Dog Park Shares Sunny Decadence

After that brash morning ripper from Shake Chain it feels only apt that I should caress your ears with a little sweetness, this time from French outfit Dog Park, the newest pickup from Howlin Banana Records. Immediately, the guitars grab at you, wrapping you in this blanket that’s warm and dreamy, just hinting at a churning jangle to let you drip off into happiness. Ultimately, the warmth of the song resides in the voice coming through your speakers, allowing you to really immerse yourself in its own brand of decadence…the sweetness notes you might hear today. It’s a fairly new act, so hopefully we hear more real soon!

Special Friend Share Ennemi Commun

Not too long ago I raved about “Pastel,” the first single from Special Friend‘s forthcoming Ennemi Commun album…and here we are today with the LPs title track. Rather than dwell on the sweetness of the first single, this one pushes you into the fuzzy arena of that sort of porto-psych-pop, like someone who went to Levitation festival that was really into everything Laetitia Sadler’s done then churned this out on the other side. And I’m not complaining one bit. Plus, Erica gets the spotlight on this one, riding in between the fuzzy edges with this distant support from Guillaume, or so it would seem. I love the wobbly synth lines in there too, all before the song jettisons out into this spacey rock exploration. Ennemi Commun drops on March 26th!

Unschooling Share Social Chameleon Video

Listen, if you’re a fan of Omni, and the way they have those sharp danceable guitar cuts, then you’re going to love French outfit, Unschooling. For much of their new tune, it’s almost a solid carbon copy, even down to that sort of sedate vocal delivery. But, what I like about this lot is how they seem to kind of get frantic, anxious almost, forcing them to push the envelope as the song progresses. Then at the 2 minute mark, they’re like “nah, we’re going to turn this into a pop tune!” Nice twist, and has me stoked to hear the group’s Random Acts of Total Control, out on April 16th via Howlin Banana.

Bootchy Temple Share Nowhere Else

I get that writing about music probably isn’t the most apt way to adjust to the world right now, but I’ve always been one to retreat to music, so here I am again with this lovely tune from Bootchy Temple. On this tune from the French outfit’s forthcoming LP, they’re sort of fashioning themselves between the worlds of paisley and psychedelia; it reminds me an awful lot of a more exploratory version of the Clientele. It’s blissful, though feels like a soggy foggy day, which is sort of a unique accomplishment in and of itself, if I do say so. In Consummated Bloom will be out on November 27th via Howlin Banana and Safe in the Rain.

Catchy Pop Number from Tapeworms

I’m super in love with this new track from French gaze-pop band Tapeworms. Margot Magnieres helps get the song underway with this sort of sly croon, sliding right underneath the bounce of the keys and guitar; you think you’re lost in some magic pop realm, tapping your toes playfully. Suddenly, right at the 1:45 mark, the pedals get pushed down and you’re hit by this barrage of swelling noise that you can’t run from. All the while, Margot’s still there, still bringing you in with her voice. If you dig this style, you’re going to really enjoy listening to the band’s debut LP, Funtastic, out September 25th via Howlin Banana.