The New Tigers - Vindication EP

A new day, and new music from The New Tigers.  The four musicians from Turku, Finland, have released Vindication EP via Soliti Music.  Offered as a digital download, it consists of four songs that showcase the dreamy power pop that this band has always done so well.  The instrumentation has hints of shoegaze and psychedelia, but the pace, melody and hooks plant their flag in the indie pop camp.  Opening track "Visions" immediately remind us why this band has been a favorite of ours for years.  And if hearing "Visions" makes you inclined to agree with us, the following "Chewing Gum" should convince you.  It showcases the band's ability to shift gears during a song and keep the listener completely enthralled.  "Polar Night" has a Luna-does-Britpop feel, and they nail it.  Closing track "Dissolution" combines psychedelia, dream pop and shoegaze in a hazy 7+ minute epic.

Don't settle for tired old tigers.  Get The New Tigers -- you won't be sorry you did.



The New Tigers are Appu (guitars/vocals/glockenspiel), Valtteri (guitars/vocals), Janne (bass/synth), and Ville (drums).

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"The Beast" by JP Klipspringer

I hear a vast amount of new music via albums, EPs and songs.  And sometimes I become so enraptured by a new song that I can't stop playing it.  Such is the case with "The Beast".  It is the latest offering from Melbourne songwriter Jack Poulson, working under the name JP Klipspringer.  Jack, who also is the frontman for The Zanes, will be releasing a new JP Klipspringer album in September.  "The Beast" is your first taste, and it is a beautifully constructed song with sticky hooks and a driving, mid-tempo groove.




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"Art of Dying Young" / "Do Me Wrong" by Skellums

Last August we introduced you to Skellums (here), a band with roots in Liverpool and Wales that crafts a fresh take at alt rock and fuzzy guitar pop.  Despite the fame, and undoubted riches, earned from their earlier EP, the boys are still working.  This week brings the release of their new two-song single "Art Of Dying Young" paired with "Do Me Wrong".  The first song is a fast-past lament of a life-weary narrator.  The theme may be sad, but the song should bring concert and pub sing-alongs with glasses held high.  "Do Me Wrong" is a pop/punk tune about a twisted relationship.  Stream below and hit the Bandcamp link for more joy.

We hope there is a lot more coming from this band in the future.






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"This Will Be The Day That I Die" by The Holy

Life can't always be happy faces, sunny skies and driving with the top down.  Someone needs to remind us of isolation and despair.  But if it has to be done, it should be done well, with multiple layers of opacity, passages that invoke questions and require hard thinking, and perhaps some aspects that are frankly uncomfortable.  Enter, stage left, Helsinki's The Holy.  Newly signed to that city's Soliti Music, the band has released a song titled "This Will Be The Day That I Die", which does all that and more.  You can experience the song below in video and streaming formats, but we advise you that the video is striking.





The Holy are Laura (bass/synth), Henrik (vocals/guitar/synth), Samppa (drums), Eero (drums), and Pyry (guitar).

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Summer Flake - Hello Friends

You may not have heard of Stephanie Crase, especially if you don't live in Australia, but you should take the time to catch up.  A veteran of other bands, Stephanie -- with Antony Bourmas and Joel Cary -- now plays as Summer Flake.  On her new album, Hello Friends, they weave sentimental, intimate, often melancholic stories with a solid rhythmic structure that allows Stephanie's multi-tracked voice to sooth and plead while the guitars rumble, jangle, twang and shred.  The result is dream pop with a muscular core, and the vocals, arrangements and full sound provide a retro feel in several tracks.  The performances are excellent, with enough fuzz and frayed edges to give the record a live performance vibe.  We find Hello Friends infectious and irresistible.  It grows stronger with every listen, and is one of our favorite albums of the spring.






Hello Friends is out now via Rice Is Nice Records, and is available in digital and vinyl formats.

