26 July 6th–July 12th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | music | cafe | film | culTuRe | NighT+Day | feaTuRe | NeWs | OPiNiON | feeDBacK | cONTeNTs | T he world has always been a weird place, and it’s only getting stranger by the day. It really can feel like we’re living in both the bleakest and most bizarre timeline imaginable, and it’s easy to feel discombobulated by the sheer barrage of it all. Luckily, there’s one consistent (besides more wonder- fully bad news about Donald Trump), and that’s great local music. June espe- cially was a wild one for our wild and multifaceted city. Whether you like vintage hip-hop, indie folk-pop or exper- imental dance-punk, there’s something to love. Will it make the world better? No, but it certainly might slow things down in the ol’ brainpan. ‘deepest pit’ Tassel If you haven’t heard of Tassel, then you’re in for hybrid music like you’ve rarely ever heard before. The outfit claims to fuse “industrial, EBM and punk” influences for a “haunting sound for the new generation.” And that pretty much sums up the six tracks of their recently-released “New Covenant” — minimalist electronic music that’s made for dancing in the darkest corner of the most dramatic goth club around town. But as the standout “deepest pit” quickly demonstrates, there’s some- thing deeper going on here. Whether it’s the peaks and valleys of the sonics, the sheer emotional intent and/or just the inventive structures, it’s a song that proves Tassel to be everything they claim to be and so, so much more. ‘Focus’ Kiana Ledé Originally hailing from South Phoenix, Kiana Ledé describes herself as a singer, actress and pianist. She may only be in her mid-20s, but that hasn’t stopped her from already amassing a decent social media following and some nods in big-time publi- cations like Ebony. And so, with the release of her latest album, “Grudges,” we thought we might humbly represent this proper hometown star by sharing one of the record’s excellent 17 tracks. “Focus” might sound like a pretty boilerplate pop-R&B hybrid, but Ledé’s sheer charisma and sensual vocals firmly push this track into new and extra-compelling territory. She may live in California, but Ledé will always be part of what makes the Valley’s culture so dang magical. ‘Poisoned Identity’ Simulation We’ve written a few times about the folks at Total Peace. The tiny boutique label releases everything from hardcore to experimental music, and their commitment to whatever sounds good feels like a proper encapsulation of our own fair city. In June, the label had some- thing of a banner month with a handful of new releases, including a self-titled five- track EP from the band Simulation. Sure, they hail from the Bay Area — and also feature members of another underground fave in Repo Man — but there’s a great reason they landed the Total Peace seal of approval. Just listen to “Poisoned Identity,” a snarling hardcore jam with big energy and bigger intentions that feels more than at home in the canon of proper Phoenix punk rock. ‘Ossa’ Eterno Ritorno Oh, hey, it’s another release from Total Peace. Their banner month of June featured six tapes total, also including the latest from Eterno Ritorno. This one’s extra-special, as the band hail from the Italian region of Veneto and “make propulsive hardcore reminiscent of Disper- Azione and Nog Watt,” according to the label. Props to Total Peace for representing our shared aesthetic in the global stage of great experimental punk and electronic music. But mostly credit to Eterno Ritorno for “Ossa,” a standout of the four-track effort. It’s a frenetic and frills-free slice of punk that’ll have you smashing the walls and ceilings in no time. ‘Breathless’ Andy the Giant Los Vendidos call themselves the “world’s greatest rock band.” They also claim they’ll knock your socks “clear across the room.” So, then, does the same hold true for “Breathless,” a three-track collection of bare-bones folk-pop from member Andy “Andy the Giant” Boyd? Well, let’s take a second to dissect the title track. Upon first listen, you may notice that your socks are still firmly planted to both feet. However, there’s a certain charm to Andy the Giant; his unassuming, gently nerdy approach to DIY folk reads like a slightly more awkward take on Kimya Dawson. The end result isn’t exactly mind- or life-altering, but it’s weird and quaint enough that you just might throw your socks off in solidarity. ‘Replenished’ Beyond All Doubt If you call your band Beyond All Doubt, two things are true: 1. you’re into metal and hardcore bands with similarly delib- erate names and 2. you chose it because the name has some potential for wordplay and/or sick graphic design across both merch and album covers. Both seem to be true for this Phoenix outfit, as their latest album is not only called “B.A.D. Demonstration” but it features some truly solid font choices. But that doesn’t mean the record isn’t also quite “bad” — just take a listen to “Replenished.” Here, B.A.D.’s fusion of bone-crushing metal and head- smashing hardcore ring the clearest, a track that will spark immediate reac- tions in pits everywhere. Because being badass doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with it, right? Playlist Picks The best new songs by local musicians. BY CHRIS COPLAN Phoenix band Tassel have released their “New Covenant” EP. Elio Lynx ▼ Music >> p 28
