Month: April 2024

Friday Album Streams: Rural France, Joyer, Writhing Squares and More

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Definitely a busy week on the album release list, and if I had more time, I’d be way into reviews. But, life always seems to be in the way, so the best way I can throw my weight behind great music is to give you a chance to stream some of the really solid albums that dropped on the Internet this weekend. So, just check out all the records below, and be sure to buy!

Writhing Squares – Mythology (Trouble in Mind Records)

Joyer – Night Songs – (Hit the North Records)

Maria Chiara Argiro – Closer – (Innovative Leisure)
Rural France – Exacatmondo – (Meritorio Records)

Babehoven – Water’s Here In You – (Double Double Whammy)

Hovvdy – Hovvdy – (Arts and Crafts)

The Legends Share Secret Shine

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Friday should be a day full of enjoyment, a celebration of working through the week and seeing a bit of rest on the horizon (if you’re working a tradition M-F). So, put on this track from the Legends, offering one of their first pieces of new music since 2020. There’s a spritely pulse to this, with dancing guitar lines jumping right through the speaker; put your arms above your head and kick your legs up, feel your body jump right into this song as you feel the freedom and bounce coursing through your veins. This track features Julia from Acid House Kings adding in some vocals, so double win for you!

Bobsled Team Share Waiting for You + Drop New Album

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Over the years I’ve mentioned Belfast’s Bobsled Team quite frequently, and today we can rejoice as they’re sharing a new single in honor of release day for their new LP. This tune’s indicative of the breathing you can do amidst the whole of their record, as you can tell they didn’t rush to fill every crevice with noise and guitars, instead letting the melody float carefully. You’ll hear bending guitar notes working on a pounding drum beat, every musical note spent to accent the vocal pieces. Don’t get me wrong, as All the Flowers Bloom certainly has moments of energy like “Analita” or “Time Goes By,” but they definitely seem more thoughtful with their craft, and you’ll be the beneficiary. Stream the whole LP HERE.

The Laughing Chimes Share Two New Singles

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Anyone with a hankering for indiepop sounds should already have the Laughing Chimes high upon your listening rotation, but in case you’re unaware, we’ll remind you with a nice new double AA single to stream today! The first of the singles has this kind of dole-wave sound to it, and I’m sure we could date that back to the early days of Felt or what not, but to me, feels a bit like the Ocean Party; it’s jangling in spots, but highlights the breezy vocals that filter through your speakers. Flip to the next tune and you’ve got a bit more blossoming energy that naturally springs from the opening bass line; guitars swirls and cymbals are shaking, all of it with this infectiousness that will make any pop fan swoon. For me, the tunes both have some strong vocal work that seems out of the ordinary in the modern scene, so I’m fawning over those moments (even including what I think is a new vocalist on the first track). These great hits brought to you by Slumberland.

Another +/- Single from Further Afield

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After a bit of an absence, +/- are right back in the thick of it, offering up another single from their forthcoming Further Afield LP. This one begins with an elaborated line that guitarist James took from his son as they played on a keyboard together; it matches up with some of the fatherhood themes that run their course in the track. As you listen, it feels light and instant, like you could easily wrap it up in 2 minutes, yet they choose to flesh it out, building this dreamy melodic bridge that fills the song’s center. Then it all circles back to the lighter moments, albeit with a little more space behind as opposed to the initial immediacy. Another single, another hit…Further Afield is out May 31st.

French Cassettes Share Megabus

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Wow, a quick search on our site shows that is has been damn near 12 years since we last posted on San Francisco based outfit French Cassettes and it seems like high time for us to get back on the hype train. The band has really taken shape and evolved over the years, with a more purposeful and calculated approach to writing songs. Hard evidence of the evolution can be heard in this new single “Megabus” which highlights a playful, yet expert level lyricism from songwriter Lorenzo Scott Huerta. Hopefully the track can provide some mellow vibes for the rest of your day.

This trick appears on the new album from French Cassettes entitled Benzene, which is out on June 7th via Tender Loving Empire.

Cosmopaark Share Pure Intention Video

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There’s something really soothing about the distinct styles that are present in this brand new Cosmopaark tune. When you hit the play button, your confronted with a light bit of post-punk guitars, toying with you as a snare softly rolls behind the buoyant vocals. As the bass begins to buzz beneath, you can tell things are going to switch it up, and they do, however briefly. That burst of noise that momentarily leaks through is the set up for the drop into the dreamy depths the French band take you down towards once you hit the 1 minute mark. The song returns to flirtatious pop feel, even building a bit of negative space that allows the guitar to dance and twirl about; they ride that moment out for a bit, circling back to win you with a blend of it all as the track draws to a close.

Vid Premiere: Noelle and the Deserters Share Watching Billboards Change

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If you’re searching for modern country, you might not think to gravitate towards Sacramento, California, yet that’s what makes spending time with this new tune from Noelle & the Deserters so perfect: it feels like a home on a Texas porch just as much as it feels like California sunshine. You should feel drawn to the sliding guitar lines and the light strums that accompany singer Noelle Fiore’s sparkling vocals; those pipes filter in the sunshine through a Western swinging background. Lyrically, Fiore details the difficulty of finding ones’ self stuck in a cycle, yet putting your head down and getting on with it in hopes of finding your way. Feel free to travel with Noelle & the Deserters on High Desert Daydream, which comes out on May 31st via Speakeasy Studios SF.

Lunchbox Share Two New Tunes

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The folks over at Slumberland are keeping your playlists chock full of great pop music this Spring, and they offer up two new gems (just a day after a great new Lightheaded) from Lunchbox. In the first tune, you get that classic jangling pop sound, though warmed up so that the jangles feel slightly softer around the edges. This is a classic track for fans of the genre, as it sounds like it could come from any number of great pop acts, be it Allo Darlin or Camera Obscura. Flip to the other single and you get a bit more of a rambunctious pop number; the rhythm section is thumping, kicking the song into gear while the vocals saddle up for the pop pony-ride. Those overlapping vocal notes aren’t too shabby either! The charm is all the way up with these two numbers, so grab a copy of Pop & Circumstance before it’s May 10th release (there’s a bonus bundle on the Slumberland site to get three May releases!).

Goblin Daycare Share Liar Liar

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Through the first few singles, I’ve been totally on board with Turkey’s Goblin Daycare, and as of this new single, that’s not changing. There’s some sonic similarities to what folks are doing in the US scene, like the Oh Sees, but what I enjoyed here was that they kind of peeled away layers of the sonic onion, getting down to the most frantic core of the track. You’ll hear those jittering guitars knifing their way through here, but the drum work is seemingly sedated (in sound only); it leaves plenty of room for the vocals to crawl through in this goblin-esque manner. It’s like they’re begging you to dig deeper into the genre, and I’m totally here for it. They’ll release Agitpop Hotline on May 17th via Dedstrange.

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