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"Barricade (Matter Of Fact)" by Yum Zouma

Today's bright spot is the "Barricade (Matter Of Fact)", the sparkling second single from the upcoming debut album from Yumi Zouma.    For our tastes, the New Zealanders are one of the best synth pop bands in the business -- smooth, pulsating, melodic, mysterious and exceptionally talented.  Enjoy the springtime groove of the new single and watch for the LP, Yoncalla, to drop in late May via Cascine, Arch Hill Recordings (in New Zealand and Australia), Rallye (in Japan), and Double Deer (in Indonesia).  The album will be available in vinyl and digital formats, but the vinyl will have extra features never available digitally.



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Mayflower Madame - Observed In A Dream

We invite you to let yourself get lost in Observed In A Dream.  It isn't a difficult task.  The songs crafted by Oslo's Mayflower Madame take elements of atmospheric rock, psychedelia, shoegaze and drone, then shade it in dark colors.  The vocals are ominous and carry a hit of danger.  The sound is immense and enveloping.  Close your eyes and you'll feel like you are surrounded by multiple drum kits, electric guitars and bass guitars.  But nestled firmly in the atmospheric haze is a core of melody and an insistent groove.  I haven't heard Gothic post punk (think Bauhaus) done this well in years, and if you are like me and like a good dose of this kind of dense sound from time to time, I highly recommend this album.






Mayflower Madame are Trond Fagernes (vocals/guitar), Rune Øverby (guitar), Petter Gudim Marberg (bass), and Ola Jørgen Kyrkjeeide (drums).  Observed In A Dream is out via Night Cult Records and Custom Made Music.

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The Beths - Warm Blood

It is a rainy, thoroughly dreary day in Seattle (quite a shock, I'm sure), and we needed something to get the old blood moving.  To the rescue are The Beths, an Aukland, New Zealand power pop quartet that hit the spot.  And while it is risky to ascribe magical properties to humans you haven't met, I'll just observe that since I began this post the rain stopped and the sun came out.

If you are looking to similarly improve your part of the world, there is little risk in hitting the play button for "Whatever", the lead track on the band's Warm Blood EP.  I can't guarantee that on song alone will improve your weather, so you may have to play all tracks on the EP, which we thoughtfully embedded below.








The Beths are Elizabeth Stokes (guitar/vocals), Jonathan Pearce (guitar/vocals), Benjamin Sinclair (bass/vocals), and Ivan Luketina-Johnston (drums/vocals).  A tip of the When You Motor Away motoring cap to the excellent Pop Lib blog (link) in New Zealand for exposing us to The Beths.

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Babaganouj - Pillar of Light EP

What is "it"?  "It" is a collection of factors.  For a musical artist the factors include sound, songwriting, charisma, connection, likeability, looks, and perhaps some characteristics personal to members of the public.  A fan may not be able to articulate all the reasons that a band has "it", but like a former US Supreme Court Justice, we know "it" when we see "it".

The above is relevant because on the basis of what we've seen and heard from Babaganouj, the Brisbane trio has "it".  Crafting infectious power pop since 2011 with influences from the UK to New Zealand to the US and, of course, their own back yard.  Their new EP is Pillar of Light, and it thrills with three upbeat songs that blow away contemporary bands from other lands (names withheld our of kindness) with whom they are compared.  Then it closes with a fine acoustic track.

Babaganouj are Charles Sale, Ruby McGregor, and Harriette Pilbeam.  All three are adept songwriters and have contributed at least one song to Pillar of Light.  A spin of lead track "Do Rite With Me Tonite" should convince you that our conclusion regarding this band is correct.  But if you need more evidence, or just want to listen to some great music, you can stream the entire EP below.

I think it is time to stock up on Babaganouj.  How about you?







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PURSES - Obsess Much

Your intrepid reporter is feeling a trifle unloved here, as no one from the relatively new Athens band PURSES contacted me to invite a feature on their debut album, Obsess Much.  But a highly-paid professional cannot such slights let such things deter him from his duties.  So without any more complaining, let's look at what have the boys crafted us for us.

