Roundin’ Up The Raves: ill peach, Black Pumas, Stephen Sanchez

By Houston Roby

The end of the year fast approaches. The hoofbeats of time gallop to outrun the day as darkness descends with increasing rapacity, a heavy shawl spreading across the shoulders of the frozen earth — the quiet death, the measurement of worth. The calendar pages fall like the last leaves of autumn, and we pile them on the fireplace grate, loosely spread, to set them alight with a single, sharp match strike, to kindle the orange glow, the small promise of a brighter day ahead.

Oh, and there are records! Let’s round ’em up:

ill peach — THIS IS NOT AN EXIT

The art-pop of St. Vincent meets the pop pop of Taylor Swift with a dash of the alterna-pop of the late 80s/early 90s (The Sundays, 10,000 Maniacs, Belly). Just when the kilter seems on, everything’s twisted a little off.

Black Pumas — Chronicles Of A Diamond

21st-century soul that looks forward and throws back, with threads of the early-70s sound of Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield. Some nifty keyboard and guitar sounds scattered throughout. Growlll. Purrr.

Stephen Sanchez — Angel Face

You can tell by the cover that he plumbs a retro vibe, similar to JD McPherson or Chris Isaak, imbued with the spirit of Roy Orbison and the falsetto of Jeff Buckley. Covers a number of different styles with ease. Smooth as a highball on the rocks.

4 thoughts on “Roundin’ Up The Raves: ill peach, Black Pumas, Stephen Sanchez”

  1. Stephen Sanchez also reminds me of k.d. lang – smooth indeed! (That first Black Pumas video is showing as unavailable. Not sure whether it’s just me.)

    Your opening paragraph — *chef’s kiss* — is striking. Love the imagery of hoofbeats and falling calendar pages. Love “a heavy shawl spreading across the shoulders of the frozen earth — the quiet death, the measurement of worth.” Beautiful! Seems you have some poetry in you as well.

    • Thanks, Becky! Instead of writing poetry on its own, I now funnel it through here.

      k.d. lang is a spot on comparison. Both in terms of vocals and the shiny suits. You nailed it.

      Thanks for pointing out that the video wasn’t working for you. I’m never sure what works for everybody since I’m lucky enough to have people from around the world reading my posts, but I went ahead and replaced that with the official video.

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