New decade. Out with the old. If you’ve been following TRIPLE THREAT for the past several years, you’ll know the former intro lost whatever luster is had some time ago. But coming up with something new every week is a significant commitment, not to mention that it defeats the purpose of the column; the focus should be on the songs. But we did want to take the opportunity to make sure new readers understand what this particular feature is about in order to encourage them to keep coming back. After all, TT was created to provide a quick entry point into the local music scene for newcomers or for those who might be too busy to keep up with all the day-to-day activity that goes on. It’s simply a highlight of some of the best music we heard over the past week. So while this intro might change more often moving forward, the format, as always, will remain the same: three songs, some words, and we out. Enjoy.
JMY – “What Comes Next”
From the standalone single
John Michael Young’s new single “What Comes Next” sounds like MGMT and Harry Styles on a mushroom trip talking about of Montreal. At its core, the song uses a descending chromatic progression with JMY’s hazy falsetto buried deep in the mix. This effect blurs his lyrics into a post-modern funhouse mirror of chaos and absent meaning. Much like a Rothko canvas, the listener finds themselves productively lost in the overall composition of the song rather than its individual parts. Instead of a distinct structure, the song is a compelling cataract of sound that ends with some nicely-placed flanger. Rich in vibrant atmosphere, “What Comes Next” challenges listeners to look past the attachment to old ways, and instead focus on the tender, celestial elevation of the present. – Ethan Fogus
More Info
Web: jmyband.com
Bandcamp: jmyatl.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @jmyatl
Instagram: @jmygram
Twitter: @jmyband
Clone Suspect – “Hostile Takeover”
From the upcoming self-titled EP
History has shown us that you don’t need brute force to topple a regime. These days, a few lines of malicious code can cripple defenses far faster and more effectively than any frontal assault. And while I’m not sure if Peter Roglin, aka Charolastra, and Howie Huntington, aka Harvey Waters, had anything nefarious in mind when they decided to team up as Clone Suspect, all those percolating synths and pounding bass that line “Hostile Takeover” sound awful ominous. You’ll have to judge for yourself whether the clattering percussion is meant to accent the duo’s agitated beat-making or merely to distract you from what’s coming next. But when drummer Dallas Dawson comes rumbling through the mix you can throw all pretense out the window. Clone Suspect are here to claim their own nervy niche of the dance floor, and they’ve got the brains—and the brawn—to pull off the job. – Guillermo Castro
The Clone Suspect EP is out Jan. 24 via VLSC Records. Pre-orders are available here.
Clone Suspect will celebrate the release of their debut EP on Fri., Jan. 24 at the Bakery alongside Fit of Body, ThinkThrice, Mull, and Flohr. Doors open at 10 p.m. Admission is $5.
More Info
Instagram: @clonesuspect
DIN – “Too Much”
From the upcoming compilation, DKA Tape Programme Vol. III
Serpentine melodies, driving beats, and agonizingly beautiful reimaginations of electronica. If I didn’t use those exact descriptors when writing about DIN’s debut LP, they were at least coursing through my brain as I melted into the band’s hypnotic minimal synth back in 2017. Fast forward to the LA duo’s newest track, and each word still rings true, although with additional richness thanks to the splash of laconic pop the band have added to their sonic palette. “Too Much,” their first release since 2017’s Real Dirt, has been made possible yet again by local heroes DKA Records, who recently featured the track as a single from their upcoming compilation DKA Tape Programme Vol. III. No word as to whether DIN have any other upcoming releases, but DKA’s 23-track compilation drops Feb. 7. – Russell Rockwell
DKA Tape Programme Vol. III is out Feb. 7 via DKA Records. Pre-orders are available here.
More Info
Bandcamp: dkarecords.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @DKAatl
Instagram: @dka_records
SoundCloud: @dka-records