Author: nathan.lankford

New Music from We Show Up On Radar

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Do you remember those days where we were swept up by crafty songwriters like Jens and Sufjan? Well, Andy Wright and his project We Show Up On Radar are quite similar, at least in their song construction, adding layer after layer. This tune begins with wonky keyboard lines matching Wright’s voice, then a chorus comes in for backing vocals, marking the entry of piano and percussive handclaps…and all that in just the first minute. Then you find this pulsing fuzz move in, and a softer backing vocal all leading to this glorious pop crescendo where horns and drums and melody crash and swirl together. What a wondrous way to begin the day. If you like it, look for the band’s Zanzibar Whip Coral in March via Fika Recordings.

Haunting Shoegaze from Be Forest

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Wanted to wrap up today with something eerie, so I’m grateful that this new single from Be Forest just dropped. There’s an ominous tone from the get-go, built on these dancing guitar lines atop a thundering rhythm section. It’s beautifully contrasted with the softness of the vocals, though the vocals seem to be frightened away as the song builds towards the track’s middling interlude. Then it returns, only to fade away into the back of the track, quietly slipping away from us all. The group will release Knocturne on February 8th via WWNBB. Also, since its time to look at SXSW, the band will be coming in from Italy to play here in Austin, with a few other scattered US dates.

Another Day Another Tiny Ruins Gem

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It seems like single after single that Tiny Ruins craft another gem that is destined for repeated listens throughout my day. On their latest tune, there’s a dominating performance from Hollie Fullbrook, but the little details hanging in the air are what make the song. I love the way the guitar lines sort of dangle and twist in the air, matched by the breathy backing “oohs” that added this dreamy quality to the track. I’m just going to keep fawning over this group until their huge, then I’ll say the first album was better…that or I’ll just up my hype when Olympic Girls hits on February 1st via Ba Da Bing.

Ohtis Announce Debut LP

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Admittedly, I’m drawn to a distinctive voice and Sam Swinson of Ohtis definitely fits that bill. Still, the band’s latest single wouldn’t be successful if there instrumentation weren’t working in their favor as well. I love the slide guitar and the light strumming that’s in the very front of the mix; it works well with the seemingly tribal percussive elements. Lyrically, it’s a touchy subject, with Swinson commenting on his own travails during a seemingly low point during his life. But, perhaps we’re all the better for it, as it serves as the foundation for a wonderful song. The group will release Curve on Earth on March 29th via Full Time Hobby.

New Track from Wild Nothing

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It’s always nice to imagine an album with this or that song included, though I don’t think Wild Nothing‘sIndigo really needed any additional flourishes. Although, with that said, this leftover definitely has that shimmering pop that gets right with me. That murky chord that opens before the wash of keyboards coat it, struck me immediately; it’s great how Jack plays between elements of light and dark in his sonic textures. Still, his latest LP showed great control of the hooks that are central to this song, so it would have been nice to see where you would have slid this one into the mix. Who knows, right? At least now we have this new version to enjoy.

New Ditty from Whoa Melodic

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We were really excited to hear news of the debut Whoa Melodic LP late last year, and now we’ve got our second single from the self-titled album. This track seems perfectly built for those Sunday afternoons spend enjoying the sunshine on your back porch. There’s a great melody (I mean, melody has to be in every song, right?) that casually sits back in the mix, relaxing behind the sunny guitar chords and the soft beat of the drums. Pop songs like this don’t exist too often, so I’ll gladly welcome anything on par with this ditty. Look for the debut February 1st via WIAIWYA.

Brand New Music from The Proper Ornaments

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Those of you still distraught over the disbanding of Ultimate Painting will be more than happy to know that The Proper Ornaments are still going, which is James’ other band (among many). They’ve got a new record titled Six Lenins, with the first single a song for John Lennon. Interestingly, it’s almost a bedroom pop hit. Sampled percussion and keys walk you into the track, working mostly with the the rise and fall of the voice; there’s some guitar work, but it’s not the dominating feature of this tune. There’s something subtle about this track, unassuming in its presentation, you’ll find it seeping into your soul like only the best tunes can. The album will drop on powerhouse label Tapete Records on April 5th.

Brand New Number from Twain

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Perhaps no one in the indie spectrum has been on a quicker ascendancy than Twain, particularly after all the praise awarded to Rare Feeling. What I love about this new track is that it’s employing piano work as the song’s backbone, along with some minimal percussive elements. There’s something special about the way those ivory notes sparkle in your ear, especially when matched with the deepened voice of Mt. Davidson. They’ve still got guitar skipping through the background in a shimmering fashion, but the patience to pull in the listener with the piano is something to marvel. This track appears on the new effort The Two EPs, which is being released by Keeled Scales on January 25th.

Seablite Rulz with New Single

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Our friends over at Emotional Response Records snuck in a few gems into their latest compilation, a collection which culls 2018 and 2019 releases together…but I’ve been drawn to this new jam from San Fran’s Seablite. The band released a stellar EP in 2017, and this has them ushering in that special blend of bouncing pop music that can only make your day 100 times better. It opens with these sharp little guitar stabs, then a punctuated drum beat and we’re off to super rad fun times. The vocals are really soft and dreamy, helping spin the listener about in their bedroom. It’s Tuesday, and this is my absolutely favorite track of the week. Look for Grass Stains and Novocaine in May of this year.

 

Smiile Release New Tunes

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Smiile have graced these pages many a time, so it’s always nice to have the band return to our pages, especially with brand new music. This number has Jake taking the song’s central focus, both in the accompanying video and the vocals. He’s got this voice that sounds light in presentation, but heavy in tone; it’s sort of the vibe the whole song offers listeners. There’s this natural light to the song that seemingly seeps through, though perhaps that’s just the “mystical” aspect vibing through my speakers at the moment. But, the one thing missing (if you can even say that) is the perfect foil to Jake’s voice. You can hear that in the second track the band released! And because they’re from Austin and we love them…both videos are below! Look for a new EP this Spring.

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