(Cover art by Keegan Burckhard ) At its best, Bobby Rethwish 's music transports you to a technicolor dimension outside of time, taking in bits and pieces of a multitude of sounds and eras. His second single in two months, "THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN MEANING," does just that. In just around two minutes, Rethwish crams in a generation's worth of ideas. Chipmunk soul samples are thrown in alongside hypnagogic synths and 80s drum machines. In a testament to the strength of the songwriting and production, you could show "THERE'S MORE TO LIFE" to people from at least four decades and it would be guaranteed to get them dancing (or at least bopping their heads). Nostalgia is used to push the song's sound forward rather than as a crutch. Just like "MOONFACE," Rethwish is speaking directly to an unknown individual. His voice (even with all the effects) is that of a friend, disarming with its humor and genuine in its desire for their improvement...

Bobby Rethwish - "MOONFACE" (self-released)  It's been a while since we've heard from Bobby Rethwish , but that doesn't mean he hasn't been busy. Following the release of his record " LIMBO " last fall, he has faded into the background and brought his singular producing vision to others, most notably on fantastic recent singles from McCall . "MOONFACE," Rethwish's new solo single, picks up exactly where he left off. Glitchy, cordial beats pair elegantly with Rethwish's welcoming vocals. The Bon Iver influence is still very strong; the tune is wrapped in the slightly absurd tonalities found all over 22, A Million  and i,i . Pulsing electronics, horns, and overjoyed melodies interlock like a future-pop networking grid. "MOONFACE" finds humor in the questions it asks. You never get any answers from the titular character, to whom the lyrics are directed. Rethwish's anxieties about his receding hairline show up right alongs...

Another week of mostly catch-up (plus one new one)! If the huge amount of stuff we missed proves anything, it's that there are almost too many great bands putting out great music. Plus, there are only two of us, and we're both busy/tired/sad. Yet we must carry on. There's just too much music journalism money to be made. Sister Species - "Heat Death (Hold Me Here)" (self-released) For a song that is ostensibly about the end of the universe as we know it, "Heat Death" is remarkably calm. Lead by Emily Kastrul (of Betazoid), this septet brings their new single into the harsh light of a fresh winter. In this case, the illumination comes not from the sun, but from the vibrant horn arrangements, in delightful three-part harmonies. The world is crumbling and each one of us is helpless without an anchor. Kastrul pleads for someone or something to serve that purpose and provide the strength to persist through the burning winter and maybe even the combu...