The Lemon Twigs Announce Look for Your Mind LP

For as much as I like folks pushing boundaries and taking risks, I’ve always got a spot for acts like The Lemon Twigs who seem to have perfected a classic pop rock sound. It’ll be hard not to catch the feels of great pop acts when you check the video here and immediately think of great acts like the Oneders or that other scouser four-piece that got really popular. Still, the execution doesn’t feel cliche, and frankly, flirts with taking the classic formula and turning it into power-pop. And, while nostalgia’s great, the respect for this band comes from their own mouths where they claim they are always “adding an element which comes out of left field,” dropping in little pop wrinkles along the way. Look For Your Mind is out May 8th via Captured Tracks.

Touch Girl Apple Blossom Share Vacation Video

We’ve had nothing but praise for Austin janglers Touch Girl Apple Blossom, and it seems like the world is set up to welcome the group with open arms. A quick guitar shuffle swings you right into the tune; the dueling guitars offer a sunshine brightness while the jangling riffs share a dancefloor ready groove for listeners. It’s quite a mood, and you’re likely ready for the sun to shine right through your living room, but then Olivia’s vocals have this lushness that both works for and against the track’s sharpness. This is the way they magically build tension in their work, dangling slight bits of contrast while allowing their pop sensibilities to take hold. Look for Graceful on May 15th via K Records/Perennial Death.

Urq Share Another Mystery Single

The Louisiana scene has been cranking out some solid indie rock this year, with this new jam from Urq sounding like a definite highlight you’ll want to get your ears on. There’s an eerie video opening, then the track races off at break-neck speeds from the drumming, matched only by the frantic stunt work of the guitar; it’s got that sort of jagged edge that throws off your balance and keeps your body in a constant tilt-a-whirl. On the vocal side, things are a bit calmer, hanging just on the edge of being sung/spoken…in fact, it’s almost like a storyteller narrating whilst keeping pace with the soundtrack to a great tale. All of it put together in a classic slasher film that will grab your attention just as much as this ripper of a tune. The group’s new LP, The Dismal Village, will be out on April 24th via Exploding In Sound.

Asara Shares Debut Single

It’s always nice to hit upon a new artist that’s doing things you love, which is where we meet Asara, the latest signing for Geographie Records over in France. You might recognize her previous work through her other project Dog Park, but here, she’s taken on the role of everything in producing her new project, playing all the instruments, crafting all the organization, etc. Drifting pop environments will make you feel right at home here, and with an ethereal vocal that hangs behind the bubbly bass and wash of synths, you’ll find your mental ascent into otherworldliness will provide you the perfect mid-morning moment of solace.

Zzzahara Announces Distant Land

Waking up this morning to new music from zzzahara might turn this hump day into a definitive gem, especially as it comes with a new album announcement for the LA-based artist. Their lead single from the LP features Winter, which you know is an immediate key to winning over the ATH team. The two trade vocal lines back and forth, all of it set to this light-hearted jangle that embraces the dreamier tones of pop; their voices are quite similar, but the subtle change furthers the sweetness of a song that is all about longing. Look for Distant Lands to drop on June 5th via Lex Records.

Greg Mendez Announces Beauty Land

A strong day for songwriters on the site, now with Greg Mendez announcing his new album, Beauty Land. I always tend to marvel at how impactful the work of Greg is, particularly when he delivers such emotion in a short span of time. I know it’s particularly unfair to Greg, but the way the recording highlights the fragility of his voice mixed in with the heavy strum of the strings on the guitar. There’s a little trickle of piano added in, with Mendez intent upon maximizing the emotional tug; he’s such a magician with these slight details he builds into his work. Beauty Land is his debut for Dead Oceans, and it hits on May 29th.

Hiding Places Drop One Hand Video

Up until now, the singles we’ve heard from the new Hiding Places have delivered a blast of power hidden behind a pop sensibility that kept us coming back. Today, “One Hand” feels more like a meditative practice, with the song operating in an almost stationary manner, only to creatively unfold in sporadic moments with bursts of feedback and distortion. Of course, they circle back, perhaps connecting to the song’s rumination about how we treat ourselves in the face of maintaining challenging relationships/friendships; it can be a struggle, and like the song, you go back and back, often starting where you began. It’s a nice twist in the band’s catalogue, and illustrates the care they’ve taken in building The Secret to Good Living, out April 3rd via Keeled Scales.

Friko Share Choo Choo

When Friko circled back a few weeks ago, they were operating with a sort of glam pop style on “Seven Degrees,” but this new single has a completely different feel to it. There’s almost an insane rush into the track, as if they’re trying to keep pace with themselves, chasing the train mentioned throughout the tune. Their repeated barrage of noise and discord gets broken up with the pop nods you from the oft-repeated “choo-choo,” leaving just a hint of pop sensibility hanging within the confines of the tune. Really exciting to see them mixing it all up together, building up anticipation as we near the release of Something Worth Waiting For via ATO Records on April 24th.

Memorials Share Dropped Down the Well

Every time there’s a new Memorials single I become increasingly obsessed with the group’s work, and this new track just can’t be ignored. I loved the orchestration and the way it continues to roll and push forward on the those synths/keyboards; there’s this intoxicating propulsion that spins tumbles you over and over. Those vocals just ride the crest of that motion, and when the tune moves into its more melodious moments, you just know you’ll have to keep coming back to satisfy your thirst. All Clouds Bring Not Rain could be one of the surprise album of the year contenders; it hits on March 27th via Fire Records.

Ghosts on TV Share CCTV Video

Finnish outfit Ghosts on TV have been banging about for nearly a decade, and they’ve just announced a brand new record slated for release this May titled Iridescent. Our first preview at the forthcoming release has them bordering between post rock and chamber folk, using these wide brushstrokes to create this contemplative musicscape that just leaves you with this humbling sense of awe. For instance, as I ran through the single, there was something dynamic in the arrangement, around the 3:30 mark; you get this dissonant guitar ambiance in the distance, but it’s layered with a light strum and a twinkling bit of piano, and in that, it’s as if the whole world stops just for that moment. Admittedly, the song’s on the long-side for my usual tastes, but it feels like this beautiful puzzle that rewards my ears, and every few seconds something new is revealed. It’s a magical journey brought to you by the band and their label, Soliti Music.

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