Tag: fika recordings

Joyous Pop from the Just Joans

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I’m glad the musical world hasn’t stopped just because year end listing is in full swing, as we wouldn’t have been gifted this glorious pop number from the Just Joans. For me, this song’s all about the vocal constructs that give the tune success. Don’t get me wrong, the track has the right musical punch where necessary, but it’s definitely the delivery of the lyrics. They definitely have that sort of disaffected youth or perhaps that sort of deadpan melancholy, but the “wee guys” choral backing track really makes the song something more than memorable. Just imagine if Arab Strap wanted to be a proper rock band. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of the Just Joans will be out on January 10th via Fika Recordings.

Delicious Indiepop from Fortitude Valley

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I knew without even listening to this great Fortitude Valley tune that it would rule. The project stems from the mind of Laura Kovic, who played keys in Tigercats (a band that rules), but she grabbed members from Martha and Night Flowers (more bands that rule), so you knew, knew…it was going to be good. I was absolutely right, as the song starts slow, building in the natural movement over Kovic’s warm voice; I love how the fuzzy guitar shoots off in the distance behind the more purposeful licks in the very front. I was charmed right away, but the big hook comes around the 2 minute mark when extra backing vocals are included to really pull on your pop strings. As of right now, the band are wrapping up their debut, so here we are on proverbial pins and needles.

Another New Tune from the Just Joans

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Feel like I’ve been away from really broad sweeping pop music for a minute, but when I hear the Just Joans, they bring me back to a safe place, a place shared by like-minded American acts like the Magnetic Fields. Everything they do is witty, and often self-deprecating, but it’s also the finer details in their craft that make their songs so lovable. Here, it’s the sort of forlorn sentiment of the track that brings that wry smile to your face when you discover it truly is a love song. I think the vocal interplay is quite successful too, balancing out the narrative approach of the tune. Fans of orchestral pop and clever lyricisms will surely feel right at home with this tune; I expect the same from the group’s new album, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of the Just Joans, out January 2020 via Fika Recordings.

Withered Hand Announces Ten Years EP

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Admittedly, Withered Hand wasn’t on my radar until Slumberland Records helped released New Gods; I then, of course, went back to pick up Good News, his first album. Where is this going, you ask? Well, four songs off of Good News have been re-recorded with accompanying strings, and it seems fitting that we share those, if and only to share our affinity for Dan Wilson’s craft…not to mention the great labels that are sharing in this release, WIAIWYA and Fika Recordings. The below song is a great example of the emotional pull that can be added via string accompaniment, and man, throwing that in with a Wilson penned tune is likely to make me cry. Except I can’t because it’s cold here, like my heart. The Ten Years EP is officially out on December 20th.

The Just Joans Share Striking Single

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I’m a big Just Joans fan, and when the Glasgow popped back up a few years ago, I was really excited, clamoring for the new hits. Today, a new song popped up on the Internet, so why not point you in that direction. At first take, I immediately thought the band were covering the Magnetic Fields; it’s a slow moving pop number built on the Katie Pope’s vocals and the arrangements behind her. It’s just a perfect little nugget; there’s no need for any percussion, as Pope carries the song in striking fashion; I will admit to being drawn to the horn work hanging out in the distant background. No release date as of yet, but it looks like Fika Recordings will be handling this release.

Another New Jam from Suggested Friends

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I really wish folks would look overseas as of late when thinking of great pop rock. Sure, we’ve got tons of great stuff over in the States, but the UK is on a hot streak of hit making, particularly with Suggested Friends. Their latest single cuts all the bullshit and gimmicks often employed, instead just giving you the hooks right on top with these huge belting vocals and crunchy guitars ringing out in the background. The latter moments even employ a bit of a stomp to gather up all that joy and tie it up in a nice pop bow for your ears. Turtle Taxi is one hell of a record, so sample this tune and grab the LP before its October 4th release date from Fika Recordings/HHBTM.

Suggested Friends Share Turtle Taxi

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It would be super easy to lump Suggested Friends with the rest of the great pop-punk coming out of the UK, and while there are 100% definite similarities, the title track from the band’s new LP seems to offer glimpses at a larger sound. They adhere to an affinity for anthemic licks and vocal hooks, but things seem spun around a more pop-centric vibe rather than the punk side of things; the mood after the 1 minute mark has me reminiscing about Allo Darlin. Ultimately, the band have just crafted these gems that are singalong worthy and infectious as ever, so you’re likely to have these tunes stuck in your head all day long. Turtle Taxi drops in October via Fika Recordings and HHBTM!

Suggested Friends Announce Turtle Taxi

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Suggested Friends have popped up on our site before now, so its nice to see them return with the announcement of a new album, Turtle Taxi. Musically, their sound fits right in with a lot of the guitar-pop of the modern day, slightly nodding towards OG emo sounds, but here they also seem to take on a hint of power ballads. I love how the vocals have this soft melodic power; the voice seems unassuming, but the pitch control and delivery clearly indicates the song’s emotion lives there. Sure, you can hear bits of other acts here, but at the moment, there’s nothing I’ve heard that sounds quite like this act; I’m looking forward to Turtle Taxi, out on Fika Recordingsand HHBTM come October.

Stanley Brinks and the Wave Pictures Share New Tune

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We’ve gotten a handful of singles from the forthcoming album by Stanley Brinks and the Wave Pictures, but this most recent is definitely my favorite, thus far. It has Stanley recounting or sharing on a love lost, but it’s told through the lens of someone who has been drinking heavily…or at least we assume so; that’s definitely something I think most of us can attest to having done in our own lives. All of this, of course, makes perfect sense, as Stanley’s a very literal songwriter, and together with the Wave Pictures, they’ve named their latest release Tequila Island; go give it a listen via Fika Recordings.

Stanley Brinks and the Wave Pictures Share Tequila Island

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Two artists I’ve been writing about since we up and started this old blog are Stanley Brinks and Wave Pictures. Stanley’s done his own thing, worked with Freshcard…and always circles back it seems to work with the Wave Pictures. Together they write these pop songs that are playful, yet illustrated the musicianship of everyone involved, such as the title track from their new album, Tequila Island. It draws inspiration from folk influences, and then transports them to island lifestyles…maybe they got this all written down in Cabo? If Jimmy Buffet had a fraction of cool, he’d probably sound like this batch. Tequila Island is out on June 21st via Fika Recordings.

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