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Man. The In Tall Buildings record is good; did you check out Nicole’s review? Well, in case you wanted to know a little bit about the story behind the album, Diver, we’ve got the inside scoop courtesy of Erik himself. This will also give you a good heads up as to why you should check out ITB during SXSW; it’s one of the shows I’m really anticipating, and I really appreciate Erik’s thoughtful answers, so read on to hear what he has to say. Read more
We’re just about a week away from the February 24th release date of the new Los Angeles Police Department 7″, and so they’ve offered up another tune to get you in the mood for their dreamy pop tunes. This tune has this great restraint, never pushing the envelope beyond the song’s capabilities, which in the end really allows for the group to hone in the track’s underlying melody. Vocals are soft, and the drums never overwhelm, ending in this sprawling track of perfect pop blissfulness. Look for their release next week via Fat Possum Records.
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We’ve been behind Abram Shook since his early Great Nostalgic days, and we were especially happy to see his progression with Sun Marquee last year. It seems that he’s not long to stay in one place, as his newest single continues to show is continually evolving sound; he includes little bits of drum samples in this track, as well as some funky guitar chops. His ability to operate within varying genres and styles is one of the many reasons his music’s always been so enticing, which makes us even happier he’ll have another album, Landscape Dream, coming our way this year; it’ll see a release via Western Vinyl on May 12th.
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Autumns find their home on one of my favorite micro-labels, CF Records; it’s home to Sea Pinks, if that says anything. The Derry band have this dark post-punk, though they don’t seem entirely infatuated with your typical swirl of reverb and atmospherics. The vocals do seem to be hidden beneath the mix, in an intoxicating manner that creates a brooding sensation; it gives several of the tunes an old-school feeling you’re like to enjoy. If I had to pick a favorite from the 4 songs presented below, I think the opening number “Je Vous Etre” is definitely the stunner, though the rest all has something to offer.
Mississippi’s Talbot Adams is a secret gem for many, and I owe a debt of thanks to Finest Kiss for first turning me on to his work awhile back. He just released this incredible new 7″ via Market Square Recordings, and if you trust International mail-order, then you’ll have to have this in your collection. It’s the perfect piece of pop music, filling in the negative space with a little buzz in your ear, while Talbot carefully plods along with his incredibly casual vocal performance. The B-Side has an even dreamier aspect to it, harkening back to an era when pop music felt more innocent. Just stream this 7″ and be happy to be alive.
We’re turning the corner on that Winter weather here, and we’ve got to have a soundtrack for those breezy days and warm afternoons. I’m thinking you’re all going to want to put on quite a bit of Pistachio as that time nears; they’re offering you up this infectious new single…it’s equal parts Local Natives and early Vampy Weeks. You’ll hear tight guitar chords cutting at an angle, filled with some infectious bits of percussion and a hook that’s naturally built into the delivery of the vocals. I appreciate the fact that these guys rock it out for just over five minutes, cheering you on with a nice rhythm all the way until the end. These Berkeley boys release their Tehuantepec EP at the end of February, but get your sample on right here.
It constantly amazes me what depth and texture can be created in the home studio nowadays, such as this new single from Jeff Zagers. His latest single has the feeling of a full-on band working at their best, yet it’s interesting to note that he recorded all parts (drums, keys, bass, guitar, saxophone) all on his own. In the end, you get this well-crafted dense pop tune, which also offers a bit of introspection through the lyrical and emotional content. It’s all part of Jeff’s new album, Still/Alive LP, which is going to be released on March 17th via Wharf Cat Records, so keep a lookout.
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As a Manchester United fan, and a fan of the city’s musical production over the last few decades, I always like to take a gander at what’s going on in the fair city. It seems that the hip new thing is quite incredible; Horsebeach is the work of Ryan Kennedy, and he’s crafting glorious bedroom pop. You’ll hear the typical wash of atmospherics in his work, but if you listen closely there’s these intricate little guitar parts beneath the mix, akin to Mac DeMarco, only a wee bit more depressing. This is the B-Side to his newest 7″ that also features “Disappear,” so grab it if you’re so inclined.
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We hit up good ol’ Cheer Up Charlies Thursday night to support our friends at Punctum Records as they released Taft‘s Groove Redundant…they were joined by Isaiah the Mosaic, Lomelda and Sweet Spirit helped them close out in style. I’d have to say it was a pretty impressive line-up, and a rather impressive crowd.
Read on for our thoughts on the show and some photos from B. Gray.
This new song from Great Outdoors just popped up yesterday, and I’m going to spend the next few weeks fawning over it. There’s such a careful touch to everything the band does in this track, from the pacing to the guitar chords to the tribal percussive elements that open the tune. You’ll find this song as one of the featured tunes on the band’s new album, Dads Oasis, which was just wrapped up in their native Australia. If you’ve got good things going on in life, they’re only going to get better with this 4.5 minute gem of a pop song.
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