Circling Back on West Wickhams

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Still trying to get through all of my emails from the end of last year, and I promise you, I’m almost there! I’ve got a handful more like West Wickhams to throw out, but I had to circle back on the darkened brand of rock n’ roll this group brings to the fold. Throughout their last album, Vivre Sa Vie, you have tons of what one would consider traditional post-punk; it’s dark and brooding in every sense, punctuated by sharp cuts in the guitar sound that add an ominous atmosphere. The tune below, however, has a little more spirit; the pacing and the growl of the guitars push everything forward consistently, meeting at the cross-streets of Wire and Blank Dogs. Give it a spin!

Aisha Burns Covers Gillian Welch + Tours with Torres

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Following her exceptional cover of Chris Isaak late last year, Aisha Burns announces some tour dates with Torres by sharing a new cover of Gillian Welch‘s “Look at Miss Ohio.” Impressively, Aisha’s voice doesn’t stray too far off from Welch’s original, which is a great reminder of just how much she’s come into her own through the years. For me, I love Burn’s honesty in her words about the song and its continued importance, expressing admiration for the protagonist “declaration of doing things in her own time, despite expectations.” It’s an admission that we can still expect growth and change from Burn’s work, and our job is to support and uplift where we can. Speaking of…look for Aisha on the road with Torres through the end of this month! Tune courtesy of Western Vinyl!

Fantastic Purple Spots Announce Vibrations Now EP

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Due to unforeseen circumstances, namely having another kid and moving homes, I kind of pulled back on the ATH Records label after the Love Burns cassette. But, new year, and I’ve got things running again, today announcing a new digital EP from Fantastic Purple Spots. The Austin act has been on my mind for a bit, having discovered them after their eponymous LP from the Winter of 2022. We’ve been in touch since those early days, and the band are allowing me to work with them on their excellent new Vibrations Now EP. Their sound is somewhere between pastoral pop and psychedelia, allowing you to let your mind swirl with the mixture of sounds you’ll hear in each track. Their Vibrations Now EP will be officially out on January 26th, but you can stream the title track below!

Talk Show Drop Red/White

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After a slow burn with a few singles over a couple of years, London based Talk Show really started to make a lot of noise this past year with multiple, straight slamming new singles. As we drive into the new year, the band is full steam ahead with a new album called Effigy due out on February, which is quickly becoming one of my favorites of the short new year. As anticipation builds for the full length, you should take some time to check out the latest new slammer called “Red/White” below. Get after it lads. If you’re in a giving mood, Talk Show are trying to raise a little money to make it stateside for SXSW in March. You can find their donation page over on IG.

Talk Show’s new album Effigy is available on February 16th via Missing Piece Records. Pre-orders are live now.

Conflict at Serenity Pools Share Rosey Dream I

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One of the quietly satisfying LPs from last year was Ladders of Misfortune by Conflict at Serenity Pools; the LP was a mixture of bedroom pop and pensive lyricism, which seems to carry forth as the group prepare a new EP for us. Our first listen has the project operating in almost a trip-hop territory, letting the backbeat set the mood for the song’s entirety. From there, the band drape melodic vocals and shimmering guitar notes to build the track into its emotional state. As for the thematic notes, the band are using this song twice on their Rosey Dreams EP, each offering a different version as a parallel to the way our dreams and goals shift depending upon where we are in life. Look for the new EP February 8th!

Villagerrr Announce Tear Your Heart Out

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I’m sure everyone is clamoring to post that Real Estate tune right now, which is why I wanted to draw your attention to new music from Columbus’ Villagerrr. Today comes news that they’ll be working with Darling Recordings for Tear Your Heart Out, with a new single that features my personal favorite Merce Lemon. When listening through, I get stuck in various moods, as the song’s vocal work definitely feels wistful and intimate; it’s what draws you into the core of the track. In that, I was completely caught up, but when trying to focus on the musical side, there’s this sort vibrant playfulness, particularly in the way the crystalline guitar notes jut up against the steady march of the percussion. Really looking forward to hearing the whole LP; it drops March 22.

Elephant Stone Share Pilgrimage

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Seeing as I have covered almost every single on the new Elephant Stone LP, it seems fitting that I squeeze in one last one, just as the band have slid one final nod before the record’s release. As I’ve listened to a lot of Elephant Stone music over the years, I’m personally loving how they’re taking their psychedelic influences and pushing those into a more modern adaptation. Honestly, there’s barely any psychedelia running through this track, although we’ve seen a lot of recent acts incorporating saxophone like we hear here; it’s a bit more soulful and jazz oriented, which hints at the tune (and the album’s) themes. Back into the Dream is the LP title, and you can feel that dreamscape coursing through this tune, but it also feels like a “pilgrimage” of sorts, as the band have set out to find new forms in their work…and I’ll be here for it when the LP drops on February 23rd.

Bolis Pupul Shares Another Bop from Letter to Yu

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Admittedly, Belgian/Chinese artist Bolis Pupul only recently popped up on my radar, particularly via his PR folks and his affiliation with Soulwax. My knowledge of the genre is fairly simplistic, but I love how you can feel one layer coursing through the tune, then hear it as it gets manipulated and texturized. Tones switch and various elements gather speed, collecting layers as the song’s visuals progress. Each time I thought I had the song pinned down, it ran around a completely different corner, most notably when it neared the end and took on a darker twist. Letter to Yu is out on March 8th via Deewee.

Colin Newman to Reissue Bastard

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While my introduction to Colin Newman was most certainly centered around his work as a key cog in Wire, as I later delved into his other work, Bastard ended up finding a home in my collection. It was, for all intents and purposes, a techno record done by a songwriter whose musical constructs always seemed like they could parallel the genre. Good news for you record heads though, as the 1997 classic is now being released on vinyl for the very first time; if you buy the CD version, there’s a bonus disc with unreleased and rare tracks being offered up, courtesy of Swim; it drops January 26th. It’s always been a joy to know that some of my favorite guitar heroes from the 70s and 80s spent so much of their time dancing out of the limelight. Enjoy a new video for “Turn.”

Large Brush Collection Share Arm’s Length

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As the Austin scene begins its year, one of the acts on our radar is Large Brush Collection, who will drop Off Center at the end of the month. Led by Nora Predey, the group’s sound twists and turns around the folk ethos that permeates Texas music. That said, the construction of their work, as well as some of the finer brushstrokes across this single, indicate a dedication more aligned with post-rock. Drum work rolls through casually, carefully traipsing through the grasses of the flute and ornate guitar lines, all of it centered around the majesty of Predey’s voice. There’s even some sharp-edged guitar bursts, faintly furthering an allusion to a rock underbelly. Look for Off Center on January 26th.

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