‘Klass Notes,’ Klassik
Despite the demands of her music career, moving to Los Angeles and a pandemic, Weber’s Music Lab, a community effort supporting teen musicians in Milwaukee, is still going strong. And aspiring young musicians and veterans alike can glean a lot of lessons from her new EP, a master class in moving production, radiant vocals and engrossing lyrics that poetically process the pain of a splintered relationship.
One of Milwaukee’s most active musicians, Klassik nevertheless tends to take his time on projects. “Quiet,” one of the most inspired Milwaukee albums of the past decade, came out four years after his previous studio effort. So it’s surprising to see him put out this experimental four-song EP during the pandemic — although even the “quick” effort, especially its cutting-edge neo-soul production, lives up to his high standards.
With the group’s first full-length album this spring, six years after their first song, GGOOLLDD opted for a grimier rock sound compared with the sleek, synth-riding, dance-floor-ready melodies that made them one of Milwaukee’s most popular bands of the last decade. But with their new side project, two of GGOOLLDD’s members, Margaret Butler and Nick Ziemann, show they still have a great ear for bubblegum-pop hooks, especially on the delectable “Dizzy.”
‘Positively Space Raft,’ Space Raft
Space Raft was back in the studio recording an album just a year after releasing
Stuck at home during the pandemic, the veteran producer started making music, finding inspiration from an assortment of acoustic instruments he had lying around his place, including a guzheng, a Native American flute and a toy piano. The engrossing result is the audio equivalent of a spiritual cleanse.
“Must-Hear Milwaukee Music” runs on or around the first of every month in the Journal Sentinel and at jsonline. com. If you have a new album, EP or song coming out, contact Piet Levy at plevy@journalsentinel.com for review consideration.