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4/28/26.
Seasonal Falls are a Swiss duo (Roman Gabriel and Andrew Pelletier, based in Lucerne) and "The Unbearable Loudness of Stupidity" is their second release for Subjangle following last December's behemoth 2 CD compilation.
On this release, Seasonal Falls melodies, vocals, and pacing remind me more of I Was a King, Jeff Tweedy or R.W. Hedges. This also sounds like something Brent Rademaker would play in (Beachwood Sparks or GospelbeacH) or release (Curation Records).
GospelbeacH - Bad Habits (2019)
GospelbeacH are a SoCal band led by Brent Rademaker, also of Beachwood Sparks. Laurel Canyon, California rock with the late Neal Casal on lead guitar.
I keep making the same mistakes
9/12/25.
Curation Records is a wonderful label that frequently releases music that parallels the work of its founder, Brent Rademaker - a lifelong musician in seminal bands like A New Personality, Further, Beachwood Sparks, and GospelbeacH. Beachwood Sparks was one of the early bands of indie Americana.
Three newer Curation releases - Silver Synthetic (New Orleans, Louisiana), Cruise Control (Portland, Oregon), and Alex E.T. (Los Angeles, CA) all echo this Beachwood Sparks/GospelbeacH sound to some degree. Alex E.T. rocks a bit more - in fact, the Bandcamp notes refer to it having "echoes of early Slash Records and LA's '80s psychedelic renaissance". In that way, some of these releases make me think of Rain Parade or Green on Red.
Curation usually offers bundles, and frankly, I'm a bit surprised they haven't offered a 3-fer bundle on these releases. But maybe someday
4/6/24.
One of my favorite songs over the past few years is "Time" from Beachwood Sparks' "Sandbox Sessions". The best songs are the ones that literally make you stop what you're doing so you can fully listen. There are several bands/songs that do this to me (way too many to name, but yesterday I realized that Weyes Blood's "The Worst Is Done" is another example), but I think Beachwood Sparks have more than their fair share.
So here we are - the first new Beachwood Sparks (Los Angeles, California) LP in 12 years. I've always simplified their sound to a cross between The Byrds and The Dream Syndicate. Throw in a little Michael Nesmith cosmic country for good measure.
"Across The River Of Stars" will be released in late June on Brent Rademaker's wonderful Curation Records.
4/30/24.
Well, this was unexpected. Not the source, but the product. Munster Records (Spain) has made a habit of obscure reissues from around the world. Often those reissues are from the 1960s and 1970s. So, "It's A Beautiful Day" - a compilation of Peruvian bands from the 1970s was not a surprise. But I was not really expecting the soft rock/psych folk/yacht rock/AOR rock sound.
These bands were definitely a product of their time - think Crosby, Still and Nash or America. But these songs sound like they could be from current Curation Records bands Beachwood Sparks or Gospelbeach. Brent Rademaker take note!
1/19/24.
Hollow Hand (Brighton, England) recently released an excellent LP on Los Angeles based label Curation Records. Max Kinghorn-Mills somehow got Tim Smith (Harp/Midlake) to lend his vocals to one song.
"More Blood on Brighton Beach" answers the question - "What does Hollow Hand sound like live." Start with "Heaven Just Watched" so you can immediately know how hard this band rocks. Then go back from the beginning (I bought this, so I'm enjoying all 13 tracks). Listening to this, I can see why Brent Rademaker released the last Hollow Hand record. Live there are echoes of Beachwood Sparks and The Tyde.
This is released on cassette via Brighton based label Cosmic Ocean. To tell the truth, I'm embarrassed with how big my cassette collection is. I rarely have the opportunity to listen to my cassettes. But I just had to own this - I'm assuming I'll never have the opportunity to see Hollow Hand live.
12/18/23.
I saw an email from Curation Records (Brent Rademaker, Los Angeles) announcing a NEW Beachwood Sparks LP. So, when I clicked onto Curation's Bandcamp page hoping to see some news about this new LP, I saw this release. I knew this existed, but I forgot.
"Sandbox Sessions" are three outtakes from their 1999 debut. Purchases of this 12" EP come with an additional digital song.
I need to once again acknowledge that Jon Perkins gets credit for introducing me to Beachwood Sparks many years ago. This introduction led me to The Autumn Defense, The Tyde (helmed by Darren Rademaker who now lives in Florida) and later to A New Personality.
12/15/23.
Stephen Bailey is a Perth, Australia musician who sounds like he could have been a late 1960s Southern California musician. If not that, then he sounds like he should be on Brent Rademaker's Curation Records label. Or perhaps he could be on the Spiritual Pajamas label (they're releasing a new album from The Tyde).
These are some sweet, warm, and easy-riding songs. It really makes me think of Steely Dan crossed with Beachwood Sparks.
This is released by Third Eye Stimuli Records (Sydney, Australia). This is the 3rd post from this label.
