Alexei Shishkin's Videogame-Inspired Disco

Self-described “DIY nobody of the internet void”, Alexei Shishkin has announced his eleventh full-length album for release via Rue Defense on September 5.

Following three releases in 2024, and Shishkin’s Play by Ear documentary (featuring Built to Spill, Pictoria Vark, Magic Sword and The Shivas), he opted to do something different with Good Times, creating the album from scratch in four days with Bradford Krieger at Big Nice Studio in Lincoln, Rhode Island. The result is an improvisational, eclectic, surreal, and lyrically disparate escape from reality, offering a unique amalgamation of indie, jazz, americana, and slacker rock.

In the past, Shishkin has referred to himself as “a label’s worst nightmare,” due to his prolific output and total disinterest in playing live, and on Good Times, he leans into being a reclusive, studio-focused, hobbyist musician, and documents all the joys that can come with this freedom.

The lead single, ‘Disco Elysium’, will be released on June 27, followed by the ‘Tiki Taka (2006)’ and ‘Ode To Carl Dennis’ singles on July 25 and August 15 respectively.

Alexei says, “This song was inspired by the game Disco Elysium, which is maybe the greatest video game ever made. You’re a degenerate, amnesiac detective coming off a crazy bender, and you’re trying to solve a murder that happened in a small post-revolution town. The game covers everything from psychology to politics to lost love to life, death, and introspection. It’s honestly one of the most well-written, exciting things I’ve ever experienced. I play through it every two or three years, and I just so happened to be playing it when we recorded this song, so I wrote about it. Shout-out to Robert Kurvitz who wrote most of that game. (Oh, and PS: in that game, there are four distinct sounds that play representing Intellect, Psyche, Physique, and Motor Skills – as an homage, we run through those samples as part of the first four bars of this song).”

Worry Bead Records Supporting Trans Youth

Queens-based independent label Worry Bead Records brings artists like Remember Sports, Squirrel Flower, 2nd Grade, and Pink Navel together for True Names, a benefit compilation to raise funds for the Trans Youth Emergency Project. Digital pre-orders are live with a single from 22° Halo.

“The title, True Names, was inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea series. In the world of Earthsea, True Names are sacred, holding incredible and transformative power. To know your True Name is to know yourself. And to share your True Name is an extreme act of vulnerability and courage.

States across the country are targeting trans youth by restricting their access to life-affirming care. With this comp, we're raising funds for the Trans Youth Emergency Project, which helps families of trans youth find healthcare providers, travel to appointments, and pay for medication.

True Names was a big team effort. The songs—all unreleased B-sides, demos, and live cuts—were collected from our music communities in Boston, New York, Philly and beyond. With this comp, we hope to do our part in supporting TYEP’s important work.” – Matt O’Connor (Worry Bead Records / Tuxis Giant)

Worry Bead Records is a family-run, community-oriented DIY label based in Queens, NY. It's run by Matt O'Connor (of Tuxis Giant) and their partner, Jenny Ruenes.

https://worrybeadrecs.bandcamp.com/album/true-names-a-benefit-for-trans-youth

Track List:

Pink Navel - “interview (angel of youth)”

Salt - “Burn Me (demo)”

King's Evil - “Villain Story”

Remember Sports - “Cut Fruit (Live in Montreal)”

22° Halo - “Reward”

Night Moth - “Colder (demo)”

dust from 1000 yrs - “big moon”

Squirrel Flower - “Intheskatepark (demo)”

Really Great - “To Be With You (demo)”

Michael Cormier-O'Leary - “M-F”

Trash Girl - “Wind is Shaking”

Léna Bartels - “My Place (demo)”

Tuxis Giant - “House by the Sea (demo)”

Fraternal Twin - “Tepid Water Soap (demo)”

Eleanor Elektra - “The Word”

Strong Fenn - “World's Biggest Ashtray (demo)”

(T-T)b - “Sugar in the Raw (demo)”

2nd Grade - “You're a Yo-Yo”