New Music from Mimi Raver

Mimi Raver has graced these pages before, and we’re back to cover her newest single…perhaps her best yet. Her voice is stunning, able to take on different pitches and tones that match the notes as they fold over one another in the song. I love how the vocals sit almost inside the musical mix, all working together in unison, rather than pushing the voice too far up. There’s a sensation of wandering in the writing, which fits the influences of different experiences and stories that led to the craft of her latest work. The album, 06′ Female, will be released this coming April.

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New Stuff from Kingfisher Bluez

I’m the kind of fella that gravitates towards certain labels…so much so that I haunt their soundcloud and bandcamp pages. Today I’m bringing you updates from Kingfisher Bluez, one of Canada’s fine musical establishments. The label has two new releases of note…and I’ve got them both streaming for you below. First, is Woodpigeon, offering up generous folk stylings, though with a slight pop leaning. Then you have Peach Pit, giving off soulful pop vibes, almost like generous crooners aiming to make you happy. Each release hits this Spring (March and April), so why not sample the goods. Be sure to check the label for other gems too!


Fuzzy Pop from Heavenly Creatures

The week before SXSW hit Austin was a bit hectic, but we made it through, so a few of our tracks coming through today will be looking back on last week’s hits. We knew this Heavenly Creatures EP was coming, and it has the perfect bit of delightful joy to bounce you into Monday. It’s interesting that the band is brandishing a jangly bit of female-fronted fuzz pop, as Austin was filled with such ladies brandishing their guitars with flair all week long. I’d put this group at the top, however, especially with little bits of horns hanging in the background. Look for their EP, The Summer Will Kill Us All, available as we speak from Jigsaw.

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Another Hit from Zebra Hunt

While I’m still catching up on music from last week, I’m sad I missed the drop of this new Zebra Hunt tune…so why not get it out now. I feel like the band’s channeling an updated version of classic American songwriting; it hits like a more upbeat hit that the Boss might have churned out. There’s a natural pick-up in the style of the guitars, similar to like-minded acts bouncing around right now, though I’m partial to how they work in conjunction with the vocals. I guess since it’s the early days of Spring, it’s only fitting that this song makes me feel like the band are blossoming into pop superstars (in so far as my opinion counts). Their new LP In Phrases will be released via Tenorio Cotobade real soon!

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Premiere: So Many Wizards Announce Heavy Vision

Tuesdays beg for energetic pop tunes, and what better way to get you on your way then by bringing out news of a new album from So Many Wizards. While the album’s opening track opens with an angelic vocal carefully echoing through your speakers, you can hear the energy building as the guitars slowly churn. Instantly, they’re jittering quickly, pushing the song’s pace, pushing you to shuffle your feet as you dance frivolously through your room. I like the sudden draw back in style that comes during the chorus, softly pulling in a moment of steadiness before blasting back towards jangling rock n’ roll heaven. Lolipop Records will be releasing the band’s new record, Heavy Vision, on April 14th, and it sounds like we’re in store for a banger of furious pop hits.

Some More Secret Shine

Secret Shine just dropped their new album last Friday, so why not highlight another of the album’s standout singles. Here you’ll find the band balancing harmonious vocals with cascading guitar chords that swirl in the distance. There’s this sense of falling freely, though with these vocals it feels like you’re smiling the whole way down. These guys have never sounded better than they do right now; they’ve almost moved beyond shoegaze into a dreamier realm all their own. If you like what you hear, There Is Only Now landed in stores last week via Saint Marie Records.

New Earth Girl Helen Brown Music

Now that the Sandwitches have called it a day, it’s time for Earth Girl Helen Brown (Heidi Alexander) to shine. She just announced a seasonal series, Mercury, to celebrate our celestial friends, calling in help from friends such as Ty Segall and Sonny Smith to flesh out the release. Our first listen is a pretty stellar one, with equal parts playful bounce and soulful harmonies. You’ll be tapping your toes while horns and gang vocals back up Alexander’s voice; it’s hard not to fall in love with this tune from the moment it kicks in. Empty Cellar Records will release Mercury on April 14th with proceeds going to various charities aimed at preserving the Earth.

Will Johnson Pulls on His Country Boots

While Will Johnson has long been a revered songwriter in Texas, I don’t think he’s ever fully indulged in the state’s penchant for country ballads. He offers us glimpses in various releases, and this new single is one such tune. His voice remains his distinctive trademark, but it’s the sliding guitar, bellowing backing vocals and the light percussive touches that really set up the landscape for his approach here. Hatteras Night, a Good Luck Charm will be released on March 24th, giving us a full album’s worth of what are great tunes, with scattered tour dates across the country through June.

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New Jam from Spinning Coin

I was fortunate to catch Spinning Coin at the Glasgow Buckaroo Ball, so as I went through my emails, this tune stood out, grinning at me, waiting for me to play it. It’s an out-of-tempo little gem, semi-shuffling with choppy guitar chords and the occasional emphatic shout from the distance. While there’s a definite pop sensibility within, you get the sense that this group is working outside the confines of tradition and style, brandishing their own flare as they push forward. They’ll release the Raining on Hope Street 7″ via Domino on March 24th.

New Music from Little Star

Little Star caught my ear with these dreamy little guitar noodlings that work within the confines of their latest single. But, what caught my ear faded as I grew more and more enamored with the slight little turns of tone in the vocals. They’re wrapped up nicely around the swirling guitars, and its just playful enough to elevate the sound beyond many of the peers offering like-minded, dreamy pop. Good Cheer Records will be releasing the band’s self-titled LP on April 14th, and this is a really promising way to get folks excited!

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