So, I’m disappearing for the rest of winter break.  I leave you with my annual music post, where I share a few bits of music that I enjoyed in the past year.  See you in 2019.

1. The Mercury Tree & Cryptic Ruse – The Cold Flame Burns

You know how earlier I was talking about microtonal (or xenharmonic) music? Well here it is, the best xenharmonic rock.  In general, I think both Mercury Tree and Cryptic Ruse are the best current xenharmonic artists.

2. Zeal & Ardor – Don’t You Dare

Zeal and Ardor is a band that mixes slave spiritual music with black metal.  The idea sounds gimmicky, but the music sounds like they were meant to be together all along.

3. Daughters – Long Road, No Turns

Daughters is often called noise rock and compared to Swans.  I like this better than Swans.  Also, you may have noticed that I have a thing for out-of-tune pitch-bending vocals.

4. Puce Mary – The Size of Our Desires

I would describe this as… industrial ambient?  With spoken word.

5. SOPHIE – It’s Okay to Cry

SOPHIE is rather too much pop for me, but I make exceptions.  This song, along with the rest of the album, is some of the queerest music I’ve ever heard.