This is fine.
We’re in the midst of the fest, but still have time to check out some stuff that we really love, like Honey I’m Home. The Dutch outfit are playing our Welcome to the Jangle Party this Sunday at 29th Street Ballroom/Tweedys, so they were kind enough to answer some questions to get some extra info about the band and their work. You can track more of their SXSW shows HERE.
Don’t let the title of this tune catch you thinking about speed, as the latest single released by From October is more of a pleasantry, a sedate piece of sublime pop feels. The guitar tones are careful, creeping around every little bit of melody presented through the vocals. Those vocals are softened, hitting the perfect note with every syllable, as you watch the song blow by through your speakers; there’s a gradual feel too, enabling the symbolic rush of the train to blow across your room as you fall in love with this song. Such a joy to listen here.
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.
Feel like every place I turn, someone is struggling or someone is bummed or someone is seeking a better day, so I wanted to kick off the day with this We Are Joiners tune. The Dutch trio open up pretty aggressively, even embracing that maniacal manner with a screaming vocal nipping at the heels of the world. But, what sold me completely was the beautiful chorus, collecting the noise and swirling it around in a pot of delicious hooks; they continue to mix in melody and noise throughout the song’s final minute, and each time I press play, I’m falling further with the group’s sound. Crank it up and piss off your neighbors!
There’s very little out there about Dutch trio Abdomen, but I’ve been really fascinated by their sound as I continue to crank up the volume. A sneaky start of snapping snare soon opens up to stabbing strokes on the guitar; there’s an ominous feel with another layer working beneath, building this sort of industrial fusion with post-punk vibes. When the vocals enter, they’re sort of muted, as if they’re just echoing from down the hall. Blasts of noise are a warning sign of what’s to come, increasing the tension as the drums join in and the song begins to embrace its own danger. Fucking cool as hell, and a glimpse at what’s to come on their debut album, which will drop via FatCat Records in February.
Dutch songwriter Dion Tiktak has won us over with his carefully crafted pieces for From//October; today you’ll finally get to hear the entirety of the As Time Went By EP. On the latest single, there’s a bit more of a sleepy feel to the craft, which makes sense as the song’s dealing with lost memories and grief. Tiktak still has this comforting curl on his vocal notes, which is something that continues to draw me towards his work. Admittedly, “Somewhere Quiet” is the standout gem on this EP, but be sure to indulge in the whole, as it feels like its truly meant to exist as a collective piece.
Sometime next Spring, Mia Porter will be releasing her debut LP, and with that in mind, I’d like to encourage you to keep your ears out for her music. Her voice has this distinctive nature to it, particularly in the way that she toys with some of the syllables in her songwriting; the vocals toy with a bit of comedic effect, whilst detailing the complexities of love. While her performance reminds me of the love child of Hope Sandoval and Aldous Harding, I think the accents in the arrangement, with horn work from Denzel Mendoza, really allow the track to swell and blossom as it swirls around you.
Don’t let the first 50 or so seconds of The Maureens new single fool you, for as pretty as it may be, the Dutch outfit are brandishing their rock wares on the latest single. When the tune kicks in near the minute mark, it does so with a full on punch, the sort one would expect from only the best Teenage Fanclub tracks, brandishing huge riff-driven guitar pop with melodic centerpieces. That being said, the group do pull towards the more melodic, especially when there’s a explorative breakdown in the middle; they filter in a bit of twanging guitar that rides on some “oohs,” which is an absolute charming moment. In January, the band will release Everyone Smiles via Meritorio, so you’ve been put on notice!
Among the many reliable indie labels of the lands, Meritorio always fashions themselves as purveyors of great pop music, or as I see it. Today, they’re sharing a fresh track from Dutch outfit the Maureens, bringing back a sound that certainly harkens to the early days of Beatlemania. Light strums open the tune before a sharper lead cuts into to divvy up the guitar mixture; the vocals are layered atop one another, adding in these harmonies brimming with joyous spirit. Guitars continue to lightly jangle while the rhythm section kicks in an understated groove, leaving you to fill yourself up on the smorgasbord of pop goodness that comes in the chorus. The band will release Everyone Smiles early next year!
Dutch songwriter Dion Tiktak’s From//October project is a really great way to escape the mundane details of the end of times we’re facing. There’s a lightness to his craft, allowing you completely let loose, take that magic carpet ride wherever your mind chooses to travel. For me, you’ll find some similarities to earlier stuff that came from Peel Dream Magazine, albeit with a bit more of a melodic drive here, allowing the crispness to really hit those notes that allow for emotional escapism we’re all seeking from our favorite tunes. Delve into Dion’s work and escape the day!
