Juicy Costumes by Suko Pyramid

After sorting through underwhelming electro sounds for an hour on Soundcloud, sometimes you stumble upon that diamond in the rough, that unheard of artist that just has that raw, undeniable talent. Perhaps the sort of mischievous satisfaction felt is similar to what A&R people feel when they hear an amazing demo and know they have something unique that the rest of the world has yet to hear.

One such experience, for me was hearing the young Spanish artist Suko Pyramid for the first time. His first online album, Juicy Costumes was released earlier this month. The album is full of sad melodies, bouncy understated rhythms, and electroacoustic production. It’s moody, funny, and above all honest. You can hear the influence of Radiohead, Brian Wilson, and more contemporary lo fi artists like Mac Demarco.

Many of the albums’ melodic and lyrical meandering takes some time to grow on you but there are tracks that are immediately catchy and will very likely be stuck in your head the rest of the day, such as Yawn to Survive, My Newest Sheep Costume, and Stripping Off. The later has a dark, jazzy vibe. The influence of Radiohead is most prominent in the soulful chorus, but you can also hear a bit of Beach Boys crooning in there. Like much of Suko’s music, the loneliness seems palpable, yet instead of being depressing, it’s actually quite beautiful. Suko’s music feels a little like personal therapy that once in a while, in between the wandering and the loneliness, strikes a common chord with humanity. As listeners, we’re lost and then found along with him. It might seem indulgent at times, but it’s also quite honest.

You'll probably pick up on a goofy, overtly sexual streak on the album as well. The album cover, for starters, shows Suko (I assume) feeding from a cartoon breast. The song titles are sometimes bizarre and humorous: Hairy Tits, Overweight Grandma Teachings, Fat Whales Escape. The ambitious collaboration with Owl Yeah, titled "Review (Giant Babies End up Lonely)” is about as far left field as you can get, featuring strange vocal manipulation and detuned synth. Suko is as eager to experiment it seems, as he is willing to bear his soul.

In all, Juicy Costumes is a weird, dark, whimsical experience, that proves the best, most unique music on the internet is sometimes hiding under the surface. Keep digging. The album is available for purchase on Suko’s Bandcamp. You can also listen to his extended catalogue on Soundcloud.

Matt Ackerman