Now Hear This! #022 – Free Whenever, Zoe Boekbinder, Demolition, Asphalt

Now Hear This! Holy Moly, more you-don’t-want-to-miss-this-music. This week’s artists include Free Whenever, Zoe Boekbinder, Demolition, and Portland’s doom band Asphalt. In other words, two metal bands, an indie-folk artist, and the psychedelic groove of Free Whenever.

We’ll bring you a new post each week, songs from which will regularly be added to our accompanying “Now Hear This” Spotify playlist.

Find all past Now Hear This! installments right here: https://v13.net/features/now-hear-this/.

Free Whenever – “Sicily”

Psychedelic groove outfit Free Whenever releases their new single, “Sicily,” providing listeners with a foretaste of their upcoming self-titled album, set to release in April. Free Whenever’s music sits somewhere in between the form (saguna) and formlessness (nirguna) of the Hindu philosophy of Vedānta. Their sound blends elements of vintage psychedelia, dub reggae, eastern modality, and African rhythmic tradition into a synesthetic experience.

The band explains their name:

“Free whenever. We toss that out casually in texts. Sign off with it in emails. But say it out loud… there’s so much more to it. Liberation without condition. Totally open. There’s vulnerability there, too. All the cards flipped over, nothing to hide.”

Made up of Trevor LaVecchia and Neil Guleria, Free Whenever expanded to include live contributor Brendan Steuart on drums. A bigger, fuller sound led to playing at venues like the Sultan Room and sharing the stage with Karina Rykman.

Simultaneously intoxicating and esoterically nomadic, “Sicily” conjures up suggestions of jazz, surf-rock, and ’60s psychedelia, resulting in a sonic confection that’s sensual on one level and dripping with mystery on another level.

Zoe Boekbinder – “Hold My Hand”

Indie folk artist Zoe Boekbinder unveils their new single/music video, “Hold My Hand,” the first single from their upcoming album, Wildflower, slated to drop on April 26.

Set to a dark, moody melody, “Hold My Hand” is about an emotionally abusive relationship. Boekbinder explains:

“This person was hot and cold, always pushing me away and pulling me back in. I never knew what to expect and it kept me on my toes in the worst way. I wrote this song shortly before we broke up.”

Observing the undeniable gender inequality that has saturated the music industry, Boekbinder, who is non-binary, brought on producer Megan McCormick, as well as a team of all women and gender-expansive individuals to bring Wildflower to fruition. Spurred by their desire to make an album free of any cis-men to tip the scale counter to the male-dominated music industry, Wildflower serves as a delicate undertaking of resistance.

Boekbinder’s inimitable voice exudes a beguiling, shadowy, shuddering quality that gives the lyrics intense apostrophes, indicating the absence of engaged commitment from the other person.

Demolition – “Among The Ruins”

Netherlands/Polish black metal project Demolition releases their debut single, “Among The Ruins,” a raw, nihilistic tune with heavy riffs and pounding barrages of percussion.

Described as a “five-piece deus ex machina” quintet, Demolition comprises members of Misanthropia, Welmoed, and Zørormr.

Opening on a soft, gleaming guitar intro, “Among The Ruins” progressively builds atop a rolling snare, followed by a dazzling breakdown that ramps up to hissing guitars and black, growling vocals. There’s an edgy dread to the harmonics, especially as the vocals take on ritualistic, chanting expression.

Asphalt – E.P. IV

Portland, Oregon-based doom outfit Asphalt recently released E.P. IV, a collection of four crushing tracks drenched in brain-rattling sludge of primordial textures. Comparable to Conan, although even denser, Asphalt’s sound is brutal.

T.A.S handles songwriting, vocals, and strings, while M.S.W. plays drums and performs recording, mixing, mastering, and backup vocals.

Speaking subjectively, must-listen-to tracks include “Boomer Tumor” and “Heisenberg.” The latter song, arguably the best on the EP, heaves with subterranean guitars pumping out a sinkhole of foreboding, like chaos suspended over an abyss.