Month: February 2022

Cool Album Streams: Red Pants + Die! Die! Die!

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There’s tons of new stuff out today, but here’s a couple that I’d like to put up on your radar, in hopes that you’ll find some joy off the beaten path of the hot releases out there.

First up is the new album from Red Pants, When We Were Dancing. It’s like this fuzzy little lo-fi blanket that you want to bundle up in as you sit before a fire on a chilly star-lit night. The LP is out courtesy of Paisley Shirt Records.

Second, New Zealand’s Die! Die! Die! have released their punishing noise-core record, This Is Not an Island Anymore. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of that one Refused record everyone loves, post-hardcore mantras and angular riffs that you can hear ripping your speakers.

Salt Lake Alley Share I’m Always Near

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There’s a certain brand of indiepop that always makes me think of discotheques after with fun lighting and easy flowing booze; I see myself in this scene, arms flailing and kicking up my feet on the dance floor while wearing a shit-eating grin across my face. I think of bands like the Lodger, and now I’m thinking of Salt Lake Alley; the Swedish duo with my favorite track of the week dropping today, courtesy of Shelflife. Just listen to the jangling guitars and the way they immediately get your toes tapping, coyly teasing you to join in on the fun in this tune; it’s like listening to the prime-era Smiths, except you know that this band isn’t full of shitty humans. You’ll find this track on their new LP, It Takes Two, out later this year.

Enjoying Singles from Coeur Joie

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The good thing about mellow music weeks is that you get a chance to indulge in tunes you might have missed or you can prepare from forthcoming releases from friends. So, here I’ve been listening to French outfit Coeur Joie (translates to heart joy) before the release of their new album tomorrow, and I immediately wanted to share the tunes, despite my limitations with the French language. Somethings supersede lyrical content, and these tracks have that emotional appeal where it just hits you immediately, burying you in a listening cocoon that lets you escape from the world. They release Allumettes au bout des iles tomorrow on Hidden Bay Records, so be sure to enjoy the samples below, and grab the whole meal tomorrow!

Frontperson Announce New LP, Parade

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When you are involved in various other acts, like the New Pornographers (Kathryn Calder) or Woodpigeon (Mark Andrew Hamilton), its got to be difficult to lay down the pieces to a new Frontperson LP. There were, of course, other barriers like a pandemic and pregnancy, but now all the pieces have come together and the duo have announced Parade. This track is like a tricked out pop gem, something that doesn’t seem too far away from Kathryn’s other gig. There’s this synthetic key work that plays the role of the background, then it seems like everything else, including the vocals gets layered down bit by bit, building the texture into something full and enlightening. Personally, I dig the restraint, as it would have been easy to sell a hook in this, but they hold it back, letting the layers and the overlapping melodies build that joyous sensation for listeners. Parade is out April 29th via Oscar St Records/WIAIWYA.

Dreamy Piece from Imandra Lake

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It’s been quite awhile since we’ve heard from Imandra Lake, with the band last releasing new music in 2015. But, there’s a brand new track to open your day here, and in perfect fashion, it’s like rubbing the sleep from your eyes and you adjust to the sunlight creeping in your window. The song moves slowly, with drum work put down by John McIntire of Tortoise, while Rein and Eve texture the song with dreamy vocal notes that float through the tune like wispy clouds on a windy day. Listening closely, you can hear the song elevate to these bright moments, providing contrast to the heavier tones that adorn the majority of the track. It’s available via Seksound!

Stream Star Party’s Push You Aside Single

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Last week Bandcamp gave a huge push to Star Party‘s forthcoming Meadow Flower LP, and while the band were on my radar, it’s only fitting that I share that out with you all too, just in case you missed it. I think it’d be easy to toss the band in the bucket with acts like Best Coast or Vivian Girls, and probably not too far off, sonically. But, there’s this heavy noise element, something that seems a little darker and perhaps a little more counter-culture; they’re the Shangri-Las to everyone else’s Supremes. Their debut album looks to take those bedroom influences and fill your living room with cacophonous noise that echoes while your mind soaks in the sugary goodness of the melodies. The album drops on March 11th, but you can order it now!

Revisiting Mr. Husband’s Portrait of the Artist as a Middle Aged Dude

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Kenny Tompkins, aka Mr. Husband, has been writing songs and running Yellow K Records for some time, and late last year he released A Portrait of the Artist as a Middle-Aged Dude, and I let it slip me by, so I wanted to give a little shout out to one of my favorite tunes. This song opens up with this incredible bit of guitar twang, leading you to think you’ve come across a nice little country ditty, which is perhaps why I love it so much. Tompkins vocal delivery begins to set the song in a new direction, something that seems like it might fall in line with a David Berman piece, both playful and reflective and definitely self-deprecating. Need a laugh with a toe-tap? Well, spend some time with the latest Mr. Husband release.

SXSW Interviews: Grant Pavol

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As we’ve previously mentioned, SXSW is officially just a few weeks away and it’s time for you to start making some plans if you hope to be out and about in the festival madness. If you’ve followed us over the years, you know we love the week and love providing as much coverage as we possibly can both before and after the festival. Today we shall continue our ongoing preview coverage with another interview, this time from Philly based artist Grant Pavol. You can check out the full interview with some music after the jump.

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Bodega Drop Statuette on the Console

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While the typical Bodega single brandishes art-punk with Ben up front, the latest tune from the band features Nikki Belfligio leading on vocals, totally changing the dynamic of the band with her performance. Angular guitar punk is out the window, turning towards a more anthemic power pop vibe, just riffing right through the hooks once the track jumps into play. But, it wouldn’t be Bodega if they weren’t calling our attention to our “dependence on fragile, fleeting technology.” Love this band, but this track takes their work to a whole new level that I’m hoping you’ll dig. Broken Equipment drops on March 11th via What’s Your Rupture.

Persica 3 Announce Tangerine + Share Water Lily Single

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Parisian outfit Persica 3 will be releasing Tangerine in the first weeks of March, and they’ve just shared this little sample of what’s coming your way, thus why I’m here pointing you in their direction. There’s not too much out there about those working on the songs, but they’re crafting these beautiful soundscapes that will make folks think back on acts like Stereolab, or more recent pushes by Dummy. It’s pop collage work, at times taking risks to get lost in the musical woods, exploring the paths that leads you nowhere, only to retrace the steps and start anew, each time bringing in more texture to the fold. Grab a cup of coffee, pull your chair to the window, and let this song take your mind out into the world. Look for Tangerine on March 4th courtesy of Hidden Bay Records.

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