How to Make Ambient Sadcake

There's nothing creepy about sandwiches. But, Sandwitches, well now, that’s a different story. Start poking around online and you’ll find the San Francisco trio in unsettling clown faces and dark slasher-style videos; Sadcake’s artwork features an airbrushed, two-legged kitty. All decidedly ... creepy. The trio — sprung from the Fresh & Onlys and Brilliant Colors — features dual female vocals that range from a warped, girl-group neo-innocence to raggedy, hillbilly hootenanny territory. The percussion is largely provided by a stark, cracking snare drum and occasional cymbal sparkle, and guitars — both acoustic and electric — are strummed in minor chords, or squall and sputter with atonal fuzz. It’s a dark place, this musical turf, with little in the way of sunshine or anything resembling “pop.” “Tarantula Arms” and “Kiss Your Feet” creep along on those fuzzy guitar lines, and get under your skin — in a good way. The sing-along folk of “Back to the Sea” is bewitching, and the ‘50s doo-wop spirit of “Fire” is kissed with just enough sourness to keep it ...  yeah, creepy.