On Body Horror, We Are Parasols meld new-wave synths, thundering industrial percussion, and a sly sense of humor into an eminently engaging slab of static-drenched noise pop. Breathy, sneer-sung vocals wind through a sonic landscape of cracking static and the hiss of rotting electronics. Rumbling sub-bass and chainsaw leads strut and swagger over a foundation of dark pop melody. The brutally beautiful chaos of Body Horror, the sonic contradictions and extremes, are as deeply expressive as the tales the lyrics tell.
While early releases from the band drew primary from indie-electro, shoegaze, and post-rock, We Are Parasols has no allegiance to genre. While their prior work had been conceptual, the isolation brought about by the pandemic resulted in a looking inward. Leaning into this reinvention, the band chose to stop using anything remotely like shoegaze guitar, seeking to balance the industrial core of the songs with something more inviting and human. Body Horror represent an important evolution in the work of We Are Parasols. Underpinning the deep bass, industrial beats, and pop vocal melodies are deeply personal vignettes that speak to the universal experience of being human.
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Darkswoon is a Portland-based trio that has carved out a unique blend of genres. Drawing from elemental post-punk roots, their music is imbued with goth-tinged atmospheric guitars and ethereal vocals, bordering on dream pop. Layers of beats, haunting synth, and melodically driven bass add a modern edge, while still paying homage to old-school goth. The emotionally charged and potent sound of Darkswoon was founded by composer Jana Cushman (vocals, guitar) in 2014 as a solo project, and later completed with the addition of Rachel Ellis (beats, synths) and Norah Lynn (bass) in 2017. Their sophomore release, ‘Bloom Decay’ (2022, Icy Cold Records), represents an evolution of Darkswoon’s sound, emerging after the challenges of a global pandemic with a body of work that has been praised by some as one of the best albums of 2022 (Stereo Embers’, Last Rites’).
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Originally based in Los Angeles, DJ Wednesday was a staple in the LA scene for well over a decade. Her radio show Generation Death was touted as the longest-running goth radio show, with 14 years of history. In the clubs, Wednesday’s diverse style was instrumental in the growth of the LA Shoegaze and Post-punk scene through her co-creation of Violaine. Upon relocating to Portland in late 2008 Wednesday started her own ever-evolving concept night, Brickbat Mansion. Musically her DJ style includes a heavy dose of Goth, Ethereal, Shoegaze, Dark 80’s, Dark Wave and Post-Punk.
