Kluster B Share Love Must Conquer

I was really impressed by Kluster B‘s debut album, Civic, back in 2018, but as we hear more from their sophomore effort, it seems the band have really focused on developing their sound. In fact, they’ve done so much, they’re able to combine all their influences in this singular track, moving from playful pseudo-lounge pop to shimmering dream pop and stopping at all the towns in between. I got carried away in the first minute by the feathery feel of the vocals, just before a dose of energy was pumped in to sort of kick the track into a higher gear. Just imagine yourself on a road trip of all your favorite pop tropes and you’ll find this song hits them all. Their new b LP will be out on April 17th via Rama Lama Records.

The Hermits Share No Replacement Video

Almost exactly a year ago we were fortunate to put out the excellent self-titled LP by the Hermits. And, the great thing about great songs is that they never die, so the band wanted to share their video for standout track, “No Replacement.” This is one of my favorite tunes from the record (and their phenomenal live sets); I love the way the guitar seems to skitter back and forth, unleashing this crashing wave of psychedelic noise right in your face. For me, the band has always seemed to be just this creative blanket of weird draped over a really heavy pop band, and I couldn’t be happier to have had even the slightest hand in getting this song (and the rest) into the world. We’ve got a handful of copies of the tape left over HERE, but be sure to just stream the LP as much as possible! Plus, keep an eye out for shows…as the live band now features a new Hermit; there are four Hermits!

Even as We Speak Announce Adelphi

Indiepop fans owe a debt of gratitude to Shelflife this year; they’ve already given us new music from Close Lobsters and now they’ve announced the long-awaited brand new LP from Even as We Speak. The group were one of the torchbearers for the heralded Sarah Records…but they went quiet in the early 90s until a reemergence in 2016 with a couple of shows and a new EP. Now we get a new record on the horizon, so we’ll start with this delightful single they’ve offered up. It opens with this swirling strummed guitar and a light-hearted stomp, allowing vocalist Mary to bring the song’s melody into focus with her voice; they work their charms for a good bit, but quickly take that churning indiepop and move it into a synth-driven sugary pop treat. They bounce back and forth between the two structures, accomplished so seamlessly that you hardly notice the studied variance until you press repeat because you simply can’t get the song out of your head. Adelphi drops on June 26th via Shelflife and Discos de Kirlian.

Dance A Lot with Nick Griffith

As rains cover our town, it seems only fair that we begin your day here by playing this fun little ditty from Australia’s Nick Griffith; if anything, you can escape the gloom of your day with this pop number. This is the sort of electronic stuff that I can totally get behind; it seems so simple that I could pull it off (though that’s probably untrue), but it also has these little pop treats you can’t escape. Here, you’ve got little doses of steel drums bouncing the rhythm along. You’ll also get some accompanying vocals from Sophie McComish of Body Type (operating under the name Tuffence Meringue). This single comes your way courtesy of Dinosaur City Records.

The Memories Announce Pickles & Pies

The Memories were part of that huge garage rock resurgence from back in the day, but one of the things I always appreciated about their sound was that they often stepped outside of the expected lineage. Today they announce Pickles & Pies, their new LP, and they do so with this casually sunny piece of pop music. It’s the sort of pop tune seeped in the the lore of California, fueled by this natural wistfulness that always has you looking towards the horizon. In the case of this tune, you’re left wondering if you’d travel down the same road again…and in the case of this band…it’s an assured yes. So get in your car and drive down that road; the new album will be out on May 29th via Gnar Tapes/Axis Mundi Records.

Virginia Trance Announce Vincent’s Playlist

I’m a big Psychic Ills fan, so I’ve always been closely following Virginia Trance, the side-project of Scott Ryan Davis. He’s just announced a new record for the project, Vincent’s Playlist, and does so with this sprawling ode to Lou Reed stretching over 5 minutes. To a certain degree, patience is the name of the game with this tune; it almost entrances the listener on first listen; your repeat listens will begin to reveal details like the saxophone and its correlating guitar lines. This song feels like it’s an experiment in the craft of songwriting, with the album promising to incorporate a few rough edges, but here it’s all about the undeniable allure of good old guitar rock. Vincent’s Playlist drops on May 8th via BYM Records.

Bouncy Pop from Heart Beach

I was seduced by this new Heart Beach track immediately; the dual vocal playfulness, delivered to craft a moderate little harmony atop light guitar notes is a perfect ploy. Then suddenly the distortion jumps in and jagged chords start to rip through the speakers like some college rock act from the mid 90s. Still, the team of Claire and Jonathon McCarthy sound settled as the notes circle their heads like hawks hunting prey; that sense of calm helps fashion the perfect pop sensibility that lets you sink your teeth deep into the meat of the song. Let’s hope 2020 brings us more from this outfit!

BOAT Announce Tread Lightly

Forget Mondays. Tuesdays are the real struggle. The good news is I’ve got this nice little pop rocker from Seattle’s BOAT to get your day started. I love the way the band sets the tune up, toying with a softer side of indie rock in the opening moments before bounding down the road into the cheerful realms of hook-laden pop. There’s a slightly rough edge to the vocals in the chorus, cut up by a backing vocal that layers a nice softness just underneath. This tune appears on the group’s new LP, Tread Lightly, which is scheduled for release on May 1st; you can pre-order it HERE.

Collage Pop from The Informations

To be honest, you’re probably going love this track from the Informations. You’re going to immediately hear the anxious yelps from the vocalists and recall the glory days of bands like Suckers and Animal Collective..and those nods are fair. For me, the collage atmosphere at times overrides the central melody that courses through this entire tune. The frantic style raises the enjoyment, sure, but if you strip that away and reveal this generous guitar line that would easily make any of our days infinitely brighter. Go ahead and explore the joyousness this Copenhagen outfit have to offer you!

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