Skippy Spiral - Circuit Circus
Part goth, part new wave, part sci-fi, and part lo-fi, Skippy Spiral’s latest album Circuit Circus is a lesson in how to innovate. Spiral doesn’t hold back in his sonic experimentation, as is particularly evident on songs like “Ringmaster Computer” and “Clownbot 3000.” There’s most definitely nobody else like Skippy Spiral in Savannah, and that’s a good thing.
The production on this record is at times understated, but when things get intricate it’s never a passing thing. There aren’t very many notes wasted on this incredibly weighty collection of songs, which is kind of an amazing thing in itself. The industrial-esque drum machine on “Forced Perspective” signals an approach to music that isn’t defined or boxed in.
Skippy Spiral could do whatever he wanted (he’s an accomplished accordion player in addition to the synth madness he cooks up) and it would still sound like Skippy Spiral. That’s the mark of a true artist. His musical persona truly just adds to that artistry and makes you feel like you’re witnessing something conceptual and thoughtful.
All in all, Circuit Circus is a wonderful record (released by an incredibly vital and consistently great label) that should be heard by anyone who wants to expand their musical palette or even just hear a more unique approach to the world of synth and electronic music.
Circuit Circus is available via Graveface Records. For more, visit graveface.bandcamp.com
Matt Collett - Flood
The first song that really grabbed me on Matt Collett’s excellent Flood was the second one on the record, “Easy.” There was a heaviness that felt familiar on a musical level, but Collett’s vocal delivery had an emotional depth and melodic curve to it that was distinct enough for it to feel pretty singular.
The great thing about this record is that there’s a ton of variety. Continuing on from track two, you get a sense of that variety immediately with “One Night,” which sounds rich and heavy tonally but also has a slight Americana leaning lyrically and vocally. The dissonance of that lead guitar line will likely be stuck in my head for days to come, too.
This is a rock and roll record, without question. To really understand the weight of it, though, it’s important to pay attention to the lyrics. Overall, Flood is dark enough to appeal to your most vulnerable sensibilities and make you confront your own inner demons. But there’s also an overwhelming sense of beauty and poetry, which I find oddly uplifting. The wash of reverb on “Breakdown” signals something I could sense all the way through—this record is meant to be not just a recording, but the sonic encapsulation of a feeling.
Flood is available via Bandcamp. For more, visit mattcollett.bandcamp.com
