Tag: meritorio records

The High Water Marks Announce Consult the Oracle

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At this point in the indie sphere, it seems (to me at least) that The High Water Marks should be required listening. They consistently churned out a brand of power-pop, envied by their peers and relished by fanatics who trace the band’s musical construction back to its early Elephant 6 roots. Sure, those days are long in the past, but you can certainly hear the way that vocal melodies are layered atop one another, carefully, so as to subtly encourage you to dig beneath the surface. And of course, they’re never straying from pop pieces, as that’s their bread and butter, and they do so with just enough attitude to make the cool kids swoon. Their new album Consult the Oracle is out May 16th via Meritorio Records.

Another Single from Exploding Flowers

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An unexpected joy for this year will be getting to hear a new album from Exploding Flowers; they return this Spring with their first new release in 5 long years. This tune finds them in prime guitar pop glory; they settle into the circular seance of guitars, with the occasional drum fill adding in some textural depth. You’ll find a lot of joy in the way the vocals sit, soothingly swimming about in the center of the tune, though they’re not overproduced, so they fit perfectly into the grander picture being pushed out here. And like that, the wind blows the song into a tumbling breakdown and its over, as there’s no need to linger, because you’ll be back to play it again in no time. Watermelon/Peacock will be out on March 21st via Meritorio Records.

Prism Shores Share Overplayed My Hand Single

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Those of us on this side of the indie scene have all been anticipating the new Prism Shores LP, Out from Underneath; it drops next week via Meritorio Records. But, before we get to the finish line, the group are offering one last trick to tickle your fancy, and it might be the best one we’ve heard from the group. When it begins, it has this quieted joy, the sort you’d associate with the Reds, Pinks and Purples, but progresses into something with a bit more explosiveness that warrants repeat listens. I absolutely love the way the track just feels like a big hug, despite hitting these jittery notes that seem like we’ve lost total control. Grab the LP before it’s too late!

Exploding Flowers Announce Watermelon/Peacock

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If you go back to 2020, you can check out my Album of the Year list, which included Stumbling Blocks; it was an LP by adored, but fairly unknown, act Exploding Flowers. I’d thought they’d gone the way of most bands, but lo and behold, I wake up to an email from the great folks at Meritorio with news of a brand new LP! Our first peek wastes no time, rolling in on a wave of guitars and steadied thumping on the drum kit; the vocals have this almost wistful exuberance, joyfully looking for promise of any sort on the horizon. There’s this wall of charm that washes over in the melody of the tune, and I’m finding it incredibly hard to not just spin this on repeat all day long! Watermelon/Peacock is out on March 21st.

New Jam from Prism Shores

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We’ve been hyping up the Prism Shores a lot the last few weeks, looking ahead to cranking up the noise on Out from Underneath, listening as the band bounce back and forth between pop sensibilities and rambunctious noise. This new single enters with a pop, only to be greeted by a wave of noise; that doesn’t last long, however, as the group peel that back to offer the infectious side of their sound, working dueling melodies to the front of the mix. Honestly, their consistency in the vocal work is one of the charms of this track, though I’m also enjoying the overall propulsive energy it brings out. If you don’t have Out from Underneath on your radar, pencil it in for its January 17th release date via Meritorio Records.

Prism Shores Share Tourniquet

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As if the first single from the new Prism Shores wasn’t a big enough statement, they offer their new jam, perhaps topping the joy of the first one. This go round, things are a little more patient, looking more inward, almost akin to the earliest of Teenage Fanclub moments, though there’s something in the guitar style that does feel very fresh. Each vocal go round carries this softness, but in a manner that sounds more introspective, tying it the current indie scene. You even get a little digression just after the 1.5 minute mark, leading into a beautiful closing moment. Out from Underneath is going to be something quite special, so look for it the day after my birthday, January 17th, courtesy of Meritorio Records.

Prism Shores Announce Out From Underneath

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Meritorio Records have been one of the most consistent labels in my life the last few years; this year alone I’ve bought records from SadEyed Beatniks, Best Bets and am hoping to get that Jim Nothing record soon. But today, the label announced the signing and release of a new LP from Prism Shores. The Montreal act is new to me (shame on me, I know), and I was almost instantly hooked. There’s this lurking familiarity I haven’t quite placed yet, and perhaps you can hear it yourself, but it’s this steady pop bounce that feels like you’re a punk mixologist, fusing the Red Pinks and Purples softness with a little bit of a harder jangling sound. Sharp and comforting, I’ve had this tune on all morning long. Out From Underneath drops the day after my January 16th birthday in 2025, so if you want to get me a present, you know what to do.

Friday Album Streams: Spiral XP, Jim Nothing, Humdrum and More

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Fridays are always great days to just settle into your chair, couch, bed, whathaveyou, then just escape the world for a few hours. What better way than to stream some brand new music that’s dropped into the world? There’s a bunch of stuff out today, but I sort of handpicked what I’ve been enjoying and listening to the most, hoping you can latch onto a bit of that as well.

 

Spiral XP – I Wish I Was a Rat (Danger Collective Records)

Jim Nothing – Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn (Meritorio Records)

Humdrum – Every Heaven (Slumberland Records)

Daily Worker – Because I Have To (Radio Gurl Records)

Greg Mendez – First Time/Alone (Dead Oceans)

Slack Times Release Gone Things EP

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At this point, we’ve covered most of the songs on this brand new record from Slack Times, but it’s one of the releases today that you’ve got to be sure to enjoy. Honestly, these 4 songs are perfect; they feel like the band have fully embraced their influences and adopted an approach that brings that to the front, whilst still feeling like they’re part of the present. Sure, there’s an homage to the great sounds of Flying Nun, but there’s also this vibrance that feels like they’ve written these songs with the feeling of being carefree, and locking into one another, livening the spirit of the recording. Hopefully this is just the beginning of more tunes, and if not, well, it rules, so jam below! Gone Things out today courtesy of Meritorio.

Capitol Release Twenty-Eight in Drag

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You’re going to have a hard time not getting swept up in the energetic opening of the new Capitol track; the rhythm section kick things off with some snappy grooves before the tune pulls back to deliver the verses. They bring up a bit of synth wash to set the mood, let the vocals sway within the confines of the ambiance. While they offer a lot of punch in this tune, there’s a middling section where it’s almost all about the emotional feel of the track, filling a breakdown with these shimmering keyboard notes that stay in the picture to add texture to what’s on the surface. The group drop Sounds Like a Place on November 8th via Meritorio Records.

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