Salem – Water/Yes I Smoke Crack EP

I’ve been an avid listener of this mysterious Chicago/Michigan/New York based trio for the past couple of weeks. There’s little known about them and other than their amazing cover of  The Boss’ “Streets of Philadelphia” called Brustreet, this is most likely your first encounter with Salem.

First off, don’t let that dark slowed-down crunk style, best noticed on Trapdoor, overthrow you. Their sound is more than just disturbing lo-fi electro.
They drown you in a haunting, maybe terrifying atmosphere with a constantly uncomfortable tension. If you’re anything like me you’ll love this fictional moody and restless soundtrack to a troubling horror flick (I keep picturing David Lynch’s rare Rabbits series, or any of the Lynch creations).
NME had a talk with them and made their intentions a little bit clearer. “It was written on painkillers,” explains John. “Being underwater at night,” offers Heather. “It’s like a thin snake near a foggy river,” says John.

The white vinyl pressed Yes I Smoke Crack EP was limited to 500 copies only, but if you’ve been on this internet thing before you’ll find it one way or another. Water EP is out on itunes. Get.

MP3: Salem – Redlights

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website | myspace | itunes

Seeing they’re pretty much a mystery around the web, I’ve compiled as much streamable content as I could find. This includes the smokey Salem directed (and very NSFW) video for “Dirt” after the jump. It’s visual interpretation to the term ‘sick’ is taken quite literal.

Salem – Dirt

MP3: Radiohead – Reckoner (Salem Remix)

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• Salem – Brustreet
• Salem – Sweat
• Salem – Haffa
• Salem – Skullcrush
• Salem – Whenusleep
• Salem – Minemine
• Salem – Snakes
• Salem – Breakdownthadoor
• Salem – Trapdoor (myspace)
• Salem – Imasheet (myspace)
• Salem – Water (myspace)
• Salem – Deepburn
• Salem – Legend