Tag: south korea

Lunar Isles Shares New Tune, Releases New EP

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Over the last few years I’ve been keeping a close eye on David Skimming’s Lunar Isles project; it’s a dreamy bedroom project that continues to impress, release after release. This past Friday the Atlas EP was released, with a little more flexing of the sound throughout the six songs. Take the track below, which does wear some indiepop guitar references: it takes some of those nods, but peels back the modern dreamy atmospherics, allowing the melody and the gentle nature of Skimming’s voice to sit with the listener. Once you’ve sat and observed, you’ll find that the Atlas EP is the perfect entry point to Lunar Isles wonderful world of pop stylings.

Show Preview: Say Sue Me @ the Parish (11.16)

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If you’ve been reading this site, for a few years now we’ve been huge supporters of South Korea’s Say Sue Me. Well, they’re finally returning to the States, and playing one of their few North American shows here at Austin’s The Parish. They’ve mastered the art of writing infectious pop sounds, and as they’ve shown with recent singles like “4am,” they’ve begun to expand that sound into something more complex and textured. I caught them twice on their last visit, and their sets were spot-on musically, leaving me with a sense of joy that I don’t always get at the end of a set. They’ll be joined by Austin up-and-comers, Skateland. Show starts at 7:30, and you can still grab tickets HERE.

Say Sue Me Drop 4 AM Single, Hit the US

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Long have I championed Say Sue Me, and as they prepare to board for the U.S., the band have opted to drop a fresh single, courtesy of their label, Damnably. While I adored the band’s frantic guitar work on early tunes like “Old Town,” they’ve showed a trend towards a softer feel with later releases, allowing the melody to sort of levitate, hoping to find its home in your brain. There’s a fuzzy guitar underlying the track too, just giving off this wayward bit of rock n’ roll, wistfully drifting in and out, and I absolutely love that sound. They’ll have a quick North American jaunt starting in NYC on 11/13, and hitting Austin on 11/16, so be sure to be one of those in attendance, as they’re visits are hard to come by!

Dabda Announce Yonder EP

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Feel like struggling in the middle of the week is not an option, so why not start your morning by rocking out nice and loudly to this fresh track from South Korea’s Dabda. You get a furious introduction to the band, as they spring towards a jangling swirl of distorted guitars, akin to the British pop punk scene. Then, they peel it back, letting the guitars take on a bit of space while the rhythm section and the vocals bring about something that feels a touch calmer. Guitars shuffle in and out, hitting lots of little math-y notes as the drums roll and the vocals crest and soar emphatically. All of that and you’re only halfway through the track, as the band trace back, building in more noise and distortion attached to the melodic notes they’re banging out. The group will release their Yonder EP on August 25th via Electric Muse.

Say Sue Me Share Mind is Light + Tour the States

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One of the many acts we’ve been introduced to by the kind folks over at Damnably is Say Sue Me; we’ve fawned over their LPs and their live sets for years, with more folks in the US able to catch them this week. In honor of their tour, they dropped another single last week while I was away, which I’ve now go below. I love how the song seems to combine two tracks into one; there’s a driving feel beneath, beating its own path while the distorted guitars rise to the surface, both letting the sublime vocals wash through the middle. Another reminder of how great the group is, and as if you needed more proof, they got James from Yo La Tengo to do the single artwork! Check out their US tour dates HERE; they kick off this week!

Say Sue Me Drop To Dream Video

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I love the sentiment of this new Say Sue Me track, with Sumi saying “I dreamed everyone was alive, and I came to think that there might be no end. One day everyone will come back and meet somewhere.” That feeling sort of pervades throughout the song, as the guitar work slightly dances in the mix, but the track seems to kind of flow back and forth like waters washing ashore during a calm in the sea. Something about it just feels nostalgic and reflective, but when the middle hits and the distorted guitar rips through the tune, it feels like the sun breaks in and shines that light where we all find ourselves as one, somewhere. The group release The Last Thing Left on May 13th via Damnably.

Lunar Isles Shares Bloom + Drops Visitor EP

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It’s easy to get caught up in the American indie scene, for obvious reasons. But, when it comes to dreamy indie pop, you’ve got to step outside that to discover the best Monday gems, like South Korea’s Lunar Isles. The group just dropped their Visitor EP, and this last single is definitely worthy of a few minutes of your time. I love the steadying of the musical elements; they seem satiated, not looking for more, just happy with their existence. That patience and self-awareness allows the vocals to really charm, matching the mood with this affected dreaminess that just caresses your ear caverns. There’s some slight lifts in the guitar work, making sure the song isn’t merely satisfied with being, and that adds just enough to make the song rewarding on repeat listens.

Say Sue Me Return with The Last Thing Left

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It’s been a hot minute since we’ve gotten anything fresh from South Korea’s Say Sue Me, but today that all changes with the announcement of a brand new LP, the Last Thing Left. This first single comes with an incredible fun video, with characters utilizing imaginary objects throughout. As for the song, well its nothing short of sunny pop, something that hits all the right notes for a Spring hit. The band still employ catchy melodies, though I like how this tune seems to have a little more openness to it, letting the melody and the hook build in the ear of the listener. If this single’s anything to go by, and you look at Where We Were Together, we’re all in for a treat when The Last Thing Left drops on May 13th via Damnably.

Lunar Isles Share Breathe

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Lunar Isles is the moniker of David Skimming, a Scot in South Korea crafting some delicious dreamy pop tunes you’re going to want on your radar. Earlier this year he dropped Tides, his debut LP, and we just got Mirror Shapes this past Friday. We wanted to focus on the standout, “Breathe,” as I fell in love with the guitar lines here; it sets up this openness that allows for a gentle floating vocal to cruise across the song’s entirety. If you’re looking for something just on the cusp of jangle, flirting with pop all the way through, then go give this jam a listen, or dive all the way into the new LP.

Bright Pop From ADOY

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13754468_1061697427250200_1566118883685813389_nWell I officially have a new favorite band from South Korea! I’m not sure how much competition they have exactly, but trust me when I say this new single from Seoul based ADOY is a jam. It’s called “Don’t Stop Me” and features some nice bits of bright pop and head nod inducing beats. How is this band not blowing it up right now stateside? Seriously. Stay tuned for more information on ADOY as they work on a debut album.

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