It’s quite the trick to convey both a sense of gravity and of weightlessness and of both movement and stillness, but As Clouds Form pull just that off with “Inside the Simulation.” A darker synth line churns like an undertow, swirling the lighter notes above it into an arhythmic dance. Some circle back around again and some slip through and escape the pull of this space between spaces.
June 15, 2022
Wordless Wednesdays – As Clouds Form
June 15, 2022
The Midweekly – Royal Dog
The Midweekly is our column from Mike Jeffers; lead singer of Chicago punk stalwarts SCRAM, music junkie and all around righteous dude.
A little bit goes a long way, especially if that bit packs a bite. Shithole Country, the third and recent EP from punk rock duo Royal Dog, distributes the energy of a full length in just three tracks. With a solid opener in “The Deal,” this Chicago based group perks up our ears with confident writing and melody, then surprises us even more when the real riffing kicks in. Without a breath to catch, track two, “Aurora.” shows off RD’s tasteful production skills, as it gallops along at a steady pace, yet building up steam that must be released through strong, emotional vocals. That just leaves “Sugar & Salt,” the final tune, which delivers the fizziest pop, and the headiest lyrics of the trio. There’s anger and disgust in their words, as well as wit and awareness. So far these short bursts have been exciting to hear, and we can only hope the big record drop is just around the corner for this doggo.