Technical Difficulties
Saturday is THE day. No days are bad, but Saturday is chock-full of ridiculous talent. Ultimate Painting and Parquet Courts have been covered and talked about til the Internet was blue in the face…and apparently this Brian Wilson guy is a big deal. Plus, you’ve got perennial indie rock powerhouses in Animal Collective and Black Mountain, but let me point you in the right direction, a little off the beaten path, perhaps. Read more
It looks like Deaf Ambitions are the newest hit-makers over in Melbourne, putting out some of our new favorites from Australia such as Cool Sounds (who I wrote about yesterday). Today, we’ve got this new Zone Out track from the label, which will be featured on the group’s upcoming album, Transience. This track is all about textures, melting beats and synth layers in order to create the backdrop for Ashley Bundang’s voice to do its thing. You’re going to find this song serving as the backdrop to the rest of your day; I just have that feeling for you. Look for the LP later this year.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/259951793″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
I’m in party mode. It’s technically my Friday, so I’m ready for some club hits, and this track from Remote Places is hitting all the right notes. This is the synth-pop I grew up on; it’s the sort that won’t beat you over the head with over-production or huge bass drops. You want to swing your arms, shuffle your feet and maybe sing the lyrics at the top of your lungs while partying with your besties. You’lll find this hit, and a few others, on the Nights and Weekends EP, which is being released by Box Theory Records.
Oddbox Records just announced this new EP from Rainbow Reservoir, and I’m kind of excited by this new discovery. Deep in the heart of the song is this catchy little vocal piece that comes in the chorus; there’s something about the quick delivery that just sticks in my head. Overall the song has this energetic brooding, seemingly waiting for an explosion into your ears…I won’t tell you whether or not that comes to fruition or not…find out for yourself by listening to the song! the Coco Sleeps Around EP will be released this July.
Listening to this song all morning, and I can’t believe that the name Cool Sounds hasn’t already been chosen by someone. That being said, I think it’s a pretty easy way to get into the group; it’s a simple explanation of the band’s pop construction. On their latest single, you’ll hear a deepened dream-state just tinged slightly with some jangling guitar work. While I initially think there was some horn catching my ear, the only thing I ended up focusing on was the calming effect of the vocals. It’s good to see a pop band taking on some different vibes. This new single is stand-alone for the moment, but promises to be included on the group’s forthcoming LP for Deaf Ambitions.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/260936828″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
This new Don Tigra tune is something quite special. Emotionally, it had me from the get-go, pulling me in with the close attention to the picking of each string on the guitar. While that could get stale, the Nashville outfit build around the guitar, quietly and carefully, so as not to upset the balance. How they accomplish a feeling of building tension in this piece is beyond me, but it creates an ominous tone that fades into oblivion as a solemn piano takes the song to a close. The band is self-releasing their debut LP this Friday, and it looks to be something you’ll enjoy…at least I think so.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/249041481″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
This year’s festival boasts a lot of great acts, especially on the headlining front (though can they top JaMC?). But, with the fest starting off this Friday, there are some undercard acts that really deserve our attention. I went ahead an picked out a couple of my favorites for you to focus on for Friday’s line-up. You can still grab tickets HERE. Read more
This new piece from Odonis Odonis is something to wrap your ears around, if you can. Opening with a pulsating groove, it pushes forward to meet the vocal entrance, breathy and cold. Eruptions of noise blast in and out of the song, maximized by that pulsating rhythm crashing into machine gun drum samples. It’s almost like a progressive bit of glitch-pop, with a more sinister tone…even down to the lyrical warning that’s present. Their new album, Post Plague, will be released on June 17th via Felte.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/260382573″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
You all know how I love my Scandinavian tunes, so when there’s something incredible popping up, I’ve got to give it some press. Seems like I might even be a bit behind, as this track from Klangstof has blown up overnight…deservedly so. Opening with softened pop is an easy way to catch my ear from the start, yet the song pushes forward building on the initial opening by filling in the space with playful, infectious samples. This tune works on multiple levels too, bursting with pop sensibility at moments, then reigning it in for a smoother croon that soothes the soul. The group has signed with Mind of Genius, so we should be hearing more about a nice full-length in the near future.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/260868290″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
In my continued search to not pigeon-hole my music listening habits, Kwesi Foraes is making it easy. This is the second single we’ve heard from his 27 EP, and the dynamism is his voice is unforgettable. There’s such pain and anger there, captivating you from the get-go; I can feel the strength in his performances bleeding through my speakers as I listen. But, what makes this song so compelling is the juxtaposition with Foraes and the string arrangements working in the background. It’s hard to turn away from a song such as this; look for it when the EP drops on May 27th.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/260996852″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
