Woods have always had a penchant for the psychedelic, but they take it to a whole new level on Bend Beyond, their new album on Woodsist Records. Within you’ll find louder, more intricate guitars that develop fuller songs, more emotive songs. This is, without a doubt, Woods’ most accomplished work to date.
Read More »WOODS: Bend Beyond (Album Review) 
Unlike most albums, there is greatness behind every single track on Gap Dream by Gap Dream. My listening habits have commenced as such: obsessive listens to “58th Street Fingers” and “Slave” followed by the same with “Go Ahead”. Now dominating my playlist are “My Other Man” and “Leather”. And this in just a few short weeks since discovering the band. Read More »Gap Dream: Generator MP3
The week leading up to this week’s radio show was spent taking it easy. It’s almost the end of summer, and after several consecutive weekends of house projects that overlapped into weekday evenings, it was a needed break. The resulting playlist was a mix of randomly-pieced together new releases paired with some classic favorites such as Belle and Sebastian (circa 1996), The High Dials (2006) and old The Fresh and Onlys (2009).
Read More »Fense’s Radio Show: September 14, 2012 
Art Circus combines the cute nature of Au Revoir Simone with traits of electronic pop and even (if just slightly) hip hop (at least on this song). Yes, that sounds a little odd, but check out “My Heart Hurts” and I think you’ll understand. The song is slightly melodramatic and moody, backed by a dreamy drum box and indie pop synths, all fronted by Halle Jane with vocals pure and sweet. Read More »Art Circus: Feature Band
Vinca Minor is a Seattle artist Matt Menovcik, blending classical piano with electronic-influenced synth for a hugely surreal, utterly drowning sound. Within “The Time Of You”, off his new album Capital Of Sorrow, an intense piano soundscape is backed by heavy drone-like tones. The song is minimal but encompassing; a fully instrumental, soundtrack-like tune. Read More »Vinca Minor: The Time Of You (MP3)
It’s been a whirlwind few weeks, finishing the kitchen project, rearranging the living room (the above photo is from that project) and now beginning to terrace the back yard. It’s hard to imagine I found time to check out new music. This week’s favorite discoveries include the new LP by The Maldives, the latest by Dana Falconberry and Art Circus, a phenomenal new LP by Woods, more great stuff from White Blood Cells out of Vancouver, and Upside Drown off a new little Olympia-based label called Antiquated Future Records.
Read More »Fense’s Radio Show: September 7, 2012 
I’m loving Adam Hill‘s latest sounds. Always one to produce the lighter side of folk, with soft acoustic songs, Two Hands, Tulips (his new LP) expands the minimal sound slightly with a broader range of songwriting and instrumentation, going so far as pairing folk with a dabbling of other genres. Read More »Adam Hill: French Films MP3
You know, I remember picking up Love And Distance by The Helio Sequence upon its release way back in 2004. The band was young then; well, younger. Funny to think the release date of that album is rapidly approaching a decade past. Read More »The Helio Sequence: October MP3
Secretly, I was hoping Mount Eerie would play “Lost Wisdom” of their 2009 album Wind’s Poem. But given the release of two stellar new albums, Clear Moon a short few months ago and then Ocean Roar just last week, I knew the chances were slim. Besides, within the two new releases are plenty of new greats to look forward to. I was lucky enough to catch Phil Elverum, the mastermind behind Mount Eerie (formerly known as Microphones) perform at The Heart of Anacortes last weekend.
Read More »Mount Eerie: Live at The Heart of Anacortes
Nestled in the heart of downtown Staunton, Virginia the Darjeeling Café provides much needed opportunities to experience both the local and traveling performance circuits. Last weekend I was lucky enough to catch just such an event and see Christopher Bell of Silent Home Records play. Read More »Christopher Bell: Feature
