Music Menagerie Edition: Hookworms, Mouse on the Keys, The Moondoggies, Sherpa the Tiger & Giraffes? Giraffes!
By Aaron Stein Jun 20, 2018 • 1:04 pm PDT
Hookworms: Microshift
The music world can be a total zoo! Here’s some new music from some bands who still have their animal instincts, from small to large, which isn’t to imply that our first pick is insignificant. No, Hookworms have one of the better releases of the year in Microshift, which finds the psych-rockers shifting their sound to something more resembling an exuberant dance party. The record is totally irresistible, every track has a hook and a twist, surprises and grooves abound. If you haven’t heard this one yet, well, now you know.
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Mouse On The Keys: tres
A little bit bigger in size, if not sound, is Mouse On The Keys. These guys are a Toyko-based trio who play a fusion of jazz and rock with a heavy math-rock post-rock and electronic vibe. There’s a lot of brains in this music and their newest release tres is filled with layered compositions and odd time signatures. But for every challenge, there’s an easily-accessible doorway: a funk-out rhythm here or a glorious melody there. All in all, there’s a lot of depth and a lot to love. Give it a shot!
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The Moondoggies: A Love Sleeps Deep
Moving up the food chain a few clicks we get to the canines, specifically the breed known as The Moondoggies. While that may not actually be a kind of dog, the band is very much real. Coming out of Seattle, their newest album, A Love Sleeps Deep, is classic rock for the modern day. Smart songwriting meets electric guitar riffs and bombastic rhythms with plenty of that catchy let-me-hear-more that the greats have. Bits of roots, bits of Southern rock and a little bit of I want to say My Morning Jacket-vibe, this is a good one. Sometimes you just want some rock ‘n’ roll and The Moondoggies deliver.
Sherpa The Tiger: Great Vowel Shift
What’s that? You want something with a little more teeth? Well, we did our dog, we should do a cat now, I think, but I believe this one will do the trick. The band is Sherpa The Tiger, they are from Ukraine and their brand new, debut record, Great Vowel Shift is out on the consistently-impressive Fuzz Club label. From the opening minutes of the first track, you’ll be smitten with the uptempo, let’s-dance krautrocky music they make. It’s groovy and intelligent and then also ambient and a little weird, but altogether tough to resist. Plenty of bite with this one. Enjoy!
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Giraffes? Giraffes!: Memory Lame
Alright, now we’re almost ready to leave the ground completely, but we’ll have to settle for the long-necked animals among us. Giraffes kind of feel like impossible animals, incongruous at best. That fits the music and mojo from our last band, a Massachusetts-based duo called Giraffes? Giraffes! Between the name and the album title Memory Lame and that whole-lotta-weird cover art, you’re at least a little intrigued, right? Luckily, the music matches it all perfectly, a ridiculously high-energy drums-and-guitar post-rock that somehow tells a story to match the crazy song titles. The album really feels like a singular novel of intricate take-charge rhythms and ecstatic guitar parts. Lots to ponder, lots of fun … like the zoo!
