A small celebration of notable new music releases from March and April.
During the past couple of months, Madison musicians—and musicians with direct connections to Madison—have provided a number of excellent new releases across a gamut of genres. Unhinged jazz shenanigans, experimental noise-pop, progressive spins on instrumental traditionals, avant-pop, punchy, folk-forward indie-rock, and anthemic indie-pop all make a mark across these six selections. A few of the most memorable listens (and watches) I’ve had this spring came courtesy of Wisconsin-based artists with strong Madison ties or from musicians who recently set sail for other cities. There’s a little bit of something for a whole range of tastes dashed across these releases, all of which came out in March or April.
And if you’re looking to support these musicians, Friday would be a sensible time to do so. Bandcamp Friday, May 3, will once again provide a 24-hour window in which the streaming platform waives its revenue share percentage so that all funds are directed towards the artist. And for as much as musical artists of all stripes are up against, any type of genuine support is certain to go a long way.
Bongo Frontier, Weakling Doodle Rides Again
Former Madisonian Chris Joutras‘ Kitschy Spirit record label released experimental duo Bongo Frontier’s latest album, Weakling Doodle Rides Again, at the start of March. And it couldn’t have arrived at a better time; the opening minutes of the album describe, in spoken word, the visuals of an early Wisconsin spring as the music blooms in tandem. Lo-fi, stylistically adventurous, and oddly haunted, Weakling Doodle Rides Again features the band—producers Tyler Ensrude (Tyclone1) and Zachary Greenwood (Zordulations), each currently based in southwest Wisconsin—creating oddball pop concoctions and obfuscating their accessibility with sonic degradation. Across two halves—each clocking in at roughly 30 minutes—the duo incorporates an array of live instrumentation to create something that beckons listeners in towards a core that feels welcomingly sinister.
Leslie Damaso, Ditagaunan
Leslie Damaso’s “Ditagaunan” is a twist on a traditional (“Aydao Ditagaunan“) that boasts an all-star ensemble of Madison- and Chicago-based musicians. Best known as a singer and a Mineral Point bon vivant, Damaso switches here from vocals to kulintang—a kettle gong instrument—to create an enormous, absorbing instrumental with Ben Ferris on bass, Jason Kutz on piano, Mike Kosweczki on percussion, Janice Lee on violin, and Jon Irabagon on saxophone. Damaso brings an accessible vibrancy to her take on “Ditagaunan”—which has the distinction of being the first track the musician learned on kulintang—and lends a cathartic playfulness to the listening experience. Taken from a forthcoming album and multimedia project entitled SIRENA, “Ditaguanan” is an exceptional preview of what’s likely to be a wholly fascinating work.
Kat And The Hurricane, “Caffeine & Alcohol“
Few Madison acts have crafted bombastic indie-pop quite like Kat And The Hurricane over the past 10 years or so. “Caffeine & Alcohol,” the band’s latest track, demonstrates a radio-ready level of professionalism that simultaneously acts as a testament to the band’s finely-tuned artistic development. “Is this the caffeine and alcohol in my blood? Or is it some kind of divine punishment?” asks guitarist/vocalist Kat Rhapsody in the track’s memorably anthemic chorus, effectively invoking vice and faith in a narrative that explicitly centers the appeal of escapism after difficult moments. Smart and extremely well-crafted, “Caffeine & Alcohol” is an exciting new gear for a band whose momentum appears to be accelerating.
Cal Lamore, Too Soon To Tell
Over the past several years multi-instrumentalist Cal Lamore has proven, repeatedly, to be one of the most prolific musicians in Madison’s thriving indie-rock community. Lamore’s release count is genuinely staggering and he’s added another tally to the total with the superlative Too Soon To Tell. There’s always been a strong current of Americana in Lamore’s work but it grew noticeably more pronounced across his 2023 releases. Too Soon To Tell‘s centerpiece, “Curses,” is one of the strongest examples of Lamore’s wholehearted embrace of the genre, effortlessly invoking 10-gallon hats and windswept dust trails on country roads. In characteristic fashion, Lamore suffuses the work with a punk-indebted bite, evidencing a genuine sense of tenacity. Familiar, but exhilarating, the album stands tall as yet another high point for one of the more indefatigable artistic mainstays in Madison.
Lovely Socialite, “Top Secret Jazz”
Every once in a while, Madison is blessed with a standout music video from a local artist. Last year featured several, marking a notably rich one for the medium. But Lovely Socialite’s video for “Top Secret Jazz” is truly on another level in terms of memorability. Simwig Studios‘ Tommy Simms and Joe Ludwig head up the video’s production and the pair lean hard into a surrealist neo-Western motif that takes some bold liberties with the genre down the stretch. Elements of sci-fi, slapstick, suspense, existential horror, and various forms of animation all make their mark in the latter half of “Top Secret Jazz,” providing an emphatic sense of pop to an already striking jazz-led trip-hop track. (None of the hard lefts are worth spoiling with details here; this is genuinely something to be experienced firsthand—but keep an eye out for a fun Mason Lounge appearance.) It’s original, innovative, enormously endearing, and a whole lot of fun.
Tekla Peterson, Mine To Give
In 2023, veteran experimental musician Taralie Peterson—who releases music under a handful of monikers, including Tekla Peterson, and co-founded the formidable Spires That In The Sunset Rise—moved to Chicago. Before leaving, Peterson began work on several of the songs that appear across Mine To Give while still living in Madison. Peterson’s always been an exceptional talent who thrives in exploratory settings, whether it be minimalist neo-classical, indie-folk, or avant-pop. On Mine To Give, Peterson breathes new life into her Tekla Peterson project, embracing electronic and dance influences while still blending in classical expertise and cutting, incisive lyrics. “You got up and lied to your mother / Because she couldn’t help you anyway,” sings Peterson towards the start of “More Real,” which takes a knowingly cynical look at the occasionally debilitating impulse to indulge fantasy. Smart and scintillating, Mine To Give is another intoxicating work from a genuine talent.
