Pop Filter - Ray and Lorraine's

 

Pop Filter is one of the most refreshingly unconstrained bands to which we pay attention. With all members writing songs and performing, the menu of songs on their albums represents each songwriter's best efforts. The results are a diverse set of songs that becomes wider in musical and thematic scope with each outing. Their most recent album -- the 13 track Ray and Lorraine's -- delivers synth pop, guitar pop, tender ballads ("Exactly Where I Want To Be" may prompt some happy tears), and other styles. That said, the album reflects and increased emphasis on bass, synths and beats, all of which add increased depth to Pop Filter's already stellar pop songwriting. A group of musicians who have been together this long (most were members of Ocean Party before this band was founded) have had many life experiences, revelations and transformations. The ability of the men of Pop Filter to illustrate their life moments in music is a treasure you should enjoy.

Ray and Lorraine's is out now via Bobo Integral and Osborne Again Music.

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Best Bets - The Hollow Husk of Feeling

 

We are music fans, not critics, which is why we don't post negative news. So you can be sure that if we publish a post about a song or album, we truly like it and have picked it from among our many submissions and discoveries. However, even among all of our favored musical "children", some work stands out. And that brings us to The Hollow Husk of Feeling, the second full length album by New Zealand's Best Bets. From a sturdy, broadly conceived power pop platform the band delivers 12 tracks stretching from the edge of jangle pop to the border of alt rock. Guitars jangle, chime slash or describe tangled figures as the material requires, and the rhythm section controls the pace with power and finesse. But this set of songs is more than solid gold sounds, as Best Bets features three songwriters with a feel for melody and a talent for lyrical craftsmanship. If you are only going to have room for ten guitar pop albums this year, make certain that The Hollow Husk of Feeling is one of the ten.

Best Bets are Olly Crawford Ellis, James Harding, Matt Phimmavanh, and Joe Sampson. James and Olly are members of Transistors and Joe has been in Salad Boys, T54 and other projects (including the label Melted Ice Cream). The Hollow Husk of Feeling is out now via Meritorio Records and Melted Ice Cream.

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Bandcamp for The Hollow Husk of Feeling

"For Me" by Pop Filter

 

"For Me" is the final single from the upcoming Ray and Lorraine's by Australia's fine Pop Filter. Dominated by synths and a dubby rhythm, it is an enchanting two minutes. Quite unlike past tracks by Pop Filter, it suggests that the gang are continuing to push their boundaries.

Ray and Lorraine's will be out October 4 via Osborne Again (Aus/NZ) and Bobo Integral (rest of the cosmos).

Bandcamp for Ray and Lorraine's

Birdie - Some Dusty

 

Perhaps this opinion is a lonely one in today's world, but we believe that the world needs a lot more baroque pop. While our self image certainly embraces the robust, rough edged western outsider, we yearn to swoon to sounds offered by Beirut, Van Dyke Parks, St. Etienne, Belle & Sebastian and other bands that focus on melody, texture and, often, broader instrumentation (if that makes us more of Ralph Lauren western man than Marlboro western man, so be it). And in our view one of the finest albums of that genre is Some Dusty. Charm, melody, melancholy and sunshine are all on offer and presented with a perfect, and sincere, touch. The lovely artifact from 1999 was the happy musical and romantic union of Debsey Wykes (Dolly Mixture) and Paul Kelly (East Village) as Birdie. The songwriting is top shelf, and the instrumentation includes guitars, keys, brass and strings. Echoing and at least equaling other indie pop bands crafting baroque pop, the band also reflects just enough of the sort of gloss that characterized a lot of '60s pop hits outside of the garage and British Invasions sub genres.

The album has been resurrected by Slumberland records, and is available now in vinyl and digital formats. This music is timeless, you need it in your life.

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Slumberland page for Some Dusty

Bubblegum Lemonade - Love's Young Nightmare EP

 

We previously have shared a couple of singles from the upcoming Lawrence of Suburbia by Glasgow jangle pop master Laz McCluskey, AKA Bubblegum Lemonade. We now have a double treat: (1) Third single "Love's Young Nightmare", and (2) An EP with that album track packaged with two non-album tracks "Sad Comedian" and "America Calling". The lead track is an upbeat jangle anthem. For the second Laz slows the pace for a lovely, thoughtful tune. The third amps up the pace again and adds the vocals from Sandra, Laz's mate from the Strawberry Whiplash project. Bubblegum Lemonade has always displayed a deft knack for melody and is locked into what made '80-'90s guitar pop special The three-song EP is titled Love's Young Nightmare and is available digitally via Matinee Recordings.

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Soundcloud for EP

Dummy - Free Energy

 

We recalled Los Angeles' Dummy as a punky noise pop band of considerable skill and great appeal, at least to our ears. But their change of direction on new album Free Energy has us amazed and excited. The pop bent isn't gone, but it has been chopped, diced and spliced with plenty of new directions and experimental avenues. The result can vary among shoegaze, dreampop, trip hop (but with big drums) and noise pop. Of course that means that each succeeding track may sound different than its predecessor, but the surprise (and invariable delight) is part of the charm. Listening to Free Energy we felt like we were on a journey with the band traipsing through the rooms of a curious mansion. We can quite honestly write that there is not a single song on this album that we skip. Moreover, our favorite songs also seem to shift on repeated plays. We hope this album gets the wide listening it deserves.

