Return Flights Drop Newcomer Single

Really been looking to dive more into the electronic pop craft this year, which is how I stumbled upon London’s Return Flights. They spend the first minute or so of their latest single driving the beat, waiting for the song to open up and twist into some indie-disco shuffler. Smoky vocals ride atop the groove for a few moments, then that shuffle kicks in, and you find yourself spinning in the happiest, dizziest circle. Layered vocals work to perfection, building both the texture and the hooks that will likely find folks making some New Order comparisons. Never a bad thing in our book here.

Club 8 Share Daylight Single

For the past few months, Club 8 have quietly gone about their business, releasing single after single, which I keep coming back to enjoy. When this one kicked off, there was a bit more danger in the way the track presented itself; there’s a growl from the bass line too as it works to give the song an edge and a hook simultaneously. But, where the band’s success lies is in there ability to work to create swirling pop realms by providing melodic vocals within tasty little pop nuggets, creating an endearing world that keeps you, and me, coming back over and over again.

Last Week’s Jams (3.11 – 3.15)

For some reason or another, we were rather preoccupied with the Austin goings-on, so perhaps we didn’t cover as much as we might have liked. I’ll be circling back through this week to try and get as much of it up as I can. But, we did have some really solid jams…and a few premieres…or whatever you call it. I was definitely feeling a little electronically inclined, covering new stuff from Maria Chiara Argiro and Cong Josie. Got blown away by the new Lightheaded track, not to mention fawning over tunes from Kindsight and Mammoth Penguins. Oh, and speaking of premieres…we had a new Unwed Sailor and a live cut from The Wind-Ups. Check them below.

SXSW Thursday In Photos

Despite some of the self-inflicted guilt of being part of the machine, we’re still out there trying to cover as much music and see as many bands as we could on Thursday. We were able to really bounce here and there, with the Valhalla and 13th Floor giving a prime location for the bloggers crossing the road. I think we all squeezed in some bands that we had wanted to see this year, so that’s an added bonus getting to cross a rad act off your list!

Read more

Mythical Motors Share Take a Trip

I missed the boat on the first single from the forthcoming Mythical Motors LP, but I couldn’t resist alerting you to the promise of Upside Down World. The tune below is the opening number, and its opening guitar lines were enough to pull me right into the tune; they have this power-pop brightness that seems to swear we’ll have a better tomorrow, in emotion alone. Matt Addison’s voice has this gentleness in its presentation that you can’t escape either, taking the early wistfulness and pushing it to the next level. If you’re looking to find a sunny future, might we suggest you grabbing Upside Down World; the LP drops on April 12th via Repeating Cloud.

Kindsight Share Acid Island 45

I’ve been an avid fan of Danish outfit Kindsight since their early days, and while I’ve admired their previous work, this new single might be the proverbial icing on the cake. It feels like the most direct and pop oriented tune they’ve crafted, rushing forward with these driving rhythms and swirling bits of guitar billowing through your speakers. Don’t ignore the sweetness of the vocals here, adding in that melodic sugar that your body needs to ensure that you survive. This quick pop ditty is the opening track to the group’s brand new LP, No Shame No Fame, which will hit on April 19th via Rama Lama Records.

The Wind-Ups Announce Live In Oakland LP

Two albums full of incredible rock n’ roll should have already made the Wind-Ups a staple in the community of those who worship rock, but in order to cement their legacy, the group had put it all on the line. So, what did they do? They recorded a riotous live set at the Golden Bull, putting down 17 songs in 28 minutes; a feat that would have made Jay Reatard super proud. Today, we bring you the news that the now infamous show is being released via Dandy Boy Records; you can grab it HERE. But, as in rock n’ roll realms, you need a bit of a visual, so the brand have a fresh video for the live version of “You’re Not That Cool.” Growling guitars, thumping rhythm and a quick blast to your ears, perhaps a reminder to also go check out the LP it draws from, Happy Like This.

SXSW Wednesday In Photos

We had another full day of music in and around downtown Austin early on Wednesday and into the evening. While the more chill and calm crowds could be due to numerous factors, we welcomed the ease of hopping from venue to venue like festival days of old. We tried to grab some photos while out and about and take some notes on a few bands you should maybe be paying more attention to. You can catch all of that after the jump.

Read more

Gregor Announces Satanic Lullabies

While Gregor‘s perhaps not a household name over in the States, his compositions have always resonated with me, particularly the Destiny LP. Today, the artist announces a new album, Satanic Lullabies, describing it as ‘ if pre-Maga Kanye made a Disney soundtrack.’ His dulcet tones always created that feeling of lullaby, but he’s clearly balancing than gentle expectations of his voice with the darker side alluded to in the album’s title. Where his last album was filled with striking emotions, this first single is pretty bare and stark, so I’ll be interested to see where the whole of the album goes. Satanic Lullabies is out via Chapter Music on May 10th.

SXSW Tuesday In Photos

While Nathan was jet setting around on Monday, Tuesday was my first full day into the SXSW madness. Both of us started early with a focus solely on unofficial and sort of off the beaten path shows for the day. I stuck around the campus area at Tweedy’s and Hole in the Wall while Nathan headed over to the east side. We’ll be giving you a full recap of band highlights and photos later this week and on into next, but I thought ya’ll might want to see what it’s like out there, especially as weather and other factors may come into play as the week carries on. Hit the jump for some quick thoughts on Tuesday with photos.

Read more

1 3 4 5 6 7 1,931