Russian Baths, the experimental rock duo of Luke Koz and Jess Rees, returned in 2022 with their first new music since the promising night terror that was their 2019 debut, Deepfake, in the singles “Done and Dead” and “Rise Again”. Each of the listens expanded their canvas away from the all-out-noise of the Brooklyn band’s early material and heard them uncovering nuances in their corner of darker sounds with an eerie bend on Midwestern emo and modern dream-pop to compliment the ominous dread moving through their lyricism.
The band is currently recording the follow-up to Deepfake, but co-vocalist and guitarist Luke Koz has perhaps given an early glimpse into where the pair’s heads are sonically at at this moment with his favorite albums of 2022, including some of the more intriguing unheralded music in heavy music, experimental electronic and rock, post-punk, and avant garde songwriting. Venture down those highlights in roads less traveled alongside Russian Baths’ own preview of what’s coming in the New Year…
Luke Koz of Russian Bath’s Favorite Music of 2022:
Mamaleek – Diner Coffee [The Flenser]
Mamaleek has been a favorite for years. I don’t know of a more creative band.
Stream Mamaleek’s Diner Coffee
Brutus – Unison Life [Sargent House]
Incredible. The arrangements have gotten more circuitous, but the performance remains a total force of nature.
Cola – Deep in View [Fire Talk Records]
A great exhibition, not an indulgent or wasted moment on the entire record. The best form of concision. Perfectly structured.
Palm – Nicks and Grazes [Saddle Creek Records]
Amazing timbres here and different from anything they’ve done before. I’ve never heard the line between guitar and steel drums blurred before.
Stream Palm’s Nicks and Grazes
Doon Kanda – Galatea [wwwomb]
I’ve been a fan of Doon Kanda for a long time. I like how organic they make electronic music sound. Somehow it feels DIY the way the best indie did, but it’s a wholly different sound.
Bambara – Love on My Mind [Wharf Cat Records]
Every song is excellent. In addition to the dark sermons and Gun Club lashing, the chorus of “Mythic Love” is explosive in a new way for them. Blaze’s drumming is seismic. Go see them.
Stream Bambara’s Love on My Mind
Knifeplay – Animal Drowning [Topshelf Records]
They synthesize the best aspects of 90s slocore and 80s dark punk with a healthy dose of pathos injected.
Stream Knifeplay’s Animal Drowning
Bill Orcutt – Music for Four Guitars [Palilalia Records]
Inspiring record, just so many ideas packed into every single piece. I’ll mine this one for a few years, I’m sure.
Stream Bill Orcutt’s Music For Four Guitars
Ani Klang – Ani Klang [Self-released]
An extremely creative record. Each sound has its own personality. White noise solos, swoon.
Just Mustard – Heart Under [Partisan Records]
So much suspense, so much patience. Ethereal and imposing at once, but in a new way.
Stream Just Mustard’s Heart Under
“Done and Dead” b/w “Rise Again” single is available now on Good Eye Records.
+rcmndedlisten /// New Music Highlights In Alternative Sounds 
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