Tag: meritorio records

Red Pants Share Watch the Sky Video

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For all those that thought lo-fi bedroom pop was meant to merely bring its charms to your headphone experience, Red Pants are here to prove you wrong; their magical songwriting has allowed for the world to move in reverse…at least if this video is to be believed. Fun and jokes aside, there’s nothing more gratifying than listening to this new track from the duo’s forthcoming LP. I was in love with the guitar tones instantly, hitting those slightly discordant notes that transform into melodies as they sneak inside your ear canal. But, going through on repeat again and again, those guitars notes didn’t do nearly as much for me as the vocals in their rising tones. Listen for the lines of “Do you want to/do you want to come home” and tell me your not transported to some otherworldly cocoon of warmth; that moment, for me, felt like I had come home, musically speaking. Then, you get an extra boost at 2:21, where the song ramps up the punch and drives you to the promised land. You won’t regret one minute with this song, or one minute you spend with Not Quite There Yet; it’s out on Ocotber 27th via Meritorio Records.

The Small Intestines Share Stop Pretending

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For those following the nerdy side of Australian pop music, The Small Intestines is one of the most anticipated releases dropping before the year is up. Featuring members of Chook Race and Peach Happening, with a nod to Go-Betweens, The Bats, etc, you’re guaranteed to fall in love with every song. But, before they drop Hide In Time, they’ve got one slow-churning hit to satiate you pop fans. I love the breeziness of the tune, particularly the way lead guitar seems to sway back and forth between your ears. There’s a nice little sugary moment in the chorus when you get a little of a swell in the vocals, leaving you with the perfect bite of Aussie guitar pop. Hide In Time is out September 29th via Meritorio Records/Lost and Lonesome.

Wurld Series Are Back with The Giant’s Lawn

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A few years removed from the excellent What’s Growing, New Zealand’s Wurld Series are back with a fresh record! And, like only Wurld Series can, they offer us two singles, and in that, offer us two ways to look at the new LP. Opening track, “The Giant’s Lawn Part 1,” is more of an experimental bit of pastoral folk, almost an oddball bit of atmospherics and horn blasts before settling into a meditative introduction to the album that will follow. There’s even a nice little accompanying felt video HERE, if you’re inclined. On the other head of the beast you get “Lord of Shelves,” which smashes in with a fuzzy bit of lo-fi pop. It reminds me in spots of GBV, having both a penchant for noise and melodic alike, making it hard to differentiate between the two. Excited for The Giant’s Lawn, out on November 17th via Meritorio Records and Melted Ice Cream.

The Maureens Announce Everyone Smiles

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Among the many reliable indie labels of the lands, Meritorio always fashions themselves as purveyors of great pop music, or as I see it. Today, they’re sharing a fresh track from Dutch outfit the Maureens, bringing back a sound that certainly harkens to the early days of Beatlemania. Light strums open the tune before a sharper lead cuts into to divvy up the guitar mixture; the vocals are layered atop one another, adding in these harmonies brimming with joyous spirit. Guitars continue to lightly jangle while the rhythm section kicks in an understated groove, leaving you to fill yourself up on the smorgasbord of pop goodness that comes in the chorus. The band will release Everyone Smiles early next year!

The Brights Share Everyone In Town

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While Melbourne is getting all the Australian love (hyperbole, I know), Sydney’s the Brights are aiming to make a name for themselves on their own terms. They’ve just released a fresh single from the forthcoming Oyster Rock, offering a slight bit of country-fied swagger to the stomping pop sounds of the Oceanic region. This tune’s got this twinkling piano bit hanging about too, adding to that sort of muscly punch the group bring to the table; it’s all about this natural grooviness to me, so it feels like classic rock influenced pop rock…and I’m totally here for it. They’ll be releasing Oyster Rock via Stable Records/Meritorio on December 1st.

Red Pants Announce Not Quite There Yet

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I love Red Pants so much that I had to send them a note to apologize for not getting the track up on Friday when they announced Not Quite There Yet. I spent a lot of time with their last LP, When We Were Dancing, but I’m super impressed with the immediacy of the first single here. Sure, you can definitely hear some Sonic Youth and Yo La Tengo, but I’m going to throw out some late-ear Low nods here. You can feel the noise element playing into the songwriting, but there’s still that almost meditative notion that seeps through the speakers, entrancing you with this brooding blast of rock. Tons of flair coming through too in the end of this jam. Look for the new LP to drop courtesy of Meritorio Records on October 27th

The Small Intestines Share Old Town

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If you’re of a certain listening habit, and you know who you are, you’re definitely seeing the Small Intestines as one of the year’s most anticipated records. The Aussie outfit features members of Chook Race and Peach Happening working together between projects to create something new and exciting. Employing sharp angular chops is always going to be an easy way to grab my attention, but it’s hard not to fall in love with the dual vocal approach from Matt and Tristan as it breeds a sense of natural camaraderie that makes being in a band so much fun. Personally, I love the recording a lot too, the cymbal work gets captures perfectly, so its not all smashing drums and bass grooves; it rules. Hide in Time might be your favorite LP of the year; it drops on September 29th via Lost and Lonesome/Meritorio.

The Brights Share New Single, Prep New LP

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I have never been to Australia, but there’s something that seems linked to the American West in a lot of the songwriting, which definitely felt like the case with this new single from the Brights. Honestly, and I know there’s tons of debate about, but the light guitar strum that kicked the song into gear definitely feels like some Workingman’s Dead era rock songwriting. It’s sunny and sharp, but mellowed by the softened percussion and relaxed presentation. Plus, there are delightful vocal hooks in here, whether call-and-response or just regular old school backing vocals…it’s all charm. With this hit, the Sydney based group announced that they’ll be releasing a new LP, Oyster Rock, in December via Meritorio Records.

Small Intestines Prep Hide in Time LP

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Another day in bloggerville with another single coming from Australia that I’m really enjoying; it’s coming courtesy of Meritorio Records/Lost & Lonesome, too! Small Intestines are a new act on my radar (though w/ members of Chook Race), but the pacing and twisting of this track is sublime. You get a good 35 seconds of nice clean guitar pop before the band bring in the vocals; they’re operating with dual voices overlapping, which, for some reason, is always best executed when its done by the Aussies. While the track might seem sated, it takes on the song title’s mentality, turning from a solid trot into a nice bit of a hurried horse riding gallop; it’s a nice twist that keeps you coming back to press play. They’ll be releasing Hide in Time this September.

Fort Not Release Tell Me Nothing Single

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The pending release from Fort Not is high on my list of anticipated albums coming our way in July; I’ve loved their approach to songwriting, taking on all sorts of approaches in their interpretation of guitar pop. Their latest single hits me somewhere in the realm of the Clean and Hunx; it has a distinctive vibe that feels supremely haphazard and DIY, but even in that, you can’t deny the joy that hits you when it comes through your speakers. Playful and carefree, with perfect execution and little touches (see 2:20 mark) that elevate the tune. Depressed for Success is going to hit on July 7th via Meritorio Records.

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