Peel Dream Magazine Announces Pad

With two striking releases on Slumberland, it’s high time Peel Dream Magazine go for the trifecta, and it looks like that’s on the agenda, as the band today announce Pad. That said, those looking for a repeat of early successes will find the sound’s pushing in an entirely different direction. There’s still that faint hint of a synthetic backbone, though it hangs as more of a backdrop on this first single. In exchange, we get something that feels a little bit like our own frolic in a world created by the artist; in a sense, it feels like an adventurous take on a symphony, adding a bit of playfulness to the art. Definitely will be interesting to hear how the rest of the effort shapes up; Pad drops via Slumberland/Tough Love on October 7th.

Scarves Share Title Track, Delicate Creatures

Scarves are still spitting out catchy indie rock numbers as we head towards the release of Delicate Creatures, and today, we get the band’s title track from that new LP. Lyrically, the song hits on how our lives can change instantaneously in this fragile world, facing our mortality and our constant struggles, with Niko hoping “you make an impact” on the world around you. It’s a bit of hope thrown into the world, but the way the band balance the gentle nature and fragility in both lyrical content and musical vibes is perfect; they erupt when you least expect it, bursting forth with emotion in a split instant, then settle. Walking the tightrope between lyrics and sound is a true gift, so untie the bow and enjoy this new single from their Delicate Creatures record, out August 26th.

Stella Donnelly Drops Flood Video

Stella Donnelly‘s new album is really high upon my list of what’s coming out in the second half of this year. There’s something special about her delivery, mixed between spoken word, though this latest single sees her really expanding her melodic moments into this brilliantly cool breeze. There’s a playfulness too, be it in the video or the general vibe, which is always interesting, as Donnelly definitely plays with dark subject matter; she does that here, with the song written in response to “a flood of drama” and working your way out of that. Flood will be out on August 26th via Secretly Canadian.

Tim Burgess Shares Typical Music

Not going to lie here. I went through 97 emails of songs released today, or songs I should be into, and not one hit, not until I got to the end of the stretch and hit on this Tim Burgess track. It should come as no surprise, seeing as I’m a big Charlatans fan, that I’d adore his recent work. It seems like his solo stuff has only grown in quality through his albums. I mean, here, I’m just happily bopping my head and spinning around to the chorus of this tune; something about his work just feels so light-hearted and playful, and therein lies the charm that I keep coming back to time and time again. Typical Music is out in September via Bella Union.

Hazy Sour Cherry Announce Strange World

The good folks at Damnably have already brought us one incredible record this year from Say Sue Me, and they’re looking to tap into my bank account with a new record from Japan’s Hazy Sour Cherry. I got hooked by falling in love with Tsuzumi’s voice, which sounds like a modern Belinda Carlisle, albeit with a bit more punctuation and sharpness to it. There’s a lot of steady blending of surf notes and rolling thunder rhythm throughout, but if you can’t just let the emotional vibe wash atop you, then you’re missing out on this absolute powerhouse of a pop jam! The group will release Strange World on June 15th.

Die! Die! Die! Share This is Not an Island Anymore Single

It takes a lot to tickle my angsty tendencies, but man if Die! Die! Die! aren’t doing their damndest to keep me on board. This last week they shared the title track from their new LP, thundering with the rhythm section from the get go, while the guitar operates like a noisy transmission from another galaxy. It feels like the song’s lurching, stopping then starting until it can no longer control itself and unleashes a blast of fury, tearing through your speakers before the song is no more. The new album, This is Not an Island Anymore will be released this Friday.

Bridge Dog Share Gone South Single

Having seen that I was already in their pocket, Bridge Dog decided to up the ante by sharing the title track from their new Gone South EP, just to see how much I’d swoon. Well I have news for you, I’m fawning again! The band toyed with me bringing in this lightly angular discordant guitar line, before turning it into this glistening jangle. Minor plot twist, but it sold me immediately on the track (and the band!), but then the vocal come in, similar to what you’d expect from an Alvvays record, just blowing the roof off with another incredible pop tune. If this group isn’t on your radar, be ready come December 3rd when they share the entirety of their Gone South EP.

Another Jam from Motorists

Did you order yourself a copy of Motorists new LP yet? No, well what are you waiting for? Oh, you need another hook-laden jam to tease you into throwing down some cash? Well, perhaps you want to check out the album’s title track, jamming below. It opens with a sharpness, those cutting riffs kicking those boots high in the air as you dance and stomp your way all across your bedroom floor. But, the chorus steers way clear of those angling riffs, bringing in an sort of barrage of 90s college rock attitude; it’s the sort of thing you’d expect to hear on the radio had it hit in a different time. This sort of intermingling of sounds is something I hope is prevalent throughout Surrounded; I guess we’ll find out when it drops on September 3rd via Bobo Integral/Debt Offensive/We Are Time.

Jessica’s Brother Announce Just Rain

As a Wave Pictures fan, it was easy to get into the first LP from Jessica’s Brother (Jonny Helm plays in both bands), but honestly, I feel like with one single, they’ve already topped that early affection. Today they announced Just Rain, and this ripper of a tune is the perfect way to kick off your Friday. The crashing guitars sound absolutely huge, like this stormy wave of distortion (and occasional soloing) bashing us over the head. That said, the trio, pull back in all the right spots, letting you take a breath before smashing you right in the face. And more fun, you can enjoy the noise, but it operates entirely separately from the generous pop moments that course throughout the tune…be that the backing bops or the core vocals from Tom. Just Rain drops this November via Fika Recordings.

La Bonte Shares Don’t Let This Define Me

I guess today I’m really into these slow burning tracks, the sort that kind of drip with endless emotion, like this new track from La Bonte, the songwriting project of Garrett La Bonte. When it opens, it definitely feels like something hanging in the territory between late 90s Jade Tree and Bedhead, both things that I’m perfectly fond of on my end. In the middle the song gives you a bit of respite, letting you breath for a moment before taking on a more pronounced jam mode; it recalls that sweet spot where slowcore burning tunes erupted into these delicious rock opuses that erupted and crested in your ears. Don’t Let This Define Me, the debut LP from La Bonte will be out Friday via Anxiety Blanket Records.

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