Untitled Freak Shares Birthday

Ali Genevich’s name is one that has definitely appeared on these pages with acts like Retail Drugs, but at the moment, she’s focused on her solo project, Untitled Freak. When I listened to the latest single, the intimate nature of the song really pulled me inside; the overlapping vocal recordings provide this weirdly textural moment that becomes wildly disorienting as the track speeds to its close. The slow core nature reminds me of the ornate indie rock by acts of the late 90s, such as Bedhead, where the snare offers a march while the notes swirl and dance behind. The 7 Circles EP is out on March 13th, so sample another preview below.

Another New Track from The Notwist

After being relatively quiet for a few years, folks around are quite excited for new music from the Notwist, with ATH among their fans. This tune is all about the band’s ability to texturize their craft; it begins innocently, marching along with spoken poetry. As the track moves forward, each verse begins to build more and more, adding percussion, keys and additional vocal layers as it moves forward; this is the band’s ability to create motion whilst locked into a moment of their own making. Each new song we hear has me more and more excited for the final arrival of News from the Planet Zombie, out on March 13th.

Bright Pop from Sherbet Tone

We’re so close to the weekend (and my birthday) that I can taste it! I needed some spirited pop ditties to get me started, and this new Sherbet Tone track is just perfect. It’s got crisp guitar notes, hanging on the edges between jangling and garage rock; the infectious nature is omnipresent in the songwriting, but if you’re looking for that swoon moment, be sure to turn it up around the 1.5 minute mark. Crashing “oohs” lift the song and churn out some melodies that you won’t want to run away from, and I couldn’t think of a brighter way to start off your Thursday.

The Leaf Library Announce After the Rain, Strange Seeds

In about 37 seconds (not 6-7 you knobs) the Leaf Library managed to completely captivate me, without even so much as a whisper; it’s just driving rhythm movements and a guitar circling overhead, and I was head-over-heels. Then Kate Gibson enters the picture and the vibrance of the song is cemented within my mind. As they progress, the quartet is patient, careful not to lay all their cards on the table; you get a plot twist around 1:40, with additional textures thickening the pop swell. They lock in, coming in and out, flickering as a candle in a gentle pop wind, like “golden moth outside my window” that’s continuously repped in the tune. Really striking way to open up this morning; they release After the Rain, Strange Seeds via Fika Recordings on March 20th.

Heavy Jam from Trauma Ray

I definitely spent a lot of time jamming to the debut LP from Trauma Ray; it was heavy in all the right spots, with the faintest hint of melody lurking to keep pop fans like myself enthused. Well, yesterday they dropped an EP announcement with this new single and it’s totally bringing me back to mid 90s shows at Liberty Lunch here in Austin. The heaviness of the riff work recalls a number of acts from that era, though the earlier Deftones LPs certainly come to mind. I think the way they flirt with soaring vocal melodies is reminiscent of Water and Solutions by Far, mastering heavy riffage with a huge set of pipes! Think the group’s new Carnival EP will be pretty solid, out February 20th via Dais Records.

Dreamy Pop From Deary

Since their earliest singles, London outfit Deary has crafted ethereal pop music, continually evolving their sound, adding texture as they build. Today, the group announce their debut LP, and while the cavernous ambiance is ever-present, I’m immediately drawn to Rebecca Cockram’s vocals. The waves of cymbals crashing again and again seem to coat her voice, almost creating this sensation that allows it to operate as a layer of texture. The video accompanying this song embraces their shadowy pop, using reflections of light to create this prismatic shimmer that contrasts the darker tones of the tune. Birding is out on April 3rd via Bella Union.

Swirls Release Neverland Single

The theme of never growing old is timeless, assuredly around long before JM Barrie penned his famous story of Peter Pan; it looks as if French outfit Swirls share the sentiment, with a nod to the literary legacy of said aims. They present it with this scattering bit of angular guitars and matter-of-fact vocal delivery, holding tight to the refrain of “I don’t have to grow old/I don’t have to grow at all.” A steady drive from the drumming helps the tune march, turning the track from self-reflection to an advice column, reminding the listener that “YOU don’t have to grow old!” They’ll release their new album Surge on March 6th via Howlin Banana/A Tant Rever Du Roi.

 

Cootie Catcher Share Puzzle Pop Video

Cootie Catcher has given us their refined brand of indiepop with spirited single after spirited single, but today’s offering gives a look at the group’s ability to mix it up on their forthcoming LP, Something We All Got. Nolan takes on the lead vocal role this go round, but it’s more about the calmed approach to the verses that sets the tune up for success. In a sense, the tune’s themes of being non-confrontational shine through the songwriting, though the group is sure to bring it all back to their pop purveyance in the chorus, as they never stray to far from offering joy to the listener. Carpark Records will release the new LP on February 27th!

Pleased to Meet You: Knight’s Ferry

Projects amongst friends always bring the most joy, which is where the story for Knight’s Ferry begins. Alex Olsen of Portland emailed Clay Hunt of San Francisco, who brought on Michael Ramos (Tony Jay/Flowertown), who emailed ATH, and here we are. When you listen through, the imagery of the album art begins to seep through the musical sphere, as if the track was pulled together in one of the rooms of the old house; the vocals are almost presented as a whisper so as not to wake anyone in the rest of the house. Personally, I was drawn to the way the guitar notes sort of hung in the mix for a bit, giving an added textural depth to the whole of the tune. Really excited to hear where this goes, but for now, the band have House Demos ready to roll out on February 6th courtesy of Teeth.

Chris Canipe Shares Barely Stitched + Drops Monuments

I wanted to start 2026 being kinder to myself, thus needing musical accompaniment that is equally kind, thus where I landed with Chris Canipe. This Missourian is writing tracks that land somewhere between Yorn, Tweedy and Pernice, with lineage linking back to Americana and folk, though built with a bit more rock spirit to keep it feeling lively. While there’s definitely some aspects that snap on the back of the drum work, the way Canipe’s vocals sweep in offer your a sense of inner peace. If you go through this track and find some love here, you’ll want to be sure to swing through all of Monuments, his latest release, which coincided with the release of this ditty.

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