Boron, The Beige Album. Boron sounds like the stoned teenage child of David Lynch’s ambient, noise-infested Eraserhead soundtrack. In actuality, Boron is the baby of Oakland artist and writer Dan Nelson, author of the McSweeney’s title All Known Metal Bands, but don’t expect any metal here. Boron’s third release, The Beige Album, sounds like a fipple flute got in a fight with a drum machine inside a transmitter radio. An album destined for art schools and college radio stations. (Field Hymns)
Big Tree, Little EP. Not all indie folk is created equal. While some may prefer the whimsical ramblings of The Decemberists, others prefer the sonic, baroque style of Arcade Fire. The latest EP from Berkeley’s Big Tree shows it leaning toward the latter with three new tracks that hold a warm, lush sound. If it’s the influence of producer Eli Crews, responsible for tUnE-yArDs’ w h o k i l l, Big Tree should continue working with him. (self-released)
At Cafe du Nord (2170 Market St., San Francisco) on Thursday, Nov. 15. 8 p.m., $10.
Moe Green, R.I.P to the Dreamer EP. What does a rapper do when he’s ready for a fresh start? Mastermind his own death, which is the basis for Moe Green’s latest EP, R.I.P to the Dreamer. Green has dreamed about making it big since his teens, and now, at 24, his rise to the top can’t come fast enough. In R.I.P to the Dreamer, he mourns the death of his dreamer self and rhymes about his darker side, reflecting on the struggle, keeping the faith, and leaving his day job to go for broke. (self-released)
Sol Rising, I AM Soul. Oakland producer Sol Rising fuses world music and hip-hop beats in his album I AM Soul. It’s an East-meets-West sound popularized by local acts such as Beats Antique, which has a cult following in the Burning Man scene. In glitchy tracks such as “Love,” Sol Rising proves he’s a contender in this West Coast subgenre of electronic. (self-released)
