The Perfect English Weather - Just Beyond The Lights

 

Wendy and Simon comprise The Perfect English Weather, in which they create perfect indie pop. With memorable melodies and thoughtful arrangements supporting Wendy's sublime vocals, the husband and wife duo (also members of The Popguns) are at the top of their artistry with their delightful new release Just Beyond The Lights. The album is a set of songs that reflect locale and time. The locale is small-town south English coast, as well as Simon and Wendy's past residences. The time is the period of life where enough years and experiences have occurred to allow reflection, perspective and appreciation. The stories are deftly and warmly illustrated and adorned with restrained instrumentation. The first time listener may be first impressed by the simple beauty of the music, as were we. But in our view the full appreciation of Just Beyond The Lights comes with attention to the stories, reflections and remembrances.

The album is available via Bandcamp outside of the USA, and via Matinee Recordings In the USA.

Matinée Recordings · The Perfect English Weather - Pilgrimage

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Bandcamp for Just Beyond The Lights

Matinee Recordings page for album

"Cologne" by Allo Darlin'

 

Yes, we enjoyed our time away from blog duties while traveling and reconnection with friends. But as we return to the lucrative business of blogging about indie music, it seems appropriate to make our first post about a band that has returned after over a decade away from the scene. Yes, Allo Darlin' is back to recording and touring. Their new album Bright Nights will be available July 11 via Slumberland Records in the US and Fika Recordings in UK/Euro. Do you want to know whether the band still has the indie pop chops? Of course you do, so check out recently released album track "Cologne" and the two previous singles, "My Love Will Bring You Home" and "Tricky Questions". We will tip our hand - this is sharp, evocative songwriting and assured performances. That all adds up to a very promising album.

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Bandcamp for Bright Nights

 Bandcamp for previous releases

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The High Water Marks - Consult The Oracle

 

The High Water Marks have done it again. Their new album Consult The Oracle is packed with rocking powerpop gems that plays out as much as a proto-greatest hits album as a single LP. To our ears, this may be their best album of their two decades of recording, although given their trajectory I wouldn't discount the possibility of greater heights (or higher high water marks) in the future. The magic sauce in songs by THWM is a heady blend of impeccable pop smarts and joyous, playful exuberance. And for fans of the jangle, like WYMA's executive editorial board, this band delivers at a premium level.

THWM are Hilarie Sidney (Apples in Stereo and Elephant 6 co-founder), Per Ole Bratset, Logan Miller & Øystein Megård. Consult The Oracle is out now via Meritorio Records.

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The Pennys - The Pennys EP

 

We are fans of separate work of both Michael Ramos (Tony Jay/Flowertown/Cindy) and R.E. Seraphin (excellent recent solo power pop), so we eagerly awaited the debut of their joint project The Pennys. Happily, the self-titled mini-album exceeded our high expectations. Gorgeous guitars, hushed vocals, and chords that tug at the heart nestle in lo fi production to create and intimate set of songs that its creators aptly refer to as heartbreak pop. The result is immersive, immediate and compelling. Is six songs sufficient to make an album qualify for our year end list? When the songs are this good, yes.

The Pennys is out now via Mt.St.Mtn.

Bandcamp for The Penneys

Link to order of vinyl version of The Pennys

Sad Eyed Beatniks - Hot Dish of the Sun On the Table of the Heavens Demos 2016-2024

 

A feature on a collection of demos? Perhaps unusual, but Sad Eyed Beatnniks always attracts our attention. The solo, lo fi project of Kevin Linn, the head honcho of San Francisco's Paisley Shirt Records, showcases Kevin's knack for melody and invention while never over-complicating the end result. Will you like every song? Maybe, maybe not. But the digital release is $1 so a positive return on the investment is likely. And there are NO TARIFFS on these demos.

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Bandcamp for album

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Various links for Kevin Linn

Say Sue Me - Time Is Not Yours EP

 

UK indie fans have a genuine treat coming to their doorsteps. Busan, South Korea's Say Sue Me are playing six shows in May (dates and locations are at the end of this post). And to remind music lovers why they should pay attention, the band has just released five-track EP Time Is Not Yours. We featured lead single "Vacation" a few weeks ago, but for this post we want to lead with our favorite track -- and in fact one of our favorite songs of the year so far -- title track "Time Is Not Yours".

One of the great joys of this band is their versatility. Compare the above song with the joyous chaos of the instrumental "Mexico" --

But they continue to surprise with the gentle, sun-kissed closer "Bone Pink".

Say Sue Me are Choi Sumi (vocals/guitar), Kim Buyngkyu (lead guitar), Kim Jaeyoung (bass), and Lim Sungwan (drums). Time Is Not Yours is out now via Damnably.

saysueme.com

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Red Sleeping Beauty - Late Nights EP and Late Nights EP Vol. 2

 

Continuing with our Maintee Recordings matinee, today we bring you two thrilling EPs by the Swedish synthpop icons Red Sleeping Beauty. These recordings breathe new life into classic and beloved slices of synthpop.

