Download: Mixtape: The Bay Area’s Inventive Experimental Musicians (Podcast #432)

This episode first ran on KQED.org.

A wide range of experimental musicians are pushing Bay Area music in inventive directions, deploying sound artistry to craft exciting new electronic, rock, punk and hip hop compositions.

This mixtape features ten local experimental artists, ranging from the loud, abrasive guitar contortions of Cube, to warmer ambient sounds from Cruel Diagonals and Gonzalez & Reinhardt. The last of those acts is a new collaboration between two longtime musicians, manifesting drones via synthesizers and the tambura, an Uzbek string instrument.

Unsurprisingly, there are a number of great electronic musicians showcased here, like Club Chai cofounder 8ULENTINA, whose Eucalyptus EP showcases stellar original productions from this talented local DJ, as well as the politically-inspired Beast Nest. We’ve also included Grex‘s artful psych rock and a recent song from the unpredictable punk- and hardcore-inspired trio SBSM.

Listen to the mixtape to learn more about all ten bands and artists featured in this mix.

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Track Listing

Cruel Diagonals – “Render Arcane”

Beast Nest – “Jsun”

Wizard Apprentice – “My Body Like Obsidian”

8ULENTINA – “Metal Clip”

Cheflee – “Laraza (ft. Salami Rose Joe Louis)”

Cube – “Crisis Actor”

Grex – “Quicksilver”

The Creatrix – “Homage”

Gonzalez & Reinhardt – “Pater Breugel”

SBSM – “Invisible/Cyclical”

Earthbound – “Infinite Spiral”