Underground Sounds with Chad Miller: February 2024
By Chad Miller - Summit FM Music Director
What's everyone been listening to out there? There's been an AVALANCHE of great new songs coming at us to start the new year, as per usual, with STILL more to come! Easily the most exciting time of the year in our world of music, that I get to sort through and play them for you on the radio. So much new music coming at us, so little time...however, these songs that might fly under the radar to most are what I've been diggin' most especially these past few weeks!
Like what you hear? Please email me at chad@thesummit.fm and let me know what you think!
Adrianne Lenker "Sadness as a Gift"
I've always been of the opinion that sad songs, or at least ones with a hint of melancholy, wistfulness, or nostalgia, are usually the best songs. Music that makes you FEEL something. I mean, isn't that basically the whole point?! On this one, Adrienne Lenker, lead singer of indie rock juggernauts Big Thief, absolutely nails it in every conceivable way. Beautifully arranged and executed, and incredibly poignant and vulnerable, it's almost as if she's summoning and willing a memory of her past all the way back into existence. All of the subtleties of Lenker's lyrics, along with the delicate guitar, piano, and violin in the background, make for a worthy song that cements it as being timeless, yet with a hint of eclecticism that she (and her band Big Thief) are certainly known for. She never stops making music, whether it's by herself or with her band, and this song has me very excited to hear more from her forthcoming sixth solo album "Bright Future" arriving March 22nd, on 4AD Records. What a stunner
Beth Gibbons "Floating on a Moment"
I absolutely did not see THIS coming! As lead singer of trip-hop innovators and originators, Portishead, the famously reclusive Beth Gibbons has re-emerged with this gorgeous song from what will be her debut solo album "Lives Outgrown,"to be released on May 17th, via Domino Records. To know the music of her band Portishead, who have been so dormant now it almost seems like they've literally existed in a past life, is to know that the band's noir-ish sounds and vinyl sampling and scratching were a perfect counterbalance to her tortured vocals, dripping in a sort of agony that's both very soulful and genuinely emotive. With this new song, Gibbons works through feelings and musings of mortality. A gentle folk song, with cinematic flourishes about simply just growing older, it is so wonderful to have her back with new music to appreciate. This forthcoming debut album of hers is certainly one I can't wait to dive into further upon its release.
Ducks Ltd. "The Main Thing"
One of the catchiest songs I've heard in a LONG time, this Toronto based duo's new single strikes jittery jangly rock gold, with all sorts of frenetic energy careening about on this track from their forthcoming album"Harm's Way," out on February 9th, via Carpark Records. The duo of Tom McGreevy and Evan Lewis have really come into their own as a band, with a sense of confidence evident in their songwriting. With this sort of melodic guitar-pop prowess on display, the storytelling takes center stage. Inventive, bright, and feverishly melodic, this song is irresistible, a total foot-tapper, and one that I personally can’t get enough of.
Grace Cummings "On and On"
I'll never ever forget the very first time I heard her song "Heaven," off her previous album, a song that we played a couple years back, here on The Summit FM. I was specifically told to watch the music video for the song, and have that as my first experience to it. Man, did it blow me away as I was not at all expecting that intense voice of hers to be coming at me like that! Such is the allure of this Melbourne based art-rock singer-songwriter, and actress, who combines a visceral intensity with, at times, brutally forthright lyrics. On this new song all of that gets dialed back a bit, but still showcasing her stunningly rich vocals and dramatic songwriting, in an effortless manner, front and center. Working with producer Jonathan Wilson, a frequent collaborator of Father John Misty, her forthcoming third album "Ramona" will be released April 5th, on ATO Records. Prepare to be blown away with the vocals and otherworldly sounds from this magnificently talented Australian.
Kim Gordon "BYE BYE"
Sometimes what you want in a loud rock song is a bit of a menacing, and slightly dangerous sensibility coming from it, and that's exactly what's happening here, in a blast of distorted electro-rock fury, that from the first time I heard it, had me absolutely hooked. The legendary Kim Gordon, former lead singer and guitarist of the iconic band Sonic Youth, has mostly laid low since that bands spilt in 2011. This eternally cool 70-year-old rockstar has come roaring back with this blown out guitar freakout, with an almost speak-sing delivery, as she very simply and matter-of-factly runs through a simple checklist of things to do, and stuff to accomplish, before seemingly heading out to go somewhere...wherever that might happen to be. That’s it, that's the song! It's weird, it’s chaotic, it's in your face, it's simple and to the point, while buried in fuzzy sounding noise, and it absolutely and unquestionably rules.
Phosphorescent "Revelator"
A welcome return indeed to our world of music with Phosphorescent, the terrific project led by singer-songwriter Matthew Houck, as he's recently released this new single, which is the title track to his newly announced album "Revelator,” which arrives April 5th, on Verve Records. Summit members might recall his visit to Studio C, on December 5th, 2018. After spending all of 2022 releasing cover songs, from many of his favorite artists, this new album sees Houck navigating through the ups and downs of life, home, family, obligations, and how it can be, at times, a challenge to manage. This particular song really resonates as it's an acknowledgement of just wiping the slate clean and starting over. Houck has even said that this song was the one that made him realize he was making an album, and that it might even be the best song he's ever written. Lofty words indeed considering his instant classic "Song for Zula" just over decade ago, but I couldn't agree more with him to be honest.