DESU TAEM opens “Assbite Mania” with blown-out guitars, dry snare hits, and bass tones that lurch like damaged machinery. The production stays intentionally abrasive. Cymbals crack hard. Riffs scrape against each other. Analog amp grit leaks through nearly every chorus, while the drums shove the record forward with primitive force. Shan and Nick Greene avoid polished compression, favoring room noise, clipped feedback, and sudden tempo shifts instead. The result feels claustrophobic yet strangely physical, like a basement performance transmitted through torn speakers during a midnight riot. Short hooks appear briefly, then disappear beneath another collapsing wall of distortion.
Vocally, the project rejects polish and restraint. Shan Greene snarls with a low-register rasp, while Nick Greene fires back with nervous harmonies and half-spoken taunts. Their exchanges create constant friction. The lyrics spiral through bizarre nightlife images, reckless movement, and confused aggression without sounding theatrical. One moment suggests drunken comedy; the next sounds genuinely hostile. That unstable mood gives Assbite Mania its identity. Layered vocal doubles and abrupt gang shouts intensify the panic, especially when the rhythms suddenly slow before another distorted eruption.
In a crowded punk revival scene, DESU TAEM sounds less interested in nostalgia than confrontation. The project favors ugly textures over fashionable precision, which separates it from cleaner alternative rock releases. “Assbite Mania” thrives on instinct, volume, and familial chemistry rather than technical perfection. Still, several transitions feel unnecessarily abrupt, interrupting momentum during the middle stretch. Even so, the record delivers savage retro rock without softening its rough edges.
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There is a refreshing lack of ego in the way Glass Jones approaches the piano. A product of the rigorous environment at Hunter College, his work isn’t about technical fireworks, but rather a surgical balance between precision and feeling. You can hear it in the phrasing—there is a distinct, crystalline clarity to every note. He allows melodies to breathe and unfold with a level of patience that is rare in today’s fast-paced landscape. The result is a cinematic sound that manages to feel massive in its emotional scope while remaining startlingly intimate.
What really sets Jones apart, however, is his commitment to the “long game.” Rather than chasing a viral moment with a single outlier track, he is meticulously constructing a legacy. With a release schedule that promises multiple mastered solo piano pieces every month, he is building a cohesive body of work that demands more than a casual listen. It’s a narrative in progress; each new track acts as a chapter that reinforces his identity as an artist who values steady evolution over one-off impressions. To understand the music, one should look at his life behind the lens and within the home. His work in nature photography and home design isn’t just a side hobby—it’s the blueprint for his sonic aesthetic. There is a tangible visual sensibility in his compositions, as if he is scoring a specific landscape or designing a room’s atmosphere through sound. You can feel the influence of a photographer’s eye in the way he handles “light and shadow” within a melody, framing each piece with an intentionality that mirrors a well-composed shot.
In a genre like solo piano, which too often settles for being “pleasant background noise,” Glass Jones is doing something far more provocative. He strips away the trends and the unnecessary embellishments, leaving behind only nuance, timing, and emotional clarity. It is music that doesn’t just fill a room; it transforms it. By prioritizing intention over flash, Jones has created a sound that doesn’t just ask for your attention—it earns it.
There is a specific kind of magic that happens when a producer stops chasing the “main stage” and starts chasing a feeling. In his latest release, “Lie For Free,” the producer known as dbasser has moved away from traditional club structures to craft something far more intoxicating. Released via Cencalli Music, this track doesn’t just ask for your attention—it pulls you into a hazy, late-night atmosphere that feels like a cross between a high-end lounge in Tulum and a private warehouse session. The technical backbone of the song is a masterclass in restraint. Dbasser uses a grounding, organic percussion loop that serves as the heartbeat, but the real genius lies in the “basser” namesake. The low-end is thick and warm, pulsating with a rhythmic weight that feels physical without being aggressive. It provides a steady anchor for the lush, cinematic synths that drift through the background, creating a sense of space that feels both infinite and intimate.
