Strawberry Whiplash Return with Press 4 for Love

It’s been nearly five years since we last heard from Strawberry Whiplash, but I have a feeling all those indiepop folks out there are going to be clamoring for more. Almost immediately, those crisp guitar notes turn from slight jangle to pace-car, locking the song in this bounding rhythm, occasionally broken up by the return of those crystalline guitar notes. Still, the song wouldn’t be complete without those melodic vocal notes that bring us back to the sugary pop of the early days of rock n’ roll. For some reason, this song just makes me feel like running about on a playground with a giant lollipop in my mouth! Sweet and fun. The digital single is available via Matinee Recordings. And, word is, this single is signs of new things to come, with a fresh LP promised for the new year!

Real Numbers Announce Brighter Then EP

It’s been quite some time since Real Numbers dropped the stellar Wordless Wonder LP (2016), so I’m really stoked that there’s a new EP on the way, and it comes with this sparkling bit of pop in the announcement. I say this, knowing full well I’ll be proven wrong, but the sort of pop they’re presenting here is definitely a lost art, mastered by only a few in the world as of late. It’s got that sharp guitar churn, hanging the melodic vocals out on the clothesline in the wind, letting them breeze right through until the song introduces a light little stomp to shake the pop right out of you. Honestly, might be one of the best indiepop tunes this year…no lie. Brighter Then EP is out in January via Slumberland Records/Meritorio Records.

Lost Tapes Return with Quoting Salter EP

I always love the stuff that Lost Tapes release; they seem to have this knack for crafting just the right brand of melodic pop that lets the mind wonder. With their latest single, I can’t help but think of myself rocking gently in a nice hammock, breezily blowing in the wind as I let my eyes rest and my mind escape the mundane daily rituals. Things seem so clean and perfect in the way the duo work their songs, and in doing so, they create these nuggets of pop joy; it’s like unwrapping your Christmas present early and realizing nothing else in this moment matters. They’ll be releasing the Quoting Salter EP on December 4th via the esteemed Sunday Records.

Sapphire & Steel Release Assignment 1

Our friend and fellow pop enthusiast Estella Rosa (also part of glorious Nah) just begun a new project with Jorn Aleskjaer named Sapphire & Steel (a nod to the 70s Sci-Fi series of the same name). This week they dropped Assignment 1, a three song EP I felt was necessary to put on your radar. “Home” settles the score immediately, fusing bits of indie pop and new wave seamlessly, giving you melody and groove all at once; Estella’s voice dabbles in the dream pop territory, allowing the notes to sort of rise and fall…might also be one of the best chorus moments I’ve heard her on…just saying. “Rumours” gives off more of a retro lounge feel, like a lounge act with just enough nuance to keep us captivated. “Susan” gives you this sort of late-night funk feel; slight bits of swagger and hipness buried beneath a pop facade that features far more Jorn than we’ve gotten prior to this. A perfect closer for a late night dance party, or maybe just this great introductory EP.

Kanine Records Signs Hoorsees

Generally speaking, I dig what Kanine and Howlin Banana Records are into, so when they’ve got something new on the horizon, I’m going to give it a listen. Their latest signing is French outfit Hoorsees, who’ve just signed with the label to release their self-titled LP next February. I was drawn to the jangling guitar style, though I’ll admit they get worked up with something slightly dreamy here; the drums don’t hurt either with their steady-toe-tap beat. The vocals are great, and I love a sort of front person that gets to stalk the stage, which doesn’t always work for indiepop, but here it seems to be fitting. Excited to hear more from this bunch as the album gets closer.

Heavenly Share So Little Deserve Video + Announce Singles Compilation

One of the great thing about the vinyl resurgence has been the reemergence of hard to find gems through various reissues. If you’re like me, and a Sarah Records fan, those original hits can be hard to find, and if found, quite pricy! But, thanks to Damaged Goods, we’re all being gifted the deserved compilation treatment for Heavenly; they’ve organized all the singles for A Bout De Heavenly: The Singles. Now, we could go on and on and rave about the band’s signature sound, trace lineage back to Talulah Gosh or move forward to current projects like Catenary Wires/European Sun…but don’t you just want to hear Amelia sing? I love how her voice soars over that jangling jittery guitar as everything falls into messy pop euphoria for the chorus. We all deserve such great pop music. This never before seen video has just recently been digitized from Super 8 footage Rob had.

He had this to say about the video: “This video has never been made public before. We didnt like it at the time, but now I think its the best one. I only had a couple of rolls of Super 8, which is one of the reasons its in slow motion: I had to make a little go a long way! I love the footage of Mathew in this video, though the fact that he is clearly so happy in it makes it a bit hard to watch.”

Enjoy the video and Pre-Order the LP.

Aiko El Grupo Share Quiero Conocer

You know when you turn on a song and you can immediately tell its got its musical hooks in you? Well, when I turned on this new jam from Aiko El Grupo, that’s exactly how I felt, even before the vocals came into play; it just had that inexplicable bounce I wanted to be part of right away. I wanted to jump about in celebration with all my friends; I wanted beer sprayed all through the air; I wanted us all screaming at the top of my lungs. In fact, that’s exactly what I got when everything came together from this new single…if that feels like something you’d want to be part of, then you better turn it up right now! The band release their debut album next month via Elefant Records.

Lunchbox Share Over Way Too Soon Video

In less than two weeks, Lunchbox will be dropping After School Special, their enchanting new LP. But, in listening to this brand new single, I think the world over is going to have some strong feelings to the track’s thematic message; it’s set “against the backdrop of the ever-changing Oakland cityscape,” with a friendly ghost frolicking about town to emphasize that all the things we love and hold dear, “nothing can ever stay the same.” Of course, two decades of pop from Tim and Donna definitely feel familiar, giving off a sense of comfort amidst the harrowing theme. I love how the horns sort of burst through those jangling guitar stabs and push the pop envelope just a bit more. There’s no such thing as too much pop! After School Special will be out on October 30th via Slumberland Records/Lost Sound Tapes.

Kindsight Share Terminal Daze

Our friends over in Rama Lama Records are reaching beyond the confines of Sweden to work with Danish outfit Kindsight. Today they’re releasing another bobbing pop number, so if you’re not tapping your toes while you press play then you need to speak with your doctor immediately. The vocals are about as sparkling as you can get for the indiepop genre, so be sure you’re saving up for this sugary musical treat. I really love the range though, as the vocals can raise up high and crash down to soften as they open up to cascading guitar chords that ring through your headphones. Really stoked on this band, and you should be too!

The Color Waves Drop Self-Titled LP

It’s possible that you might have missed the new Color Waves LP over the weekend, but my goal this week has been to bounce back on some great releases I’ve been in love with on my end. It’s actually been 5 years since I’ve heard anything from this outfit…that was their lone 7″ on Cloudberry Records in 2015. I’d love to cram this down your throat as an indiepop staple for 2020, but to be fair, it feels like so much more, like a pop tree branching out to tickle the various sub-genres. For a great deal, they remind me an awful lot of the Lucksmiths, using these jangling guitar notes in a more slower fashion, dragging every last drop of melody from each note, letting harmonics float into the ether. It feels like a fireside record where you can curl up with someone you love and share in the simple joys of a truly great LP. The Color Waves is available now in all the usual spots! It should also say something that Jeremy Jensen of The Very Most (who I covered yesterday) bought this album! You know what to do!

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