I’m on the fence about commenting the current situation in the world. On the one hand, I want to keep Everything Is Noise a place about music, a place to experience a certain escapism from the turmoil of the world. Nonetheless, I want to express my support for the people in the Ukraine facing an invasion, brought into their lives by Wladimir Putin and the Russian government. I urge you to participate in ways to help the people there to get through those hellish times, either with donations or other ways of support. Please keep in mind that there are multiple ways to help those people in need, so wherever you are, you can do something good. For the people who are experiencing this war directly: I hope for a quick ending of the fights, and for you and your loved ones to stay as safe as possible. This is a disastrous scenario for the whole world, and I can’t even comprehend how confusing, disturbing, and dangerous it is for the people in the Ukraine.
In these strange times, music becomes even more important as something positive, inviting, and motivating. That’s why I was so happy to experience a stream of fantastic records in February, in many shapes and forms. Escape from reality for a bit and delve into some truly beautiful albums!
Ivy Sole – Candid
February 2 // Les Fleurs Records
Persefone – metanoia
February 4 // Napalm Records
Although I feel a tiny bit of fatigue for Persefone, I can’t help but to thouroughly enjoy and love metanoia. This band is just so damn good at what they are doing that you can overlook the fact that they doing a very similar thing since Spiritual Migration, but it’s so fucking tasty.
Rolo Tomassi – Where Myth Becomes Memory
February 4 // MNRK Heavy
The shadow of Time Will Die And Love Will Bury It looms over Where Myth Becomes Memory, there’s no denying that. Nevertheless, Rolo Tomassi managed to overcome this shadow with a grower of a record. I needed a to spend good amount of time with it for it to click, but I’m glad it did in the end.
Saba – Few Good Things
February 4 // Saba Pivot, LLC
Hippo Campus – LP3
February 4 // Grand Jury Music
Black Country, New Road – Ants From Up There
February 4 // Ninja Tune
Raum – Daughter
February 4 // Yellow Electric
When Grouper‘s Liz Harris and Jefre Cantu-Ledesma are teaming up for a new Raum album, every fan of ambient music should be on the edge of their seat. This duo creates some of the most breathtaking soundcsapes you can come across, and with their second album Daughter, they stepped up their game signifcantly.
Beyond the Grasp of Light – Hell
February 10 // Independent
Have you heard of Beyond the Grasp of Light? No? Me neither, up until my mate Eeli pointed me towards the project and its new album Hell. Staying true to its name, this album unleases a stream of hellish and abrasive extreme metal, noisy and dissonant, and it’s a fucking fantastic ride.
WAIT – The End Of Noise
February 11 // The Artisan Era
I’m just eating up everything Max Phelps serves me (that sounds weird), so as long as I have to wait for a new Exist album, I gladly take WAIT in the meantime. While the vocals on The End Of Noise are a bit tough to like, the way this album channels Cynic and Death warms my heart. A great metal/prog highlight in 2022!
‘t Geruis – Slow Dance on Moss Beds
February 11 // Lost Tribe Sound
Gushing about the wonderful aural world of ‘t Geruis is a stable for me by now, as some of the finest ambient comes from this project. I also want to once again highlight the importance of Lost Tribe Sound as my favorite ambient label, releasing beautiful music in a constant stream.
Big Thief – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You
February 11 // 4AD
Big Thief became huge critics’ darlings over the last years, so every new release is hit by the spotlight immediately. With their new album Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You, the band surprisingly takes a more experimental approach to their music, something I really welcome. Despite not creating equally huge buzz like they did with U.F.O.F. and Two Hands, Dragon… is easily my favorite album by the band right now.
Trupa Trupa – B FLAT A
February 11 // Glitterbeat Records
I keep a close eye on Glitterbeat Records, since it’s home to fantastic artists like Širom, YĪN YĪN, and Park Jiha, so Trupa Trupa naturally draw my interest with their new album B FLAT A. What they delieverd is a colorful and vibrant art rock album, full of interesting ideas and fantastic songwriting. A record worth discovering!
