Rock n’ Recipes: Outer World

Hopefully you took our suggestion last week when we encouraged you to give a listen to Who Does the Music Love, the debut LP from Outer World. Members of the group have been playing in other acts we’ve enjoyed (Dahlia Seed/Positive No!), so we reached out to Kenneth and Tracy to see if they could give us some insight into their LP. Plus, as an avid coffee enthusiast, with a slight sweet tooth, I was excited to get the recipe for their “Coffee Surprise,” which can easily be replicated at your home! Check out the band’s and stream the LP HERE. It’s out now via HHBTM.

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Outer World Announce Who Does the Music Love

If you were going to put out a record that sounded equal parts late 90s DC scene and the entirety of the Stereolab catalogue, then you’re going to get what Outer World‘s new single is all about. There’s a rolling wave of psychedelic keys that run in and out of the tune, twirling and swirling about as Tracy Wilson’s vocals do their best to stab their way through the speakers. Vocal notes have this sharpness, matched by this knife-like guitar line, both cutting through the murky melody running underground. Wilson and her partner Kenneth Close have created this amalgam of sounds from their own record collection, and if this is our first taste, you know this will rip! Who Does the Music Love is out on March via HHBTM!

Jam The Starfish Song from The Garment District

Of all the songs on the Garment District‘s newest LP, this is the one that’s really been hitting me hard; I just love the vocal performance as it sounds absolutely huge here. The track itself has this sort of all-mod swagger to it, somewhere between the hooks of pre-punk and Nick Lowe. Production value here works wonders, with those backing vocals hitting in the exact right spot, with the musical elements filling in the negative space perfectly, allowing the natural hook to really soar in your ears. But, then they slow it all down to flex the psychedelic jam sesh in the middle; it gives you a moment to breathe before the group rush you back into the grand swinging golden age of pop. You’ll find this track on Flowers Telegraphed to All Parts of the World, dropping on September 22nd via HHBTM.

Another Tune from the Garment District

When we were last covering music from the Garment District they were blending psychedelia and bits of disco to kind of create this cool amalgam of pop vibes. This time, they’re straight into the pop realm, kicking out a thumping groove from the get-go. It allows the tune to have this magical pulse to it, lifting the listener as it leaves plenty of space for the guitars and vocals to enter. When they unite here, the track twists into more of a kind of futuristic dancefloor hit, spinning you in circles as the guitars shuffle and the vocals kick in this swirling euphoria. Once you near the songs end, it sort of sputters into this bit of exhaustion, letting the listener grab a breath while closing up the doors. Flowers Telegraphed to All Parts of the World is out on September 22nd via HHBTM.

The Garment District Ready New LP

Our friends over at HHBTM will be releasing a new record from the Garment District (Jennifer Baron of Ladybug Transistor) this September, and there’s been a delightful single fluttering about you would likely enjoy. There’s about a minute of ambiance, opening the video and flirting with imagery, but, it just seems to be hanging on the edges, eventually fading away to let the song run in with this mixture of bounding pop and psychedelia; singer Lucy Blehars voice shines through it all, hitting these crystalline notes that land perfectly in the mix. The track moves back and forth between bits of softly curled elegance and that stomping psych boogie, so you get all my favorite pieces tied into this musical trip that rewards time and time again. If you’re interested, the band drop Flowers Telegraphed to All Parts of the World this September, so grab it HERE.

The Wedding Present Release 24 Songs

The Wedding Present is one of my favorite bands, period. They spent a lot of their 2022 dropping rad singles left and right, just knocking out bangers like it was no big deal. Luckily, if you missed out on those, you can now collect them all on one glorious compilation album titled 24 Songs. It features the following tune, with a nice vocal performance from Louise Wener of Sleeper; it’s one of the mellower tunes, reminding me of the Cinerama stuff that Gedge has done on the side. Anyways, never a bad day when you can get a Wedding Present tune up; 24 songs is out now in the UK, with a US version dropping on June 23rd via HHBTM.

Great Lakes Drop Last Night’s Smoke

Sometimes old habits are hard to kick, and in the case of my appreciation for Americana, I’m almost there…except when it comes to Ben Crum’s Great Lakes. Prepping the band’s 7th album, Contenders, Ben and company released this new single, and I can’t stop just jamming out to it at my desk. It’s got all the elements you’d expect from a Southern rock record, influenced by heavy jams and country licks, but there’s also something really intimate and personal about Ben’s vocal delivery; it sounds like you’re sharing a beer with your poetic best friend…and we could all dig on that vibe. Contenders will be out February 4th via HHBTM.

Good Grief Share How Can I Help Falling in Love

If you’ve not got Good Grief on your radar, might I suggest saving a quick 3 minutes of your day to be sure you have time to jam out. The Liverpool trio are playing this fuzzy guitar pop that lands somewhere between 90s college rock and power-pop, with a little sprinkle of pop-punk/emo thrown in for good measure. Dissonant guitars open before letting the song bound away on this bouncing rhythmic line; the guitars jump in, sharply adding layers to the bop, while the vocals operate as if they’re calling you to arms. For me, it’s all about that chorus though, tossing in a sweet melodic note that gets ushered through real quick thanks to the rushing guitar line. If you love it, and you do, then you’ll want to grab Shake Your Faith, out March 18th via HHBTM and Everything Sucks Music.

Swansea Sound Share Pooh Sticks Video

In case you weren’t in the know, we helped get a cassette copy of the debut from Swansea Sound out into the world last week, but since album’s and videos never die, we wanted to encourage you to watch the band’s video for “The Pooh Sticks.” I’m not sure what’s the star here though…is it the incredible song? I mean, they tease you in with Hue’s casual spoken delivery, then ramp it up with classic jangling pop sounds. But, could it also be the great video designed by Rob and Amelia themselves? Using the record’s collage work style and some live cuts, though I’m pretty sure Rob flies off atop a cymbal. Just another reminder that you might be missing out on one of the sneaky good LPs to drop this year. Grab the tape from us HERE, or maybe an LP from our friends at HHBTM.

Great Lakes Announce Contenders

You ever stumble into a tune that just makes you nostalgic for home? Well, listening to the Ben Crum’s voice on the new single from Great Lakes had me yearning for that feeling, searching my soul for hints of home. I love how the track toys with Americana vibes, particularly as the voice has a wee bit of twang, but it’s still not afraid to put forth a heavy rock vibe that certainly seems like no easy feat. The guitar work and heavy stomp of the rhythm section often seem to work beneath the song’s surface, bubbling up in the chorus, jamming in the interludes, and dragging the song with a heavier hand across the finish land. If you’re into good tunes that feel like comfort food, then jam out here, and look for Contenders when it hits in February 4th via HHBTM.

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