New Jam from Prism Shores

Power pop goodness is on the menu today with a fresh banger from Prism Shores. This song’s brilliance is on the balance between the chugging ring of guitars and the sated delivery that calms the rock ethos burrowed beneath the track. When those huge riffs dropped in at the get go, I was expecting a following punch, but the vocals pull you back in with a more melodic touch, softening the punch. It’s the perfect move, so as to not get pulled under by the bristling bounce of those crunchy jangles. I have a feeling we’re in for another solid collection of bops when Softest Attack arrives via Meritorio Records on April 10th.

Fort Not Share Heaven to Me

A few weeks ago we were really excited to hear that this year would bring us a fresh record from Fort Not, the Swedish duo offering up spritely pop music. On their brand new single, there’s this very sated vocal feel, something that reminds me a bit of some of those Forster penned Go-Betweens tracks (or his son for that matter); they hand on the cusp between melodic croon and spoken word, accenting the sharp jangles of the guitar. The drumming stays out of the way, only hitting above its weight when the fuzzier riffs come into play during the chorus. This should convince you to spend a little bit of money on You On Repeat, the new LP via Meritorio, out February 27th.

Prism Shores Announce Softest Attack

Last year, Montreal’s Prism Shores delivered the most excellent Out from Underneath LP, and they’ve wasted little time, returning today with the news of another LP coming out in early Spring. In the song below, you can hear their lineage to noisy pop purveyors like Teenage Fanclub, building up swirling guitar bits in the background whilst pushing the vocals up front. For my two cents, there’s a definitive earnestness to their vocal performance, almost as if they’re fusing their power pop sound with hints of late 90s emo. It’s a successful track, and one that already has me looking for the funds to grab Softest Attack, the new LP out in April via Meritorio Records.

The Maureens Share Doing Fine

It’s my birthday, which means I can do whatever I want on this site! Mostly, I just want to have fun and enjoy bright music that gets me in my feels, like this fresh new Maureens bop. Instantaneously, the music rushes in with crisp jingles and enthusiasm that’s probably going to be unparalleled…at least today. As always, the Dutch group weave incredible harmonies into their sound, letting the vocals lay upon one another so as to boost the natural melodic connection between band and listener. It’s a fine start to the day, and one that comes with a promise that there’s a new LP on the horizon from Meritorio Records.

Fort Not Announce You On Repeat

Swedish outfit Fort Not have been quiet for several years, but they make a bold pop statement with their return today, announcing they’ll release You On Repeat this February. Their sound pulls from a rich history of underground pop artists, combining jangly strummed guitars and light vocal notes to deliver these bright ditties. Since they’re pop focused, the melodies get to shine here, but there’s still some heavy waves of guitar underneath their feet, giving some depth to the track. There’s some Teenage Fanclub in this, but I can also hear similarities to ATH faves Pop Filter in the way the vocals kind of crest and ride atop. Really stoked to hear there’s a new LP, so be sure to get your hands on a copy before February 27th when You On Repeat hits courtesy of Meritorio Records.

Meritorio Records Opens Reissue Side Hustle

If you’ve followed this site for any time, you’d know the name Meritorio Records; it’s a ATH household name, and we typically adore what they’re putting out. But, it can’t all be new music, can it? The answer is no, as label head Alvaro Lisson has opted to curate a new reissue label titled Dust and Memory. It’s a label that will likely be curated with generosity and care, highlighting some of the great tunes that have slid past our memories. The label has announced two reissues to kick things off: Everything is Green by the Essex Green and The Lore of Mysticore by Magic Castles. We’ve got some tunes to sample below, but you’re probably already hyper familiar. Excited to see what else Alvaro unearths, as his tastes are much admired! Grab copies HERE.

Fazed on a Pony Shares Wrong Party

When the latest single from Fazed on a Pony opens it doors, you better latch onto that galloping rhythm as it runs the course of the song’s entirety; it’s peppy, driving the tune forward at all times. Interestingly, even with a speedier bit of guitar work, Peter McCall manages to keep himself locked into his own performance, calmly delivering the vocals while the music moves at a speedier pace, crafting this perfect contrast. Speaking of that contrast, the space between gets filled with really nice string accents, fleshing out the sound into something larger than its parts. Really looking forward to hearing Swan, which drops on January 23rd via Meritorio Records and Melted Ice Cream.

Fazed On a Pony Announces Swan

When you think of the New Zealand scene, particularly as it relates to our coverage, you’re thinking brazen guitar pop with 12 string guitars and huge melodies. But! That’s not what you get when you listen to Fazed On a Pony, the songwriting project of Peter McCall, who crafts delicate Americana, not far from off from the sounds that one guy crafted in Red House Painters. The bending notes of guitar feel like they’re stretching for emotion, finding you happily waiting on the other side to lap up heartwarming waters that come through your speakers. His new album Swan is likely to find many a spins on our end; it comes your way via Melted Ice Cream and Meritorio Records in January of next year!

Friday Album Streams: Strange Passage, Longing Louisa, Stella Donnelly and More

As the year nears its close, there’s a handful of releases that are worthy of your listening experience. We wanted to run through a couple of them so you had some stuff to enjoy as you browse Bandcamp on the first Friday of the month. You’ll find some mellows jams, some guitar pop, and some powerhouse vocals…all of which we encourage you to enjoy by clicking below! Don’t forget to support your artists and labels.

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The Wesleys Share Explosive Device Single

In what seems like a continuous cycle of bad-assery, Meritorio Records has another great release on their line-up for the end of 202: The Wesleys Explosive Device EP. The first single from the release had a driving rhythm to it, but this go round, they’ve opened the song up a bit, letting the guitars kind of shimmer in the background, creating this psychedelic sway that moves the song; there’s something in that reminds me of a slightly more upbeat Clientele. Twisting their sound leaves listeners on notice that you’re going to get your moneys worth when you pick up the EP, with a little bit of energy and a little bit of pop, so be sure to grab a copy from Meritorio Records before the Novemeber 7th release.

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