Last Week’s Jams (1.15 – 1.19)

Last week was a strange one, particularly with the seeming loss of Pitchfork. But, here at ATH, we’re like the tortoise, just going slow and steady, doing our thing til we get to the proverbial finish line. There was tons of music to cover, and I mean tons, so we got to as much as we could, trying to highlight the stuff that wasn’t getting much love. Brand new music from Bolis Pupul came our way, plus Colin Newman reissue news. RayRay loved the new ripper from Gulfer. Personally, I loved the new Friko and Boy with Apple, and got to introduce you to new Fantastic Purple Spots from their EP next week! Sit back and enjoy some tunes.

Another Hit From Topographies

Bay area band Topographies released one of my favorite tunes late last year and they don’t appear to be slowing down as we enter 2024. Yesterday the band dropped this dark wave inspired new tune called “Chain of Days” and it just had to be shared with you all. It builds on the heavy synth sound and washed out guitar sound from previous releases and is sure to build buzz for the upcoming full length. Dig it below.

Topographies new album entitled Interior Spring is outon February 2nd viaDark Entries.Pre-orders are live now.

 

Last Week’s Jam (12.4 – 12.8)

I know you’re all anxiously awaiting our year end collection of favorite songs, but we’re just not there yet! We did run our excellent Top Albums of 2023 last week, and while that’s getting all the headlines, there were tons of great new tracks to enjoy. I was particularly enamored with the new BVs tune, as you knew I would be, not to mention some deserved adoration for the brand new Lamplight track. Local friends Psychic Seatbelt dropped a new EP, so they’re getting some love here, and throwing in a Get Wrong tune to celebrate their EP from a week or so ago. Glad folks still put out music throughout the whole year, not just up until List Week.

Topographies Share Night Sea

We’re nearing that end of year time in the ATH offices, but of course we still have time to sneak in some jams before the end of the year. Topographies out of San Francisco certainly want to be considered for year end list praise with a new single like this one, “Night Sea.” It’s a super dark wave, meets industrial sort of tune with very subtle hints of bright synths to give it some stellar pop vibes. Normally this might be an IT Department tune. Today it’s for us all.

Topographies will release a new album entitled Interior Spring on February 2nd via Dark Entries. Pre-orders are live now.

Topographies Share Rose of Sharon

What do you do if your dad played drums in the Cure? Well, if you’re Gray Tolhurst, you start your Topographies and drench your sound in those nostalgic atmospheric notes and circling angular guitar licks. I love how this has that old school feel to it also, allowing for plenty of space to come into the song; it brings the melody to the forefront, giving the song and the listener breathing room. Sometimes I just feel like we’re beaten over the head with hooks, so its nice that it’s not pushed all the way down my throat from the get-go. It’s a solid tune from a promising band who will drop their debut Ideal Form in December!