Lava Church 2 Year Anniversary - Technique 2.0

It has been two years since I started Lava Church, and to celebrate I have put together this compilation covering Technique by New Order in its entirety.  Why Technique?  When I was a teen, a very special person who is now an integral part of Lava Church gave me that album.  It quickly became my favorite record and is one of the reasons why I really wanted to make music for reals for reals.  Without that, I would have never continued making music beyond my teenage years, and thusly would have never created Lava Church.  So to celebrate this, here is it: Technique in its entirety (including a few b-sides) covered by Lava Church homies.  I love you all, thank you for the past two years!  ~ The High Priest of Lava Church

YlangYlang - Last Night Utopian Reveries Overpowered Me c20

YlangYlang - Last Night Utopian Reveries Overpowered Me c20
YlangYlang’s unearthly drone pop is contemplative in its approach on the new cassette, “Last Night Utopian Reveries Overpowered Me.” The songs ask the listener to pay attention as sweeping, distant vocals whisper on while drum beats keep the song grounded. As close as you’ll get to mixing ambient music and pop together, YlangYlang brings the idea of shoegaze into electronic territory, taking the genre’s strengths and reworking it to fit the project’s sound palette.  Get the tape here.

YlangYlang - Last Night Utopian Reveries Overpowered Me c30

Tile - Anywhere c30

Tile - Anywhere c30
Tile returns to Lava Church with his first full-length, “Anywhere.” The album focuses on themes of anxiety, love and loss, using driving rhythms and pop structures to convey an ethereal message of longing. Taking cues from synth-pop artists of the past two decades, Tile works with the format, treading on the edge of minimalism while still bringing to bear the full impact of his subject matter.  Get the tape here.

Tile - Anywhere c30

Lovebrrd - Resistor c30

Lovebrrd - Resistor c30
Out of the depths comes a frightening piece of work from Lovebrrd, “Resistor.” Dynamical in its use of volumes, Lovebrrd introduces reverb-laden cries for help atop rumbled drones built from his surrounding environments. A master of delay, Lovebrrd slowly builds tension in his tracks as they grow to frightening heights, projecting themes of loneliness and despair.  Get the tape here.

Lovebrrd - Resistor c30

Black Beast of Arrrghhh - A Night At The Dollar Theater c20

Black Beast of Arrrghhh - A Night At The Dollar Theater c20
As avante-garde as it is structured, Black Beast of Arrrghhh’s “A Night at the Dollar Theater” hints at the John Weise school of noise while working in its own original context, introducing carnival-style chimes and distant, charred keyboards over burnt static blasts to create an unnerving night-and-day style of playing that accompanies both sides of this cassette. A truly haunting soundtrack, this release calls to mind horror films from the past, re-imagined to fit our modern day paranoia and fears.  Get the tape here.

Black Beast of Arrrghhh - A Night At The Dollar Theater c30

Nundata - 121212 c30

Nundata - 121212 c30
Nundata’s Serbian blend of torched electronics carries anger to it as the 30-minute tape ravages its way through screeching highs and buzzing lows. Calculated and still free-form, Nundata’s noise brings urgency as it drives through power drones built on feedback and frequencies while equipment is tweaked on top that scathes the brain and leaves one feeling demolished.  Get the tape here.

Nundata - 121212 c30

Tender Cruncher - HELL YANG c32

Tender Cruncher - HELL YANG c32
Tender Cruncher’s debut takes the Alesis Micron synthesizer and pushes it to its limits to create a slow-grooved, dark pop odyssey. What you’d expect in a dimly lit gothic club in a center city, Tender Cruncher touches on current pop tendencies, taking a jab at them while hinting at styles from the past. The best minimal dance party you’ll have this year, Tender Cruncher will keep you bopping to the left and right while hanging your head low.  Get the tape here.

Tender Cruncher - HELL YANG c32