Category: News

Merk Shares Laps Around the Sun Video

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A few weeks back I shared a tune from New Zealand’s Merk, a tune I proclaimed to be the best of no-pop. Here is the artist again, with a new single and the official announcement of his debut Infinite Youth. It’s a tune that sort of hangs on this slight balance between brooding introspection and blooming joy. I just love the way there’s this huge restraint in his approach, holding tight to to the song’s central pop force, but even with pop sensibility and that warm glow, there’s never an eruption, never a climactic rise; it makes you anxious in the best way, and while it might not deliver that hook, the way it keeps you on edge is brilliant. The new LP drops on April 9th via Humblebrag Records.

New Bums Share Cover Band

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Less than a month to go and we’ll have Last Time I Saw Grace in our hands, and for those seeking some solace, it sounds like it may come by playing this LP from New Bums. Their latest single is this lonesome ballad, starring meandering atmospherics lurking behind heavy guitar strums and overlapping vocals (one heavy, one light); this is the sort of tune that makes you feel both alone and understood by the world, all at once. Going back to the earlier two singles, this is starting to feel like the record you cuddle up with and call home, if that makes any sense at all. The LP drops via Drag City on March 19th.

Stream Black Twig’s Was Not Looking for Magic LP

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The last few months, I’ve personally been hyping the new LP from Finland’s Black Twig, Was Not Looking for Magic. Below…I give you an early stream, as well as my track by track breakdown. If you’re interested in picking up the album, it’s out this Friday via our friends over at Soliti, and I promise you, its got my stamp of approval! Leaving the stream at the top as that’s what’s most important, but my track by track breakdown lives below!

 

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The Reds, Pinks and Purples Share The Record Player & the Damage Done

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Glenn Donaldson’s The Reds, Pinks and Purples have a new LP on the way, and rumor has it that it’s flying off shelves. Take one listen below, and you’ll hear the eternal pop sensibility that Donaldson brings to the fold. There’s a light strum fighting against an angular guitar stepping in and out; the drums have this steadying stomp, keeping the song’s balance…all the way to the push towards higher vocal notes. Oddly, the song is kind of stepping on its own toes, with the tune’s thematic reference, discussing the passionate affair of collecting great pop records, of which we have not doubt that Uncommon Weather will soon find its place in that pile. The new LP drops on April 9th via Tough Love/Slumberlandand the damage will be done.

Michael Beach Shares You Found Me Out

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When Michael Beach first announced Dream Violence with “De Facto Blues,” I got exactly what I expected, considering the last time we heard from him he’d been on tour with Thigh Master; it was all energy. But, if you’ve heard his songwriting, you had to know there was a heartbreaking ballad just hanging in there. On this new tune, it’s built around Michael and this lonesome piano line from the get-go; it presents this solitary figure, delivering this personal performance that’s crushes your soul in the best way. But, Beach builds in this buoyant pop moment around the 1:12 mark, where it begins to open up the song into this delicately woven opus; strings pull at your heartstrings; keys exploded the galaxy behind Michael’s striking pipes. This one’s got all the damned feels! The new LP drops on March 19th via Goner/Poison City.

Los Esplifs Share Otro Pais

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Everyone’s lamenting the break-up of Daft Punk, but if you really want to hit the dance floor with your partner, then you better have the DJ turn up this great new track from Los Esplifs. This tune employs tons of the cumbia flare, all the way down to the way backing gang vocals; you can feel the focus on the rolling rhythm, intent upon a quick little turns of your feet while twirling your partner. For me, I love that this sort of stuff is getting a little indie credibility, as there’s this purity in the craft of such music; it’s not quite as formulaic as your traditional indie flare, thus it really revolves around the core of the players and orchestrators. Really excited to hear Estraik Back, the band’s new LP on April 20th.

Proper Nouns Announce Feel Free

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I’ll admit, I’ve grown a bit weary with your everyday indie rock brand, so hearing this new track from Proper Nouns really kicked the door down and let the rock back into my life. Spencer Compton might not feel it yet, but he’s got an uncanny resemblance to my man-crush Ted Leo, both in his distinctive vocal hiccup and the way he brandishes his guitar; its mapping out that boundary between punk and pop. His voice has this natural swing to it that just sets up the song; it has this natural rising action, topped off with this cool swaggering climax that’s perfect if you turn it up real real loud. I didn’t know how much I needed this until it was right in front of me. Feel Free is being released on April 23rd via Phone Booth Records.

Chapter Music Reissues Tangled Shoelaces

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There are very few things in life that are a sure bet, but one of those is that if Chapter Music has their hands in it, its probably going to be something worth your listen. And for me, I’ll be honest, I had no idea who Tangled Shoelaces were prior to Guy and company sending out their press release about the forthcoming Turn My Dial – M Squared Recordings and More 1981-1984 (that’s a mouthful!) LP. The collection gathers 22 songs from the limited recordings of the young Aussie outfit, enhanced and ready for your consumption. I mean, if you’re going off this track below; you can see the lineage between the various current acts, all the way up to the Goon Sax. That vocal delivery, that intertwining of male/female vocals; that damned energetic “ba ba ba ba;” this is a fucking necessity! It will be available on April 23rd.

Tape Deck Mountain Announces True Deceiver

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It’s been a few years since we’ve heard anything pop up from the Tape Deck Mountain camp, but it looks like there’s a new album in store for us…along with a new line-up. As of right now, the band’s announcement of True Deceiver comes with two new tunes, both stretching beyond the 5 minute mark; this indicates that we’re in for some expansive musical journeys when the LP officially drops. On “Screen Savior” there’s this careful guitar sharply ringing in the background, but what drew me into the tune was it’s approach to offering up heavy beauty. “NOMO” feels like its letting us drift out to space, perhaps tethered to Earth by our headphones; it faintly reminds me of where the last Hum record hung out. This new record is slated for release on April 23rd.

Catenary Wires Announce New 7″

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When we were fortunate enough to have Rob and Amelia of Catenary Wires take over our web site last year, they hipped us to all they were working on, be it Swansea Sound, Heavenly reissues, European Sun and…well, we knew there was fresh CW on the horizon. Today, they announce their Mirrorball 7″, and they do so in typical fashion sharing a whimsical pop tune to give your day some wings, some spirit (maybe its only me that needs that!). Electronic buzz and horns open up before the light guitar strum provides the stage for the back and forth melodic banter between Rob and Amelia. For me, having listened to the band, and their various projects, this one feels supremely mature, like a lesson in the joys of indiepop being given by its elder states-people; it just gives you this warmth, almost as if it can’t be pigeonholed as anything other than a really great song. This 7″ will be out via Shelflife/Skep Wax on April 16th…and includes a Human League cover! And just a hint, this tune is the first single off a forthcoming LP later in the year.

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