The Radar tracks new music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.

This week:
Winged Wheel, Marcus Elliot, Michael Skib, Dennis Proctor, Mordake, Deluxe Batons, Kelsey., Othercast, Colin Stetson, Mei Semones, and PRISM Quartet.

Winged Wheel
"Can't Say Goodbye Every Time" b/w "Kiss Your Worries Goodbye"
"Danger Bird"
Genre: instrumental rock
Location: Ypsi, New York, Texas
Notes:  Just weeks after the release of its Desert So Green album, this improv-drone rock collective, which counts Ypsi's Fred Thomas (Idle Ray) among its ranks, released a 7-inch. It was supposed to come out a while back as a European tour support item, but pressing plant delays pushed these two instrumental jams to now. Also, just prior to the album release, Winged Wheel snuck out another song originally intended for somewhere else, but it ended up back in the band's hands: an instrumental cover of Neil Young's "Danger Bird" (Zuma, 1975).
Links: linktr.ee/wingedwheel

Marcus Elliot
Broken Seeds Vol. II (Live in Detroit)
Genre: jazz
Location: Detroit, Ann Arbor
Notes:  The saxophonist is a U-M grad, lecturer, and director of the school's Creative Arts Orchestra, and his latest album is a living document of his growing body of compositions. The only tune to reappear from 2019's sax-bass-drums trio album Broken Seeds Vol. I is a rearranged "Learning to Remember," and the other material of Vol. II plays up to the strengths of this harmonically expanded lineup, which includes Peyton Miller (vibraphone) and Jordan Anderson (piano) along with Noah Jackson (bass) and Caleb Robinson (drums).
Links: marcuselliotmusic.com

Michael Skib
The Distance Between Two Stars
Genre: electronic, prog
Location: Ann Arbor
Notes: It's unclear if this is a concept album, but Michael Skib's latest collection of instrumental progressive electronica sure feels like a sci-fi tale told through music. Listen through headphones, and these seven tracks will take you on an interstellar journey.
Links: instagram.com/skibmusic

Dennis Proctor
"Weights & Measures" b/w "You Can't Take It With You
Genre: indie, Americana
Location: Ann Arbor
Notes: The longtime frontman of Havilland steps out on his own for two tracks of folky indie pop.
Links: nosongleftbehind.bandcamp.com

Mordake
Stygian Pantheon
Genre: black metal
Location: Ypsilanti
Notes: Mystic Conquest is a Ypsilanti-based label that focuses on raw black metal, and we're guessing the two members of Mordak, Nadir and Gauntlet, also live in the area. (The duo's previous release, a 2024 self-titled EP, was also on the label.) Stygian Pantheon mostly sticks with the snarled vocals, furious guitar strumming, and double-bass-drum poundings, but there are also moments of respite in some songs—and "Yerbabuena" is a legit lovely instrumental. (Sorry, guys!)
Links: mysticconquest.bandcamp.com

Deluxe Batons
Icebreaker EP
Genre: hardcore, mosh metal
Location: Ypsilanti
Notes: New antifascist hardcore project—it sounds like one person rather than a band—that mixes mosh parts and spoken-word-leaning vocals.
Links: deluxebatons.bandcamp.com

Kelsey.
"Animal"
Genre: pop rock
Location: Ann Arbor
Notes: First new music since last year's Kelsey. EP.
Links: facebook.com/kelseyperiod

Othercast
In Grey Space, full album video
Genre: ambient
Location: Ann Arbor
Notes:  We wrote about this album in January 2025, but Othercast's Kelman Wolfkostin recently released a visual version of this immersive record.
Links: linktr.ee/othercast

Colin Stetson, Greg Fox, Trevor Dunn
Nethering
Genre: free jazz, industrial
Location: Montreal/Ann Arbor, etc.
Notes: This 2018 improvised session is finally seeing the light. It features Ann Arbor Pioneer grad Colin Stetson, who now lives in Montreal and has become an in-demand soundtrack composer, on saxophones, along with drummer Greg Fox and bassist Trevor Dunn.
Links: colinstetson.com

Mei Semones featuring Liana Flores
"Koneko"
Genre: Brazilian jazz-pop
Location: Brooklyn/Ann Arbor, England
Notes: First single off a forthcoming EP, Kurage, by the Community High grad, along with British-Brazilian singer Liana Flores. While Semones has long shown a Brazilian influence in her music—the chords and harmonies give her a chance to show what an amazing guitarist she is—that's really driven home on "Koneko." (If you're unfamiliar with Semones, check out a couple of recent articles here and here.)
Links: meisemones.com

PRISM Quartet
Dissolve
Genre: classical, jazz
Location: Ann Arbor
Notes:  The University of Michigan-formed saxophone ensemble sponsored the Robert Capanna Commissioning Award for a new piece of music. Emily Cooley was the inaugural recipient, and Dissolve is the world premiere recording of her composition. There's more info on the piece here.
Links: linktr.ee/prismquartet

Send your music to pulp@aadl.org if you're an artist or label with Washtenaw County associations. Check out more local music coverage here and in the Friday Five archives.