Tag: howlin banana records

Special Friend Release Selkie Video

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Is it a seal or is it a human? Well, depends on how you look at the mythological Selkie, the title of the latest single from Special Friend…but who am I to decided for you? What I can tell you is that this might be the tastiest bit of pop music you’re going to hear today. I was hooked with the guitar notes immediately, setting me up to swoon later once the duo opted to combine their voices so seamlessly. In doing so, there’s something in the sound that seems like a lantern floating through the sky, filled with the promise of tomorrow. There’s this tonal switch and string arrangement after the two minute mark that cut right to the core, so I fell in love with the tune all over again. The group will release Wait Until the Flames Come Rushing In via Skep Wax, Hidden Bay and Howlin’ Banana on June 27th.

TH da Freak Shares Young Bro

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French songwriter Thoineau has a complex and varied discography, but if you were paying attention in 2022, there was a brief 48 hour April Fools release titled Indie Rock. Well, Thoineau, or TH da Freak as he goes by in the music biz, has decided to revisit those old songs and finally get them out into the world. This delicious little pop ditty below is precisely why I’ve been attracted to the artist; there’s some sonic Tony Molina similarities in the voice that provide the natural hooks. Fuzzy guitars with a super lo-fi recording style add the sugar and sprinkles to this pop cookie, so you’re going to want your ears to gobble it up! If you dig, Les Disques du Paradis, Howlin Banana and Flippin Freaks Records will all help get Indie Rock back into the world on June 16th.

Special Friend Announce Wait Until the Flames Come Rushing In

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What happens when you get three great indie labels together to release a new LP? Well, if you ask me, bringing Skep Wax, Howlin’ Banana, and Hidden Bay all together to release a new LP from Special Friend, then you’ve got the guarantee of a solid batch of songs. Our first listen is the hypnotic tune below, working with this guitar shuffle that circles beneath the surface of dual vocal work. There’s something in the way the guitar feels like its rushing you forwards that’s thrown in juxtaposition to what’s the melodic overlapping from the vocals. In a way, it sort of sounds like something Sonic Youth would have put out if they were into lo-fi indie pop…warranting a positive nod on my end of things! We’ll give you more updates on the release date of Wait Until the Flames Come Rushing In when we’ve got em’.

Cosmopaark Unleash New Single

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After blowing up with a couple of rad EPs, Bordeaux’s Cosmopaark are about to take it one step further by releasing their debut LP, And I Can’t Breathe Enough. Their latest single to tease you drops in almost immediately, delivering a punishing wall of screaming noise; I love that it still feels fairly lo-fi, and not overly produced to turn it into some sort of heavy-goth-wash. When the noise is halted, there’s a delectable melodic treat hanging in the verses, but they’re brief, so the explosive nature of the song erupts in your eardrums almost immediately after you take a long five count. This new album will hit on January 20th via Flippin’ Freaks and Howlin Banana Records.

New Music from TH da Freak

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Bordeaux’s TH da Freak has been on my radar for a bit now, mostly as Howlin Banana Records began working with the artist, so I knew it was something I could certainly trust. He just released a brand new record titled Coyote on the label, and I can’t get this single out of my head. It’s all sorts of playful in all the right places. The guitars feel heavy, though in that sort of poppy surf rock fashion; they feel like they’re made for perfect driving soundtracks. You get an added melodic bonus built in from backing vocals to uplift the main vocal…which is the immediate selling point of this track. If you’re digging it, check out the whole album!

Fontanarosa Share OH ID Video

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I’m always keen to see what’s going on with Howlin Banana Records, as they’re always uncovering cool gems we’re probably not getting force-fed over here in the States. This past week they announced the forthcoming Are You There LP from Lyon’s Fontanarosa. At times, this feels like a meditative post-punk, with the rhythm tripping over itself as the vocals indifferently drop through your speakers. Hitting the 2 minute mark, the song begins to open up beyond that, stretching itself beyond the meditative state into a little bit of discord and artiness, while still keeping that pulsing rhythm that drives the tune forward. The LP is out on March 18th!

Did You Check Out Johnny Mafia

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Some days I wake up and I just want something loud and fun; I don’t give a shit about pretense or cool, I just want a straight-up banger of a hit…like this one from Johnny Mafia. This track races in immediately, utilizing gang vocals to anchor in that joyous celebratory nature; it’s precisely the attitude I was looking for to start off my day! The drums are pounding and furious, with the guitars just building up this huge wall of noise behind, though hanging on with just a slight hint of melody in there. The French outfit get bonus points for keeping it short, sure not to overstay its welcome, as you too much of a good thing can go bad! Check this track on the band’s new album Sentimental, out via Howlin Banana Records.

Tapeworms Return with Magic Pierrot

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After dropping an incredible album in Funtastic last year, French outfit Tapeworms return with a real hit that was until now only included in the Japanese version of their LP! For those looking for an apt description, maybe take the more Stereolab-tinged tracks from a Peel Dream Magazine LP, then pump them full of Monster energy drink, and boom! I know, it sounds ridiculous, but there’s just no other way to really get at it; there’s great pace and energy, but the arrangements matched up with the vocals bury the song in this French pop atmosphere you’ll want to dig up for hours and hours on end.

Johnny Mafia Share Trevor Philippe Video

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Feel like the best way to keep rocking on a Monday morning is to drop more killer rock n’ roll, of the pop sort, of course. As we near peak running time (I’m a summer time runner) for me, I’m looking for a good hit for the playlist, and I think “Trevor Philippe” might just have what it takes. On the front end, you’ve got a sweet bit of garage style riffs running furiously while drums force you to tap your toes; I love the who gives a fuck approach of the vocals too; they don’t seem to have a care in the world. Plus, when the song decides to get a little heavy, I don’t mind that one bit either; it’s hard to wax philosophical about just good old fashioned pop rock…but find one today that treats you like Johnny Mafia. They drop their new album Sentimental on Howlin Banana Records on May 21st.

Unschooling Give Us More is More

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If you’re missing Omni, or just really into Omni, you’ve got to get over here and listen to this new Unschooling EP, Random Acts of Total Control. Just take a listen to the opening tune “More is More” if you need convincing of how great the band is. They’ve got that same sort of frantic nature to their riffs, kind of angular and buoyant simultaneously. One thing I’ve really enjoyed about the French outfit is super apparent on this tune is how little they care for formulaic arty post-punk; they do dip far more than their toes into that proverbial water, but they also seek out the ability to destroy its patterns, exploding like a fireball, cutting through your headphones. The EP is out courtesy of Howlin Banana Records.

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