Author: nathan.lankford

Hear Another Sunwatchers Tune

Leave a comment

You’re going to have to face it; there’s really nothing out there like Sunwatchers at the moment. Sure, you had hints of the psychedelic noise with late Mars Volta, but it never delved into the realms of free-form jazz like this bunch does with their keys/sax work. Plus, while other acts of the same ilk seem to rely upon over-indulgence, or jamming, everything about this latest single reeks of purpose. The guitar line slithers about from the get-go, backed by the drums, awaiting the arrival of the keys; eventually the sax joins in and they break all confines of modern pop structures. If you’re willing to take a chance on rocking outside the norm, then be sure to grab II from Trouble In Mind Records on February 2nd.

Enjoying This Lightwash Tune

Leave a comment

The guitar vibes immediately set you in the mood when you put on this Lightwash single. It’s important to take that to heart, as we’re being told that the band’s latest Half Hung EP isn’t meant to be scrutinized, only revered as a gem of pop songwriting. It does indeed accomplish its feat, at least on this track, with the vocals hanging on every note, fading out with the last syllable. Personally, I like the emphatic drum rolls giving an extra punch to the turning of words. Go on and jam it, then pick it up from Broken Circles on February 2nd.

Enjoy a Newish Pete Astor Tune

Leave a comment

I remember when Tapete Records announced the latest 7″ I was climbing all over the Internet trying to find a song to share. But, at that time, nothing was up, so I forgot about it, until “Water Tower” started popping up around these parts last week. Why does this matter? Well, for one, Pete Astor is one of the gifted members of the Loft and the Weather Prophets. Secondly, his album Spilt Milk (2016) was definitely one of my favorites, and I still listen to it on the reg. The reason this song matters is that it will appear on a new record from Pete titled One for the Ghost, which is slated for a release in February. Enjoy it!

Minimalist Post Punk from Exek

Leave a comment

Exek are one of the the many Melbourne acts creeping into my playing rotation as of late, offering up something quite different than many of their countryfolk. This single has a minimal structure, with a faint bass line working atop low-key percussive elements. When the vocals enter, they almost seem like fading breaths, whispers carried off into the ether. But, together, the effect is quite powerful, something akin to the work of Liars. The group’s new album, Ahead of Two Thoughts, will be released by W.25th on January 26th.

Have Another Tune from Jesse Marchant

One comment

While I’ve been a fan of JBM, or Jesse Marchant nowadays, this brand new single from his latest LP shows such promise that I’m penciling in repeated listens in 2018. There’s a forlorn tone, both in the emotional pull created by the trickling guitar line and the lyrical content. A slight fuzz builds an added layer about midway through the track, giving just the slightest emphasis before settling right back into the natural joy of the song. Whatever he’s writing, Marchant has charmed us a great deal…leaving us looking forward to Illusion of Love (released on January 26th).

Never a Bad Day for a Spook School Tune

Leave a comment

While we anxiously await the release of The Spook School‘s Could It Be Different (coming early next year), they’ve helped us out by sharing a delightful Christmas tune. Interestingly, and perhaps for the holidays, the band have pulled back on some of their distortion pop, offering a shimmering little indiepop vibe on this number. The single is released this Friday, but the band will also be selling a festive calendar featuring candid photos of drummer Niall…always a good gift idea; you can grab that HERE. Hope this can tide you over until the new LP hits!

Loma Share Another Track from Forthcoming Album

Leave a comment

It should come as no surprise that members of Cross Record and Shearwater will garner a lot of attention, but the depth of song’s like the one below clearly hint at how great this new Loma album is going to be. There’s a wonky, unsettling groove that opens the track, but Emily quickly comes into the picture to calm the storm with her voice. This track was built for her, with layered atmospherics withering in and out of the tune, leaving plenty of negative space for her to carry us with her voice. A different vibe than the first tune, but one we adore over here; look for the self-titled album to hit on February 16th via Sub Pop.

Club 8 Share Single from Golden Island

Leave a comment

While we’ve covered Club 8 quite a bit during our tenure, I feel like we’ve really taken the Swedish outfit for granted; they’ve recently announced Golden Island, which will be their 10th LP. Perhaps even more impressive than their long career is this new tune; it’s a very purposeful piece of pop music. The first 40 seconds or so are pretty sparse, dominated by what can only be described as a deep pulse. In the vocals, you almost have them used as an instrument, despite their polished beauty…especially when the sampled vocal enters the picture. It’s hard not to appreciate a band that continues to involve, and in such an emphatic fashion; look for the new LP on January 26th via Labrador Records.

Tape Deck Mountain Announce Echo Chamber Blues

Leave a comment

I’ve been writing about Tape Deck Mountain since I stumbled upon their album, Sway, way back in 2013. I’m really stoked to hear that the group has a brand new album, Echo Chamber Blues, coming our way in February of next year. The tune below definitely rides on the tails of shoegaze, though the guitars aren’t as loud in the front of the mix, creating more of a resonating squall that sits right behind the vocals. This group always manages to craft what I can only describe as a beautiful darkness, with careful melodies taking on heavy tones and a noisy sterility that lurks throughout. If you’re into the gaze, then gaze here.

Premiere: Unlikely Friends Announce Crooked Numbers

Leave a comment

Unlikely Friends are a pop group; they first came to my attention because of Charles Bert’s participation (he also plays in Math and Physics Club…D Crane from BOAT is the other core member). Today we’re excited to bring you this fresh single from the group’s forthcoming LP, Crooked Numbers. It opens with this distorted guitar, moving into a slight static vocal before pulling back the effects to reveal the song’s pop underbelly. You’re intoxicated, sure, but you’re not fully hooked until the falling melodies of the chorus are dropped on you; it’s like a sugar cube for pop aficionados. You’ll come back time and time again, and as you do, you’ll hear more vocal melodies surfing through the song, taking you on one hell of a pop rollercoaster. Crooked Numbers will be released on January 12th via Swoon Records.

1 … 766 767 768 769 770 … 1,523
Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com