Vertical Scratchers is the Los Angeles duo of John Schmersal (ex-Brainiac/Enon, live Caribou, and Crooks on Tape) and Christian Beaulieu (ex-Triclops!/Anywhere). Their excellent debut LP Daughter of Everything is 15 songs, all under 3 minutes, of frantic, yet light and jangly guitar playing alongside a grooved-out, driving rhythm section.
Schmersal’s voice matches up well with his guitar playing, while Beaulieu’s drums drive the songs on both “Turn Me Out” and “These Plains” (below). Daughter of Everything releases February 25 on Merge Records. I highly recommend it.
Vertical Scratchers – Turn Me Out from Daughter of Everything (2014)
Vertical Scratchers – These Plains from Daughter of Everything (2014)