Category: News

Fuzzy New Number from Heart Beach

Leave a comment

It’s been a few years since Heart Beach dropped an LP, but while there’s no official announcement, the group have been hinting at something with a slew of singles in 2020, like the new one below. This new track was written while the core songwriting partnership of Claire and Jonathon McCarthy were struggling whilst living in Montreal, before moving back to Australia. You can hear some of the struggle in the lyrical content like “check the map because you don’t know where you’re going,” which in the context can work on multiple levels. I just love the interplay between the McCarthy’s, not to mention those fuzzy distorted edges swirling about the track. We’ll keep you posted if we hear news of a new record.

Wire Share Art of Persistence

Leave a comment

Wire were originally planning to release 10:20 on Record Store Day this year, but like so many things, we’ve got to make adjustments, so they’re rescheduling the release for the end of June. But, that means they’ve got to tease our interest, as if they needed it, by offering up another single from the LP. This tune seems like just a good old-fashioned guitar pop song; it’s got a driving rhythm and this guitar line that seems to be running laps around my living room as we speak. Softened vocals from Newman caress the slightest hint of rough edges into these smooth little doses of pop for easy consumption. 10:20 is out on Pinkflag on June 19th.

Houses of Heaven Provides A Slow Burn

Leave a comment

Nathan sent this one over to me a few days ago as my recent listening habits have included a high proportion of darker synth stuff, even for me. Xymox, Joy Division and Lust for Youth have been on the turntable as recently as last night. I let this simmer, but had not given it an honest listen. While crushing spreadsheets yesterday, I had the headphones up a little higher than normal (HD660s on JDS Labs Atom, if anyone cares about such things and if you do, let me know and we’ll talk gear a bit) and this track popped up again with its layered percussion and synth textures that move forward methodically commanding attention. “Dissolve the Floor” landed squarely.

Houses of Heaven are Keven Tecon, Adam Beck, and Nick Ott. Surrounded by the backdrop of the bay area’s social inequities, they have put together their first LP Silent Places on Felte Records, digital now and vinyl 5/22.

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever Share Falling Thunder

Leave a comment

My relationship with Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever is sort of a trouble one; I know the band are capable of some really great singles, but I’ve never quite fawned over them as much as everyone else (I can just think of a few who might’ve done it better). Up through this current album cycle, I’ve been sitting on the sidelines, but “Falling Thunder” is a track that feels like this is the single I will put on all my playlists. I love how the vocals fall from the high notes during the chorus, crashing into me in this blissful pop moment. This doesn’t feel formulaic, and they’re playing up the vocal melody far more often than I feel like they normally do, which really benefits their craft. Sideways to New Italy is out on June 5th via Sub Pop.

Sea Pinks Share Crocuses Single

Leave a comment

Sea Pinks have mostly been quiet since their 2018 Rockpool Blue LP (aside from a singles collection), but maybe that changes in 2020 with a fresh new single dangling out there. “Crocuses” has that infectious bounce from the get-go that makes pop believers out of all of us; the song bubbles in jittering and jiving, though I think there’s just the faint curl of softness beneath the vocals that exposes the band’s pop tendencies. And, as if that wasn’t enough, they quickly switch gears at the 1 minute mark and ride that potent pop pony to the end of the tune. Standout track, so lets hope we get more on the horizon.

Bad Moves Share End of Time

Leave a comment

I’m sure that Bad Moves wrote their latest single long before we found ourselves in this situation, but it definitely seems an appropriate hit for this world pandemic. It could just as easily work for our current political regime; we’ve all just been overwhelmed for the last four years. But, great music can set us all free! Enter Bad Moves, who seem to acknowledge that even at the world’s end we’re all still capable of having a good time. This is perhaps my favorite thing about the group, and always has been; they write these joyous pop tunes, disguising their messaging in the lyrics…you can be angry and still write a hook! Their new album Untenable will be out on 6/26 via Don Giovanni.

Skittle Alley Share New Indiepop Ditty

Leave a comment

It’s been a few years since we’ve heard from Skittle Alley, but quietly they shared a brand new track this morning, and its a nice little Tuesday delight. Lightly jangling guitars open things up, quickly joined by these sweeping arrangements, setting the scene for Fanou to enter with his voice. There’s something so moving about his performance this round, perhaps the accents of those synth arrangements building up the emotional tractor beam. The band have always referenced the Field Mice in their work, and this is one of those times that it does seem like a perfectly apt comparison. And damn, they sneak in a nice guitar line of hooky pop right at the end! No word on a release, but who cares. This song rules.

Sipper Share Another Single

Leave a comment

After the success of their debut Adam Driver EP, Sipper are working towards expanding their name with a follow-up EP coming at the end of the month. Before that drops, we’ve got one last single to share with you all. This is a melancholy tune, perfect for easing your way into the early morning routine of your day. Joe Beerman’s voice heavily hangs over the dangling guitar lines and thumping drums; it’s one of those songs that just seems to sort of hover in the air, perhaps due to some of those guitar lines sort of seeming like their stuck, fluttering their notes in your eardrums. The Have Fun EP will be out on May 28th.

New Big Bill Jam

Leave a comment

ATH Records alumi and favorite Austin rockers Big Bill dropped a new jam in your face on Friday, so in case you missed it…here we are. Those familiar with the band will no doubt notice that the song’s stripped of the band’s usual energetic pulse; this song feels more like the group’s narrating their lives as they mosey through the line at their “Company Picnic.” You even get little soundbites of water-cooler chatter, with the band making sure that every second of the song matters. So go ahead and indulge in a different side of the Bill, then go through their catalog and fall for the rest in all its absurdist glory.

Non La Hosts at Home Concert Footage

Leave a comment

One of my favorite releases this year was the Not in Love LP by Non La, which was released by trusted labels Lost Sound Tapes and Kingfisher Bluez. We’ve covered various singles, but as we’re all clamoring for live music at now, DJ has opted to reward his fans with a home concert you can watch again and again! All five tracks performed live can be found on the supremely rewarding Not in Love LP; I like that DJ even leaves in just a touch of the on-stage banter; it’s like we’re all right there living the show with him. I think my favorite jam of this bunch is “YR Man,” though I’m also partial to “Come On.” Just needed another excuse to hype Non La, and here it is!

1 … 617 618 619 620 621 … 1,671
Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com