The Cool Greenhouse – S/T (Melodic)

Finally, here’s the real-life debut album by this former one-person Casio band. CG is deeply indebted to The Fall, but a lot of cranky/witty English people probably are. Now that CG has a band, the music behind the rants got bouncier and addicting, approaching the energy of Circus Lupus or Eddy Current Suppression Ring, post-Fall acts themselves. Invigorating stuff, makes me wanna drink beer and careen around acting dumb while thinking I’m smarter than everyone else. Can I geek out on the packaging too? Excellent abstract cover painting, green vinyl, insert and obi. Satisfying vinyl purchase experience.

R.E. Seraphin – A Room Forever (Paisley Shirt)

Ray returns with a 6-song digital EP, recorded at home with some long-distance collaborators. His previous cassette, mentioned in FOAP #11, was reissued on vinyl by Mt St Mt, but I am already more into the new stuff. Tiny Shapes had a late 70’s Shoes/Cars core, this one is more blurred, harder to place. It has elements of 90’s indie (the gauzy Luna cover is a tip-off) and Velvet Crush, while ”Leave Me in the Tide” could be The Plimsouls as recorded in the Captured Tracks era. Ray’s breathy voice really suits these more intimate sounding recordings. “Pillar of Shame” almost gets into Verve territory. Excited to hear what’s next.

Cloud Nothings – The Black Hole Understands (self-released)

I’ve been a fan of CN’s since Here and Nowhere Else, which is a classic and still the best one. Familiar sounds from music I love are repurposed: Drive Like Jehu, Wipers, Buffalo Tom, but it’s not a copycat. CN’s smears influences from different decades into straight up great indie rock records. This is a home recorded one that has more of a jangle mood but not really. There’s some Let’s Active type melodies and he’s singing in a gentler high voice. Some of it is like that great Flasher LP from a few years back (where’s the follow-up to that one??), which was like a perfect hybrid of Air Miami and Gray Matter. The Black Hole Understands is all sweet melodic layers, harmonies, riffs, enjoying this on walks to the park.