Mdou Moctar Announces Afrique Victime

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As someone who haphazardly writes about songs I enjoy, I generally have words or phrases that get stuck in my repertoire. Sure, there’s a bit of laziness in that, but when you’re rocking four jobs, that’s just how it be. For me, Mdou Moctar and his band never seem to fit into any of those categorical descriptors; however, the band does resonate with my listening experience. On this particular love song, I can’t help but turn over the word familial, something that swells with the feeling of a strong relationship. Perhaps that’s leaked over from the press release about the video’s turn towards displaying the love of friendships…or perhaps its the vocals when sung by everyone in unison, rising through the speakers. Whatever it is, it leaves you with a sense of belonging, a feeling that you’re a whole part of this world, and thus, I’m super attracted to this hypnotic tune. Look for Afrique Victime to drop on May 21st via Matador Records.

Wurld Series Share Distant Business

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New Zealand outfit Wurld Series continue to mix up their sound, blending elements of fuzzy indie rock, accessible pop and a penchant for racket. This one feels like a bit more of the latter, though there’s still a core melodic bit in the vocals to serve as the gravitational glue holding the song all together. At times, it sounds like the bastard sons of Pavement, unabashedly banging out their frivolous guitar licks without a care as to how they come across to the listener. You’ve got a love a bit of that devil-may-care attitude, and with the continuous push to mix up their sound, What’s Growing is shaping up to be a mighty nice collection of tunes; it drops on March 19 via Meritorio/Osborne Again/Melted Ice Cream.

 

Levi Douthit Announces Lucky Pennies

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You can always rely upon Citrus City to bring the best tunes out of Richmond, much as he’s doing here with Levi Douthit‘s new album, Lucky Pennies. Today, we get to share the lead single with you, and it’s all sorts of special, for those looking for that solitary bedroom listen. To begin, I actually love the way he delays his vocal intro, just 20 seconds; it creates this tiny wrinkle in the formula which allows you to kind of hear Levi outside of the expectations of typical bedroom pop. As the song leads forward, the strum feels deep, offering this heavy-weighted feel that gets the perfect juxtaposition to the gentleness of Douthit’s vocals. The full record will drop on March 26th!

Stream Nul Telexes Debut LP

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If you’re not into cold, cavernous synth pop, please, just skip to the next song you find fascinating, as Nul Telexes debut LP is not for the faint of heart. From the instant it comes on, you’re immersed in these heavy vocal tones washed in this sterile synth mixture; you’ll likely hear a bit of an Ian Curtis nod too. While some of the tunes on Menhir are contemplative in nature, there’s often a driving force pushing the song forward, occasionally creating just a slight dance-ability, like in “A Play.” If any record feels like its been made of the emotions of the last year, then surely this LP is the one; it’s available now from Swiss Dark Nights.

Abram Shook Shares Sugar For Your Headphones

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Our good friend Abram Shook reached out recently to hip us to some new work he’s got coming down the pipes; he has a new Satin Thief EP coming down the pipeline some time this month. He says the tunes on this EP are a nice little “gap between the more electro-funk of my last album, and the hazy, laid-back 70’s vibe of my next full-length.” So, while you’re waiting for another Abram release, settle into the undeniable hooks on display here. Part funk grooves, part space R&B, but the little vocal stutter of the chorus definitely has a way of sinking its way deep inside your brain. The Satin Thief EP drops March 12th, and keep an eye out as Abram promises lots more coming down the pipeline!

Coffee Time Share For Seasons

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It’s March and its Spring! So, let’s get ourselves a little ditty from the brothers, Coffee Time. The duo have this spirited pop number, though I’ll admit, it often feels like its about to slip into some sort of drug-addled slow jam. But, just as that vibe creeps in, those guitar chords jangle, and it turns the track into something a bit more on the surfy pop side of the world. What can I say, I’m a sucker for just that little breezy riff hanging out on the line, and I have a feeling you’re going to be bobbing too! Look for the band to release a new EP at the end of the month.

Deuce Share Antipodes Video + Album Announcement

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I’ve been writing about Curtis Wakeling’s music for almost a decade, first with his project Velcro, then later as a member of Ocean Party and Pop Filter. But, like many of the folks on his side of the great big pond, there’s always another project brewing; this time he’s working with Kayleigh Heydon under the name Deuce. Kayleigh’s controlling the vocal role on this single, nearing some of the tonal notes that you’d find on a Beach House record, though Curtis does add some subtle backing notes to her voice as well. Musically, the song has this misty quality, almost this foggy solemnity as it floats, filled with these delicious little nuanced moments. Fittingly, that accompanying mood seems to match with the theme, as Heydon notes the song is about the pain associated with longing for things you don’t have, in regards to relationships. I reckon that plays a part in the song’s title with Kayleigh in Melbourne and her family in Manchester. Deuce will release their self-titled debut on June 16th via Dinosaur City.

Paul Bergmann Announces The Other Side

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Paul Bergmann‘s one of those artists that seems to reinvent himself with every recording, though they all straddle the same folk troubadour territory. This week he announced The Other Side, the latest LP in his collection, and our first listen has my attention. Musically, it’s dramatic and sweeping, but, what I found interesting is the way the vocals are crafted here; they’re naturally deep, but they seem to hide behind the mix, begging listeners to really invest their time in deciphering each note. Faint hints of Beirut are in here, but I feel as if Paul’s taken it somewhere a little murkier, playing in the shadows of folk and chamber pop. Should make for an interesting listen; The Other Side drops on April 2nd.

Summer Sleeves Announce In the Throes of Woes

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After spending a good 15 years playing music, Jeremy Charbonneau took a break to focus on his young family. But, the songs kept pulling at him, begging for completion, which led to the creation of Summer Sleeves. He’s signed up with Jigsaw Records to release In the Throes of Woes, and we’ve got the new single from the LP below. It’s a got a slight jangle, a splash of folk, but mostly its just really great songwriting. For me, it reminds me of the endearing side of the Shins from their first record, before it grew to be cliche; this is pop songwriting at its purest, working on great melodies and a voice with just enough peculiarity to keep it interesting. We’re better off having Jeremy back in the songwriting fold; the new album drops on April 23rd.

Merk Shares Laps Around the Sun Video

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A few weeks back I shared a tune from New Zealand’s Merk, a tune I proclaimed to be the best of no-pop. Here is the artist again, with a new single and the official announcement of his debut Infinite Youth. It’s a tune that sort of hangs on this slight balance between brooding introspection and blooming joy. I just love the way there’s this huge restraint in his approach, holding tight to to the song’s central pop force, but even with pop sensibility and that warm glow, there’s never an eruption, never a climactic rise; it makes you anxious in the best way, and while it might not deliver that hook, the way it keeps you on edge is brilliant. The new LP drops on April 9th via Humblebrag Records.

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