Boy With Apple Ready Debut LP

A few years back, Sweden’s Boy with Apple were all the rage over here at ATH; they had several rad singles I wrote up, but then disappeared. Apparently, that was to hole up and finish up their debut LP, which we’ve got a peek into with this fresh single. A simplistic view on their style would be to offer the group up as some brand of dream pop, and I totally get that when listening to the guitar bits that wave across this tune. But, if you put your ear closer, or turn up your headphones, you can certainly hear an almost 90s earnestness to the vocal delivery, particularly when the chorus erupts into that ethereal pop pulse. It’s a really special moment, working really tightly with this trippy club beat that works the percussive element deep in the song’s shadows. Looking forward to hearing what their debut Lp sounds like; it drops via Varo Records on March 15th.

Circling Back on West Wickhams

Still trying to get through all of my emails from the end of last year, and I promise you, I’m almost there! I’ve got a handful more like West Wickhams to throw out, but I had to circle back on the darkened brand of rock n’ roll this group brings to the fold. Throughout their last album, Vivre Sa Vie, you have tons of what one would consider traditional post-punk; it’s dark and brooding in every sense, punctuated by sharp cuts in the guitar sound that add an ominous atmosphere. The tune below, however, has a little more spirit; the pacing and the growl of the guitars push everything forward consistently, meeting at the cross-streets of Wire and Blank Dogs. Give it a spin!

Conflict at Serenity Pools Share Rosey Dream I

One of the quietly satisfying LPs from last year was Ladders of Misfortune by Conflict at Serenity Pools; the LP was a mixture of bedroom pop and pensive lyricism, which seems to carry forth as the group prepare a new EP for us. Our first listen has the project operating in almost a trip-hop territory, letting the backbeat set the mood for the song’s entirety. From there, the band drape melodic vocals and shimmering guitar notes to build the track into its emotional state. As for the thematic notes, the band are using this song twice on their Rosey Dreams EP, each offering a different version as a parallel to the way our dreams and goals shift depending upon where we are in life. Look for the new EP February 8th!

Villagerrr Announce Tear Your Heart Out

I’m sure everyone is clamoring to post that Real Estate tune right now, which is why I wanted to draw your attention to new music from Columbus’ Villagerrr. Today comes news that they’ll be working with Darling Recordings for Tear Your Heart Out, with a new single that features my personal favorite Merce Lemon. When listening through, I get stuck in various moods, as the song’s vocal work definitely feels wistful and intimate; it’s what draws you into the core of the track. In that, I was completely caught up, but when trying to focus on the musical side, there’s this sort vibrant playfulness, particularly in the way the crystalline guitar notes jut up against the steady march of the percussion. Really looking forward to hearing the whole LP; it drops March 22.

Elephant Stone Share Pilgrimage

Seeing as I have covered almost every single on the new Elephant Stone LP, it seems fitting that I squeeze in one last one, just as the band have slid one final nod before the record’s release. As I’ve listened to a lot of Elephant Stone music over the years, I’m personally loving how they’re taking their psychedelic influences and pushing those into a more modern adaptation. Honestly, there’s barely any psychedelia running through this track, although we’ve seen a lot of recent acts incorporating saxophone like we hear here; it’s a bit more soulful and jazz oriented, which hints at the tune (and the album’s) themes. Back into the Dream is the LP title, and you can feel that dreamscape coursing through this tune, but it also feels like a “pilgrimage” of sorts, as the band have set out to find new forms in their work…and I’ll be here for it when the LP drops on February 23rd.

Bolis Pupul Shares Another Bop from Letter to Yu

Admittedly, Belgian/Chinese artist Bolis Pupul only recently popped up on my radar, particularly via his PR folks and his affiliation with Soulwax. My knowledge of the genre is fairly simplistic, but I love how you can feel one layer coursing through the tune, then hear it as it gets manipulated and texturized. Tones switch and various elements gather speed, collecting layers as the song’s visuals progress. Each time I thought I had the song pinned down, it ran around a completely different corner, most notably when it neared the end and took on a darker twist. Letter to Yu is out on March 8th via Deewee.

Large Brush Collection Share Arm’s Length

As the Austin scene begins its year, one of the acts on our radar is Large Brush Collection, who will drop Off Center at the end of the month. Led by Nora Predey, the group’s sound twists and turns around the folk ethos that permeates Texas music. That said, the construction of their work, as well as some of the finer brushstrokes across this single, indicate a dedication more aligned with post-rock. Drum work rolls through casually, carefully traipsing through the grasses of the flute and ornate guitar lines, all of it centered around the majesty of Predey’s voice. There’s even some sharp-edged guitar bursts, faintly furthering an allusion to a rock underbelly. Look for Off Center on January 26th.

Winter Shares Brand New Single

If you missed out on What Kind of Blue Are You, then you really missed out on an enduring listen, as I still go back to that last Winter record from time to time. But, Samira Winter has been quiet as of late, until today, when a new single drops from her recording project. At first, the song unfolds as sort of a simple ballad, working over a sampled beat, with Winter’s voice dipping in and out of focus atop the notes. Then, about midtrack, the fuzz seeps into the cracks, breaking the song into this atmospheric wash of discord and melody. It’s the sort of pop we’ve come to expect from the artist, adhering to modern structures while still willing to take risks. Let’s hope this is a sign of new work on the horizon.

Skep Wax Announce Under the Bridge 2

How does a label follow up a brilliant compilation like Under the Bridge? Well, Skep Wax aims to double down on their foray into the compilation world by tossing us Under the Bridge 2. If you thought they had heavy-hitters from the Sarah Records catalogue in round one, you won’t be surprised to find acts like the Hit Parade or St Christopher nestling up to acts like the Orchids and Boyracer. It’s basically a who’s-who of your indiepop heroes, working together again to shine a light on the genre. You’ll get a casual ballad opening the door to the new LP courtesy of the Gentle Spring, then its spun right around into the rambunctious jangling of Action Painting! Also, Skep Wax always does really cool things, so they’re hosting a live listening party featuring a lot of the artists, so you’ll want to RSVP for that event on April 5th; the LP is out the following day!

Friko Share Where We’ve Been

I don’t know what to think about Friko, in terms of the classic genre pigeonholing we do on these here blog pages. If you ask me, that sets the band up for something exceptional, especially when you hear their latest track from the forthcoming Where We’ve Been We Go From Here. Initially, you’re greeted by this fragility, this openness that works ornate guitar lines over a rolling hill of drum work; it’s careful in its presentation, allowing you to sink into your chair as the track unfolds. You can hear the song’s tension build beneath Bailey’s drumming, erupting around the 1:40 mark, for just a split second. Having built you up, they settle back into the groove, waiting to hit you with joyous eruption of noise that carries you on its shoulders into the tune’s ending. ATO Records releases the new LP on February 16th.

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