Mountain Movers Announce Walking After Dark

Over the last week, there were a lot of tunes coming our way, but one that I knew I immediately had to enjoy was the new track from Mountain Movers; it came with the announcement of a new LP, Walking After Dark. It begins lightly, sort of like a psychedelic wind breezing through your speakers; the tempo is steady, creating this atmosphere of weighted presence, filling the room with little musical sketches. As the song progresses, the room seems to fill, barely letting you catch your breath as it fills with the masterful touches of a band slipping into your subconscious. If ever a band were to be compared to a spiritual seance of sorts, I think Mountain Movers would be be your best option. Trouble in Mind Records will release Walking After Dark on May 17th.

Nights Templar Announce Half the Year

When Paisley Shirt Records backs a band, you better believe I’m going to be paying close attention, as is the case with Nights Templar, the label’s newest release. And if I’m to be honest, this is exactly how I wanted to begin my week, as the first single “Floorboards” is the perfect piece of danceable post-punk, not far away from some of the more accessible bits on a Blank Dogs LP. Flip to the next track released, “Blocks,” and you find the project exploring a little more of the empty space in their songwriting; there’s still a heavy pop wash working throughout, but the tune feels a lot more open, letting the melodies fill some of the space that’s been left behind. Half the Year will be released on March 29th.

Return Flights Drop Newcomer Single

Really been looking to dive more into the electronic pop craft this year, which is how I stumbled upon London’s Return Flights. They spend the first minute or so of their latest single driving the beat, waiting for the song to open up and twist into some indie-disco shuffler. Smoky vocals ride atop the groove for a few moments, then that shuffle kicks in, and you find yourself spinning in the happiest, dizziest circle. Layered vocals work to perfection, building both the texture and the hooks that will likely find folks making some New Order comparisons. Never a bad thing in our book here.

Club 8 Share Daylight Single

For the past few months, Club 8 have quietly gone about their business, releasing single after single, which I keep coming back to enjoy. When this one kicked off, there was a bit more danger in the way the track presented itself; there’s a growl from the bass line too as it works to give the song an edge and a hook simultaneously. But, where the band’s success lies is in there ability to work to create swirling pop realms by providing melodic vocals within tasty little pop nuggets, creating an endearing world that keeps you, and me, coming back over and over again.

Last Week’s Jams (3.11 – 3.15)

For some reason or another, we were rather preoccupied with the Austin goings-on, so perhaps we didn’t cover as much as we might have liked. I’ll be circling back through this week to try and get as much of it up as I can. But, we did have some really solid jams…and a few premieres…or whatever you call it. I was definitely feeling a little electronically inclined, covering new stuff from Maria Chiara Argiro and Cong Josie. Got blown away by the new Lightheaded track, not to mention fawning over tunes from Kindsight and Mammoth Penguins. Oh, and speaking of premieres…we had a new Unwed Sailor and a live cut from The Wind-Ups. Check them below.

Mythical Motors Share Take a Trip

I missed the boat on the first single from the forthcoming Mythical Motors LP, but I couldn’t resist alerting you to the promise of Upside Down World. The tune below is the opening number, and its opening guitar lines were enough to pull me right into the tune; they have this power-pop brightness that seems to swear we’ll have a better tomorrow, in emotion alone. Matt Addison’s voice has this gentleness in its presentation that you can’t escape either, taking the early wistfulness and pushing it to the next level. If you’re looking to find a sunny future, might we suggest you grabbing Upside Down World; the LP drops on April 12th via Repeating Cloud.

Kindsight Share Acid Island 45

I’ve been an avid fan of Danish outfit Kindsight since their early days, and while I’ve admired their previous work, this new single might be the proverbial icing on the cake. It feels like the most direct and pop oriented tune they’ve crafted, rushing forward with these driving rhythms and swirling bits of guitar billowing through your speakers. Don’t ignore the sweetness of the vocals here, adding in that melodic sugar that your body needs to ensure that you survive. This quick pop ditty is the opening track to the group’s brand new LP, No Shame No Fame, which will hit on April 19th via Rama Lama Records.

The Wind-Ups Announce Live In Oakland LP

Two albums full of incredible rock n’ roll should have already made the Wind-Ups a staple in the community of those who worship rock, but in order to cement their legacy, the group had put it all on the line. So, what did they do? They recorded a riotous live set at the Golden Bull, putting down 17 songs in 28 minutes; a feat that would have made Jay Reatard super proud. Today, we bring you the news that the now infamous show is being released via Dandy Boy Records; you can grab it HERE. But, as in rock n’ roll realms, you need a bit of a visual, so the brand have a fresh video for the live version of “You’re Not That Cool.” Growling guitars, thumping rhythm and a quick blast to your ears, perhaps a reminder to also go check out the LP it draws from, Happy Like This.

Gregor Announces Satanic Lullabies

While Gregor‘s perhaps not a household name over in the States, his compositions have always resonated with me, particularly the Destiny LP. Today, the artist announces a new album, Satanic Lullabies, describing it as ‘ if pre-Maga Kanye made a Disney soundtrack.’ His dulcet tones always created that feeling of lullaby, but he’s clearly balancing than gentle expectations of his voice with the darker side alluded to in the album’s title. Where his last album was filled with striking emotions, this first single is pretty bare and stark, so I’ll be interested to see where the whole of the album goes. Satanic Lullabies is out via Chapter Music on May 10th.

Mammoth Penguins Share Everything That I Write

It should be obvious this many years on in our site that we’re probably always going to rep Emma Kupa acts, especially if its Mammoth Penguins. Today, they’ve got a fresh single from their forthcoming Here LP, and it’s pretty much a staple track for the band in terms of their sound. They have this enthralling pattern of taking their sharp angular licks and pushing them into distortion, which always pans out in this magnificent vocal display from Emma. Here, her voice hits its peak, only to fold back into the warm melodic range. And what, you don’t like bobbing bass lines? Then don’t stop here! But, if you do, Here is out May 3rd via Fika Recordings.

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