Obsess Much is an album for lovers of the strain of indie rock that meshes together southern rock and California guitar pop.  There are intertwined guitars, harmonies, big choruses, hooks, and, um, lots of guitars.  We can confess to no journalistic detachment here, because we absolutely love that brand of music.  And more to the point, we absolutely love the execution here.  Frontman Drew Beskin delivered the goods with projects The District Attorneys and Party Dolls, and he delivers the goods here again.  And with co-conspirators from Tedo Stone, Grand Vapids, Ruby and the Rabbitfoot, Blue Blood, Gift Horse and Crooked Fingers (most of which have featured on these pages in the past), the Athens super-group's sound is big and focused, and thankfully without distracting polish.  The songs included fast, rocking tunes and several reflective mid-tempo tracks with a country shading.

We featured a couple of singles from the album previously (OK, so we weren't totally in the dark), so I've chosen two of my favorites of the other tracks to showcase the album.  But we've also embedded the entire album.  That isn't something we normally do, but it is that good.

Obsess Much is out now via label Lesser Brains.




The entire tasty burrito:



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Hunck - Never Had A Dream EP

North Londoners Hunck have a brooding but melodic guitar-heavy sound.  They are carrying some weight lyrically as well, with a penchant for dwelling on things that aren't quite right.  The sound is satisfyingly full, the percussion delightfully massive, and the guitars are excellent -- at times chiming and ringing, at times sinuous and insistent.  The band released their four-song EP Never Had A Dream as a digital offering in late January of this year, and we think it is well worth your time.  My favorite half of the EP can be streamed below, and you can listen to the entire record at the Bandcamp and Soundcloud links below.




Hunck is Kieron Johnston, Michael-James Dent, Frederik Tyson-Brown, Thomas Wykes, and Danny Geffen.

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Dylan Mondegreen - Every Little Step

Melodic, thoughtful, warm, and nostalgic should be welcome words in a pop music review.  It describes music that dwells on fond memories, quiet but treasured moments, dappled sunlight in the backyard in the presence of loved ones, making memories, accepting contentment, and yes, some melancholy as well.  Not all of life is sound and fury, although the moments that are often command the most attention.

And this brings us to Every Little Step, the delightful spring offering from the Norwegian singer songwriter who calls himself Dylan Mondegreen.  The artist is Børge Sildnes, playing his songs and accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, with backing players rounding out the songs.  The songs reveal his feelings on fatherhood with an incisive storytelling all the more powerful for the quality of his vocals and restrained delivery.  The band sounds like they are playing in the backyard for a gathering of friends, which is perfect because you'll probably want to listen to this one in your backyard as well.





Every Little Step is available in vinyl (limited edition), CD and digital formats from Shelflife Records.

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Prince

Prince has died, and I'm not going to write a long tribute, as I don't feel capable of writing something worthy of what Prince brought to the world of music.  Suffice it to say that his vision, audacity, songwriting, and performances made him one of the more complete musical geniuses of my time.  Here are some clips of some of my favorite Prince songs, including Crooked Fingers' appropriately dirge-like version of "When You Were Mine".

Acapulco Lips - Acapulco Lips

Are the lips that are kissing your ears lately Acapulco Lips?  If not, you are experiencing an excitement deficit in your personal life, so let us help you.  Acapulco Lips is a Seattle garage rock trio that thrills you with surfy rock, twangy girl-group retro, gritty garage and similar manner of retro wonderfulness.  Yeah, that's a wide scope, but this is a young outfit seeing what works.  And the good news is that it all works quite well.  Their nine-song self-titled debut album is out now via Killroom Records in CD and vinyl formats.  The songs are fast paced, full of hooks and enthusiasm and with an emphasis on maintaining the fun, even when life is kicking you.  You deserve Acapulco Lips for your summer soundtrack.








And here is a link for a free download of album track "Awkward Waltz".

Acapulco Lips is Maria-Elena Juarez (bass/vocals), Christopher Garland (guitar/vocals) and Davy Berruyer (drums), hailing from Austin, Texas, Seattle, Washington, and Grenoble, France, respectively.