The first is Late Nights. Released in January, it leads with a new version of their 2015 single "Always". It is labeled the 'late night' version because it is intentionally darker in tone than the original. The second track, a similarly dark version of "Could Have Been Me" from the band's Diary album. The third track is a lovely surprise -- a 'late night' version of their initial single, the 1992 "You Are The Kind".

Matinée Recordings · Red Sleeping Beauty - Always (Late Nights version)

Matinee Recordings page for Late Nights EP

Bandcamp for Late Nights EP

Late Nights EP Vol. 2 arrived in March. It also has three late night versions of popular songs from previous albums. In this case the songs are "Caroline (I Found Love)" from the album Diary, "Breaking Up Is Easy" from the Kristina album, and "Swedish Winter" from the album Stockholm. On a personal note, the last two are among our favorites.

Matinée Recordings · Red Sleeping Beauty - Caroline (I Found Love) (Late Nights version)

Matinee Recordings page for Late Nights EP Vol. 2

Bandcamp for Late Nights EP Vol. 2

"Caroline of Brunswick Square" and "London-By-The-Sea" by the Perfect English Weather

 

Simon and Wendy of  UK band The Popguns are icons around the WYMA World Headquarters taproom Executive Suite. But it isn't just because of our love of The Popguns. Working in the more acoustic space as a duo they have been recording as The Perfect English Weather. The project highlights their knack for euphoric melodies and evocative songwriting. We understand that they will release a new album in May, but for now you can swoon with us over the singles "Caroline of Brunswick Square" and "London-By-The-Sea". The digital releases are out now via Matinee Recordings.

Matinée Recordings · The Perfect English Weather - Caroline of Brunswick Square

Matinée Recordings · The Perfect English Weather - London-By-The-Sea

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Matinee Recordings page for single(London) and "Caroline"

Bandcamp for single

The Royal Landscaping Society - Fractals EP

 It's time for a Matinee matinee! What, exactly does that mean? Well, it means that we are going to publish a series of posts about recent releases from the one and only Matinee Recordings. We usually don't stack posts about releases from a single label, but Matinee is one of our favorites and they have been busy lately. Stay with us, all are terrific, and these small labels deserve our support.

First up is Spain's The Royal Landscaping Society. The recording is titled Fractals and is a three-song EP of breathtaking heartbreak pop. Key track "When There Is Nothing Left To Look Forward To" is a starkly straightforward but eloquent lament about lost love wrapped in a rhythmic and chiming arrangement. But the quality doesn't falter with the following two tracks.

Matinée Recordings · The Royal Landscaping Society - When There's Nothing Left To Look Forward To

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Matinee Recordings page for Fractals EP

Bandcamp for Fractals EP

Various links for The Royal Landscaping Society

"Vacation" by Say Sue Me

 

Busan, South Korea's Say Sue Me has featured here a number of times in the past, but it has been a long while. Happily, they are back with the rifftastic "Vacation". It is the first song released from their upcoming Time Is Not Yours EP, which will be out April 30 via Damnably. April/May tour dates for Australia and the UK are listed at the end of this post.

Say Sue Me are Choi Sumi (vocals/guitar), Kim Buyngkyu (lead guitar), Kim Jaeyoung (bass), and Lim Sungwan (drums). Kim Hanjoo  of Korean band Silica Gel features as a guest vocalist on "Vacation".

saysueme.com

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On tour

14 April - Sydney, AU - Oxford Art Factory

16 April - Melbourne, AU - 170 Russell

06 May - Bristol, UK - Strange Brew

07 May - Manchester, UK - Academy 3

08 May - Hebden Bridge, UK - Trades Club

09 May - Glasgow, UK - CCA

14-17 May - Brighton, UK - The Great Escape Festival

19 May - London, UK - 100 Club
link.damnably.com/ssmlive

"Say Something" by The Pennys

 

We are quite excited about the news that Mike Ramos and R.E. Seraphin have collaborated to record an self-titled album under the name The Pennys. We have featured work from both artists, and they have given us much joy. However, we wondered about the direction of the project, which they describe as 'occult heartbreak pop'. Mike's work (Tony Jay, Cindy, Flowertown, and others) often reflects a slowcore esthetic emphasizing tone and nuance with a deft use of space. Ray Seraphin (R.E. Seraphin, Violent Change, Talkies, Glitz), on the other hand, more often paints his creations in powerpop and indie rock. We don't have a final answer, but we have a hint in the form of debut single "Say Something".

What does it sound like. Well, we have to admit that once we heard it, we understood the reference to heartbreak pop. It is absolutely gorgeous in tone and composition while depicting the slow dissolution of a relationship.

The Pennys will be out this spring via Sacramento label Mt.St.Mtn.

Bandcamp for The Pennys

Link for Pre-order of vinyl version of The Pennys