Bennett Shares Glass Ball Single

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After time away from the local scene, Bennett has returned to the Memphis musical world, this time on their own, fleshing out a collection of songs that’s likely to charm as well as offend. Admittedly, I felt a blast of emotion here. I loved the stuttering drum opening, met by twinkling guitars and synths. But, then there was this warble that threw me off; I wasn’t sure where to go, but the groove kept me tethered, dragging me along for the ride. As the track unfolded, those vocal forays fleshed out into more traditional crooning, kind of reminding me of playful artists like Jarvis Cocker. That playfulness pushes into the song too, especially in the latter half, with the song moving into a more theatrical pop realm. It’s one of those tunes where at first I was completely bamboozled. Like, WTF?! But, I went back again…and again…and again. This debut single here comes courtesy of Goner Records.

Checking In on New Screensaver

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This Screensaver track has been around for a few days, but I’ve been busy okay! Still, I love the rawness of the tune, so I had to be sure that someone over here gave it a look-see. It’s a really challenging vibe, in terms of my ability to pigeonhole things and put them into little boxes, but I’ll give it a go. The track has these varying textures; it feels very much like an early 00s synth band in one channel; the other ear gets to hear this industrial toying, like machines gone awry. All of it gets paired up with this exasperated punk howl that dominates the band’s performance while also fusing all the pieces into one concise musical throttling. the group will release Decent Shapes on October 20th via Poison City and Upset the Rhythm.

Sundozer Share Double Single

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Sundozer quickly amassing a collection of great songs, not to mention great musicians in their line-up; the newest singles feature Danny Reisch on percussion. Speaking of those new tracks, they’re taking their gloomy post-punk tones and spinning them in this glittery pop fashion. On “Charmed,” the bass bubbles as these little shimmering crystals fall into your ears; I love the way there’s these little syllabic punches delivered in the vocals on this tune too during the verses. There’s this great little turn before the 2 minute mark that opens up the song to this more vast vibe that stretches into a stabbing guitar piece atop the bass line. “100 Lives” has a different pulse to it, something that feels naturally frantic and energized. I love how the project keeps the mood circling about here, whilst still capable of kicking in some energy around those quick little jangles. One of my favorite ATX acts, so keep an ear out.

Dark Wave From Great Northern

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California based outfit Great Northern shared this new track “Bad Light” late last week and today seemed like a good time to share. It shows a depth of dark wave pop for fans of say Beach House or The Kills but with heavier synth and even gothier undertones. The single comes as part of a series of new joints from this year which allude to an upcoming collection or album coming later this fall. Stay tuned.

Quien Es Geronimo Shares Levedad

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If ever there was a song that felt like rubbing the sleep out of your eyes on a Monday, it’s this new track from Quien es Geronimo. The project is the moniker for Chilean songwriter Tomas Mendizabal, who is currently spending time in Mexico City, though the roots of this song stem from the artist’s time spent in Berlin. There’s a really light strum, almost like the melodic nature of the vocals was meant to be the dominating factor. Bits of electronic orchestration build and swirl around the strum and voice, peaking, then fading into obscurity as the track quietly leaves you, sated and calmed, ready for the rest of your day. This track is made available courtesy of Western Vinyl.

 

Charming Pop from The Slow Summits

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There’s definitely been a whole in my heart since Cats on Fire called it quits a few years ago (or went dormant). But, it looks like The Slow Summits are here to pick up the fallen torch of charming-man indiepop. Anders voice definitely harkens back to Mattias’ vocals in the aforementioned Cats act; they do a great job here too filling in some of the empty space with really light backing tracks, allowing the melody to blossom. Steady drumming and a wash of synths definitely build that swoon that accompanies many an orchestral pop act; I particularly like the little nuanced shuffle in the distance at the 3:11 mark, which close ears will catch. What a splendid day to start the week!

 

Last Week’s Jams (8.21 – 8.25)

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There continues to be an unreasonable amount of great music coming out nowadays, and I’m absolutely baffled at how it just never ceases; there’s been nothing but week after week of tunes for me to fawn over. This week’s a little all over the place, with a little bit of rock, a little bit of pop, a little bit of songwriter and back again. Wanted to begin with the great cover of “Rock n’ Roll” by the Feelies, then jump right into some of my favorite tracks of the week. I mean, new Tony Jay and Red Pants make all of us winners. Plus, there’s a new Lewsberg tune floating about, which I definitely have included in other playlists. And, I got back on that review game with a track by track breakdown of Holy Wave’s latest. So spend some time looking back at last week!

Have A Nice Weekend with OMD

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We love Nation of Language around these parts. They were the best thing about ACL last year. Their upcoming record is going to be an absolute banger given recent well-shared singles. Did you know one of their key influences was OMD? Of course, you did. Listen to “Wounds of Love” not tell me it is a love letter to the synth pop, hit making pioneers. The thing is, OMD is still making music. Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys reunited in the 2006 after a brief time apart after Andy kept the ship afloat following their success in the 80’s. Since then, new material has been released, as well as one of the best box set releases in Souvenir. We may have missed the single release for this post, but you gotta give it the duo for keeping loyal to their roots yet modernizing their sound on “Bauhaus Staircase”. The song is the title track to the upcoming release in October, which they have hinted may be the band’s last. This video is pretty damn cool and the synth riff in the break just before the two minute mark, perfect.

Album Stream: Adrian Marner’s The College Years

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Adrian Marner first popped into my eras when we covered his single “Cracks of Time;” it had the sort of innocence of Elliott Smith, albeit with a bit of a more of a pop sparkle to it. This approach sticks around for the College Years, bringing you bedside as Marner works with heavy strums and a voice that wears a bit of production magic. While standout singles like “The Unsaid Goodbye” and previously mentioned “Cracks of Time” are surefire hits; I’ve found myself gravitating towards “Rock Star Fatigue” and “My Best Friend” as other stopping points for those just popping in for a quick listen. Each song has its own little charms if you dig in, and in the grand scheme, it feels like Marner is setting the scene for what could be a very promising catalog. The College Years is out today courtesy of Zerowell Records.

Sagittaire Share Two Lovers Video

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Patience is a skill oft overlooked in the rock n’ roll scene, but when done well, it allows the music to marinate, to really soak the listener in its emotional power…like this new track from Sagittaire. To me, it feels like the an electronic pulse, sent to the surface from some underwater research center, at least for the first fifteen seconds or so. Then, vocals walk into the show, again, keeping their distance in the presentation, almost like a ghostly echo hanging in the ether. You’re here for a minute or so, meditating, waiting as a percussive element move into the song, pushing into a more organic, beat-driven world. The Surraul directed video builds upon the layering of sound, with a stationary figure seemingly unaware of the world behind him, then moving into a blurring of the lines as the song gradually unfolds. Lucian and Caroline is the new LP; it will be out on October 13th.

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