton, Dygn, and Amanda Schmidt. It's a bright and dreamy summer adventure, one that's best served with an open mind and deep spirit. Caleb, who curated the tracks and put together the art, had this to say about the release...

"Some of these people are my close friends, and some of them are acquaintances that I simply respected the shit out of. Over the course of this project those two lines were blurred, my relationships with the participants grew, and our musical tastes shifted ever so slightly. This has been in the works for about six months. For me, this compilation is a perfect representation of everything I love about the Baltimore music/art community."

Get the full track list after the jump, and look out for a physical release to come.

Dead Drums - "Voicemail"
Semya - "Stardust Magic"
Winks - "Bongy Rubble"
Zu Shapes - "Fakin' It"
Brendan Sullivan - "Plans To Make"
Amy Reid - "Nooks"
Run DMT - "Abulanceone"
Dustin Wong - "Soft Metal"
Happy Family - "Cat Videos"
Rod Hamilton - "Snowden"
Dygn - "Snowed In"
Amanda Schmidt - "Theme For Daytime Television"

Clusterf*ck: Shows in Baltimore this Weekend

Hey, there's a lot to do this weekend. Let's get to it.

Tonight if you happen to come across Oliver and Guilford, you've got two options. Penthouse Gallery is offering The Great Valley, Brendan Sullivan, Bear & Pieces, and Sun on My Head. Bear & Pieces has a new tape almost ready which I am stoked for, but here's "Falling Down" off of Brendan Sullivan's Wooley Eyes tape.



Just around the corner is another fine bill. Moss of Aura, Power Animal, Winks, and Semya all play in the Annex. Just like the show in the Penthouse, there's a couple artists playing this one that you'll hear new things from on a compilation I'm putting together for Friends Records. Look out for details on that soon, but for now, get Winks' "Weed Makes Sex Weird" stuck in your head.



And last but not least, Friday night the 5th Dimension has a big one at the H&H put together by True Vine and Aural States. Matmos, Konk Pack, and Leprechaun Catering will all blast you with electronic stimuli, for just a $5-10 sliding donation. Jason Willett shared some Konk Pack sounds at Aural States earlier this week.

See what's going on Saturday after the click.

Saturday night the Ottobar has New York's Vivian Girls, with Vermont's Happy Birthday, the United Kingdom's Wet Dog, and our very own Weekends. Vivian Girls were pretty good last time they were around these parts with Ariel Pink. Details on the new Weekends LP will soon be available, which was mixed and mastered by Rob Girardi. It will be called Strange Cultures, and you can expect to hear things from this record very soon. This one's off their debut:



Down at the Annex, you can catch Videohippos, Nuclear Power Pants, Fang Island, and The Chinese Stars. Nuclear Power Pants are about to set off on tour with Height with Friends, and Videohippos just got back from a tour. Add the much hyped Fang Island and the always great Chinese stars, and you've got yourself a show.

Also, don't forget about the Publications and Multiples Fair on Saturday and Sunday.

Tonight: Young Buffalo, Brendan Sullivan, Winks, Semya

The Zodiac's got a great one tonight, with Young Buffalo, Brendan Sullivan, Winks, and Semya all on the bill. While three acts are promising local splendor, Young Buffalo hails from Oxford, Mississippi.

Young Buffalo was originally a solo project, but are now a three-piece with all members contributing their own material. The result involves spirited folk, joyous chants, doses of African rhythms, and complex vocals. Caleb from Lands and Peoples describes them like "Animal Collective + Fleet Foxes / the unexpected = goodstuffs", and I wholeheartedly agree.

Read on for more on all the acts and some music.


I've recently been spending a lot of time with Brendan Sullivan's (one half of Weekends) solo work, a smattering of releases that are compiled from home recordings from over the past several years. Brendan makes lo fi folk, dabbling in more atmospheric collages of sounds and textures. Below is "Falling Down" the third track you'll find on side A of his Wooley Eyes cassette, and look for more to come on these releases soon.



This will be Winks first ever performance, a solo project from Chase of INEVERYROOM. He's got some really great stuff up on his site, and a proper release should soon be available. Winks entails surreal vocals, faded and infectious melodies, and dreams, all circa 1983.

Semya makes weird electronic music, and makes it quite well. Think warped electronics and cosmic synths, all hi-jacked by ancient tribal spirits. Semya's upcoming LP Georythyms will be out on Wigflip Records in March, a label that just recently launched with some pretty great releases.

The show tonight is at the Zodiac, 21+, and starts at 10 pm.

Wigflip Records: Debut / Happy Family + Run DMT Release

Enter Wigflip Records, Baltimore's newest label. Will of Happy Family is largely responsible, deciding that he much rather start a music label than paint for his thesis at MICA.

Wigflip will house a heavy load of new and enchanting artists, ranging from the likes of Happy Family, Run DMT, Semya, Do While, Lands and Peoples, and plenty more. These releases look to be mostly of the digital variety, and also mostly free.

Download Run DMT + Happy Family's new AMANDA HUGGANKISS, and get more details on this release and a handful of others below.


Will from Wigflip is particularly excited about two albums coming out in early spring, largely because he's watched them grow and is now seeing it all come together quite nicely. Semya will release a full length called Georythyms, and Do While will have a self titled release, both of which are available in March via Wigflip.

Free Download: Run DMT + Happy Family - AMANDA HUGGANKISS

You can download Run DMT and Happy Family's collaborative AMANDA HUGGANKISS above for free in all its faded spacey glory. This release takes guitar drones and varying samples and squeezes them all through one of those Play-Doh spaghetti things, only to mush it all back together at some sort of intergalactic laundromat.

Wigflip Records will also host the next two full lengths from both Happy Family and Run DMT. I know I've been jonesing for a Happy Family LP since the Sound Farm EP, and its good to hear this is in the works. We've still got the audio up from his stellar Soft Fest 2009 set too.

Be sure to stop by the label's site, as they've already got up some other classy free sounds. You can currently grab two EPs from The Treehouse, Bong Voyage by Run DMT, and a mix made for the bathroom at Soft Fest. Look for more info/thoughts on Wigflip's releases to come right here.