Peel Dream Magazine Announce Agitprop Alterna

In listening to this new track from Peel Dream Magazine, I keep thinking how it almost feels like multiple songs being carefully placed atop one another, like some brilliant experiment in pop music. At times, you’re drawn to the buzzy guitar swell, especially upon pressing play at first. Then a vocal comes in, almost like a seance chant; it becomes clear that that serves more as another textured layer, with yet another vocal entering the foray as the focal point. To me, it’s brilliant on multiple levels, one being that it’s a success of a tune, let alone one that feels like 3 songs meshed into a single entity. This is a band everyone should be keeping an eye on going into the release of Agitprop Alterna; it’s out on April 3rd via Slumberland/Tough Love.

Personality Cult Share Telephone

Feel like we got a little mellow today, which normally is okay, but it’s Monday, so we could all use a boost to sort of kick on into the afternoon. There’s not a better way than with this new track from Personality Cult off the band’s forthcoming New Arrows LP. It makes sense that the band find their home on Dirtnap Records, as the sound here is one of fury filled with pop hooks; you get some fun backing vocals while the drums are hammering out the furious rhythm that propels the song forward. It’s a fun jam, and you need more fun jams in your life; the LP drops on February 14th.

Clem Snide Returns with Forever Just Beyond

There was a time in the early 00s when every mix I made included “Ice Cube” by Clem Snide; the songwriting of Eef Barzelay always felt like my own personal secret that I wanted to share with the world, so his work’s always had a special place. Out of what seems like nowhere, Clem Snide have announced Forever Just Beyond, a new record, which is mostly Barzelay with the help of heavy-hitters like Steve Avett and Mike Marsh in the studio to flesh out the songs. This one feels like some weary ballad; it felt like it was fading away from me almost before it even started with that lonely piano working behind the hearty percussion. Something in Barzelay’s voice just feels like home, however; it’s so distinct and familiar I got swept away in emotion before going back to peel away the layers like the string arrangements. This song is a delicate joy; look for the new album out March 27th via Ramseur Records/Thirsty Tiger.

New Pop Ballad from Greg Mendez

I’ve really been enjoying short pop songs over the last years, which I suppose I owe to the likes of Tony Molina. But, today, I’m turning over towards the work of Greg Mendez, who just released this really great ditty I can’t stop listening to at the moment. Beginning ever-so-gently with this careful strum and airy vocal, crafting an immediate intimacy that sucks you into the song. Light arrangements begin to creep in from the distance, drums adding some nice textural tension; it all culminates in this nice energetic burst with a sparkling guitar that draws the song to a close. This track appears on the forthcoming Cherry Hell LP, which drops on February 28th via Forged Artifacts/Devil Town Tapes.

Darren Hayman Announces Home Time

I’m not sure where I first stumbled upon Darren Hayman, but his songwriting has been ever-present since that time, whether that’s part of Hayman Kupa Band, his solo work, or just revisiting Hefner; he’s always hanging about in my rotations. Barely a few months after the ambitious 12 Astronauts, Hayman has just announced Home Time with this playful little single. The track revolves around two lyrical lines, and that’s it; still, the thematic element kind of encourages you to get up and try and try again, no matter what the outcome…that seems to be the nature of all our lives, making sense of our failures. Home Time will be out this Spring via Fika Recordings.

Black Books Share New Single

It seems like a long time since we’ve heard from Austin outfit Black Books, but they’re back with this brand new single from their forthcoming Cheer Up EP, which we’re happy to share with you. This track has that sort of broad sweeping orchestral feel, akin to acts like Other Lives; it’s built to craft this huge emotional wave that just crashes into you, particularly in that little turn just around the 1 minute mark. I love the cathartic burn that jumps in around the 2.5 minute mark, giving the song a little bit of bombast as it sprawls to a close. Look for the EP this Spring!

 

Another Pop Ditty from Pet Shimmers

Bristol outfit Pet Shimmers are crafting some sort of new-age pop fuckstorm; they’re taking the standard format and warping and twisting it around the backbone established by lead maestro, Oliver Wilde. Their sounds definitely are reminiscent of the sort of mish-mash of folk and bedroom pop; it sounds like the madness inside the caverns of one’s mind, but it’s being crafted and developed by a seven-piece pop outfit. I’ve been really impressed with their debut LP Face Down in Meta, and I think it’s going to sneak onto some people’s radars once they complete their tour with Sandy (Alex G); the album drops next Friday!

Figure Austere Share Drippy Eyes Video

France is a hotbed of incredible pop music as of the last few years, and the good people over at Solidarity Club Records are bringing the bedroom pop stylings of Figure Austere all the way from Evry, France to your doorstep. In the song below you have a father dealing with the anxieties of his child, which as portrayed in the video comes with a sense of melancholy. But, children are resilient, and by the end of the video you’ve turned that frown upside down. Musically, the song recalls to me a sort of vague homage to Kings of Convenience, though spun through a sort of upbeat synthesized mixer; it’s energetic, but still feels supremely personal. If you love the song, That’s Gone Now is available today, so grab a copy HERE.

Go Get Mum Share Moving Day

Two things you can trust on a Friday, or any day really: 1) Aussie pop is always going to make you feel better and 2) Meritorio Records is one of the top labels around. Today, I’m fortunate to share the first single from the forthcoming Go Get Mum release. The Melbourne quartet play an understated jangle pop, less jagged and more about churning those melodies that make you dizzy. Their big success comes in the way they combine female and male vocal roles throughout the song; there are times when the song feels like this joyous party where everyone sings along warmly, celebrating life with one another. There’s no way you can’t love this song. Look for the Ok Now What EP on March 20th via Meritorio.

New Music from The Little Hands of Asphalt

The great thing about the labels left in the world is that you can always rely upon the tried-and-true ones, like Fika Recordings. By and large, they release a lot of stuff I already love, but sometimes they bring up something I adore that I wasn’t even aware of, like The Little Hands of Asphalt. It’s the project of Sjur Lyseid of Norway, who has been mostly quiet since 2012, working behind the scenes in studios, rather than up front. Today, Fika shared two beautiful pop gems that will appear on the new album, Half Empty. There’s a fragility in these two tunes that I didn’t know I missed, so I wanted to be sure and share those with you today. The new album should be out on March 27th.

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