Holt Bodish - Gorgeous LP

After a cassette and a CD-R release, Mordecai’s Holt Bodish arrives with a full length solo release!

To make a rather reductive argument for those unfamiliar with the band that irons out some historical divots and cracks, the arc of the Mordecai’s output has seen the group evolve from a basement rock group in the wake of VU/Stooges worship meets the wonky DIY of groups like The Embarrassment into something more open-ended, free form, and abstract a la Jim Shepard.

Ultimately, Mordecai are a band and this is a solo record that contains some of the hallmarks of Holt’s contributions to that group in both song and freeform modes. These tracks are grounded in his dry vocal delivery, the loose rhythmic chug of his guitar, and that great guitar move (Matt Sweeney, get him on the show!) where he shifts bass notes while playing the chord progression. Among this are more abstract approaches, from the minimal percussion to creaking room noise to hyperactive lead guitar lines that veer into atonality.

A record that marries weirdo DIY guitar pop with a more searching and cracked sensibility, recalling the likes of Mike Rep, GBV (if they hadn’t gone through the same old motions for 40+ years), or as Kryssi B of Headroom fame accurately surmises in the press release, “The Shadow Ring fronting a rock band.” –Mitch