Obscurity Knocks #11: Drilling Through the Spiritus Sanctus (2/4/24)
The five best songs played on Obscurity Knocks on 89.9 WLCA this week.
Not gonna lie to you folks, this was a slower week. That’s to be expected after such a busy week last week, but even then I did not have a lot to work with this week on the show, so while I’ve got enough material to fill out this post today, it ain’t a lot. So if you’re looking for a week to catch-up with all that 2024 has had to offer so far this year, this one is a good one. But I’ve got a few extra, so let’s listen to my five favorite songs I played this week on Obscurity Knocks on 89.9 WLCA:
Paramore - “Burning Down the House”
RIYL: Talking Heads, duh?
Look, I’ve made an unofficial rule for myself to keep covers in the honorable mentions section unless they’re truly transformative. But I’m breaking that rule this week because that’s just how this week was, but also because this kicks ass. It also might be the only good cover on this upcoming Stop Making Sense tribute album A24 is putting out, which features one of the most confounding artist selections I’ve ever seen for an album like this. I highly recommend reading Patrick Lyons’ Inbox Infinity post about said album, and I hope all of his predictions come true for the sake of comedy.
Dana Gavanski - “Let Them Row”
RIYL: Cate Le Bon (the album Reward in particular), Aoife Nessa Frances, Kristine Leschper, Mega Bog
Dana Gavanski, I owe you an apology. I wasn’t really familiar with your game. Your game, of course, being delicate yet tightly wound baroque pop in the vein of Cate Le Bon’s “Reward.” “How To Feel Uncomfortable” should have been in my top five songs the week it came out, but to be fair it was a busy week and that album cover through me for a loop. But I’ve gotten over those feelings, and I’m ready to give in and immerse myself in this world you’ve built in your music.
The Last Dinner Party - “The Feminine Urge”
RIYL: Kate Bush, Nick Cave, current period Arctic Monkeys, ‘60s Scott Walker, Peter Gabriel
The Last Dinner Party have been one of the most discoursed about bands in the past year, probably only matched by the likes of boygenius or The 1975. I think “industry plant” is one of the worst terms to ever enter the music sphere, as people simply just forget about how the music industry used to work, as so many bands throughout the pre-internet era would be called industry plants today. But look: the accusations are there, and the only way to make them go away is for the music to be so overwhelmingly good that people forget about it in due time. Does The Last Dinner Party succeed? Mostly, I’d say. As seen in the blurb above, I’m a sucker for any good baroque pop, and the British are usually the best at this stuff. Album highlight “The Feminine Urge” shows that this band wants to be in the canon, and I think they deserve a spot by the time this track draws to a close. While the discourse about this band isn’t gonna go away anytime soon, I’m certainly not gonna waste anytime giving it any credence.
For the sake of transparency, my place of work, Planetary Group, is working The Last Dinner Party to college radio right now.
Liquid Mike - “Drinking and Driving”
RIYL: Camp Trash, Cende, The Sidekicks, Mo Troper, Dazy, Power pop revival at its most beer drunk
While I don’t endorse drinking and driving, I certainly endorse Liquid Mike’s “Drinking and Driving” as a great song, and intro to one of the best power pop/power pop-adjacent albums you’re gonna hear all year. Dudes rock.
Threshold, Colle - “Kiss”
RIYL: Strange Ranger, a.s.o., Ray of Light-era Madonna, Dido, The Radio Dept.
Since unveiling his new Threshold project last year, I’ve been very intrigued by Isaac Eiger’s next moves following the breakup of his band Strange Ranger in the fall of 2023. The more dream poppy, new age-esque sound he’s taken with Threshold (and heard on parts of Pure Music, No Light in Heaven and various Hollow Comet [his solo project] tracks) so far is producing some excellent tracks, with December’s “Century” and this month’s “Kiss” featuring fellow NY artist Colle adding some extra depth to this project so far with some perfectly soft vocals amidst Eiger’s minimal yet effective production. While I don’t know if I’ll ever get over Strange Ranger’s breakup, knowing Threshold is around makes it a lot easier to stomach.
Honorable Mentions:
Omni - “INTL Waters”
This one just barely missed the five, but five best songs sounds cleaner than six, so here we are. I’ve enjoyed some Omni songs here and there, but this album might finally be the one to convert me over to them.
Rose Chamber - “Immortal Tragedy”
Just some good old gothic rock!
JJUUJJUU, Boogarins - “SOME”
Some very sick psychedelic shoegaze!
This Week’s Playlist:
Hour 1:
Paramore - Burning Down the House
Dana Gavanski - Let Them Row
The Last Dinner Party - The Feminine Urge
Liquid Mike - Drinking and Driving
Dehd - Mood Ring
Ducks Ltd. - Heavy Bag
Camera Obscura - Big Love
Threshold, Colle - Kiss
Sega Bodega - Deer Teeth
Teethe - Thanks
Julien Chang - Home For The Moment
Joyer - Star
Omni - INTL Waters
Vessel - Game
Rose Chamber - Immortal Tragedy
JJUUJJUU, Boogarians, Boogarins - SOME
Hour 2 (Best of January & December):
Cheem - Fake Fans
@ - Webcrawler
Threshold - Century
Olivia O. - bit the hand
FRUITBAT - See No Evil
Dolly - You Are
Dana Gavanski - How To Feel Uncomfortable
PACKS - Her Garden
Hovvdy - Portrait
Waxahatchee, MJ Lenderman - Right Back to It
Willi Carlisle - When the Pills Wear Off
Helado Negro - Best For You and Me
Astrid Sonne - Do you wanna
Flesh Tape - Catalytic Converter
MOP - Poison
Hour 3 (Drilling Through the Spiritus Sanctus: The Godlike Genius of Scott Walker, Vol. 2 [Matty’s Version]):
The Walker Brothers (Scott Walker) - Shutout
The Walker Brothers (Scott Walker) - The Electrician
Scott Walker - Track Three
Scott Walker - The Cockfighter
Scott Walker - Rosary
Scott Walker - Clara
Scott Walker - Epizootics!
Scott Walker, sunn O))) - Brando
Obscurity Knocks Highlights for 2024:
Listen to Obscurity Knocks every Sunday from 12 - 3 PM CT on wlcafm.com, the Radio FX app (Look for Lewis & Clark Community College), or the Radio Garden app (search for WLCA).