Gentle Leader XIV Share Title Track, Joke in the Shadow

In a world full of immediacy, for which I’m admittedly a sucker, Gentle Leader XIV are offering up an entirely different brand of electronica than our typical fare. For starters, the drawl of the drum sampling seems to be tugging at the time stamp, holding it one place for the track’s duration. Even when the synths take on their full approach, there’s restraint; just listen to the nod to Depeche Mode after the 30 second mark. All of this work leaves plenty of space to be filled, and while the vocals entering adds another layer, even there, the song has space to move and wiggle. You get a ripping guitar cutting into the song’s middle, yet it all feels tethered to the percussive march, and in the end you’re left with this brilliant blanket of modern pop that greets you on its own terms. Their new record, Joke in the Shadow, is out on April 18th via Feel It Records.

Steel Wool Release Self-Titled EP

The perks of dropping your EP a day before “release” day is that folks like me have time to sit and absorb before we’re bombarded with the millions of other album drops…so it’s given me time to soak in the shoegaze-y waters of Steel Wool. As you’ll hear on the track below, there’s this permanent layer of fuzz you can’t scrape off, weighted, and almost crushing in its spirit. But, one of the things this lot has done differently is their approach to the vocal content; they’re more dramatic, and almost more like a radio pop performance, providing a different twist to the genre itself. So, if you’re seeking drama and shoegaze in one, take some time today to stream Steel Wool!

Say Sue Me Go On Vacation

South Korean indiepop band Say Sue Me have been omnipresent on our site, so when they pop up with something brand new, you know that we’ll be right there to point you in the right direction. Today, they’ve announced a brand new EP, and in doing so, they’ve shared the “Vacation” single for us all. One of the things I’ve loved about the band most recently is they’re dedication to the softer side of pop whilst still pushing their sound; they don’t shy away from crunchy riffs and distorted guitars, giving their playful brand of pop the proper punch for your pleasure. Perhaps this go round, that’s also due to the presence of Kim Hanjoo (Silica Gel) who lent his voice to the track. This song also comes before a brief stop in Australia in the UK in late April/early May. Time Is Not Yours will be out on April 30th via Damnably.

The Golden Toad Share Time

While I’m a little worried about the Golden Toad‘s focus on the concept of “time,” I do know that their brand of post-punk psychedelia is super up my alley. You’ll click play here and be immediately embraced by this bobbing pulse, which is quickly greeted by these hollowed vocal howls and discordant notes shimmering through the distant horizon. Closer ears will even here this little element that has this almost folk resonance to it, sort of reverberating as the noise and the song begin to swell together. They’re a fairly new act on the London scene, but my feelings here are that the tune’s definitely something worthy of circling back to, over and over.

Mobley Shares Yesterday’s Another Day Single

Over the last few years we’ve heard some powerful voices come out of Austin, but perhaps nothing feels so tinged with soul as the voice of Mobley. He’s a shape-shifting artist, pushing his work between pop, rock and soul…and as the case is below, even a little funk twist to mix it up. I mean, you can’t escape that groove that opens this number up, circling back throughout the track, like the moment after the 1 minute mark where the smoothed pop inflection shifts into a groovy little shake and bake. You’ll also find moments throughout when Mobley just lets his voice fly right into outer space, bringing it back only to touchdown with a bit of that funky strut. Keep an eye out for We Do Not Fear Ruins, which hits on April 23rd.

Smut Announce Tomorrow Comes Crashing

Cinncinatti’s Smut aren’t a new act on the scene, but we’re expecting that their new Tomorrow Comes Crashing LP takes them to the heights of like-minded acts like Beths or Cherry Glazer. All the aforementioned acts, and this lot, take on a women-first mentality, using lyrical content to deal with the continuous bullshit the world throws at them; in this case, Smut takes on the concept of “being misunderstood by people who don’t even know you.” Success doesn’t just live on the lyrics, however, as the band behind Tay Roebuck are crushingly powerful, ripping distorted walls of guitar and churning out little hooks within while the thunderous drums dare to break your ear drums. Be sure to wait for the metal-ish breakdown in the last minute of the tune! Tomorrow Comes Crashing is out on June 27th via Bayonet Records.

Roller Derby Share Video for Lights Out

One of my favorite pop acts of the last few years is German outfit, Roller Derby, who’ve recently released their album When the Night Comes Out. As a whole, the record features some line-up changes, though Philine’s voice is definitely still the driving force behind the group’s magic. This single below, for instance, has a bit of a darker brood, matching up for Philine’s natural delivery, as it’s always had a heavier resonance. I also appreciate the reserved feel, where they allow themselves to sink into the emotion rather than pulling out the same old pop tricks. Don’t get me wrong, I love the tricks, but I love to hear folks mixing it up. When the Night Comes Out is available to stream now!

Brideshead Return with You Are the Light

For a band with 30 years under their belt, it seems like Brideshead are just peaking. It’s been nearly ten years since their last proper release, but this new single illustrates their ability to work into the confines of both classic indiepop and more modern mixtures of the indie sort. After a little snap of the drum sticks, the track immediately cascades into this brilliant bit of heavy jangling, letting the coolness of the vocals push through the speakers. Where they could just rinse and repeat, the group choose to take on some of the dreamier elements of their peers, incorporating it into their more spritely nature, which gives a buzzing hum beneath the track’s mixture; it’s the perfect pop concoction, and you won’t be able to stop playing this song (or so we all hope!). They release You Are the Light via Shelflife on May 23rd.

e4444e Shares Crutch Single

Australian artist Romy Church, aka e4444e, is one of my favorite acts from Australia at the moment, and the latest single from his new LP is an absolute pop journey. When it begins, it sort of feels mostly atmospheric, perhaps an echo from the glory days of Animal Collective, but then it begins to blossom and grow. Layers are added to the vocals, with a heavier wash of instrumentation crashing against the shores of the song. Then suddenly, it’s all peeled back, aside from a faint echo and gentle strum, letting a vocal casually float down from above. Little echoes fill in the space as the tune burns to a fine ash; you’ll definitely want to immerse yourself in Authentic Natural Tradition, dropping on May 31st via Dinosaur City.

Asha Wells Releases Title Track from The Lesson EP

Let’s slow things down a bit this morning, take a minute to breathe and bask in the glow of Asha Wells‘ new single. Musically, it’s a pretty minimal piece, working atop a simple electronic beat throughout the verses, building with a little more light instrumentation as the chorus opens up. What that means is that Asha has to carry the song on the wings of her voice alone, letting heavier tones soak up the entirety of the negative space; the chorus gets a little bit of an aid from Stephen Steinbrink adding a little backing accent to the party. Look for the Lesson EP to his on May 30th via Anxiety Blanket Records.

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