However, the track truly finds its soul through the vocal contributions of Megan Kashat, Ali Balla, and MØRAKK. Kashat’s performance, in particular, is the secret weapon here; her Middle Eastern-inflected vocal runs add a “desert-noir” aesthetic that is rare in contemporary house. Rather than following a standard verse-chorus pop structure, the vocals are treated as an instrument themselves—looping, echoing, and haunting the track like a tribal incantation that lingers long after the music stops.
“Lie For Free” is a rare find that succeeds in being both a “head” track and a “body” track. It’s sophisticated enough for a deep-listening session on high-quality headphones, yet groovy enough to command a dance floor during the early hours of the morning. It marks a bold step forward for dbasser, proving that he is less interested in following trends and more interested in setting a mood. If this is a preview of where the melodic house scene is headed, we’re in very good hands.
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With Ultimate Pretenders, Memory Men take a clear step forward from their debut album Kingdom of Doubts. Released less than a year into the band’s journey, this six-track EP captures a group still finding its voice—but doing so with intention, curiosity, and emotional honesty.
Recorded in a home setting and self-produced, Ultimate Pretenders doesn’t try to hide its DIY origins. Instead, it leans into them. The production remains raw, but noticeably more controlled than on their earlier work, allowing the songs to breathe while leaving space for future refinement. There’s a sense that Memory Men are learning how to trust their instincts—less urgency to prove themselves, more focus on expression. , the EP explores self-awareness, doubt, and authenticity, themes that feel fitting given the band’s early stage. The writing avoids strict formulas, opting instead for direct, sometimes vulnerable reflections. This approach gives the songs a conversational quality, as if the listener is being let in on unfinished thoughts rather than polished conclusions. While not every line lands with equal weight, the sincerity behind the words is unmistakable.
Musically, Ultimate Pretenders balances restraint with ambition. The arrangements are simple but thoughtful, hinting at influences without fully committing to a single sound. At times, this restraint works in the EP’s favor, creating intimacy; at others, it suggests potential waiting to be unlocked—stronger dynamics, bolder structures, and sharper production choices could elevate future releases. Ultimately, Ultimate Pretenders feels like a transitional record—and that’s not a weakness. It documents a band actively shaping its identity, unafraid to be heard before everything is fully figured out. Memory Men may still have room to grow, but this EP proves they’re asking the right questions, and more importantly, they’re willing to listen to the answers.
With GIOMANÈ, his fifth studio album, Gianfranco GFN delivers a work that feels lived-in, expansive, and deeply musical. Developed over two years between Switzerland and Côte d’Ivoire, the album embodies a rare sense of organic warmth, embracing groove not as a stylistic choice but as a way of being. This is not a record chasing relevance — it’s one that arrives fully formed, confident in its own language. At the heart of GIOMANÈ is GIAZZ!, GFN’s personal fusion of groove, soul, acid-jazz, funk, pop, and blues. The sound is fluid and vibrant, driven entirely by live performances and real interaction between musicians. With 13 original tracks and the involvement of 15 players, the album breathes like a collective experience rather than a studio construction. There is no polish for its own sake, no digital gloss — just texture, rhythm, and human presence.
What stands out most is the album’s emotional clarity. Each track tells a story drawn from everyday life: love, movement, discovery, memory. The lyrics, written by GFN alongside his collaborators, avoid slogans or moral instruction. There is no political agenda, no overt message to decode — only a sincere invitation to listen, feel, and connect. That restraint gives the album its strength, allowing meaning to emerge naturally through sound and atmosphere. The groove remains central throughout the record, but GIOMANÈ never feels repetitive. Subtle shifts in rhythm, tone, and arrangement keep the journey engaging, reflecting the album’s geographic and cultural crossings. The influence of African rhythms blends seamlessly with European soul sensibility, reinforcing the album’s sense of openness and movement.
Released officially on November 28, 2024, with a live launch in Biel/Bienne, GFN’s hometown, the album feels particularly well-suited to the stage — a quality already evident in its recording. As GFN prepares to bring GIOMANÈ on tour with The Mystery Band, the album stands as both a destination and a departure point: a fully realized statement that promises even greater energy in a live setting. GIOMANÈ is a reminder of what happens when music is allowed to be human again — warm, imperfect, joyful, and deeply alive.