Greg Mendez Signs to Dead Oceans

Last year was a huge year for Greg Mendez, as the singer finally seemed to received the accolades that have been circulating about his name for years. And, what better way to follow that up than by a signing with Dead Oceans, as he’s just announced today. While the song itself is fairly simple, mostly working with a keyboard and Greg’s vocals, there’s something about a careful listen that really unfolds in this magical way. You can hear the tape rolling, detailing this innocence that seems to come with Mendez’s craft, letting you know and think that you’re the only one he’s singing to, in the most special way. First Time/Alone EP is out on October 18th.

Photay Shares Video for Air Lock

There’s nothing like getting yourself caught up in the week, so before you dive into Wednesday, let Photay mesmerize you with this spiritual bit of electronica…along with its accompanying visual adventure. While some of the beat-work recalls the drum n’ bass constructs, there’s this open nature to the tune’s evolution, kind of building it into this electronic score for some scientific documentary piece. Some robotic vocal moments spring up in the track’s latter half, just like a bud sprouting from the cracked Earth. This tune appears on Windswept, which drops on September 20th.

Phantom Handshakes Share Dusk Enchanted Visualizer

Avowed Phantom Handshakes fan over here, and I’ve been anxiously awaiting the whole of their new record, but for now I’ll do with another tasty tease. “Dusk Enchanted” is one of those tunes that completely captures the song’s title in its sentiment. Heavy guitar tones weave the pattern here, providing the element of darkness as it creeps into the sky; you’ll find that feeling creeping into your room too as the song begins to unfold. Federica’s voice, however, captures the whole of the fading light, sparkling as the last remnant of the sun before we settle into the night. And through it all, the melody is wholly intoxicating, and you won’t be able to pull yourself away from this beautiful number. Sirens at Golden Hour is out on August 21st.

Unwed Sailor Share Blue Tangier Single

Having just caught Mogwai play the other night, it seems fitting that I’m settling into my midweek with a fresh track from Oklahoma’s Unwed Sailor. Both bands have always operated in like territory, creating narratives within the realms of instrumental rock, much like this single below. At its start, it’s harrowing in a sense, synth notes washing over a thunderous riff, until the the lead guitar begins its journey. That journey sees a glimmer of light work its way into the track, telling a story of reaching out of the darkness to find comfort, which is where you are just after the 1 minute mark. Thundering noise sneaks in too, but it’s a reminder that there’s a natural ebb and flow to the tale coming through your speakers. If you’re into instrumental storytelling, you need look no further than Underwater Over There, out May 10th!

Bop Along to New Bibi Club

I really can’g get enough of this new track from Bibi Club; I was instantly hooked with the pulsing beat work that sets the tune at the start. From there, however, the song opens up into this rocking bit of guitar pop, while the undercurrent continues to provide energy throughout the middle. I can already hear folks making comparisons to other Francophile acts that use electronics, but for me, this is different; it feels more rocking and lighter in a sense, like it’s trying to free itself from the confines of that style a bit. Plus, that hook is just too damned good to walk away from. Feu de Garde will drop via Secret City Records on May 10th.

Bolis Pupul Shares Another Bop from Letter to Yu

Admittedly, Belgian/Chinese artist Bolis Pupul only recently popped up on my radar, particularly via his PR folks and his affiliation with Soulwax. My knowledge of the genre is fairly simplistic, but I love how you can feel one layer coursing through the tune, then hear it as it gets manipulated and texturized. Tones switch and various elements gather speed, collecting layers as the song’s visuals progress. Each time I thought I had the song pinned down, it ran around a completely different corner, most notably when it neared the end and took on a darker twist. Letter to Yu is out on March 8th via Deewee.

Fanclubwallet Releases Small Songs Vol 1

The term bedroom pop gets thrown around (yes, even by me!) far too often nowadays, but Fanclubwallet‘s new Small Songs Vol 1 EP really seems to grasp the concept in its totality, as songwriter Hannah Judge were a one-person project: all Hannah, no filler, with a visualizer for the EP’s single. I love the quite buzz of the keyboard as it shifts in tones; I really love the simplicity, which allows Judge to maximize the hooks once the beat drops into the track. Both beat and vocals seem to work in unison, matched up with one another, like they weren’t meant to sync up. If you’d like to hear more, stream the whole thing HERE.

Teenage Tom Petties Share Stoner; Announce Hotbox Daydream

There’ve been lots of little breadcrumbs in the past few weeks leading to today’s announcement that there’s a fresh Teenage Tom Petties LP headed our way in November. Originally an outlet for Tom Brown of Rural France, the first record set the scene for fast-paced slacker rock, the sort that ripped through the speakers of your freshman dorm room. Now a full band, they’ve returned with that same ferocity, perhaps with a touch more sheen on the vocals and recording. Don’t get me wrong, the heavy-handed riffs are there, but this opening single from their new LP offers a lot more melody to listeners on its initial runs; the chorus has this calmed cool to it while you can hear the rhythm single waiting to break free from its leash and bound through the room. Hotbox Daydreams will be out on November 3rd via Safe Suburban Home/Repeating Cloud.

Faith Healer Share The Game Single

Faith Healer are set to release The Hand That Fits the Glove, and before the LP drops, we’ve got one last chance to hear what’s in store for listeners. This track’s a bit more of a mellow piece, in comparison to the earlier singles from the release. Black and white imagery is tied to an atmospheric wash of synths that set the backdrop for a reserved performance from Jessica Jalbert; you get a little lift around the 1:25 mark of the tune, with careful percussive elements swinging into the track to give it a hint of buoyancy. That spirit is needed, particularly when you immerse yourself into the lyrics, a rumination on the challenges many of us face interacting with the outside world without losing ourselves. You can get the new LP on October 13th via Mint Records.

Estrella del Sol Shares Figura de Cristal

Estrella del Sol really won me over with the first single from her forthcoming record, and next tune picks up, building otherworldly pop music that’s equally as mesmerizing as it is haunting. At times the vocals are barely audible, lurking in the shadows; it’s almost like listening to the score for some magnificent Kubrick movie, albeit one set in Latin American. You’ll hear this light pulse, the heartbeat just faintly warbling beneath the atmosphere; it creates the perfect cinematic feel that should hopefully turn some heads towards Figura de Cristal; it’s out via Felte on June 30th.

 

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