Iron Lung Records (Jensen Ward)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)
- EXEK - Ahead Of Two Thoughts LP (W. 25th)
- VILE GASH - Nightmare In A Damaged Brain LP (Youth Attack)
- HIDE - Castration Anxiety LP (Dais)
- MORTUOUS - Through Wilderness LP (Carbonized/Tankcrimes)
- JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON - Mandy OST LP (Lakeshore)
2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
The most recent one that comes to mind is Vashti Bunyan, a one woman snapshot of melancholic psych folk perfection from the late '60s UK scene. The lilt in her angelic voice could put the sun down for a week in the middle of a summer. It's very delicate and dark, so much atmosphere. Her story is interesting too, she put out a couple singles, "Train Song" being the absolute best, and an LP that didn't sell too well then vanished from music altogether. I think it was something like 30 years before anyone even saw her. I love a recluse story.
3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)
The year I couldn't play all that well. I had a myriad of physical limitations that kept me from playing drums for most of the year. The big 3 were bilateral carpal tunnel, trigger finger and De Quervain's. I ended up getting a couple surgeries on my hands just so I would be able to play again. I am currently in a healing limbo and the anticipation is killing me. Will I be able to keep doing this? I will do everything I can to make it happen.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?
Wiping my ass without having to think about hand positions that send searing hot pain shooting up my arms. Also, a new Iron Lung album, new Innumerable Forms album, new Nasti album and a slew of other secret shit I'll never talk about publicly. Mostly ass wiping though.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?
Since none of the albums I was looking forward to in 2018 actually materialized, I assume I jinxed all of them. For 2019, I'm really looking forward to anything with autotune vocals...
6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?
I use both styles all the time. Bandcamp is by far the best way to hear new bands and directly support those bands so I'd say that is better. You have to do a little more legwork on your own but its totally worth it to me. I like to dig. The streaming stuff is super convenient and has a lot of things to hear and is great for older stuff. I'd imagine that will win out over time though since the general public are fucking lazy, passive listeners who don't look too far past the "recommended for you" playlists their personalized algorithms fart out at them. It's sad really that physical media is becoming obsolete. Everything becomes more and more temporary as time goes by. Sooner or later we will forget everything. Maybe we will accidentally start another Cold War but actually follow through. Problems solved eh?
