Tag: matinee recordings

Pleased to Meet You: Norwegian Blue

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There’s nothing like opening up an email, knowing you’re going to love the contents, and such was my day when I found out that Erik from Electric Pop Group had a solo endeavor titled Norwegian Blue. You’re instantly greeted with the bright ringing of guitars, opening up to a softer jangle and a forceful thump beneath the surface. That rhythmic openness is perfect for Erik’s voice, embracing this brilliant warmth, not to mention the added emphasis from the supporting “ba ba ba” that creates this magical charm. No word on we’ll be getting a full-length, but fingers crossed it comes our way real soon. This single arrives courtesy of Matinee Recordings.

New EP from Bubblegum Lemonade

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There’s been a pretty steady release of new Bubblegum Lemonade pop ditties this year, and I’m pretty embarrassed to say I haven’t given Laz and company enough proper love. And look, the title track of the French Letters in the Sand EP is pretty special, offering a really catchy bit of indiepop, as prescribed by your doctor. But, the second tune on here, “The Hottest Day of the Year” is an absolute gem, and might be one of my favorite tunes that the band has penned. After opening with a fiery riff, it settles into a snappy bounce, swinging your hips from side to side with the melody. There’s a warmth that perhaps comes with the title, but the mid tune diversion of “where does she go” cemented the ditty in my brain! If you love good pop, stop what you’re doing and slide into these tunes, courtesy of Matinee Recordings.

Strawberry Whiplash Share Baby (You’re a Dancer)

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While they are definitely not a dance outfit, the Scottish duo of Strawberry Whiplash have approximate a swinging dance ditty, albeit under the guise of jangling pop sounds. This song snaps you into attention with a little drum work opening up to a huge jangling guitar and wash of keys; it sets the song sailing allowing the build to create this wash of melody that they perfectly slide into with the vocals. You can grab an EP version with this single featuring a couple of bonus tracks, or you can patiently await People Like Us, their new album dropping later this summer…all of it courtesy of Matinee Recordings.

The Perfect English Weather Share Pilgrimage

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With this Spring lighting up with great indiepop, I want to make sure we take a moment to celebrate the classic pop stylings of The Perfect English Weather, particularly their charming new single. Little time is wasted here, with the tracking opening up with budding arrangements, setting sweeping brooms of chamber pop into motion, I keep being drawn towards that lonely piano line walking us along intermittently. Still, I’m a massive lover of moments, the shocking sort that just put you on your toes and sweep you away; I found it here, for the first time at the 1:20 mark, with the line “he didn’t want to be loved by people” breaking me perfectly. Their new album Just Beyond the Lights will be out on Friday via Matinee Recordings.

Stream New Music from Strawberry Whiplash

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If you are on the hunt for songs that you’ll want stuck in your head, I have a feeling you’re going to be in the right place today, especially when you click on this new Strawberry Whiplash tune. It’s another single from their forthcoming LP, which is still being mixed and such, but boy, if you don’t love this tune I don’t know what to tell you. You’d probably lump it in with modern indiepop, but there’s also something nostalgic and Sarah-esque about this ditty; I think Laz’s penchant for clean pop sounds perhaps just makes it a little more pop forward, which I promise you I love just as much. No word when the LP will be polished and ready, but this song has some other tracks attached, courtesy of Matinee Recordings.

The Perfect English Weather Share London-By-The-Sea

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For me, Tuesday’s are always the struggle (I’m a Monday kind of guy!). So, with that, this velvety bit of jangling pop from the Perfect English Weather is the perfect salve for my morning grumpiness. According to the notes, the tune was penned after the band reflected upon a chance meeting with Morrissey back in 1984, and in that, our narrator seems to question is it possible to still love the person he has become (or that’s how I see it). If that’s the case, it’s a quite biting tribute, but disguised in this chamber pop fever dream that seems perfectly suited for a cafe in London-by-the-Sea. The group will be releasing their first album in seven years, Just Beyond the Lights, will be out this May via Matinee Recordings.

The Royal Landscaping Society with Fractals 7″

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The last we heard from Spain’s The Royal Landscaping Society was when the dropped Means of Production, but great news came across the Internet today that they’d have a new 7″ to offer us on Valentines Day. Our first listen has the band working in the synthetic region, letting the steadied beat serve as the foundational element for the vocals; the vocals embrace the band’s pop affinity, coiling themselves around a melodic heat. For me, the finishing touch is what makes the tune perfect, so listen to until the end and wait for the guitar to ring out, offering up this bold burst of energy that leaves the hairs standing up on the end of your arms. Fractals EP will be out February 14th via Matinee Recordings.

Did You Listen to Azure Blue’s The Night of the Stars?

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It’s been a busy December on my end, so I apologize if I haven’t hyped up this new Azure Blue record enough. The Night of the Stars hit just over a week ago, and it’s possibly my favorite work of Tobias Isaksson’s ongoing project. While he’s been dabbling in building electronic hooks over the years, I’m not sure he’s had the perfect pop song like “The Miracle,” which I’ve got streaming below; it’s got a thumping drive to it, matched by gentle vocals…and even gets a little horn work in there, for all you nostalgic pop fans. “Under the Stars” is another standout, hitting you with synthetic pop from the moment you press play; the song then churns in on itself and delivers a smooth undercurrent that soothes and bubbles the way pop should. The Night of the Stars is available now through Matinee Recordings; stream the whole thing HERE.

Azure Blue Offer Visions and Themes

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Our old pal Tobias Isaksson and his Azure Blue project are out with a brand new single, a prelude to a fresh LP dropping at the end of November. As always, Tobias specializes in driving synth pop with massive hooks, and it’s interesting to hear the darkened tones on the beat work this go round. The song manages to balance that with a softer wash of keys on the top layer, then letting Isaksson bringing in more warmth through his vocal delivery too. I love the energy of this tune too, as it feels more like a punching club banger, adding to our Friday energy once you turn the volume knob to the right. The Night of the Stars will drop on November 22nd via Hybris/Matinee/Anna Logue.

Bubblegum Lemonade Share To Leave Is to Die a Little

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It’s a jangle out there folks, and what better way than to circle back and indulge your sweet-tooth with the hook-laden pop of Bubblegum Lemonade. On this new single, the jangling riffs are definitely in full-effect, but the playfulness that Laz always employs seems to come in the backing vocal style that cruises through this track; it provides the perfect accent to the major melodic hook, and only proves to me how much joy this group brings to the table. The tune even gets a little fleshed out vocal breakdown with Laz’s counterpart, adding yet another layer to his delectable craft. This song appears on Lawrence of Arabia, which comes out via Matinee Recordings on November 6th.

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