Cindy – Free Advice (Paisley Shirt)

Continuing my coverage of the small but killer San Francisco music scene that lives under seashells and discarded beer cans at Land’s End, Cindy hits the streets with this excellent slow hazy cassette. Others have mentioned Galaxie 500 in reference to this, but this is bleaker in tone, more quizzical, maybe closer to Low’s harrowing take on slowcore. The vocals are intoned, murmured while the music moves steady and minimal behind it. The occasional loopy synth sound rises up in the mix, but it’s all very restrained. A lonely feeling pervades, warmed up by the occasional brisk pop track like Falcon Heavy or the rocker Wrong Answer, but I prefer the sad songs. The guitarist/singer of Cindy is also in Flowertown, celebrated a few columns ago.

The Beauticians – S/T EP (self-released)

Here’s a great band no one has heard of, perfect warm cassette sounds wrapped around catchy early ‘80s art-punk. The synth/organ thickens the sound without getting too wacky new wave. They don’t sound like anyone in particular but for reference, I’m guessing they are familiar with the Happy Squid label and maybe The Homosexuals and Tall Dwarfs. Love the blasé vocal delivery. Love the melodic and gritty tunes, a hidden gem.

Soot – Silt (self-released)

Speaking of art-punk, here’s a wild and fun art school freakout. It kicks off with some spoken word then plunges into falling apart no-wave post-punk throb with howling gang vocals. It’s not as miserably hypnotic as Flipper or random as DNA, but they could have appeared on the same bills, tearing it up while hollow-eyed punks in ripped lime green shirts stare at them blankly in the dim basement light.