Swansea Sound Announce New 7″

Not to be outdone by their labelmates (and bandmates) Heavenly, Swansea Sound are also announcing a brand new 7″ today; their lead single features the age old debate on whether you love Oasis or Blur. I’ll own up, as I like Blur’s singles, but the deep cuts from Oasis are just better. The tune’s a scuzzy fuzz filled number with Hue dominating the lyrical work up front, with Amelia serving as the counter-foil. Interestingly, the song has a bit of a heavier feel, almost like a Sabbath-esque march to it, though they open that up to their traditional hooks and commentary when they switch into the chorus. The AA side features a tune in Welsh, sung by Catrin James, who does all the group’s artwork! Look for the 7″ on July 18th via Skep Wax.

Heavenly Return with Portland Town

We have been sitting on this news for some time, it’s finally the day that we can share there is a brand new Heavenly tune ready to take over the world! The legendary indiepop group has been quiet for the 29 years, though a string of reissues and a handful of shows seems to have relit the fire. It takes ten seconds for the band to lock into a proper bounce, punctuated by stuttering guitar licks and a solid snap on the drums. Of course, Amelia’s voice, as we’ve known, has all the hook and magic one would want, particularly when it switches tones in the chorus. This is the most delicious pop tune you’ll hear today; the new 7″ is available via Skep Wax on July 18th!

Bones Shredder Drop Daylight Video

One would think that with a name like Bones Shredder you’re going to encounter a ferocity unlike any you’ve heard, but in the case of this new single, you’re going to be wrong. When I clicked play on the jam below, there were moments where I thought that I heard my old favorite Alkaline Trio coming through the speakers…and that’s there, albeit a little less macabre. But, the more you get it, the more the band just sounds like a classic pop rock act; they’ve got hooks and melodies and this softness that sucks you back into the tune. Ah, the glories of great pop rock. This song appears on the group’s new LP, Morbid Little Thing, out this September via Sunken Teeth.

Nicamus Share Better World Video

The fascinating sounds of Nicamus really have me straddling my through process this morning, so maybe you can help me decide on the proper pigeon-holing? There’s this great jangling guitar line that operates throughout their fresh single, and while there’s certainly a DIY ethos, it maybe doesn’t have the speed for classic jangle-pop. But, those angular notes do hit upon the post-punk feels, or maybe just a less rambunctious brand of bedroom punk. I loved the overlapping vocals, bridging the style with bits of melody that keep you constantly circling back to get that feeling. They’ve got a new LP titled Trust Fall, and it’ll be on the way shortly, so keep your eyes and ears ready.

 

Michael Beach Prepare Big Black Plume

Michael Beach hasn’t put out a proper album in several years, but he’s constantly working; he’s dropped a few EPs and singles to coincide with tours, not to mention the numerous records he’s played on or helped bring to light since 2021’s Dream Violence. On the horizon, we’ve now got Big Black Plume, and if this opening statement is anything to go off of, we’re really in-store for a statement album. There’s this sort of casual indie sound that opens up the track, letting Beach kind of wiggle his way into the picture with a cool that comes from years of experience. Though the indie side shines at the get-go, it only serves as this kindling, kind of lighting the fire that burns through the various sounds on the tune. In a weird sense, it reminds me of Lift to Experience, sort of spoken word, with Americana licks, but burning with passion and noise that rips through the cones of your speakers. Big Black Plume is out July 25th via Goner Records.

Art Gecko Share Kuiper Belt

If you are wanting to trickle into your Tuesday, you might want to sample this delightful little track from Art Gecko. The simplicity fits perfectly into the mixture; it offers this otherworldly warmth, with the vocals sent like messages transmitted across space and time. While there’s always a tendency to push on and mix in layers, this Seattle outfit only doubles down on the velvety textures, using a female backing vocal to ornately round off the main vocal. But, while I felt settled in the first two minutes, they save an uplifting moment for the latter half of the tune, building in texture to deepen your connection.

Will Johnson Joins Magnolia Electric Co for New 7″

Will Johnson looks to be keeping himself fairly busy this year, having just released the excellent Diamond City, and now he’s teaming up with members of Magnolia Electric Co. for a Magnolia & Johnson 7″ and Tour. As the two team up, they’ll release a 7″ version of a Jason Molina track, then flip over to find a Will penned tune; both artists played/wrote together before Molina’s passing, so this seems an apt project. But, today (and yesterday for those on their game), the new team released a version of “The Big Beast” from the 2005 Trials and Errors LP. With Johnson on the vocals, there’s a bit more of a growl to it, encouraging the band to fire up some of those guitars and let things burn behind him. The 7″ comes out this September courtesy of Keeled Scales, with a brief bit of dates confirmed for Texas around the same time!

New Modern Nature LP On the Way

Jack Cooper has been rather omnipresent in the music scene of the last decade or so, being a key component in Ultimate Painting before pulling away to focus on Modern Nature. Their last LP was in 2023, and now there is news that we’ll get The Heat Warps at the end of this summer. Our first listen has the band repositioning their approach, taking grooves and riding them out into expressions of emotion, then staying stationary in hopes of letting that feeling sink into the soul of the listener. In a way, it reminds me of a sort of combination of Low and Fugazi, sort of taking music as meditation, then splicing in album themes through little clips of lyrics. Should be a definite staple of your listening this week; The Heat Warps hits August 29th via Bella Union.

Tropical Fuck Storm Offer Teeth Marche

One of my favorite things about doing what I do here on ATH is being punched in the face by my own expectations. You think you know a band, you think you know what you’re getting when you press play, but then you get a band like Tropical Fuck Storm who just say “fuck you” and created art in the best way, just because it feel right. Their earlier singles from the forthcoming Fairyland Codex have mostly featured Gareth on vocals, delivering their sort of post-art-punk sound, matching his rhythmic delivery. “Teeth March,” on the other hand, has this natural unfurling, with these light guitar notes that feel like a red carpet being rolled out for singer Erica Dunn to present her storytelling. In that, there’s this little hip-shaking swagger lurking beneath, with a complete breakdown twisting the plot just a wee bit in the midst of the beautiful madness. Please grab a copy of Fairyland Codex on its June 29th release date, courtesy of Fire Records. And, they’ve got a few US dates at the end of June, including an ATX show at the Ballroom, so be on the lookout!

Lowmoon Remixes Lone Striker Single

Earlier this Spring, Lone Striker released their self-titled LP, and it was full of instant pop classics, built upon the songwriting genius of Tom Brown (Rural France/Teenage Tom Petties). It was a record that felt akin to the genius of Jason Lytle, and now, it’s caught the ear of one of the Safe Suburban Home labelmates, Lowmoon. The song’s original opens with this budding vocal that quickly churns into a delightful blast of indie bedroom pop; you can hear the original HERE. Lowmoon have taken it’s guitar origins and twisted them into a more electronic element, creating a cavernous ambiance behind Brown’s vocals, accompanied by a sampled beat that gets to accent the guitar elements when they come into play. Maybe the song makes you fall in love with Lowmoon, or go back and revisit the whole of Lone Striker…either way, you can find it all on Safe Suburban Home.

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