Pop Cultured: Lower Dens

Jana Hunter has used her 16 years in music to make one of the best alt-rock albums we've heard all year.There's drone in "Tea Lights, something Seven Schools of Bells and Autolux have been exploring the softer side of for the last few years and the rich pulses of "Hospital Gates" conjure the after-glow of 1980s dream pop. Elsewhere "Rosie" could easily be two different songs; waves of careful picking burst into an upbeat chorus and the licks on "Dog's Dick"(canine blowjob reference unintended) aren't a million miles away from the sprawls that Kurt Vile is doing so well on Matador.

And here's the funniest thing. Her work with Golden Apple may have woo-ed broadsheets and fashion magazines but it's Pitchfork and Stereogum that are in love with Lower Dens. As proof they've been invited to play with a host of fashionable bands, from Denver's Pictureplane (torn samples, glitterballs and very tight jeans) to glo-fi dance duo Gauntlet Hair and fellow Baltimore residents Future Islands.

But enough of our speculation. What does she like?

video

Klaus Nomi "Cold Song"



The song is from a 17th century Purcell semi-opera (King Arthur), the character is the Cold Genius, spirit of winter, protesting his awakening ("Let me freeze again to death"), and it is sung by a most singular, hugely talented performer nearing the end of his life. Extraordinarily moving.

Book

C.S. Lewis's - The Screwtape Letters



Missives from a demon to his nephew on how to successfully condemn a potential sinner. Not what I wanted when I sought out further reading from the author of the Narnia chronicles (I was 11), but very influential nonetheless.

Record

Zomes "Zomes"



Excellently peaceful, powerful, instrumental, melodic drone from this Lungfish member.

Artwork

Ryan Widger and Shaun Flynn ()



Ryan Widger



Shaun Flynn

These two artists did the front and back covers of our first single. Both are sound artists as well, but in the visual realm, Ryan is a minimalist photographer and Shaun is a conceptual illustrator.

Daytrip

Huntsville Prison Museum

An enlightening and morbid museum dedicated to The Walls Unit (Texas State Prison) in Huntsville - about an hour and a half north of Houston. They have hand written lyrics from Leadbelly. You sit in an electric chair ("Old Sparky") that who knows how many people have died in. Personal favorite attractions: A glass case full of hand crafted shivs - made out of everything from soap, a toothbrush, to flipflops or a bible. Also - a full body iron suit made by someone who took the welding shop hostage in the 70s

Twin Hand Movement is out now.