Gotta Groove Records
Drab Majesty — Modern Mirror
Since the 2015 release of Drab Majesty’s debut Careless, and the release of the acclaimed sophomore album The Demonstration the following year, artist Deb Demure and collaborator Mona D. have firmly established themselves amongst the pantheon of dark synth-pop greats, establishing a devoted fan base worldwide with their singular hypnotic sound and mysterious, constantly-evolving presence.
Following intense and extensive touring in support of the first two albums, Drab Majesty escaped to the inspirational landscapes of Athens, Greece to channel the songs for their most ambitious album creation yet: Modern Mirror.
Blowing the dust off the antiquarian myth of Ovid’s “Narcissus”, Drab Majesty uses its premise as groundwork for a modern reinterpretation. Each song tells a piece of the story, in which the listener’s own self-identity has become warped and dissociated through rapidly expanding technology, losing touch with the origins of their own personalities. Setting the stage as a romantic saga of antiquity, “A Dialogue” asks the listener if they are truly in love amid a building wash of guitars and reverb. Elements of classic tragedy weigh heavily in the reflection of Modern Mirror in songs like “The Other Side”, possessing a fundamental sound that is energetic, luminous and hopeful. Fusing the sonic aesthetics of predecessors like New Order and The Cure within the cautious instruction of Greek mythology and modern science fiction, Drab Majesty has birthed a hybrid of dreamy malaise, captured for a future moment.
Yarn — This Is The Year
You might expect a band that calls itself Yarn to, naturally, tend to spin a yarn or two. “that’s what we do, we tell stories, live and in the studio, truth and fiction” singer/songwriter Blake Christiana insists. “We don’t always opt for consistency. There’s a different vibe onstage from what comes through in our recordings. There’s a difference in every show as well, you never know what you’re going to get.”
This year, the band reissued its 2016 album This Is The Year on vinyl. Grab it now!
Palmer T. Lee — Winebringer
Palmer T. Lee is a songwriter from Olympia, Washington. He also is one half of the duo The Lowest Pair, with Kendl Winter. His debut album, “Winebringer,” is an intensive look at love and longing that follows the end of a relationship. The title was inspired by a collection of poetry by Hafiz called, “The Book of the Winebringer.”
Available from Shuga Records now!
Mood Area 52 — Find Some Kind of Light
Mood Area 52 started in 1998 as a Piazzola inspired neo-tango and silent film score ensemble. Since then the group has morphed into an ensemble defined more by instrumentation and mood than genre. Mood Area 52 has performed with The Squirrel Nut Zippers, Naim Amor, Chuck Palhnuik, The Damo Suzuki Network, Rasputina, The Tin Hat Trio, Slowpoke, Amy Denio, Devotchka, David Lindley, Marianne Dissard, The Vagabond Opera, Jason Webley’s “Monsters of Accordion,” Mark Growden, Kim Boekbinder and The Vermillion Lies, The Fishtank Ensemble, and many other polite and brilliant musicians.
Find Some Kind of Light features twelve original Americana songs and 2 instrumentals featuring guitars, cello, horns, accordion, drums, voice, and upright bass.
Diplomats of Sound — A Higher Place
Pravda Records proudly presents the sixth full-length by Iowa City ambassadors of groove The Diplomats Of Solid Sound. “A Higher Place”-entirely mixed and edited at The Magic Barn in Iowa City and inspired by the sounds of the best 60s style soul and funk. Having already cut 5 full-length albums, “Instrumental Action Soul” (Prescription Records – 2001), “Let´s Cool One”(Estrus Records – 2003), “Destination Get Down!” (Estrus Records – 2005), self-titled “Diplomats Of Solid Sound featuring The Diplomettes” (Pravda Records/Record Kicks 2008), and “What Goes Around, Comes Around”, the band is just getting warmed up. “A Higher Place” is chock full of irresistible funk and soul bombs ready to melt your heart or make you shake it on the dance-floor, strongly confirming their standing in the contemporary funk and neo-soul scene. LP includes free download card.
Arctic Sleep — Kindred Spirits
Arctic Sleep’s seventh album, Kindred Spirits dives further into explorations of universal themes… life & death, earth & space, beauty & sorrow.
Finding himself once again as a solo artist, Arctic Sleep founder Keith D wrote all of the music for the album with his closest & dearest friend by his side… a snowshoe cat named Yoda. Right when the music for the album had been completed, Yoda fell gravely ill and passed away. Crushed, Keith set to work writing the lyrics in bereavement. The result is “Kindred Spirits,” a musical work intended to bring comfort and solace to anyone who has experienced loss, be it human or animal.