Today marks the fifth anniversary of Fox Food Records, and to celebrate James Smith has gathered a large number of the label’s artists for a special compilation, Something’s There But You’re Not Sure What. Essentially a who’s who of the Fox Food roster, the release represents a celebration of what truly independent labels can offer—a diverse group of people from all over the world linked not by a specific sound and style but rather the spirit within.

Opening with an acoustic version of Oh Rose‘s ‘Prom’, Something’s There But You’re Not Sure What features a whole host of our favourites. Nice Legs stop by with another slice of delightfully warm fuzz pop, Spartan Jet-Plex provides an alternate take on single ‘Meant’ and Monarch Mtn returns with his characteristically intimate and melancholic whisper-folk.

Dana Gavanski joins Kaiya Cade on the haunting ‘Garden’, Fazed on a Pony serves up a dose of wonky nostalgia and Goodbye Max welcomes us back into his wistful warmth with the modest wonder of ‘Search Party.’ Then there’s the icy pop of Bloodhype, the whimsical momentum of Plant Food, not to mention the playful hush of Lewtrakimou and cool swagger of Saint Charles. Mixing things up, Henoheno and Fair Mothers offer different takes on patient, sprawling music—the ethereal gloom of the former matched in mood and scope by the foreboding creep of the latter.

Elsewhere, Unisex offer a carefree sway with ‘Let the Tide Take You’, Fairy Godmother a garage rock washed with dreamy haze and the likes of Ratbath, Hairpins, Suzy Jivotovski (of GRNDMS) and Deer Scout all provide stellar examples of intimate bedroom folk. Then, in a fitting finale, Smith’s own Good Good Blood teams up with Astral Social Club for mammoth closer ‘Heathen Astronaut’.

With ambient textures and electronic beeps and glimpses of sincere emotion peeking through the fog, the track acts as a kind of summary of the compilation and therefore the Fox Food Record’s mission as a whole. Heartfelt, experimental, bound not by expectation or convention but rather some gut-level intuition. Together, the elements coalesce into an intangible yet sustained sense of spirit, something far more powerful and lasting than anything done alone. This might not be something than can be adequately put into words, but that it exists is a testament to Smith’s judgement and effort. Because something is there, even if you’re not sure what.

The post Fox Food Records – Something’s There But You’re Not Sure What appeared first on Various Small Flames.

Tracklisting:

Mike Pace and the Child Actors – Everyone Out of the Car
Miranda Winters – The Futuristic District
Exam Season – Strawberry Milk
Saccharine – Pumpkin Guts
Tuvaband – Wolfpack
Devon Welsh – Dreams Have Pushed You Around
Mending – Alan after the Fire
Reddening West – Even If
Valley Maker – Light on the Ground
The Washboard Abs – Return to You
Manatree – Brushfire
Miserable Chillers – Horse Opera
Saint Charles – She Don’t Wanna Know
new casino – going for a walk*
Frankie Valet – Why Blue
Goodbye Max – Old Photos
Adeline Hotel – Habits
Joe Kaplow – I Said I Was Going and I Went
Pecas – Tuesdays
Sun Kin – Neglect
Baby Cages – flowers
Crooked Spine – Skinned Knees
Lauren O’Connell – Out of Focus
Mount Goldie – Summer
Harvey Trisdale – Baby
american poetry club – the sum of your parts
Babehoven – Out of the Country
Adam Arcuragi – Low Parade Rain
Jason Bemis Lawrence – Southern Midwest
Campdogzz – Sorceress
Barfoot – A Thin Place Between Worlds

* not on Playmoss

The post August 2018 Roundup appeared first on Various Small Flames.

The EP opens with ‘She Don’t Wanna Know’, a groove-laden track where electric guitar snakes in sinuous circles, Jones’ crooned vocals wending their own way out. The tone is pitched somewhere between longing and uber-cool disinterest, like some heavily stylised version of heartbreak. This loose-limbed, languid aesthetic is the overarching link between all of the songs on the record, though within this frame Saint Charles is able to explore a range of styles.

Like follow-up track ‘Roses’, the insistent drum beat offset by tropical guitar to produce a rhythmic yet laidback sound that brings to mind the surf rock revival of Wavves and Best Coast. ‘Jetpack’ is perhaps the most rock-orientated track on the record, the drums reaching for shoegaze in their hasty tempo, Jones’ vocals all too happy to follow these quick slipstreams with his fluid cadence. Again, the guitar is light and spiraling, updrafts upon which the vocals float in mellow ease.

Closer ‘Lay On My Feet’ slows things once more, another playful slice of pop albeit coloured by a sweetly wistful edge. While the carefree smoothness remains, and the drum beat is imbued with a peppy kick, the guitar is reigned in somewhat, less showy or forthright than some of the other tracks. The effect is one of earnestness, as though the trendy exterior has dropped just an inch to show that, against all the odds, cool kids feel stuff too.

We’re lucky enough to be able to stream the EP in its entirety, so listen below before summer packs its bags and leaves us once more.

The post Album Premiere: Saint Charles – S/T EP appeared first on Various Small Flames.