21 Records from 21 Lesser-Known Artists - January
January 2021 has been a jam-packed month for music, with a few releases gaining traction within the broader Internet music community. That being said, it's important not to forget the sacrifices smaller artists often make in releasing their records during the pandemic.
With tiny fanbases, minimal social media footprints, and few chances to grow their supporter bases without the benefit of touring, the vast majority of small-scale projects may never get off the ground. Though not all of these may be worth your attention, I have identified a group of records released by small acts in January 2021 that could definitely be worth a listen or two.
Speak up in the comments if any of these resonate with you or if you'd like to provide a BC link to another small artist you feel folks here might dig.
Stepping off my soap box now. List is sorted approximately in increasing order of how much I liked the record. LTTI = Listen to this if |
| 1 |  | Eyelashes!
Venus' Flower Basket IV
Genre: Glam folk (?)
https://eyelashes.bandcamp.com/album/venus-flower-basket-iv
LTTI: You want to hear an ultra-raw, ultra-DIY, ultra-unique take on the guitar-based singer-songwriter trope. Or if the artist's haphazardly assembled Bandcamp appeals to your aesthetic sensibilities |
| 2 |  | Michael Peter Olsen
Yearning Flow
Genre: Dark ambient
https://handdrawndracula.bandcamp.com/album/yearning-flow
LTTI: You plan on investigating dark caves, meandering tunnels, abandoned mental asylums, or other spooky places alone, and could use the company of some foreboding tunes |
| 3 |  | Quadraphonnes + Andrew Durkin
Five-Pointed Star
Genre: Saxophone
https://pjce.bandcamp.com/album/five-pointed-star
LTTI: You've been dying to hear a record with four saxophonists and no other instrumentation. In seriousness, this is a pretty gripping work for being so focused |
| 4 |  | How to Be Dead
Lights at the Ends of Tunnels
Genre: Emo-tinged alt rock/90s worship
https://howtobedead.bandcamp.com/album/lights-at-the-ends-of-tunnels
LTTI: You really really like Smashing Pumpkins but really really hate Billy Corgan |
| 5 |  | Auragraph
Opacity Field
Genre: Vaporwave
https://hiraeth-records.bandcamp.com/album/opacity-field
LTTI: You miss playing video games with super cool single digit-bit soundtracks but you've grown up a little |
| 6 |  | Susie Ibarra / Claire Chase / Alex Peh
Talking Gong
Genre: Jazz-inflected chamber music
https://newfocusrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/susie-ibarra-talking-gong
LTTI: You like that Portlandia skit where bands compete to sound as gentle as possible. The drums bang on this record tho |
| 7 |  | Santi Debriano
Flash of the Spirit
Genre: Latin/post-bop jazz
https://trrstore.bandcamp.com/album/flash-of-the-spirit
LTTI: You've been following the above listed jazz releases and want something a bit more conventional |
| 8 |  | Shai Maestro
Human
Genre: Classy jazz
https://www.shaimaestro.com/
LTTI: You were classically trained in jazz and the other entries on this list are either too avant-garde or too by-the-books for you |
| 9 |  | Alphabet Holds Hostage
truth in habitual
Genre: Slightly adventurous shoegaze
https://alphabet-holds-hostage.bandcamp.com/
LTTI: You crave some spiritually enveloping, lovely shoegaze. AKA: you crave some shoegaze |
| 10 |  | Gi Gi
Lumino Pleco
Genre: Light ambient
https://quiettimetapes.bandcamp.com/album/lumino-pleco
LTTI: You need to chill x100. Beautiful harmonies, probably would beat Susie Ibarra & crew in the Battle of the Gentle Bands |
| 11 |  | Avon Terror Corps
Wish You Were Avon
Genre: Assorted blips and bloops
https://avonterrorcorps.bandcamp.com/album/wish-you-were-avon
LTTI: You have an appetite for various strands of electronic music and would like your music expenditures to fund worthy causes. Proceeds from this record go towards providing food for needy folks in Bristol |
| 12 |  | Good Willsmith
HausLive 2: Good Willsmith at Sleeping Village, 4
Genre: Psychedelic drone
https://hausumountain.bandcamp.com/album/hauslive-2-good-willsmith-at-sleeping-village-4-25-2019
LTTI: You're tripping/getting high in any fashion and don't care much for production quality. This stuff is absorbing as hell but, even through headphones, sounds like it's playing from an iTouch amplified inside of a red solo cup |
| 13 |  | Tom Sochas
You could hear the bird sing
Genre: Modern jazz
https://tomsochas.bandcamp.com/album/you-could-hear-the-bird-sing
LTTI: You have less than 20 minutes to concentrate inordinately hard on a jazz record. Seriously, though, this is a prettily complex yet accessible morsel that hopefully predicts further solo work from maestro Sochas |
| 14 |  | John Pope Quintet
Mixed with Glass
Genre: Boppy jazz
https://johnpope.bandcamp.com/album/mixed-with-glass
LTTI: You like free jazz but happen to be in a good mood, for once |
| 15 |  | Sitka Sun
All The Way West
Genre: Record store jazz
https://sitkasun.bandcamp.com/album/all-the-way-west
LTTI: You only have time for one jazz record on this list and you don't want to pay $20 for Jason Moran |
| 16 |  | Glass Kites
Glass Kites II
Genre: Artsy prog rock
https://glasskites.bandcamp.com/
LTTI: Your appetite for pleasant yet complicated music wasn't satisfied by any of the billion jazz releases on this list |
| 17 |  | Yung
Ongoing Dispute
Genre: Have you heard of this really cool indie band called Joy Division?
https://yungband.bandcamp.com/
LTTI: You respect a band that tanks their Google searchability with a name like Yung in 2021. Or, you need a cheap alternative to Unknown Pleasures |
| 18 |  | Helena Celle's Imaginal Designs
Copy Music
Genre: Industrial loops-lite
https://outletarchive.bandcamp.com/album/copy-music
LTTI: You, um, appreciate industrial-focused loops? To be honest, my vocabulary is limited here. Check this out if the genre tag interests you, it's a banger through and through |
| 19 |  | Ben Varian
One Hundred Breakfasts with the Book
Genre: Jazzy pop
https://benvarian.bandcamp.com/album/one-hundred-breakfasts-with-the-book-2
LTTI: You love Steely Dan. Yes, it's good enough to warrant the comparison, and no, I am not glancing sideways, downwards, or in any other fashion to indicate that I might be pulling a fast one on you |
| 20 |  | Jason Moran
The Sound Will Tell You
Genre: Jazzy classical
https://jasonmoran.bandcamp.com/album/the-sound-will-tell-you-2
LTTI: You are willing to spend $20 to make yourself feel like a real music aficionado. Slightly joking, as this is actually gorgeous |
| 21 |  | Demoniac (CHL)
So It Goes
Genre: Blackened thrash-death
https://edgedcircleproductions.bandcamp.com/album/so-it-goes
LTTI: You can ignore some mild production concerns in order to appreciate a phenomenal thrash record. If these folks run a tight ship and don't go the way of Vektor, expect big things |
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