Author: nathan.lankford

Weatherday Shares Ripped Apart by Hands

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Despite the song title offering up a grotesque image, the new Weatherday track offers a more intimate glimpse at the songwriting from the Swedish project. For the most part, the song is dominated by a heavy strum, which feels like it’s done so passionately that you can imagine blood dripping down the body of the guitar; there’s something to it that reminds me of the early Bright Eyes stuff where everything felt primal, as if there was no other option but to let it out into the world. Subtly, a sly little bit of electronics bubble, building towards the chorus, offering this softened charm that seduces the listener. This wonderful new tune appears on Hornet Disaster, dropping on March 19th via Top Shelf.

The High Water Marks Announce Consult the Oracle

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At this point in the indie sphere, it seems (to me at least) that The High Water Marks should be required listening. They consistently churned out a brand of power-pop, envied by their peers and relished by fanatics who trace the band’s musical construction back to its early Elephant 6 roots. Sure, those days are long in the past, but you can certainly hear the way that vocal melodies are layered atop one another, carefully, so as to subtly encourage you to dig beneath the surface. And of course, they’re never straying from pop pieces, as that’s their bread and butter, and they do so with just enough attitude to make the cool kids swoon. Their new album Consult the Oracle is out May 16th via Meritorio Records.

Mariin K Offers New Single

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I’ve long been fans of the Estonian label, Seksound, and they’ve been fairly active recently, with a new tune from Pia Fraus…and now this delightful tune from Mariin K. Starting with this stuttered breakdown is a perfect way to set the song up, as it quickly moves beyond synthesized structure into a dreamier bit of heavenly pop. The softness in Mariin’s voice as she hits the chorus perfectly compliments the natural ebb and flow between the dreamier moments and the trip-hop grooves; it’s almost as if this was built for a huge anthemic arena-style singalong, or at least that’s how I’m picture it as I crank it up. Join me?

New Icarus Phoenix Single

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I’m always going to get behind a Drew Danburry release, and his latest single under the Icarus Phoenix moniker has him revisiting softened indie days of old. There are moments when his voice recalls the works of Ben Gibbard or even Jason Lytle, taking on this stretched syllabic melody. Guitars and ambient notes follow suit, stretching the scenery behind Drew’s voice, lifting it up with subtle textures that rise through the speakers. It’s really interesting when it’s juxtaposed with the acoustic demo, which is also attached to the release, as you get to hear the way the song’s initial stages unfold into this rich pop tapestry.

SXSW Interviews 2025: Two-Man Giant Squid

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It’s hard to pigeon-hole Brooklyn outfit Two Man Giant Squid; they often change directions from song to song, and sometimes within the songs themselves, as in the case of last year’s “Weird Recordings.” I think that’s what makes them great for a festival like SXSW, as they can lock into a groove or a set, and manipulate the audience depending upon the vibe…or maybe they show up and melt faces. Think you’ll be satisfied either way. And, if you don’t know about them, check out our brief interview below!

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Ruby Moon Drop Slow Burn

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Admittedly, I’m a sucker for a post-punk style jam that feels like it was made in the basement of a dingy apartment, and I mean that in the best way. I miss Blank Dogs! But today, we’ve got this new Ruby Moon tune, wearing the same pair of pants, and in saying that, there’s also a little plot twist that makes the work below uniquely it’s own. Sure, the beats maintain that industrial pop synthesis, but the melodic focus on the vocals and underlying guitar licks offers a shimmering bit of joy that I can’t pull myself away from. Think you’ll feel the same by pressing play below.

Paper Sister Offer Run Home Single

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There’s a lot going on in the Austin scene at the moment, with our own SXSW show on the horizon, but last week, this Paper Sister track caught my attention. The group swear an allegiance to the left-of-the-dial anthemic pop of the late 90s, which fits my listening habits of late, as I’ve oddly been on a Cranberries kick (ain’t no shame!). This track puts the pop focus in the verses, walking you into the tracks with a softness that seduces the listener at first. They don’t hang out there forever, however, as they’ve also got a penchant for noisy indie rock, which you can hear filling the backdrop of this tune when the chorus kicks in. Just another reason to keep an eye on the ATX scene this year!

Wylderness Return with New Single

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Welsh outfit Wylderness have been consistently dropping great pop hits since we stumbled upon them several years ago, and their latest single continues in that tradition, even offering a glimpse at where the band go from here. The balance between light guitar notes and heavy riffs is perfect, weaving them together like some dreamy rock quilt of perfection. In that, they manage to use that balance to keep a steadied pace that allows the tune to create a natural tension; they hold that feeling tightly, waiting to unleash it until after the halfway mark of the tune where things spin and crash beautifully. They’ve got a new Safe Mode EP on the horizon, so we’ll keep you posted!

The Catenary Wires Join Brian Bilston for Sounds Made By Humans

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We’ve long supported The Catenary Wires, as forever fans of anything Rob and Amelia do. This go round, they’ve joined up with acclaimed poet, Brian Bilston, for an exciting album billed as Sounds Made by Humans; it’s a bit of pop, a bit of poetry and the trails that are sprinkled in-between. The song opens with a sound bite, from Brian, but quickly erupts into a rolling twirl of thundering percussion and swirling vocal notes; it spins over and over, catching you like the undertow of the ocean, dragging you into the pop spectacle. Will all the tracks be like this? We’re not quite sure, as the LP aspires to mix the pop and the poet, but hopefully we’ll get to hear more from the folks at Skep Wax. Sounds Made By Humans is out on May 9th.

Pike Release Final Words

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After a long absence from recording, Canadian lot Pike are back with a couple of new songs you should get into while you can. I like the straddling pop styles of the tune below; it kind of seems like it’s playing a musical hopscotch, bopping from side to side in the speakers. Erik Hamilton and Katie Laine trade vocal spars, often overlapping one another to build this textured melody that gets cut into pieces as the song takes on a more angular approach in the track’s latter half. If you’re looking for a solid vibe of cool, then you can’t get much better than pressing play on the new single below.

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