The DJ Takeover sponsored by Level Up is a program for listeners to discover their favorite artist's favorite artists, working to foster connection to the music and makers inside and outside our city. For the entire hour, we go down the rabbit hole of stories from their past, experiences of the present and goals for the future.
What’s the difference between Gabriel and Dark Gabriel? One is a human keyboard player in the Milwaukee band Angelica, and one is a crimson devil muppet type that harnesses the energy of unpresent band members. You can decide who’s who. These are the very important distinctions I have the pleasure of understanding during DJ Takeovers.
This week, Dark Gabriel stood in for bass player and vocalist Emilee Eisner. Remaining band members Gosha Ananchev (vocals, guitar) and John Larkin (drums, percussion, production), joined in human form alongside the Gabriels (guitar, keys, vocals, general darkness).
Angelica get their name from the medicinal plant, an appropriate title for the music this band produces. But let me be clear: The music of Angelica is not your traditional lullaby. It is pointedly art-punk, dysphoric and abstract, which makes it the exact brand of soothing required for 2025.
For example, let's take their new song “Cat Hair,” in which Eisner complains at length about getting cat hair in their eyes while also pointing out that, “Your attitude has me on 10.” Clearly, Eisner’s exasperation goes beyond the cat.
What happens when frustrations about the world pile up like dirty dishes and those responsible for the mess are always just out of reach? Eisner finds it's far easier to turn their anger to this loaf that continues to stare at them, a loaf they choose to surround themself with — no matter how much of the loaf’s hair gets in Eisner’s line of vision. The cat gets the short end of the stick.
Angelica tackle the unlikely self soothing that temporarily subdues the exponentially louder problems that crowd our sinks. From aimlessness to gentrification and the state of America, Angelica traverse these modern days with hopes, dreams and inevitable cat hair.
Angelica’s debut EP, EP1, is out now after a year of hard work and dedicated production. They play live at Jazz Gallery on Jan. 10 alongside Philly-based The Early, as well as fellow Milwaukee outfits Youth Energy and Pecking Order.
DJ Takeover: Angelica playlist
- Angelica, "Tulip"
- Talk Talk, "Ascension Day"
- Super Djata Band, "Yacouba"
- Autolux, "Blanket"
- Dog Faced Hermans, "Jan 9"
- Palberta, "Heaven to Rock n’ Roll"
- Chronophage, "Anti-Miracle"
- Styrofoam Winos, "Magic Mind"
- Large Print, "Lawnchair"
