Tape Waves Sign with Emotional Response and Announce Bright LP

I’ve been covering Tape Waves since their earliest days on Bleeding Gold Records, so its great to hear that the band have signed up with one of our favorite labels Emotional Response for their next LP. And, because you can’t really announce a new record without a single, they’ve thrown us one of those to boot! The song’s got this steady rhythmic bounce to it, giving the song a sturdy background that enables Kim and Jarod to craft the perfect slice of Friday dream pop. Kim’s voice are perfectly softened against the crystalline guitars sparkling behind her; this feels like a very Sarah adjacent pop sound, along the lines of early Heavenly or recent acts like Luxembourg Signal. Some sharpened guitar chords dance about in the song’s middle, giving a nice dose of joy to the listener as the tune fades to a close. Look for Bright on June 4th!

Aubrey Key Shares Flies

Ever hear a song and in the first 2 or 3 seconds you knew you couldn’t pull away from it? That was the gravitational pull in this tune from Aubrey Key; I was drawn immediately by the sound of the guitar. For me, it works in contrast to the popular tend of strumming soft and slow; it almost feels like Key is angrily jamming out on that guitar. Then the vocals just seem to fit in perfectly, sung with earnestness and passion, adding emphasis to the stomp of the percussion. I just want to keep pressing play over and over; you’ll find this track on Cow, the latest LP from Flagless Records.

Dear Blanca Return

unnamed (12)South Carolina based Dear Blanca caught my attention last year with their highly underrated releasePobrecito. Since then the band has been hard at work on some new material and are ready to release this new single “Temporary Solution” to the world. Already I’m hearing a major maturation from the band as we are treated to a delightful pop number with some of the similar folk undertones from their debut LP. Pay attention to these guys starting now.

This track appears on a new EP entitledI Don’t Mean to Dwell due out on March 4th via Post-Echo.

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Raucous Number From Art Contest

ArtContestSouth Carolina based group Art Contest make a very strange, yet interesting style of fuzzy, math rock tunes to create a style very much all their own.  New single “Tokyo Megaplex” is a small sample of the unique sound which offers elements of Death of From Above mixed in with an all around spastic tendency.  Those looking for some quiet dad rock need not apply.  Take a chance by hitting play to see what I’m trying to describe here.

Art Contest will release new album Two Songs sometime next year on Post-Echo.

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More New Music From Dear Blanca

Pobrecito - Album ArtAbout a month ago I came across South Carolina band Dear Blanca and their promising new take on this sort of poppy, folk rock music.  Today I’m excited to share with you another great track from the band called “Noma”.  Once again you will hear those folk rock tendencies that are equal parts intimate and beautiful as they are powerful and breathtaking.  I’m sure to be paying attention to these guys in the future.

Pick up new album, Pobrecito, on July29th via Post-Echo.

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Song Premiere: Dear Blanca

OHDHhpiToday I’ve been given the pleasure of premiering a song by up and coming band Dear Blanca.  Now the group hails from South Carolina, which isn’t always known as an indie-musical hot bed, and clearly a southern leaning folk sound can be found here to align with their home state.  Brand new single found below, “Boulders”, is sonic evidence of their southern roots.  It’s a track that could immediately be compared to, and possibly even inspired by, indie greats NMH.  The slow start at the beginning that eventually builds up to an intense, emotionally jarring ending makes for a truly special track.  We’re please to be the first ones to share this with you.

The band have a new album called Pobrecito due out on July 29th via Post-Echo.[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/151735702″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]