This is fine.
If you’re looking for some fun new music on this bright and sunny Wednesday morning, might I suggest this new song called “Call Me on Your Telephone” from Brighton based artist Nancy. It features a garagey inspired take on pop music, and might invoke images of Franz Ferdinand with a more guitar driven focus. You can certainly find something to enjoy in the playful, and sometimes scuzzy, vibe.
French label Hidden Bay Records is a solid go to for talent that might go overlooked by the mainstream indie media…you know, like Big Baby and Sustains, to name but a few of my faves. Today I just wanted to hip you onto Camille Benatre, who lives in the same town as the label’s home base. I think at first, I got wrapped up in Camille’s voice; it had this majestic melody that seemed so effortless, so pure. As I immersed myself in that melody, the song’s natural buoyancy crept into my soul, suddenly leaving my toes tapping atop my table as I write this. Like I said, a go to for pure talent! They’ll release Apres le Soir this Friday in collaboration wit Les Disques Woody.
If you’re looking for someone working the true DIY ethos, you might want to pay attention to Josh Hoey and their Special Moves project. On the horizon for the project is the Little Help LP, and while it begins with a looped beat, it quickly jumps into that fuzzy guitar territory with distorted guitars ringing out through your speakers as Hoey calmly delivers the vocal lines; there’s a female counterpart too that adds a nice textural balance to the song’s melody to boot. I kind of imagine this song being written by a fan of Blank Dogs that grew up with a much sunnier disposition; it’s nostalgic-leaning bedroom pop that begs your attention immediately! Look for Little Help on August 28th via Reflective Tapes and Solidarity Club.
I reckon I should stick with the Aussie scene first thing in the morning, so here’s a tune from e4444e off the forthcoming Coldstream Road. From what I’ve heard from Romy Church’s project, this tune is one of the more stripped down tracks present on the record, and perhaps that’s where the draw is for me. Church’s voice spends the first minute pretty much on his own, coolly floating atop the strummed acoustic guitar. When the 1 minute mark drops, textures start to be formed and layered, building in a sonic realm where one can let go and get lost. It’s a pretty special tune, to my ears. Get it this Friday via Spunk Records!
It’s never a bad thing when you can get Kathleen Hanna and Ad Rock to support your work, though I don’t much think that Thibault need that hype machine because this new single is pretty special. It’s both nostalgic and timeless, transporting the listener into this dreamy smoke filled bedroom in the 60s; the arrangements behind the vocals definitely hold the song in the present, from the horns to the electronic workings behind the rise and fall of the vocals. If I were to collect the perfect snippet from this track, I think the rise and fall of the “ahh” in the chorus is a sublime musical moment. Search in the lyrics to find a common global thematic element, as Nicole wrote the song in response to her struggles to get unemployment services during this pandemic. Or Not Thibault will be out on September 4th via the revered folks at Chapter Music.
Most of the world is likely not familiar with the Brisbane based musical group Torpid, so allow me to introduce them to you. About a year ago the four Australian friends decided to get together and make some music, which resulted in the indie hit “For Your Health”. Since then, the band have been quietly working out plans for new music and recently dropped this new bangin’ single called “Don’t”. It will quickly bring up feelings of Joy Division meets The Strokes, meets Viagra Boys. The vocals are heavy and deep, the sounds are sort of in this garage rock/post-punk arena, and the lyrics are just quirky enough to put a smirk on your face. A little different and unique which is definitely my jam.
I suppose a label’s reliability is the theme of today, with another one of my favorite Aussie labels, Tenth Court, sharing the latest from their forthcoming release. The trio that makes up Introduction formed in 2019 to escape the mundane male musical landscape. Here, both video and song take you into another realm; in a faint way, it reminds me of Tan Cologne, sort of creating this mysterious cinematic planet we get to briefly inhabit. Listening through on repeat, you kind of feel like you’re suspended in the air, floating while these minimal little beats warp in and out of your ear. It’s been a minute since I’ve heard a group embrace simplicity so successfully; their EP will be out on June 19th.
Discos de Kirlian is one of my favorite truly independent labels; they’ve turned me onto some really great pop music from Spain that I probably wouldn’t have heard otherwise. Today, I’m super in love with new act Torres Satelite, who’ve just shared their first release via the label, La Ventana Discreta. I love the pulse of the music; it’s catchy, though relying upon it simplicity to allow the song to breathe; it reminds me in a lot of ways of Soviet. The dueling vocals from male and female singers certainly puts an added charm into the tune. Figured some folks might get on board with this tune.
When Jennifer Wilson dropped Quick Beat Save back under the name Buildings and Food, I was really blown away. The album employed these subtle beats that engrained themselves in your mind, then they were wrapped in the warmth of Wilson’s quieted vocals. As she gears up for her sophomore album, it seems the work is as impressive as ever. Our first listen gives you pulsing beats pushing the song forward as little turns of knob build in some textured electronic layers. When Wilson enters the picture, she seems to slink into the comfort of the song, almost hanging back in the mix so as not to overpower with her performance. Careful ears will reveal the tiniest of twists and turns, like the seeming uptick near in energy near the 2:43 mark; it’s these little nuances that make Buildings and Food so rewarding. Up Down Strange Charm will be out on September 25th!
Bandcamp is again waiving their cut of proceeds to help out artists again today. Moreover, there are also a ton of special releases and deals from several labels, details here. ATH Records has a bandcamp store. I also picked up some stuff from Ghostly, Dais and Partisan. Good times. A recent ATH release to listen to below while browsing…
