Tag: Jangle Pop

Stephen’s Shore Announce Neptune EP

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Every few years Stephen’s Shore gift us the glory of a new track, much like they’re doing today with the announcement of their new Neptune EP. It’s difficult to decide which aspect of the tune I’m more attracted to after my first five or six listens here. At one point, the way the jangling guitars open up on the back of a bobbing bass line feels like the sun’s coming up over the hills here in Austin; there’s a natural bright emotive quality that one can’t escape. That said, there’s this wistful nostalgia in the vocal presentation. The notes are warm, though there’s a bit of looking back that pervades, even in the lyrics. A bright way to kick off a new EP; Neptune is out via Meritorio Records on May 10th.

Soft Science Share Single, Announce New LP

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What a great day to return from a minor surgery to find fresh Soft Science music to spin for you. Personally, the band brandish my favorite style of the indiepop realm; it’s equal parts dreamy/gazey and jangly, giving the song this sort of mellow drift that’s pushed forward by the punching rhythm. You can feel the guitars grab you by the neck and swirl you about in the air, only to get caught in some magical gust that carries you to find what dreams may come. You’ll either get caught up daydreaming, or put this on a playlist for a drive under the night sky, but either way you’ll be a winner if you grab this from Shelflife Records; Lines is officially out on September 8th.

The Radio Field Share New Single (ft. Phantom Handshakes)

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German outfit The Radio Field are an up-and-coming band on the whole dream meets jangle realm, and I for one and totally on board. They’ve dropped an EP, but as they ready their debut LP, they’ve enlisted Federica from ATH faves Phantom Handshakes to join them in the fun on this go round. Once the starting gun is off, the guitars twist and turn, opening their jangles into the dreamier realms of of the genre. Vocals enter, overlapping one another; you get a deep tone meeting up with angelic notes, intermingling for maximum sweetness. Churning and turning, there’s a nice emphatic close with some added punch, leaving us with the promise that Don’ts and Dos is going to be a banger; look for the release this August via Subjangle.

Roller Derby Share Always On My Mind Video

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If you recall last year’s SXSW recap, you might remember me harping on the work of Roller Derby. The young German outfit are in the midst of finishing up their debut LP, and with that, they’re teasing us with this incredible single. This tune is precisely why I love the act; they bring in this knack for huge choruses and boast powerful vocal work from Philine. Plus, you won’t ever hear me arguing with the jangling guitar work throughout; it’s the sort that gets you jumping about joyously, like the folks you’ll see in this video! Still, it would be easy for the band to circle back through verse/chorus/verse/chorus, but they don’t!. There’s this beautiful breakdown just after the two minute mark before the group dance right back into the hooks! Can’t wait to hear this band’s LP!

Slumberland Pick up The Laughing Chimes

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Leave it to Slumberland Records to try and squeeze the last few drops out of my bank account before the year wraps up; they announced another crisp collection of pop to add to their roster of great releases in 2022…the Laughing Chimes. While that doesn’t surprise me, the talent of the Seurkamp brothers at such a young age; this first single takes on a timeless bit of pop charm, rocking with those classic circular jangles that swirl through your speakers amidst a steady stomp. I will say that the vocals certainly take on a nice bit of wistfulness, making this the perfect Monday tune to get you started. Their Zoo Avenue EP will be out on November 18th.

Pleased to Meet You: The Variable Stars

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One of the great things about the last 30 years is the ease with which we can dig out old files and tapes and give them a proper re-release, which is how I came upon The Variable Stars. Our friends over at Recorded Psychic Readings reached out to let us know they’d be dropping a tape from the Bay-area bands early recordings. Take a listen to either of the songs below and you’ll surely see where I fell in love here; it’s got the charm of the Pastels or Comet Gain, albeit with just the faintest hint of modern indiepop. Honestly, I love how the vocalist seem to perfectly compliment one another, particularly when they’re uniting for a nice melodic push. If, like me, you hadn’t heard of this band, well, spend some time streaming these bops! All Signs Point to Life will be out this Friday!

Youth Valley Share New Single

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Grecian popsters Youth Valley really have the charms to get us into the rest of this week; they’re bringing in this delightful new track, with promises that their will be more like-minded gems come the release of their LP this Winter. Listening, there’s definitely something faintly Morrissey in the vocals (before we all decided that guy was awful); they have this shyness to them that seems fitting for the band’s lyrical parable on how we’ve all grown to shy to go out and enjoy the night. And, if the voice wasn’t enough to seduce you, listen to the sharpness of those guitar chords, dancing and distorting in the distance, twirling their little fingers through your hair, playfully; it’s all sheer charm, and I can’t wait to hear more from the outfit.

Slack Times Drop Carried Away Single

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Alabama’s Slack Times maybe get lumped in with the janglers of our time, and obviously I don’t mind that one bit, but I think that sells the band really short. On the title track to the forthcoming LP, the band even do their best to set the record straight with this sort of pseudo-Cali sun-pop guitar noodling; it’s balanced out by, you guessed it, the spot on jangle that counteract. Once the melody of the vocals sets in, it begins to feel like we’ve got this nostalgic longing settling in, both in message and sound; I don’t think there’s a single pop rock balladeer of the past that would mind this song being on their resume. If you’re looking for that spot where classic Americana meets up with jangling pop, then look no further then Carried Away; the LP is out June 24th via Meritorio.

Silver Liz Share Unlikely Girl

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As we move into the summer season, I start to indulge a bit more in my musical sweet tooth, which is great since there’s this new Silver Liz tune giving me my fix. “Oooh hooo” opens up the track, and instantly you’re sucked into that dreamy voice, intoxicated as it bends the notes around this very light jangle. Still, whilst loving it, I didn’t become addicted to this track completely until the moment where the band pull back the music and let Carrie Wagner’s voice continue to shine on its own, almost in that Hope Sandoval fashion…and each time the band employ that little trick I get a little weak in the knees.

Slack Times Share Look Away + Announce LP

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If you actually read this site, then I reckon you’ve liked seen Slack Times pop up on our radar previously, particularly as we made a nod to their At the Blue Melon Rendezvous and its Athens influences. Well, today we’re here with the news of their new compilation record, which will include 6 new songs, atop the 8 tracks from their previous EPs. If you don’t find these crystalline guitar jangles hitting the right notes, wait until the handclaps and hip-shaking swagger swing into the chorus to really sell you on the masterful hooks the band use to fill their tunes. Carried Away already has 9 great tunes, so we’re looking forward to the rest if they sound this damned good. The LP is out June 24th via Meritorio Records.

 

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