The members of this Los Angeles band are Alex Ewell, Emma Maatman, Nathan O'Dell and Joe Trainor. Free Energy is out now via Trouble In Mind Records.

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"Wildflowers" by Jim Nothing

 

We are listening to Nothing, and it sounds great! No, we haven't given up music, we are just enthralled with "Wildflowers" by Auckland, New Zealand's Jim Nothing. The guitar fuzz in our ears and the thumping in our chest is an ace reminder of why we love guitar pop. The song is the fifth single from the 13-track Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn which is due October 18 via Meritorio Records (most of the world) and Melted Ice Cream (New Zealand). Jim Nothing is James Sullivan and some talented friends.

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Bandcamp for album

Emma Russack - About The Girl

 

Emma Russack is a gifted songwriter and performer. But in our opinion what puts her above many of her contemporaries is her ability to evince curiosity and vitality in her music. And these qualities are at the forefront of her new album About The Girl, whether voicing a slow tempo vamp like "I Know You Feel It Too" or an up tempo pop should-be-a-hit like "About The Girl" and "Everything Is Big". Sophisticated yet accessible -- perhaps this is what it is like if the girl next door becomes a top flight musician but still chats over the back fence and hands you a beer on a hot summer day. She tells you about her day, and then tells you about her year. The words are direct and honest, but with perspective and humor.

We're are sure we'd stay for a second year and another round of stories if invited to do so.

About The Girl is out now via Dinosaur City Records.

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Soundcloud for "About The Girl"

Various links for "About The Girl"

"Säbä" by The New Tigers

We have long been fans of The New Tigers, and more recently we have lamented their absence from the recording studio. But the Finnish fuzz guitar band are back, and have followed the sage advice that if you are going to resurface after an extended hiatus, it is best done in a way that assures attention (somewhat like this blog beginning to post again after a week off). Their new single "Säbä" echoes the familiar TNT with a spot-perfect guitar arrangement. But in an startling move, the vocals feature no members of the band, but rather the voice of Jani Nyberg (Finnish ice hockey player, we believe) speaking in Finnish. We admit that we don't speak the language, but the overall effect is very pleasing to us. It is somewhat similar to Public Service Broadcasting, a UK band of which we are fond.

The single is out now via Helsinki's Soliti Music, and consists of two tracks: "Säbä" with the vocals and an instrumental-only version. Give it a try and broaden your musical experience.

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WUT - Mingling With The Thorns

 

If you like things that are sweet, crunchy and bold tasting, we suggest that you new musical soundtrack should include Mingling With The Thorns by Vancouver, BC's WUT. The sound may remind you of the Shop Assistants, Flatmates or other C86 bands. But the lyrics are this trios own, addictive brand of humor mixed with sharp commentary. It is a breezy, euphoric listen packed with elements we search for in new music. It is the sort of album that you can play over and over without any complaints from others in the household/office, and if you don't believe it, try it yourself.

WUT is Tracey Vath (bass/vocals/guitar), Kaity McWhinney (guitar/vocals), and Lauren Smith (drums/vocals). Mingling With The Thorns is out now in digital and vinyl formats via HHBTM Records.

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Bandcamp for Mingling With The Thorns

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"Exactly Where I Want To Be" by Pop Filter

 

The Northern Hemisphere shuffles towards autumn, and the Southern Hemisphere embraces spring. But both haves of the world await the upcoming Ray and Lorraine's. A new bistro? Book? Meme? No, silly, as we have written before Ray and Lorraine's is the new album by Melbourne's Pop Filter. The third single is "Exactly Where I Want To Be", a touching tune of contentment and commitment. May we suggest that it is the perfect song to end your day. Perhaps a musical mantra for keeping our heads straight.

Ray and Lorraine's will be out October 4 via Osborne Again (Aus/NZ) and Bobo Integral (rest of the cosmos).

Bandcamp for Ray and Lorraine's

"Spooky Signals" by Best Bets

 

Of the upcoming albums on our schedule one of the best bets to makes us smile and earn repeated replays is The Hollow Husk of Feeling by, coincidentally, Best Bets. It will be the New Zealand band's second album and is due on September 27 via Meritorio Records (Eur/USA/Can) and Melted Ice Cream (NZ/rest of the universe). The second single is the amusingly sinister "Spooky Signals, featuring a festival of wiry and jangling guitars and some abuse of beer cans. Our only criticism is that it appears much beer was spilled in the filming.

Best Bets are Olly Crawford Ellis, James Harding, Matt Phimmavanh, and Joe Sampson. James and Olly are members of Transistors and Joe has been in Salad Boys, T54 and other projects (including the label Melted Ice Cream). 

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Bandcamp for album pre-orders

Various relevant links