Reviews

Album Review: Karen O, Danger Mouse “Lux Prima”

Lux Prima (translating to “First Light”) was an album created to “find a place” not a “sound”, according to Danger Mouse. This is a beautiful album for a couple reasons. First, Karen O’s voice is absolutely stunning here and matches the refreshing feeling of every track. Second, the album is definitely experimental, with soft, mind-bending...

Album Review: Dylans “Settlers Adrift”

‘Settlers Adrift’ is the second full length album by Richmond/San Francisco based band Dylans; and a 24 minute ride through a dark twisted tunnel of emotions, featuring hysterically beautiful guitar riffs and gorgeous melodies cutting through a deep musical momentum that is sure to get you headbanging. Released just two years after their...

ALBUM REVIEW: Signor Benedick the Moor (SB the Moor) – El Negro

On 7 February 2019, the emerging enigmatic artist Signor Benedick the Moor dropped SPIRIT REALM.FINAL, a new full length LP through the Deathbomb Arc label. In anticipation for this release, the famed label recently sent us SB’s first album- 2014’s El Negro.

SB is an experimental artist originating from...

The Body and Thou: You, Whom I Have Always Hated Review

If you’re lurking within the depths of experimental music, it won’t take long

before you’re enclosed in complete darkness. The end of a cavern, seemingly leading

nowhere — but it’s far from being a dead end: it’s where those with heavy souls are

tunneling out new passages into the abyss...

Album Review: I Love You Honeybear – Father John Misty

father john misty [LISTEN] [Label: Sub Pop] [Date Released: February 10, 2015] [Genre: Indie Rock / Psychedelic Folk] In recent years, the most striking image of the newly infamous Joshua Tillman has been his brazen gallop down a road deep in Hollywood’s Laurel Canyon, pants around his strained...

Album Review: Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper – Panda Bear

Layout_11_A_FINAL_Corr [LISTEN] [Label: Domino] [Date Released: January 13, 2015] [Genre: Neo-Psychedelia / Electronic] It’s a well-known, yet seldom completely understood phenomenon that the longer and deeper you trudge on in life, the more and more death presses in on one’s mind. At a certain point, staring death in...

Album Review: Dude Incredible – Shellac

shellac [LISTEN] [Label: Touch & Go Records] [Date Released: September 16, 2014] [Genre: Noise Rock /Math Rock / Hardcore] Shellac is a band with a very narrow focus. They are a three piece featuring Steve Albini, a famous producer, on guitar and vocals, and churn out tight, mathematically precise...

Review: KDVS DJs’ favorite release of 2014

2014

Towards the end of the year we asked several KDVS DJs about their favorite release of 2014. In no particular order, here is the list accompanied with a few words from a few KDVS DJs.

Show Review: San Jose chiptune takes The Colony (Slime Girls, Yulia, Bad Future, Shoujo Kitten, Little Tents @ the Colony 12/6/14)

DSC_1189 After some awkward attempts to navigate the otherwise barren streets surrounding the venue, my friend and I got there at 8 thinking we would arrive well into the hefty five-band lineup. As far as we could tell, they hadn’t even done a sound-check yet. Amps and instruments...

Album Review: Primitive and Deadly – EARTH

0003333087_10 [LISTEN] [Label: Southern Lord] [Date Released: September 2, 2014] [Genre: Experimental / Doom Metal / Drone] Tones bright as bells ringing in a hazy distance comfort as the path winds down from the mountain into the valley dark below. Sonic glory. On...