The list of “bitchin’” things in music is select: Camaros, summers, pretty lives. Meditative, drone-filled music built on synths, drum machines, and woodwinds usually does not fit the bill. Yet the Chicago trio Bitchin Bajas (possibly named after the late, lamented Subaru coupé utility vehicle) makes a strong case for the bitchin-ness of their aggressively subdued sound. Cooper Crain, Rob Frye, and Dan Quinlivan may not shred, but they can carve, shaping layers, loops, and live instruments into dazzling, dizzying constructions.
Inland See, the Bajas’ ninth album not counting some collaborations and a soundtrack, continues the band’s heavy-duty minimalism, with closing track “Graut” clocking in at over 18 minutes while barely breaking a low boil.