Fashionably Late To The Party: Citizen Helene

266642_10150252568214940_3986796_oI can’t take credit for this find; Nathan really knows how to pick some winners. Citizen Helene is a solo artist with a touring band that encompasses a psych sound with layers of jazz and indie pop. Based out of London, her sound is perfect ambiance for gloomy days like today. This song below is called “Bridges” and it’s taken from her upcoming 7″ release with Wiaiwya. Once you hit play on the song, you’ll immediately notice the same sort of melancholy indie pop that bands like Camera Obscura and Belle and Sebastian pioneered. But as the song progresses, you start to pick on more of the jazzy elements of the sound. It’s a damn good track, which you should take a listen to and get excited for the release of the 7″ How Can You Find Someone To Love/Bridges which will be out June 7th.

Energetic Hit from Hate Week

hateweekYou’ve got to keep an eye on your favorite small labels, as they don’t always get to play as part of the machine. I was checking in on WIAIWYA, one of my faves, and caught this new Hate Week track, a band formed from the ashes of Faintest Ideas and a few steps removed from Love Is All. It begins with a bit of ramshackle indie rock, though that’s infiltrated by pop sensibility. Still, the band hold onto the little bit of angst indicated in their band name, tossing that in at the end. Looks like its schedule for an April release.

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Stuck On This Leaf Library Tune

theleaflifbraryDear music audience, my tastes are all over the place. That being said, this song from The Leaf Library is fantastic. It’s got this drifting indie rock brood to it, floating with instrumentation like some of the old Jade Tree acts used to do. But, in doing that, it’s also set on its edge by this perfect female vocal, creating a beautifully dynamic tune. It’s just one of the tracks that will feature on what I expect is the band’s astonishing Daylight Versions album, which will be released in October by WIAIWYA.  

Stream the Emma Kupa EP

emmaI’ve made it quite known about my adoration for former Standard Fare songwriter, Emma Kupa.  So, as Wiaiwya preps the release of her Home Cinema EP, I want you take a minute to stream in its entirety.  It’s mostly light indie pop fare, built around Kupa’s lyrics and her guitar, though she brought in friends to fill out the sound of the EP itself.  Definitely a nice step into her own limelight, showing Emma as the charming songstress we’ve come to know her as.  This will definitely make your day a bit brighter.

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The Return of Emma Kupa

emSince my fawning of former-Standard Fare leader Emma Kupa never seems to dissipate, I’ve got to promote the announcement of her new mini-album for Wiaiwya.  It’s not like she’s kept silent since her former act called it a day; she’s in Mammoth Penguins and she did that great single with Darren Hayman that made our year end list, but now she looks to go out on her own, albeit for a bit.  Her approach in the song below shows some slight changes, with a more subdued folk approach and a change to the subject matter (turning from love to family).  I love the strength of her voice too. The little album will be available in the Spring, but for now, just enjoy this dreamy track.

Stanley Brinks and Freshcard Release Album of Duets

Pizza EspressoIt seems like Stanley Brinks is all about collaborations this year, having earlier worked with The Wave Pictures, and now with songwriter Freshcard.  The story goes that Mr. Brinks met Freshcard whilst she was working at a bakery in Paris; he invited her to sing some songs, and their friendship was born.  Together, the two will release Pizza Espresso as collaborative affair between their two labels, Fika Recordings and Wiaiwya.  It’s an album of soft ballads and shared singing roles, allowing for maximum pop indulgence for the listener. You’ll be quite pleased with the results of these two.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/01-If-You-Have-Time.mp3]

Download: Stanley Brinks and Freshcard – If You Have Time [MP3]

New Single from Standard Fare

Did you see me rave about the excellent Out of Sight, Out of Town LP from Standard Fare at the beginning of the year? You definitely should have, but if you didn’t, this song’s going to remind you just what I was talking about.  The group’s signed up to release a single with WIAIWYA, and you can grab that single for nice decent price.  More importantly, the band’s been generous to provide us with a stream of their energetic jam, “Girlfriend.”  This song encompasses everything the group’s about, and I’m always excited when one of my favorite bands has new music to make it through this rainy weather. You can also stream/buy the track HERE.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Girlfriend-Mx3.mp3]

 

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