Inscrutable Records

Pleasant Mob

s/t

Inscrutable Records

***"What a genuine relief it is to know that for every monstrous blow the world delivers, musicians are able to create things of beauty in stark contrast to an oversaturation of ugliness. To be sensitive and soft during undeniably hard times is a brave act, and the music of Pleasant Mob is as defiant as it is endearing. At a glance Pleasant Mob evokes a carefree spirit, but below the surface, their uncluttered compositions are a comforting utopia. Their judicious use of tone, color, and melody strike the perfect balance between masculine and feminine energy—take that Piet Mondrian. Their clarity and resolved tension has smoothed down the sharp edges of rock and roll into a joyous flower powered jangle. In 2022, Chicago’s Raidy Hodges of Spread Joy adopted a new neo-psychedelic musical identity and released a two song cassingle via Feel It Records. Resetting once again, Hodges has a whole new supporting ensemble: Tessa Sebastian - Bass, Timothy Makowski - Guitar, Daniel Lynch - Keyboards, Hana Chew - Drums and all sharing vocal duties. Hodges and Chew’s vocal chemistry is undeniable, adopting indie pop art school charm and adding in ‘60s lite-psych romance. 'Are you scared to be happy?' was a mantra of sorts to the 1980s C86 scene. I honestly have no idea if anyone is truly happy in 2024, but I welcome Pleasant Mob’s ability to make me believe the answer could be yes. RIYL: postcard-length vignettes, breezy tempos and pillow-soft harmonies flanked by 24 karat golden hooks."—Tracy...

Soup Activists

Mummy What are Flowers For?

Inscrutable Records

***"Must we bleed to buy a bridge? A life led punk takes a left turn to there and back again lane, and we find Soup Activists. This is St Louis’ new mutant pop, Martin Meyer’s solo studio project (and ensemble live band). Mummy What Are Flowers For?, the act’s new LP on Inscrutable Records, is punk’s gift back to pop. Friends, penpals, and mail order maniacs will all be told, a princely player with a heart of gold journeyed to Lawrence Kansas to record and rock. With Sweeping Promises, MM ignored the studio clock. SP’s Caufield Schnug behind the board and Lira Mondal in front of the mic, providing supporting vocals. Songcraft has always been an essential part of Marty’s world (Lumpy and the Dumpers, the Wad, Cal and the Calories, Fried E/M) and special care is provided on Mummy. There’s the crackle and verve of Dolly Mixture, the slyness of Television Personalities, and the pure fun of the Freshies. The pogo is an apt dance for album openers 'Jeffrey Jarvis' and 'Boys With Plants.' Curiously dressed adolescents lay the groundwork for 'Matching Teens' and its swinging organ and crunching guitar. Lira’s singing is furiously focused and fulfilling on “The Times,” bottled fun. 'It’s a hit! It’s a hit!' These are the screams I hear each night in the Soup Activists concert audience. Let 'Some Doves Don’t' be your introduction to new wave. 'Chaos Girls' is an anthem for the apocalypse that dances dangerously in a zone of perilous joy....

Tia Rosa

Misterio Lounge 3000

Inscrutable Records

***“There’s no stopping the froggies from hopping”. Tia Rosa’s psychic elevator goes up to Misterio Lounge 3000, the palace of their self described Electronic Frog Pop. In late 2021, Sam Ortiz (Cáustica Espástica), JJ (Vats) and Gabriel Guiterrez (Lysol, American Nudism, Vats) got together, adopting the popular brand of pre-packaged pan dulce Tia Rosa as their band name. Following a string of self released cassettes and domestic tours in 2022 they spent most of last year recording these eight tracks between their homes in colonia Asturias and colonia Navarte, Mexico City. Misterio Lounge 3000 reaches behind the mirror, charming the sinister 80’s minimal electronic/post punk of Algebra Suicide onto programmed latin rhythms and experimental/new age soundscapes common in 70’s cosmic music. There’s lots of room to groove here and each track feels like a new stop down an expansive astral hallway. 'Kelly' drives close with its crunchy guitar and radio interference, “Elevador Síquico” captures the sway of joyous pixelated flowers. 'Glass Frog' begins with sampled frogs and ends in a delightful psychedelic freakout. 'La Oscuridad' and 'Floating Hour' build on the mysterious lounge feel with their respective smooth flute and sax solos. From start to finish Misterio bounces softly like a Miró painting come to life. Mutant elevator music for obscure prophets, flute lovers and froggy dancers alike. A freakadelic electro oddity for the ages. It’s the new strange sensation and it’s happening now. Frog pop is here. Tia Rosa has delivered."

Famous Mammals

s/t

Inscrutable Records

***"Famous Mammals were already going to be fantastic the moment they decided to form as a pandemic avocation in 2020, considering they’d been birthed from the flames of recent Oakland, CA scene-definers Rays, The World and Andy Human & The Reptoids. Yet when their wonderfully sharp & confounding self-titled tape came out in 2021, they were better than that, even. Their initial sound clicked along, searched and then found oblique treasure in a deep DIY post-punk void one might associate with 39 Clocks or the Swell Maps - sometimes aggressively sharp and pointed, other times given to captivating and off-centered murky quaalude meandering in all the ways you love. I’m a big fan of Stanley Martinez’ vocals and guitar, and have been since the first time I saw & heard Rays, and he transported his A-game to a recording session yet again. Likewise Amber Sermeno—we all swooned for her fronting The World, and while we only get one lone track w/her vocals, it might even be the best thing on here: the chugging & propulsive 'Unspoken Chair'. Andy Human—well, that guy just moves from strength to strength, excelling as a bass player here and general instrumental conductor of an echoey and wide-open sound partially transported from the hinterlands, moors and home studios of 1979 Northern England. To my ears, this was the first truly great set of recordings to emerge from a 'pandemic band', and now that they’ve gone on to be a full-fledged recording project and occasional touring band...