Let’s not bury the lede here, this Jesop video kicks off with a ghost wearing a beanie and sunglasses rollerblading down the street. I’m confident that’s all the information necessary to hit play but in case you are a maniac that is somehow still not enticed, the ghost takes an adventure around the city, chases down the titular Jesop and eventually becomes a friendly god of some sort. If you still need more, the track itself is a wonderfully upbeat indie rock jam filled with sparkly-yet-warbly guitars, a driving drum beat and lyrics that cut just the right side of melancholy.

Based on the Bandcamp offerings, this is only the second single to be released by Jesop but it’s a strong show of force that Jesop is one to be paying attention to.

It’s been about a year since BEZ released The Altered States of America, a riveting full-length collection of songs steeped in personal verses and fascinating beats. The wait for new BEZ ends now with the release of “Can’t Give It / Freedumb,” the first single from the July 29th album Flyaway Vol. 1. As a return to the stage, it’s a phenomenal first offering. The backing drums are relentless and BEZ’s choral refrain that “Freedom ain’t free but a lawyer ain’t cheap” is both brutally true and instantly catchy.

A press release tells us that the album contains production courtesy of Jordan Manley (Massive 45), Jonah Swilley (Mattiel) and Carmine Prophets. It’s safe to assume that the record will have plenty of personal verses and insights from BEZ and we’d be lucky if the whole thing keeps up the energy of this first single.

Back in July of 2021, Total Wife released their self-titled record; which we got around to reviewing somewhat recently. Today, June 29th, 2022, the band released the official full-length follow-up, A Blip. In our prior review we expressed hesitancy that maintaining their level of excellence seemed like an impossible challenge but I’m happy to report we were entirely wrong. A Blip is an absolute powerhouse.

Comprised of ten tracks across 45 minutes, A Blip builds on the shoegaze foundations the band has proven to be more than adept at and introduces a myriad of new elements and styles. The EDM style drums on “It’s Violet” swirl through a cascade of feedback. Interlude “Not” fires off a wall of knob-turning distortion before transitioning into the euphoric and melancholy guitar swells of “Here.” Closing track “Hello” pounds relentlessly through a cloud of ever-layering vocals before giving way to a heavenly hypnotic refrain dashed with just the right amount of backwards guitar.

If that all sounds overly flowery, I make no apologies. A Blip is a beautiful record that combines a giant wall of guitars with intricate flourishes and patterns, a perfect recipe for my taste. Fans of Broadcast, My Bloody Valentine, and Gish era Smashing Pumpkins will find themselves at home here but won’t be steeped in recycled tropes; just a Venn diagram of familiarity.

A Blip is anything but. It is not fleeting nor temporary. It is an immersive listen best experienced at the highest volumes.