Each week, Audio Taste Test serves up an obscure and independent playlist for your evening, tantalizing your musical palate with flavors from all different soundscapes. Listen on demand here and on 88Nine from 10-11 p.m. every Thursday.
I’ve got a bit of an eastern European invasion for you. In the coming weeks, you’ll hear different interpretations of some fantastic sounds from bands all over the region — starting with a Slavic pupu platter coming fresh out of the kitchen!
It’s hard to get much more European than the single “Autobahn” from Ukrainian psychedelic rock band Love’n’Joy. The track starts with a hazy guitar riff that unravels into a wall of sound, reflecting life on the road as a band. We stick in the same country for the musical project of Kostiantyn Pochtar, better known as Postman, who released a nostalgic folk EP titled Phantasma. Pochtar is the Ukranian Mac Demarco, and you’ll float away on his melodic arrangements that are easy to digest.
Keeping in line with the gastronomic theme, Polish electropop duo The Dumplings make an appearance with their modern interpretation of the song “Ach Nie Mnie Jednej,” which translates to “Ah, not just me.” It’s part of the tribute project to legendary poet and lyricist Agnieszka Osiecka, and their use of string instruments makes you feel like you’re tiptoeing around using the “L word” in a relationship (which is what the song is about).
Coming back stateside, Los Angeles-based twin brother duo Always You have dropped their sophisti-pop single titled “Shadow Play” in anticipation of their new album’s release Nov. 16. Speaking of new projects, Bad Brains just delivered Are You Ready: The First Studio Recording (Inner Ear - March 1979). Anything from the punk pioneers is essential listening for aficionados, but this EP is a raw snapshot of the band defining the genre in real time.
Happy tasting!
Episode playlist
- Love"n"Joy, "Autobahn"
- FJ McMahon & Laure Briard, "Golden Sun"
- Vicky Sometani, "Keep Coming Back To You"
- Postman, "Phantasma"
- The Dumplings, "Ach Nie Mnie Jednej"
- media puzzle, "Knowledge"
- Benedicte Maurseth, "Hárr"
- Holy Wave, "US 54"
- K. Michelle, "Yodel"
- Always You, "Shadow Play"
- Bad Brains, "Don"t Bother Me"
- Josaleigh Pollett & Crowd Shy, "The Witness"
- Yot Club, "Projecting"
- The Roches, "Hammond Song"
- Andrew Gialanella, "October Air"
- Hannah Lew, "The Clock"
