Author: nathan.lankford

Tony Jay Announces Knife is But a Dream

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Michael Ramos, like many folks in the Bay Area, whether that’s with Tony Jay or Flowertown, all of whom which have had releases in the last couple of years. Today, we get news that his Tony Jay project will be releasing Knife Is But a Dream, a new collection of music to prepare for his August tour of Japan. You get two tracks to sample today, one being more of a noisy piece of ambiance to prepare you for your listen, with the other more of Ramos’ bread-and-butter. Personally, the way the traditional ballad is presented in the second track is quite special; it operates as sort of two musical pieces, one being the central ballad and Ramos’ soft voice, while the other seems to be an entirely separate movement of ambient symphony, laid behind the ballad to create this dense drone of striking pop. The release will be out on August 16th via Paisley Shirt, Galaxy Train and Slumberland Records.

Voxtrot Share Esprit de Coeur Single

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It’s been a lot of fun for us folks down here in Austin since Voxtrot returned to the scene; I’ve loved watching how they’ve fused their late work with a new direction, albeit one linked to their storied past in our city. Their latest single continues that growth, layering string arrangements around a continuous pop build. I loved how there was a bounce and bob in the opening moments, setting up a frivolous burst of joy before settling into the track as a set up for the vocal entry. Ramesh’s vocal performance shows his confidence in his abilities too, pushing his voice while still clinging to pop sentiments…a great moement at the 2:40 mark with some punctuated notes too. Keep your eyes peeled tomorrow for a very special show announcement concerning the band too!

WH Lung Share How to Walk

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In the midst of Summer here, and for me, there’s a desire to embrace joy, and perhaps there hasn’t been quite the single yet to match my own enthusiasm…until this W.H. Lung track. If you know me, you know I’m a sucker for big monosyllabic hooks, such as the “whoos” that course through the entirety of this single. I’d come back alone, but they’re also trying their damndest to incorporate the setting of their live sets on the next LP, so you can feel them trying to force that energy through the cones of your speakers. That powerful movement and those damned sucker hooks will have you circling back to hear more from the group; the release Every Inch of Earth Pulsates will be joyously celebrated on October 18th via Melodic Records.

Colatura Share Suffer Dude Single

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Brooklyn’s Colatura return with their first piece of music since 2022 album, And Then I’ll Be Happy; it hits the perfect summer sentiment, at least when you’re looking at the sonics. Guitars shimmer and and shine throughout the background, building up this sort of mirage that one might find upon the ocean waters at midday. Lyrically, the song seems to have the narrator settling on being unhappy in a sense, preferring to stay inside when it’s the outside world that consistently seems to bring them down. Summer ripper with a sad sentiment spun into sugary pop for your enjoyment.

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New Starts Share A Little Stone Single

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A muted opening with Darren Hayman weaving his lyrical magic kicks off the most recent single from New Starts. Those muted notes begin to open up, joined by another guitar, letting the tension build and build until the drums opt to join in more forcefully around the 50 second mark. Once those guitars continue their little shuffle, the track begins to feel like a country-western boogie; Hayman manages to break out near the 2 minute mark, stretching his voice into a little more heartbreak, matching up with title of the album, More Break-Up Songs; they release their new record on August 16th via Fika Recordings.

Whitelands Share Cheer Video

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This fresh track from Whitelands just dropped, and I’m buying whatever it is that they’re selling us. While the opening is abuzz with a wash of noise, that’s quickly pulled back away, almost like the band are afraid of their own shadow. It’s there where they draw you in, stilly bringing in the vocals while the guitar notes move in and out of the cavernous realm they’ve created. What you’ll enjoy is their consistent use of space to kind of bring the more dream-like nature of the genre to the fore, letting you sink into the track itself. The digital version has a howdogirlssleep remix, if you’re willing to check out more of what’s being offered today.

The Boys with Perpetual Nervousness Share Unreleased Single

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Way back in the day, I raved about the Boys with Perpetual Nervousness debut LP, Dead Calm; it featured the standout hit “Nervous Man,” which still gets constant play on my own playlists. Recently, the band have announced that they’re going to reissue the album, with a bunch of demos attached…and a bonus track that didn’t make the LP. The charming tune below was part of the Dead Calm recording session, but left off merely because the band wanted to keep the record to 10 tracks rather than 11…simple as that. It’s got crisp riffs and a steady bounce, all attributes that have made the group one of the best power-pop purveyors going these days. The deluxe edition of the LP will be out on September 13th via Bobo Integral.

Fake Fruit Drop Mas o Menos Single

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Really loving the energy coming through on this new Fake Fruit single, just another reminder of the diversity of the Oakland scene (third song today from the area!). Their first two tracks from the forthcoming Mucho Mistrust LP were illustrating the group’s ability to stretch themselves beyond the expectations. Growth is great, but this tune feels like their lineage coming through, ferocious and scratching at your speakers as they drive forth frantically. You get a brief respite in the tune, but it only ramps up the tension more so they can tear the song to the ground. Mucho Mistrust is ready to rock n’ roll; it drops on August 23rd via Carpark Records.

Stream Flooded, the New EP from Parallel

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We’ve tried to hip you to Parallel recently, and today you can finally stream the entirety of their new Flooded EP, which is the second release we’re covering from Cherub Dream Records (it’s a co-release with Play Alone) plthis week. Initially we recommended “Painkiller,” but as the whole EP is now available I think I’m also in love with opener “Death or Oblivion,” which forced me to evaluate my own listening habits, as they use this track to build up the sound for well over a minute before offering any vocal morsels. Pulling back on the immediacy, the band encourages you to absorb the whole of their songs, not just the most exciting moments, ultimately making their whole EP feel like a full-length listening experience. Give a stream to the whole EP below, and grab the 12″ version HERE.

Plus/Minus Share Contempt Video

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If you haven’t delved into Further Afield just yet, might we encourage you to indulge in the entirety of Plus/Minus (+/-) latest opus. While I think the whole of the record is chock-full of incredible moments, “Contempt” certainly feels like something built for the indie masses. It’s got an insatiable groove that hits you almost instantly, then cut up with these jagged guitar licks that rip and recede, all of it merely textured to provide an emotionally charged vocal. Honestly, every moment within this tune fits absolutely perfectly, whether its the gentle vocals or the sharp edged guitar, it all just collides into one perfect pop moment we recommend you take on by grabbing it HERE.

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