by @thoughtontracks

When digging for new tunes, I generally seek to hit a comfortable cross-section of the familiar and the innovative. Sure, it would be great if every artist we digested offered up an inherently novel idea, but nine times out of 10 that simply is not the case. As a result, I often find myself gravitating toward projects that contain some element of home. On the map, East Los Angeles appears a half-lightyear away from Indianapolis. However, newly formed garage outfit Criminal Hygiene is a direct reflection of the sounds that pour out of the DIY spaces of Indy’s Fountain Square on a weekly basis.

Criminal Hygiene’s brash, fuzz-driven sound appears built around a single motive: quickening the pulse of the fortunate souls within earshot. The group recently dropped the track “Blak Water,” available for free download below. It’s the first taste of the band’s debut LP CRMNL HYGNE scheduled for release via Small Smile Records on January 15. Awash in distorted rebellion, “Blak Water” transplants the listener to the basement of a raucous college house party. The stench of stale keg beer and the smothering choke of an aggressive bong rip are almost palpable. In creating this environment, Criminal Hygiene feels more like an old friend than a new acquaintance.

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Written by Rob Peoni