OPM: Hidden Gems & Hauntology

Myronik – 2012 Works

A strong and varied collection of indietronica that recalls the glory days of mid-’00s/early-‘10s scene. Of course, this is from 2012, so it would have fit right into that scene – a better question is why we never heard it back then? These songs would have fit right alongside early material from Liars, TV on the Radio, the Books and Caribou (when he still was called Manitoba). 

The material here is by turns dark and heavy, buoyant and hopeful, weird and prickly – but always interesting, even fascinating. Finding little gems like this are what makes digging thru the endless seas of self-released music so rewarding.  

(Listened to the whole album)

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Leaving Lost – Escape from the Darkest Place

Three tracks of lo-fi, minimal electronic hauntology. It’s not quite ambient, definitely not the typical “lo-fi beats” and nowhere all that close to any other defined genre, but for all that it won’t sound unfamiliar or esoteric to most ears. 

Indeed, there’s a weird sense of familiarity to it, a kind of vague, formless nostalgia that suggests you have heard this kind of stuff before, even if you can’t quite place it. Was that a bit of post rock? Did I catch a hint of shoegaze? It’s a mystery… Intriguing and evocative stuff.

(Listened to the whole EP)

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HangOnGetReady – ANYYES

Ebullient and uplifting chiptunes, just like Nintendo used to make! This EP is a wall-to-wall showcase of 8-bit sound design, chirpy melodies, hyper arpeggios and all the other nostalgia-inducing tricks of the videogame OST trade circa 1989 or so. 

Like much of the better material of that era, the limited sound palette and raw electronic vibes don’t hinder the underlying musicality of the tracks. The melodies are strong, the beats bump and every track displays a deep compositional confidence. 

(Listened to the entire EP)

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Subcoherence – “Ghost Job”

A banging DnB track chock full of atmospheric pads, distorted growls, processed voices and clattering breaks. This one definitely keeps the most important and relevant things happening musically in the lower registers. 

The bass and drums do most of the heavy lifting while the pads and ear candy float above the fray, providing ambience and a sense of airiness to what would otherwise be a claustrophobic vibe. Between those two poles, the vocal chops and distorted growls tie the whole thing together wonderfully. 

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My Turning Point – “Mothers Milk”

A heartfelt acoustic tune with an intense ‘90s alt-rock vibe. This track is the kind of thing you might have found nestled between growling bangers on an Alice in Chains or Stone Temple Pilots record back in the day – the kind of thing they would have showcased on their MTV Unplugged set. 

Constructed of just acoustic guitar, bass and a vocal, there’s no flash or gimmicks to it; this one lives and dies by the strength of the material. If acoustic ‘90s alt rock is your bag, give it a shot.