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"Tryst" by Djustin

We recently featured the first single from the upcoming debut LP by translantic electronic duo Djustin.  Consisting of Sweden's Johan Angergård and Detroit's Rose Suau, they create soaring, romantically shaded melodies for the dance floor.  You now can hear "Tryst", the second song from the EP.  Exciting stuff, and you can see why Johan Angergård, the label boss at Labrador Records, was happy to sign  Johan Angergård and Rose Suau to his lable.



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"Johnny" by Basement Revolver

This seems to be "introduction day".  Please meet Hamilton, Ontario's Basement Revolver.  The trio of Nimal Agalawatte, Chrisy Hum and Brandon Munroe aim for the introspective and emotional channel of indie rock.  Their introductory single is "Johnny", a tear-stained story of betrayal purely voice by Chrisy Hum.  Enjoy below, and if you like it, click on the Bandcamp link for a name-your-price download.  And look for their debut EP in July.



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Introducing: Maria Usbeck

We can all use a bit of enchantment in our lives, so as a public service, we bring you the first solo single from Maria Usbeck, formerly the lead singer of Selebrities.  "Uno De Tus Ojos" shimmers and sparkles, sweet and bright, and it makes my day better every time I hear it.  "Moai Y Yo" bubbles and soothes with a tropical feel.

Maria lives in New York, but is a native of Ecuador and sings in Spanish for this outing.  And as an extra bit of good news, the  release of this single heralds her solo album Amparo -- inspired by her travels through South America and the stories from her family's elders -- which will be released on May 27 by Labrador in Europe and Cascine in North America.





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Les Autres - Backwards

It is quite likely that you don't have much if any music by Les Autres.  A French bad from the first half of the 1990s, their fame, such as it was, was local, and their recorded output of indie pop/noise pop songs made their way to but one album, and a number of singles and contributions to compilations.  I expect that all of those recordings are now out of print, and I find that a very sad turn of events.  Les Autres songs possessed a charm, directness and immediacy that in my opinion makes them a lost treasure in the indie world.  Coming to the rescue is Backwards, a compilation of Les Autres songs from Jigsaw Records.  The album isn't a compilation of former releases, but rather a 20-track collection of alternative versions, demo versions, live versions, and previously unreleased songs.  Not that such sources should bother anyone as (1) most music fans don't have the originals, and (2) this is not a genre that tends to be overly processed in the studio anyway.  I've become very fond of this little gem, and at $7 for a digital download, it is an investment I can recommend without reservation.





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Black Twig - Blaze On A Plain

Finnish quartet Black Twig has earned a spot on my list of favorite current bands.  Their earlier work trod the drone side of indie rock, with nice psychedelic flourishes and a few jangling gems.  And then there is Blaze On A Plain, their new album for Soliti Music.  Ten tracks that create a delicious guitar stew of Teenage Fanclub, Close Lobsters, Paisley Underground, Britpop and, at times, west coast guitar pop.  The first two tracks, "1998" and "The Swallows" may tempt you to think that the band put all the dazzle up front, and those songs are good enough to tempt such thoughts.  But then "Never Gonna Learn" prompts you to wonder if The Grateful Dead volunteered a track for our Helsinki friends.  "Hyvinkää" is a droning psychedelic treasure, and is perfectly followed by the intriguing acoustic instrumental "Oldschool Jungle".  The second half begins strong with the wistful "Sweetheart", and just grows stronger with the urgent "Lauranne", the psyche pop "Gods", the droning "Taivas", building to the glorious, jangling conclusion of "Sunday TV". 

This is a band on a journey, and the path has led them to a good place.  If you love guitars and melody, this album is one you shouldn't miss.

Blaze On A Plain, the title of which refers to the band's rehearsal space, was recorded live, which given the quality of the performance is quite remarkable.  Currently, the album only is available in vinyl and digital formats, although a CD version may follow later this year.

