Babytooth Drop Pop Rock Hit, Hey Minnow

Give yourself a full 25 seconds to immerse yourself in this jam from Portland’s Babytooth; if you do so, you’ll be absolutely sold on their pop rock styling. Distinctive vocals toy with the modern indie fare, but that 24th second immediately sells you on the band’s promise; it brings with it this bounding energy that magically courses right through, punching you right in the teeth. Somehow, the song still manages to maintain that intimacy, as if you’re the long attendee at a secret Babytooth house show meant only for you. You can feel a bit of an edge waiting to get out here, and I think if you spend some time with the group’s self-titled LP, you’ll find exactly what you need. Babytooth is available today via Antiquated Future.

Guidon Bear Share Magellanic Cloud

Guidon Bear is an a fairly recent project, but lets just say it’s members come with quite a resume of their own, the Olympia, Washington sort. Next week they’ll be releasing their debut LP, and this single offers us a glimpse at what is to come our way. My favorite piece about this track is that they employ the same style as many an act known for building discord, but slow it down and put it beneath some bouncing synth work, allowing for the creation of an almost-pop smash hit. Mary Water’s voice sparkles throughout; she definitely has this style that’s ever-present but slightly nostalgic; it’s really clean throughout the verses, which I dig. Downwardly Mobile: Steel Accelerator is out June 19th via Antiquated Future and Yoyo Recordings.

Washboard Abs Has a New LP

It looks like Antiquated Future is on a roll as of late, as they’ve got another release on the horizon that’s piqued my interest, this time from The Washboard Abs. I like how the first minute or so of this song is spent primarily in isolation, which perhaps nods to the album’s thematic element of the possibility of loss of a partner. Then, just as you’ve settled in, the song is elevated by nice electronica and spot-on percussive elements; it’s like the song just begins to grow right inside your ears…a special moment. If you like what you hear, be on the lookout for the band’s 3rd LP, Lowlight Visions, which will drop on August 17th.

Darkened Pop from Midwife

Odds are that you had Belgium making the World Cup final, so you’re probably a little bummed out today. Me too. But, in hopes to remedy that we’ve got this track from Midwife to calm your ills, and perhaps transport you to a better place. The entirety of this tune works over a solemn electronic note, accompanied by wave after wave of washed atmospherics. Bubbling beneath it all, like whispers shared between lovers are the lyrics, coated in various effects that maximize the emotive pull of the tune. This number will appear on the group’s new Prayer Hands EP, out at the end of July via Antiquated Future.