Artificial Go Play Musical Chairs

We get a lot of emails, and I have a strange way of listening to the lot; I open 20+ tabs and just bounce back and forth between them to see what sticks in my brain…but then there was this Artificial Go track that just kept coming on and on again, and I couldn’t stop playing it. Going back to the email of the tune, it was talking about C86 and Sarah, but the more I played it, the more something felt very Raincoats-ish. It’s got that same sort of punk sentiment, using sharp guitar sounds to crank out melodies with a snappy little drum kicking right behind to maximize the hook. Then, soak up the vocals; they’re joyous and bouncy, except when they’re not, and they hit a sharper attitude, all throwing caution to the wind and bounding forward with exuberance. Their new record Musical Chairs will be out on May 16th via Feel It Records.

Gentle Leader XIV Share Title Track, Joke in the Shadow

In a world full of immediacy, for which I’m admittedly a sucker, Gentle Leader XIV are offering up an entirely different brand of electronica than our typical fare. For starters, the drawl of the drum sampling seems to be tugging at the time stamp, holding it one place for the track’s duration. Even when the synths take on their full approach, there’s restraint; just listen to the nod to Depeche Mode after the 30 second mark. All of this work leaves plenty of space to be filled, and while the vocals entering adds another layer, even there, the song has space to move and wiggle. You get a ripping guitar cutting into the song’s middle, yet it all feels tethered to the percussive march, and in the end you’re left with this brilliant blanket of modern pop that greets you on its own terms. Their new record, Joke in the Shadow, is out on April 18th via Feel It Records.

Why Bother Announce You Are Part of the Experiment EP + Share Listen

After churning out a couple of killer LPs last year, Iowa’s Why Bother, the group are set to return with a brand new EP titled You Are Part of the Experiment. We’re pleased to bring you the opening track from the record, but be forewarned, excessive volume is likely to blow through your speakers. Listeners will be treated to some audio samples, and then suddenly, you’re hit with a barrage of buzzsaw guitars; they’re gritty and blown out, giving off the vibe that you’re being chased through the hallways of some insane asylum. Vocals are delivered in a rather disaffected manner; the kind where each lyric is spoken as a matter of fact, but the melodic nature pokes its head out from time to time, like when the line of “I don’t care/I’m not going to listen anymore” is followed by a few syllabic harmonies. If you love to let your speakers live on the edge, turn this one up, then grab the EP from Feel It Records before the April 18th release date!

Friday Album Streams: Sharp Pins, Exploding Flowers, Cats of Transnistria + More

It’s a really busy week in the music business, with everyone aflutter over the new album from Japanese Breakfast. But, while that’s stealing the headlines, we’ve got some other recommendations we’d like for you to consider before you venture off into the weekend. We’ve been highlighting several of these releases, most notably the reissue from Sharp Pins, which features some incredible new songs. But don’t worry, as usual, the stuff below is all over the map, so feel free to click and find out what you love the most.

 

Sharp PinsRadio DDR (K Records/Perennial Death)

Exploding FlowersWatermelon/Peacock (Meritorio Records)

Cats of TransnistriaIV (Soliti Music)

Private LivesSalt of the Earth (Feel It Records)

Private Lives Drop Psychic Beat

Over the last few years, Feel It Records has turned me onto some great acts I might not have caught onto otherwise, and as I circled back on yesterday’s news, there was this great Private Lives tune to share. My initial draw was Jackie Blenkarn’s voice; it’s got this pre-riotgrrrl yelp to it that teases the links between punk and classic rock n’ roll vibes. Behind her, there’s this quick rhythm and jittering guitar stabs that feel over-caffeinated in the best way possible. Blenkarn’s voice through the chorus delivers the sweetness to dose you with pop, while the band takes on a moment to remind you of their adoration for the old school with a ripping little nostalgic solo. They’ll release Salt of the Earth on March 21st.

Corker Release Vital Fall Single

The Ohio scene has really been on fire of late, and you can just throw Corker into the pile of rad acts you should be listening to daily. With their latest, they swing in with these angular riffs that knife their way around machine gun snare rattles. You can hear where folks who love Omni or Ought would be into this tune, as they play with the melding of dissonant sounds and indifferent vocal deliveries, as if they’re encircling their prey, the listener. If you wait one more day, they’ll have the entirety of Hallways of Gray available to stream, courtesy of Feel It Records.

Class Share Milkman Single

Less than a year ago, Class released the rad record, If You’ve Got Nothing, and they’ve turned it around with another release slated to drop this Friday. Today, before the album drops, we’ve got this jagged bit of garage pop that should garner a listen or seven. There’s definitely a punk nod on this, particularly in the way the vocals almost seem to pogo into the picture, though in a sedate manner; they do burst forth emphatically when you hit the hook and the chorus, as they should. I love the marching drum roll that sets up the chorus, then it hits you with these gang vocals and pounding piano notes; it’s a huge sound with crunchy rock n’ roll flare. Best in Class! Grab A Healthy Alternative this Friday from Feel It Records.

Another Single from Marcel Wave

I’m really falling head over heels for this new stuff from Marcel Wave. Sure, you can pile it with the post-punk adjacent acts, but there’s something really special about Maike Hale Jones. It’s almost as if she’s got this little secret she keeps to herself; you can almost feel her smiling as she hits some of these notes, particularly the strikingly enchanting moments that pop out of the chorus on this tune here. The band itself maintain this effortless cool in everything they do, whether they’re plucking riffs steadily or letting the keyboard work texture the tune, it just feels like a band at the top of their game. Something Looming will drop on June 14th via Feel It Records/Upset the Rhythm.

Marcel Wave Share Stop/Continue

It’s always a wonder why folks gravitate to some bands and not others. Like we’ve all raved about Dry Cleaning, but there’s been hardly a whisper overseas about Marcel Wave. Sure, they’re not identical acts, but they draw from the same tradition of spoken-word vocals that have walls of punk ethos towering around. This tune, like the track’s title, has this feeling like the tune could be stopped at any point; the pulse of the synths stabs through the speakers, jittering as it builds tension. Still, as you expect either a halt or a release, the band push on, spinning those nervy synth lines right down the line to the close. Something Looming is right around the corner, released by Upset the Rhythm and Feel It Records.

Premiere: The Ar-Kaics Share Cornerstone

For all the ferrymen along the river of psychedelia, I wouldn’t be lying if I said things had perhaps traveled a bit too far into the realm of the mundane. That said, I love the flare and style that the Ar-Kaics bring to the fold; they almost seem like their more enlightened by the annals of classic rock as opposed to the tethered nostalgia of psych rock. You can hear the need to get down and boogie in their craft, with guitar crisp and steamy, packing a huge punch that gives off a bit of sweaty swagger. You’ll find that the coolness of the vocals brings in a refreshing touch, almost as if they embody a wolf howling at the moon before settling into a little soulful blast. Patrick Fugit can’t wait for you to hear those incendiary riffs that run throughout the whole of See the World on Fire; it drops on May 3rd via Feel It/Dig/Bachelor Records.

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