Author: nathan.lankford

Martha + Spook School = Get Wrong

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When this glorious email came across my inbox from Father/Daughter Records, I had expectations; I’ve written extensively about Martha and Spook School for years, so I dove right into Get Wrong. Now, while the lyrical content definitely resonates with both Adam and Naomi’s other acts, the musical style present here is a little bit of a left turn, in the best way. Rather than employing driving guitar riffs that tear through your speakers, the duo employ catchy synth lines, giving their track a natural bounce that plays into their ability to write infectious tunes you’ll want to sing with your best friends. The urgency is twisted towards a more reflective fashion, but these two are going to enchant you no matter what they write; look for their Get Wrong EP via Father/Daughter on December 1st.

The Serfs Share Electric Like an Eel

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One of the records I’m looking towards before the year is up is this new LP from Cincinatti’s The Serfs; you could file them under a darker brand of outsider post-punk or creative new-wave, but every time you think you’ve got them penned, the new LP seems to shift towards something else. For some reason, the tune feels like you’re locked into a serious round of Arkanoid at your favorite arcade. You can hear the manager complaining in the background, or perhaps cavorting with the local teens in awe. But, you’re locked into the game, the pinging of that little ball hitting a cold electronic note that bounces in your head as it does on the screen. Furthering it all, you hear the echoes of other games and their like-minded digital noises, all bleeding into this one sound that continuously has you pumping quarters into the machine. It’s futuristic nostalgia, and it’s pretty awesome, so be sure to get ready for Half Eaten by Dogs, out October 27th via Trouble in Mind Records.

Fleur Bleu-e Release New Single

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We covered the first single from French outfit Fleur bleu-e, and they’ve got another new tune that really feels perfect for a reflective Thursday listen. It reminds me a lot of Bones Garage, the Israeli band we worked with on our label, sort of melding classical pop vocals with a dreamier, janglier guitar underbelly. Here, the vocals enter the picture first, with a sort of warped guitar echoing in the background; it allows you to kind of relax as the melody laps at your ear. With continued patience, the song begins to reveal itself with sharper guitar notes that playfully tickle your ears and ask for you to dive into the depths of the band’s sound. This tune’s brought to you courtesy of Pan European Recording.

Lower Plenty Share Blue Shadows

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You ever listen to a song, and be it the timing or the song’s magic, and you just feel like crying? Well, there’s something truly special in this new Lower Plenty song that really just filled me, emotionally, and maybe I cried, and maybe I didn’t, and maybe it doesn’t matter. But, the song was brilliant from the get-go, opening with this heavenly and deep string arrangement atop a really light strum and bouncing bit of percussion. Every vocal note seems perfectly matched too, buried deep within the vibe of the track; this all changes when you hit the 1:19 mark in the tune, allowing the song to soar with a united vocal approach that shines a brilliant light right through your speakers. Imagine if Galaxie 500 got recorded in some Australian home for lost musicians, and that about sums it up for me. No Poets, the new LP, is out on October 6th via Bedroom Suck Records.

No Zu Share Farewell Singles

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It’s a shame that No Zu decided to call it quits earlier this year, but as we’ve seen, being a musician in the current climate is a challenge unto itself. But, as they say goodbye, the Australian outfit wanted to send you off with a fond farewell. The track began as a take on 23 Skidoo’s “Last Words,” but the group quickly made the instrumental tune their one, creating “one last bucket of Zu ooze” to share with the world. For me, it encompasses the energetic fusion of all great dance music, which is what the group always brought in their sounds…plus you get a great visualizer created by Bridget Trout and Jon DeNapoli. Join me in wishing the band a fond farewell! This track brought to you by the good folks at Chapter Music.

Products Band Share The Matter

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Guess we’re hanging out in Minnesota today, with Products Band the second act from the state we’re featuring today. But, unlike that ripper from Citric Dummies, Products Band are taking in that groovy bit of rock n’ roll, then fusing it with a nice little hook-laden stomp. For me, it all starts with that stuttering guitar line, jittering and shuffling throughout, letting the vocals kind of glide right in and play to the audience. The band use all sorts of different backing vocal elements too, boosting the infectious quality they bring to the table. And, while the groove factor kicks on, they’re not afraid to switch it all up for a little bit of a straight rock punch; I love a group still willing to let their rock sound fun! Some Sudden Weather drops on October 20th via Solid Brass Records.

Citric Dummies Share Fresh Single, Announce New LP

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What better way to announce a brand new album than to drop a blistering open track that rips right through your speakers? Citric Dummies have done just that, along with a nice little nod towards fellow Minnesotans Husker Du in both the album art and the title, Zen and the Arcade of Beating Your Ass. While it be easy to place the trio in some punk sub-genre, they seem more intent on breaking all the rules of punk expectations. Sure, when the chorus hits, there’s a howl that falls somewhere between Ozzy and Danzig, though I almost feel like that’s playing more to a traditional metal audience than a punk one. That said, there’s fiery guitar solos ripping here and there, like some melodic skate-punk anthem that got drenched at the Gwar show; think Queens of the Stone Age with high levels of fun and low levels of asshole-ness. They drop Zen and the Arcade of Beating Your Ass on November 3rd via Feel It Records.

Emma Anderson Shares Clusters

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Emma Anderson‘s new album is definitely something folks should have on their radar right now, as the songwriter claims the abrupt end to the Lush reunion left her “songs and bits of music” ready to go, leading to the work that would become Pearlies. This fresh single is nice and airy, which allows for Anderson’s voice to twinkle like the clusters of lights in the accompanying video below. I really loved when the song sprang to life, elevating the percussive element and the strum of the guitar just before the 1 minute mark; it’s a subtle change, but one that felt like it provided a nice dose of textured depth to the tune. Grab the new LP from Sonic Cathedral on October 20th.

Flooding Share Transept Exit

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If your frustrated with the world, feeling like you just want to punch a hole in the wall, well, then nothing’s going to get your mind ready for it like listening to the latest single from Flooding. They walk this fine line in their music that operates between a nightmare and gorgeous slowcore; you can hear the hints of both working against one another in this track. It opens in a brooding fashion, letting the vocals come in on a whisper as speakers begin to rattle on the edges. Here, the track erupts with this tenacity that begs your attention, like a caged-animal let loose through in your room, destroying all in its path, only to come to a close as it catches its breath, reflecting upon its power. Flooding will release Silhouette Machine on September 29th…with a tour scheduled at the end of October.

The Exbats Go Riding with Paul

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I’m sure folks will label it as kitsch or shtick, but I can’t really think of a band more charming and sincere than the Exbats. They seem a band destined to dwell on the outskirts of every genre, yet able to move between them all; the father/daughter-led outfit have this timelessness that’s simply irresistible. On this tune, Inez is definitely channeling 60s vocal powerhouses like Mary Weiss or Ronnie Spector. While perhaps rooted in classic pop sounds, they still manage to incorporate tons of modern touches that drag the sound into the present…be it the way backing vocals were done or the shaking close to the tune. Goner Records will help the band release Song Machine on October 13th!

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