NO CEREMONY/// – in anticipation of an ending
February 14 // Independent
Pan•American – The Patience Fader
February 18 // kranky
ARÐ – Take Up My Bones
February 18 // Prophecy Productions
Buñuel – Killers Like Us
February 18 // Profound Lore Records
Oh fuck yeah. I love everything that has Eugene S. Robinson involved, and I’m an especially huge fan of his main project Oxbow. His vocals are just so exceptionally unique and intriguing, and having them placed in a weird and punky noise rock environment with Buñuel‘s fantastic new album Killers Like Us is all I need until the next Oxbow drops.
Totally Unicorn – High Spirits//Low Life
February 18 // Farmer & The Owl
I discovered Totally Unicorn relatively recently last year, and I’m shocked how empty my life retrospectively felt without this band. In a heavenly coincidence, they had a new album coming out in February, and I was so on board for that. This band is impossible to put into words, and somehow they feel like a goofy version of Brutus, but equally amazing.
Beach House – Once Twice Melody
February 18 // Bella Union
The Post War – Anecdoche
February 22 // Independent
Anecdoche is rough around the edges here and there, but the mesh-up of grungy alt-rock and progressive elements works like a charm. Vocalist and guitarist Eric Scott channels his inner Eddie Vedder pretty successfully, and the overall songwriting is engaging and catchy. Good gem!
Oan Kim – Oan Kim & the Dirty Jazz
February 25 // Independent
Once again, a release I saw little to no coverage about. Oan Kim created a funny and upliftig little jazz gem, and the more I listen to it, the more I enjoy all the neat little details that are sprinkled all over the place. Some true dirty jazz.
Black Sea Dahu – I Am My Mother
February 25 // Mouthwatering Records
Mountaineer – Giving Up The Ghost
February 25 // Lifeforce Records
Yeah, this is just another instance in which I tell you that Mountaineer are fucking great, that they are criminally overlooked, and that they deserve so much more attention. This band released album after album of some of the best post-metal you could listen to in the last years. Damn this band is consistently brilliant!
Tuskar – Matriarch
February 25 // Church Road Records
Some of the riffs on Matriarch have such a great resemblance to early Mastodon, they are just heavier. They punch more. This album is damn good. During the last weeks I could spend with this album, it constantly grew on me. It’s delicately proggy, heavy when it needs to be and surprisingly groovy. I feel that it will keep growing on me, and I’m already excited how it will stand at the end of the year.
Brood Of Hatred – The Golden Age
February 25 // Gruesome Records
Keeley Forsyth – Limbs
February 25 // The Leaf Label
This is dark and intense. I generally love Keeley Forsyth‘s music, and especially after her fantastic Debris, I was super stoked for Limbs. This album exceeded my expectations easily, and I urge y’all to check it out if you’re looking for something in between Spellling and Grouper.
Dark Worship – Flesh Of A Saint
February 25 // Tartarus Records
Blood Incantation – Timewave Zero
February 25 // Century Media Records
Ikarus – Plasma
February 25 // Ronin Rhythm Records
I fucking love Ikarus. They are one of the best things in jazz right now; their discography is rich and colorful. Plasma is a breath of fresh air, while containing all the qualities the band already established. LISTEN TO THEM!
Like Lovers – Syntax
February 25 // ListenRecords
Well, this is a bit weird. This album dropped only for 10 days, and now we have to wait until it officially drops again later this year. Strange business move, but power to Jan Kerschner, the artist behind Like Lovers. Other than that, this album is a fucking masterpiece, equally as amazing as its predecessor was. Stunning work in every department.
Park Jiha – The Gleam
February 25 // Glitterbeat Records
Mom Jeans. – Sweet Tooth
February 25 // Independent
So here is how it goes: go to YouTube and watch Mom Jeans.‘s phenomenal Audiotree session. Then, when you’ve fallen in love with the band, listen to everything they have released yet, and end with Sweet Tooth. You can send me gifts to Everything Is Noise‘s office.
Melt Yourself Down – Pray For Me I Don’t Fit In
February 25 // A Decca Records
This band is rad. And weird. And wild. Adventure jazz, here we come!
Deserta – Every Moment, Everything You Need
February 25 // Felte Records
Binker and Moses – Feeding The Machine
February 25 // Gearbox Records
Conway The Machine – God Don’t Make Mistakes
February 25 // Shady Records
caroline – caroline
February 25 // Rough Trade Records
Thanks for scrolling!
