Description

Taking inspiration from the original concept behind the founding of Saddle Creek, as an attempt to highlight our home city through music and art, we began the Document Series in 2017. Each release featured in the Document Series is comprised of an exclusive record featuring unreleased music from artists outside of the labels roster, along with a specially curated zine created by the artist. The sixth installment in the series is Communication b/w Parallel from Madison, WI based Disq.

Isaac deBroux-Slone and Raina Bock arent related but youd probably be left with that impression after spending any considerable amount of time around them. In a fateful joining of family friendsIsaac from Madison, Wisconsin and Raina from the tiny town of Viroqua (pop. 4,500)they were introduced as infants and their relationship has not only persevered but transformed into its entirely own entity as Disq.

The milieu of the midwest is often a character itself in the development of an artists story. Its vastness can isolate just as well as it can incubate a similar openness and humility in those who surrender to it. A general sense of moderation cradles the region, often giving birth to art though raw sentiment and a philosophy of only the essentials. However, defining Disq by their regional stereotype would be simply reductive as the songs they write suggest a more wandering palette. They count Todd Rundgren, Weezer, Big Star and The Beatles among the musicians whose records helped inform their own creative process, a realization that begin to flourish in their early teens.

Raised by artistically-inclined parents, Raina came up through the Waldorf school and learned to play several instruments at a very young age, while Isaac spent countless hours teaching himself how to produce and record music in his moms basement. After honing his sensibilities by recording his and Rainas early work, he went on to record Disqs first full effort, 2016s mini-LP Disq I. Isaac then began recording his friends bands in that same basement and in under two decades time, Disq had released their first project, helped usher in other new talent through Isaacs engineering work and been asked to open up for the likes of Whitney, Twin Peaks, Jay Som and Quilt as those bands toured through Madison.

Now, after hitting the road, the band will release a 7 titled Communication b/w Parallel as part of Saddle Creeks Document Series, dedicated to highlighting artistic communities around the world that havent quite gotten the spotlight they deserve. And as much as Madison has been a breeding ground for the bands creativitya place to find inspirationwhat also provides crucial context for both Communication and Parallel is this moment in time when the band is coming of age. Young people have unprecedented tools and technology for maintaining nonstop contact with far-flung family and friends, yet ironically both songs reflect a growing frustration with how ever-more difficult it is to truly find connection, understanding and intimacy in our lives despite devices and social media.

Communication is a big, crunchy power pop anthem, the type of song most bands work for years to produce. Both the song and its videoentirely conceived and produced by a group of friends, all iGenspeak to the ways we so desperately want to feel seen and understood yet so frequently misconstrue each others words and intent. Side B Parallel is immediately driven by Isaacs stoically laconic vocal delivery that drones on until it blends seamlessly into a kaleidoscope of psychedelic sounds that evoke more contemporary galvanizers Tame Impala with production flourishes that recall Rundgren. It addresses the dissolution of a deep and meaningful relationship, and this universal experience of grief and loss is recounted by a voice attempting to ruminate on what it means to forge connections in a time when young people are completely redefining community in new and evolving ways.

Together, these songs encapsulate a dynamic band, grounded but ready for change.