Slow Pulp is a lo-fi dream-punk band from Madison, Wisconsin. Their sound is spacey and distorted, yet very tight in its execution. There are aspects of indie rock, shoegaze, and even a bit of soul influence in some of the more tender moments. 

The guitar tone is an absolutely vital part of the band’s aesthetic, and it’s the factor that draws them most into the dream-rock zone. Songs can easily break through from hazy indie rock into punk, but the smoky vibe remains entwined. A couple of times the bass, drums, and rhythm guitar would lock into a groove that reminded me of the rhythm section parts on jazz standards. On top of the instruments is a voice that’s both subdued and commanding delivering lyrics that are straightforward but still contain some elements of dream logic. The songs ultimately become a sad/happy hybrid; it’s music that reflects the state of holding both of those feelings at the same time and trying to understand what that means. 

Though Slow Pulp is from the Midwest, they’ve totally transcended the solipsistic indie-folk sound that’s been brewing here for a decade. They don’t sound like they belong to any certain place or time, but just exist as they are, wherever they are.

I feel like every time I write about one Chicago band that I’m writing about the entire city. With such a long musical history and an enormous trove of new bands still hailing from the Windy City, it’s hard not to think about the overall powerhouse of music Chicago is. Pool Holograph, according to the buzz and confirmed in this session, are one of the rising stars in a scene that can be terribly difficult to break through. 

Pool Holograph’s music rubs the shine off of the bubbly psychedelic indie rock we’ve been fed over the past few years. Led by singer and guitar player Wyatt Grant, whose vocals are as moody as Morrissey’s, the band creates an art-rock sound borne of garage rock and an affinity for pedal effects. 

 Though the songs have pretty moments, their momentum is built on dissonance. The lyrics and chord voicings exude an ambiguity that don’t give themselves up to surface level distinctions of happy or sad. There is a little bit of doom in each song, but also an introspection that rivals the depth of Joy Division. 

The Midwest has been crafting its own unique sounds over the last decade, resulting in an influential wave of indie rock and folk bands. Pool Holograph is tuned in to this sound, but they give it the raw edge of a hectic city, leaving no room for peaceful contemplation but plenty of room to smoke a pack of cigarettes before hopping on the subway.