The Madhouse #4 – 01.06.2017

The Madhouse aims to focus on a select group of musicians, bands and acts who dwell in the underground. Showcasing genres such as psychedelica, shoegaze, noise-rock, electronica, lo-fi and alt-pop, this is a portal for new, underground music from the world beyond.

Washed Out – Get Lost

It’s been a surprisingly long four years since we last saw Washed Out with any sort of new music. Born, Ernest Greene, the American producer goes about his work in a dizzying and highly-toned opacity of colour and sound. Get Lost, along with its music video, is a collage of bright, warm sounds and Californian-vibed beats layered beneath Washed Out’s necessity toward reverb-ridden vocals. Now with added Flying Lotus-style saxophone cues, Washed Out is taking his production to far more sunnier, experimental shores and I’m all for it.

Floating Points – Kelso Dunes

Floating Points are one of the most electrfying and radical electronic groups I’ve ever had the privilege of enjoying. ‘Elenia’, the band’s debut records, stunned worldwide listeners and proved the Floating Points’ worth. Electronic, though, might be stretching it–Floating Points are truly a musical blender of post-rock, electronica and chillwave. Kelso Dunes is another cut from the group’s upcoming ‘Reflections – Mojave Desert’ concept record–a sonic experiment of musicality and environmental conversation. The record will feature the full 12-minute version, but, for now, we’ll make do with his engrossing teaser.

Hollow Everdaze – Cartoons

I couldn’t think of a better title for this track other than Cartoons. Much like an animated adventure, Hollow Everdaze’s latest, along with its film clip, is pure technicolour joy wrapped in a coat of psychedelics. Taken from their new album off the same name, due later this month, Cartoons is a healthy mix of Unknown Mortal Orchestra-style alt-pop that transcends generations and comes out with a surprisingly fresh end result. So delightfully unique in presentation, Cartoons is the Melbourne group’s most daring piece of music to date and an incredible taster to their new album.

Chain & the Gang – Certain Kinds Of Trash

Ever wanted to be sold on a band more? Then have them describe themselves as, “not middle brow NPR indie listening for Prius owning cubicle rockers or a tiresome teenage retread of ‘90s surrender sludge.” Chain & the Gang spur on so many fantastic punk rock moments on Certain Kinds of Trash–moments from the Flying Nun Records scene, moments from Henry Rollins’ back catalogue, moments from the Warhol-era. Impressive and its foray into retro punk, Chain & the Gang are more relevant today than they would have been 40 years ago.