Acousmatic Sorcery

Lo-fi/outsider music/folk
Debut album by this lo-fi Chicago musician. The extremely stripped down nature of these recordings might take some listeners aback, but the loud songs certainly rock and the quiet songs possess an intimate prettiness that can be achieved only with this sound. Try 2, 7, 8, 10. FCC WARNING 4, 6.

1. (1:49)—Instrumental. Beal plucks really high notes on a guitar. Sounds like a dissonant music box.
2. *(2:57)—If Tom Waits decided to record a song with as few instruments as possible, it might sound like this. Guttural vocals and distorted percussion.
3. (5:35)—Woozy guitars, clinking percussion, and stream of consciousness lyrics. Spoken word at the end.
4. (3:19)—FCC WARNING (s•••). Minimal acoustic guitar and hushed vocals. Understatedly pretty.
5. (4:23)— More stripped down loveliness. Strummed guitar and dreamy lyrics.
6. (3:40)—FCC WARNING (b••••••t). Distorted percussion and guitar fronted by Beal’s alternating singing and rapping.
7. *(3:26)—Distorted guitar and a bouncy beat created with what sounds like drinking glasses. Catchy and fun.
8. *(3:58)—The closest song to a ballad here, especially with regard to the vocals.
9. (3:37)—More music-box-like guitar, this time with vocals.
10. *(4:15)—Tense and wrenching. Plucked acoustic guitar and vocals that grow slowly unhinged.
11. (1:45)—Instrumental. Dissonant guitars.