4 out of 5

Label: self-released

Produced by: Jeff McLeod (mixed and mastered by)

From afar, given my history with Jeff McLeod’s recordings as hardcore terrorist Gezoleen, as part of anarchist noisemakers Liquid Brick, or as part of many other rock n’ roll screams – The Rudy Banes Shutdown; Saragashum – a project from McLeod under the name Cesspool Dreams suggests something in that territory, especially considering the group’s bandcamp tagline: filth for filth.

While the musical backing to these “Southern Gothic” narrations does bear the murky bent of what I’m describing above, the eight tracks of Stranded Islands prove to be quite soothing, actually. Not in a way that’s a disservice to the humble humanity or gloominess expressed in each song’s tale – with a spoken word piece, variably rambly or poetic, read off by a different voice per track, atop glitchy electronics and late night atmospherics – but rather, by juxtaposing what prove to be very relatable feelings or sensations with moody, heartbeat pulses of sounds, the “stranded” nature of the stories is massaged; blended into an ongoing experience that’s rather charming. I suppose if the stories were universally sad, or the narrators all themselves gloomy, that would affect things – but also likely cheapen them. The naturalistic readings (treated with some distortion, reverb; perhaps trying to wash this very digital project with an analog sound) are what are responsible for making it so engaging, though I will say that what I imagine to be an open call for vocal / story contributions could’ve required an editor, as a track about a vape errs towards being kind of cringey – at least in context of more esoteric fare – and one about lost toys is amazing… until it goes on for a vignette too long and rather undermines its initial impact.

To rewind a bit, there is darkness here, which is often matched to grungier, grimier beats and harsher electronics, as on opener Lydia, but Stranded Islands’ sequencing pretty perfectly balances its pieces and runtimes such that we’re not lingering too long on any one emotion.

With apologies to those hoping for the “deep, dark journey” proclaimed in the bandcamp blurb, I think Cesspool Dreams’ Stranded Islands actually does much more than that, elevating mood pieces and seemingly isolated tales into engaging accompaniment – telling you you’re not alone.