Hannah Lew Announces Self-Titled LP

We’ve spent a fair amount of time writing about Grass Widow associated musical projects, so it feels only natural that we get a few words concerning Hannah Lew‘s debut LP. When you click play below, you’re going to be greeted by complete nostalgia, in so many ways; the video full of neon notes and tracers feels very much like an early MTV moment, and while that also works in terms of the music, I tend to push on 20 years into the early 00s. The music, of which I’m sure Hannah was aware, was thick with club beats and heavy grooves, sort of immersing us all in this dark brand of pop disco…Soviet comes to mind for me here. There’s this beautiful pullback around the 2.24 mark, letting angelic drifts filter out while a steady synthetic sound slides sneakily towards the stomping stop. The self-titled debut will be out on April 10th via Night School Records.

The Leaf Library Announce After the Rain, Strange Seeds

In about 37 seconds (not 6-7 you knobs) the Leaf Library managed to completely captivate me, without even so much as a whisper; it’s just driving rhythm movements and a guitar circling overhead, and I was head-over-heels. Then Kate Gibson enters the picture and the vibrance of the song is cemented within my mind. As they progress, the quartet is patient, careful not to lay all their cards on the table; you get a plot twist around 1:40, with additional textures thickening the pop swell. They lock in, coming in and out, flickering as a candle in a gentle pop wind, like “golden moth outside my window” that’s continuously repped in the tune. Really striking way to open up this morning; they release After the Rain, Strange Seeds via Fika Recordings on March 20th.

Heavy Jam from Trauma Ray

I definitely spent a lot of time jamming to the debut LP from Trauma Ray; it was heavy in all the right spots, with the faintest hint of melody lurking to keep pop fans like myself enthused. Well, yesterday they dropped an EP announcement with this new single and it’s totally bringing me back to mid 90s shows at Liberty Lunch here in Austin. The heaviness of the riff work recalls a number of acts from that era, though the earlier Deftones LPs certainly come to mind. I think the way they flirt with soaring vocal melodies is reminiscent of Water and Solutions by Far, mastering heavy riffage with a huge set of pipes! Think the group’s new Carnival EP will be pretty solid, out February 20th via Dais Records.

Kim Gordon Shares Not Today

It’s been really interesting listening to the evolution of Kim Gordon‘s music since her Sonic Youth days, but if this video and song are anything to go by, she seems to be having the time of her life lately. This song opens up with a propulsive groove, tightly wound so that it provides a snap, allowing Gordon to embrace the rhythm and let herself go in the video format. This tune could easily operate on that, letting her deliver heavily smoked vocals atop of that groove, but as Gordon is her own artist, the tune gets filled out with ambient noises, operating like sonic glitches in the pop structure, mixing the worlds in the best fashion possible. The freedom presented in the video really is a joy to watch, so hopefully we can all be as lucky; it’s a really impressive tune to kick off the album cycle; look for her new LP, Play Me, which drops March 13th via Matador Records.

Dreamy Pop From Deary

Since their earliest singles, London outfit Deary has crafted ethereal pop music, continually evolving their sound, adding texture as they build. Today, the group announce their debut LP, and while the cavernous ambiance is ever-present, I’m immediately drawn to Rebecca Cockram’s vocals. The waves of cymbals crashing again and again seem to coat her voice, almost creating this sensation that allows it to operate as a layer of texture. The video accompanying this song embraces their shadowy pop, using reflections of light to create this prismatic shimmer that contrasts the darker tones of the tune. Birding is out on April 3rd via Bella Union.

Alec Siegel Shares False Alarm

Some time during this past Summer, I stumbled upon Alex Siegel, so when his new single came my way, I was all about it. Siegel’s voice has this heaviness to its performance, almost operating as if its providing its own rhythm, even as the notes hit their highs. Push that up against the bass bob and you’ve got a recipe for infectiousness; I just have to remind myself to let myself free, swinging those arms and stomping the floor as the chorus drops and there’s a slight little shuffle in the synthetic texture. If you’re seeking a nice pop ditty, well, thank me later!

Power Pop from Duane Hoover

Music runs in cycles, and the last several years have the garage rock and psychedelic realms opening their doors for the power-pop maestros…and thus we have Duane Hoover. The dude seems to just write and write and write, and if you’re that dedicated you’re going to land on a gem like the one below. It’s got this light piano backbone working beneath the surface, lifting the song as the guitar has a jangling strum to it. There’s some Bolan-esque balladry at play here, and that’s never a bad way to kickstart your day. If you’re enjoying what’s here, be sure to check out the newest LP, Magic Mirror Story Book.

Swirls Release Neverland Single

The theme of never growing old is timeless, assuredly around long before JM Barrie penned his famous story of Peter Pan; it looks as if French outfit Swirls share the sentiment, with a nod to the literary legacy of said aims. They present it with this scattering bit of angular guitars and matter-of-fact vocal delivery, holding tight to the refrain of “I don’t have to grow old/I don’t have to grow at all.” A steady drive from the drumming helps the tune march, turning the track from self-reflection to an advice column, reminding the listener that “YOU don’t have to grow old!” They’ll release their new album Surge on March 6th via Howlin Banana/A Tant Rever Du Roi.

 

Brigitte Calls Me Baby Announce Irreversible

When I’m listening and watching this new video from Brigitte Calls Me Baby, I’ll admit, I’m approaching it with a bit of trepidation. First, I love the sound; I love the sonics and the way you can trace the lineage to acts like Orange Juice. The rapid drum and cymbal work has this rhythmic pull that even the most hip human couldn’t avoid digging. That said, there’s some elements of this video and the band’s pomp and hairdos that remind me of the Killers. Am I being tricked? Is this too saccharine for longevity? I want to be free and fall in love with this song, but I’ll have to wait for more singles from their new LP, Irreversible…it arrives on March 13th via ATO Records.

Mellow Bedroom Pop From Daniel Danger

Boston based artist Daniel Danger is one of those creatives who you KNOW though you might struggle to place why you are immediately familiar with the name. For starters, he is a truly incredible visual artist who has created some stunning artwork for big name bands, movies, and personal pieces focused on social commentary. Check all his work here. Or maybe you know him from his time playing guitar in the emo/screamo band The Saddest Landscape? Point is – the dude is crazy talented.

This piece is about a new solo project Danger has been working on, which he originally recorded at home back in 2021. While not many folks heard those original recordings, the album entitled The Casper Mask, was remastered and sent for vinyl pressing (all variants up for pre-order now). Our focus track from the 11 song LP is “Omnichord” and features some guest vocals from John Bradley, formerly of DADS. I love the super emotive, bedroom style to it as it evolves and works its way into your heart and mind. Dig on it now.

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