ZELIENOPLE - Hold You Up

"For their first album since 2015, Zelienople turns on the current time with a record of low-key decaying songs wrapped in hypnotic, driving rhythms. The Chicago-based trio is back with a stunner of an underground pop album. Their most reverb heavy bombast is gone in favor of pure Earth-bound intimate tunes that feel like they summon the spirit of the late Mark Hollis. Shrouded tribal percussion and rippling vocals are at the forefront, while looped atmospheres echo in the distance. Since the release of their last album, vocalist Matt Christensen has been known for pouring his soul out in countless Bandcamp releases of singer/songwriter, experimental, and ambient offerings. It's hard to keep up with him, but one can't but to admire the dedication and extremely high-quality of it all. Mike Weis on the other hand is less prolific, but has become a focused student of Korean Shaman and Buddhist music, often performing in Zen-based percussive rituals when he's not involved in side projects