This is fine.
I feel compelled to share. I am very much looking forward to the new record Dance Called Memory. This is the third of four tracks they’ll be releasing before the record drops September 19th courtesy of Sub Pop. Click on this here hyperlink thing – Nation of Language – site for pre-orders and to catch up.
While previous singles from Slow Crush have embraced an underlying melody in the band’s cavernous sounds, it seems like “Bloodmoon” purposefully avoids that. The song is punctuated by walls of noise and atmosphere feeding back against the heavy tones of the vocal work; it’s like a slowed march into the abyss, but you’re encouraged to stick it out, as there’s a cathartic release just at the 3 minute mark. The song opens up and the hints of melody slide back into the picture, only for the noise to get louder and more forceful, pushing you to greet the band in their dynamic push towards a huge sound. Another example of taking the tropes of today and pushing them into tomorrow. Thirst is out August 1st via Pure Noise.
Ugh. This new song from Teethe is just dripping with warmth. At first, the guitars bending felt very much like the group was embracing the history of their home in Texas, but the sentiment is stretched beyond those in the way the vocals are delivered. It feels like slow-core majesty, that is until you cross the two-minute mark where the song opens up and displays the band’s range. It creates this beautiful sadness, melodically encouraging you to look towards the horizon, awaiting the first glimpse of sunshine in your life. Such a moving tune and one that continues to put the group’s forthcoming Magic of the Sale LP on a “must have” list; Winspear drops the record on August 8th.
There are few artists who really can craft something emotionally moving in the most simplistic form, but Chris Staples feels like one such songwriter. His voice has that familiarity, akin to Sam Beam, and it pulls at you, begging you to be part of something greater than yourself. It’s offered up with a light guitar, occasionally layered with another behind to build in some extra depth. Those little nuances are perfectly placed in the arrangement, maximizing every little emotional pull, like the synth notes in the middle. Honestly, it reminds me of a young college Nathan listening to Pedro in my dorm room, and I don’t mind that one bit. His new album Don’t Worry will be perfect for those seeking musical solace; it drops on August 5th.
It looks like I’ll be giving all my money this year to Slumberland/Skep Wax, as the two powerhouse labels have announced another joint release that I’m surely picking up. Today, the Cords have announced their debut self-titled album, and the new single picks up on all the promise they’ve displayed in the handful of singles that have popped up over the last couple of years. It’s an energetic rush of jangling guitars and steadfast drumming, snappy in the right spots while your cup is brimming with the melodic hooks on the vocal front. There is an innocence that pervades this tune, something that just allows you to lift your head above the foggy clouds of the sad world we live in, and for a moment, catch your breath and relish the joy in the simple things. Really looking forward to the entirety of their debut; it drops on September 26th.
With their much anticipated new record just a few weeks away now, Superchunk have dropped what’s likely to be their last single from Songs in the Key of Yikes. This one comes out swinging from the get-go, running right at you with huge riffs and the most magnificent chorus you’ll be singing at all their shows. They even tease us with a little stuttering breakdown just after the one minute mark, right before jaunting off to some solo guitar flair to put their musicianship on display. Be ready to scream “I’ve been stuck in this dream all night,” when the record drops on August 22nd via Merge.
Whether you want to believe me or not, Cate Le Bon is a once in a lifetime artist, as evidenced by her continual evolution; she reminds me a lot of Bowie, shapeshifting between album cycles whilst guiding others in their own studio endeavors. On her latest single there’s this synthetic haze that washes over the entirety of the tune, giving this heavy buzz in a melodic fashion. It’s a pretty vocal forward track, even with the heavy piano and synths; there are some heavier vocal tones accented by these playful little run up the scales that I absolutely adore. Her new album, Michelangelo Dying will be out September 26th via Mexican Summer.
It’s three songs, or, well, it’s one song, played three different ways. This is the new release from Italian rockers Bee Bee Sea, dropping a fresh little scuzzy EP for you to crank up as we await the announcement of their new album. The focus track encompasses the band’s blend of garage rock aesthetics and bounding rhythms; they explode with infectiousness each time they hit that chorus, turning it into pure pop as the track spins to a control. I love how they’re music is seemingly sing-along ready, yet something in it gives it just enough to tether it to a more punk vibe, like in the “Fast” version on this new EP. Stream the OG version below!
When I first saw the title of the new Bitchin Bajas single, I was certainly intrigued, as the title is one of my favorite Horace Andy tracks. As the quiet opens up and textures are layer, there’s an electronic pulse that feels a bit like that stuttering skank guitar; I will admit that I almost thought it was guitar, forcing me to dive in really deep into the tune. There’s little bits of woodwind floating atop, with synthetic lines zigging and zagging, all of it sort of creating this dense soundscape that feels like a futuristic dub record. If this is any sign of things to come, Inland See will be out on September 26th via Drag City.
Australian artist Gregor has been a regular fixture on our site over the years; he’s released several albums through Chapter Music, but now goes out on his own for the forthcoming Milk Thistle Salmon Blush. As a songwriter, Gregor has mastered the balance between poetry and sound, as his arrangements often times feel like cinematic pieces, crafted to perfectly support the spoken word, as you’ll hear here. This tune has this futuristic pulse, and while it begins slowly, the tune opens up with a more rhythmic sample that begins to create a natural feeling of movement. His goal seems to be commentary on the mixture of the future with our own self-reflection, so keep an eye out for more as we inch towards the October release of the new record.