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September Girls - Age of Indignation

Ireland's September Girls are back with new LP Age of Indignation, and they are back, still loud, more sharply defined, darker, and it seems angrier than before.  And I'd have to say that it is a very good look for them.  As compared to their previous records, there is a bit less of Shop Assistant's style fuzz, and the punk strains have transitioned to a bigger, post punk sound with a near-Krautrock spine.  The sound is more versatile, with richer details.  But I think that this all reflects increased confidence as artists more than anything else.  September Girls are a damn good band with something to say, and they know it.  Lyrical themes include feminist issues and the Catholic Church.  As we know from listening to innumerable punk bands over the years, it is easy to sound angry.  But what isn't easy to to sound angry -- or perhaps more accurately indignant -- while still maintaining focus and on message.  The women of September Girls manage to do so in great style.

Age of Indignation is a masterful interplay of biting commentary, shifting shades of darkness, and adeptly manipulated tension.  We might ask for a bit more sunshine in the future, but for now we can enjoy this dark and lovely offering.  The album is out now via Fortuna POP!








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"Start When It's Over" and "Equation" by Ali Downer

We have featured Scottish band Woodenbox on these pages from time to time, but this post is about the solo work of frontman Ali Downer.  Ali will release album Plastic Thrones soon, and has shared the two album songs below.  Showing different facets of Ali's music, I think they portend an interesting and varied album is on the way.





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Lil Bobby Jr And The Horsey House Band & Friends - We Don't Belong Together

This is our second feature this week for an album released by Arizona label Emotional Response, but this album is so good, so very sweet, that we wanted everyone to have a chance to grab a download as the weekend begins.  We Don't Belong Together is the work of Lil Bobby Jr and The Horsey House Band & Friends.  It is a delicious collection of country style, punk infused singer songwriter compositions that will make you sigh, make you smile, and probably give you a defensible excuse to filling your glass for another round before retiring for the evening.  Nostalgic stories, tales of regret, and stories of the road, sung in male and female voices and accompanied by twanging guitars and gentle hooks.  You may be tempted to sing along to a few of the tracks such as "My Heart Beats For Love" and "I Don't Mind", and that is fine, but depending on your voice please consider the state of your environment and your relationship with your neighbors.  Lil Bobby doesn't want to be an ancillary party to a noise complaint.  And in any case, the overall vibe is gentle and reflective.  This is perfect stuff for your back patio under the stars,  but I suspect we'll all find ourselves playing it other times as well.

The players (who is in the 'band' and who is a 'friend' sometimes isn't clear, but I doubt it matters) are, of course, Bobby Carlson (aka 'Lil Bobby'), who also is a member of Victorian Slang, which we featured last week (link), Matt Wlser, Ann Seletos, Lonna Kelley, Jay Hufman, Tony Ballz (also in Victorian Slang), and Owen Evans.

Oh, one very important additional point is that a digital download of the eleven song LP only cost $5, although you can order it in CD format as well.  Skip a latte, raid the liquor cabinet, and buy We Don't Belong Together.










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"Maybe I'll See You In My Dreams" by Zen Mantra

Yesterday we featured a single from the upcoming album from Yumi Zouma.  Today we feature a single from the April 15 LP from Sam Perry, one of the member of that band, recording under the name Zen Mantra.  "Maybe I'll See You In My Dreams" is a psychedelic, woozy, hook-filled epic, and it suggests good things for the album.

Zen Mantra's self-titled debut album will be released via Flying Nun Records.


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Marlovers - Waves

We're headed into Spring and Summer, and our brains and hearts demand music to match.  Demand and you will receive, at least where Jigsaw Records is involved.  The little Seattle label has gifted us with the sophomore LP from Marlovers, a sweet indie pop band from Palma De Mallorca, off the coast of Spain.  Consisting of a generous 12 upbeat songs with wistful lead vocals, soaring choruses, jangling guitars and a muscular bass and drum section driving the proceedings.  The band has the secret formula for writing a nostalgia-shaded pop song that instantly fuses with the pleasure sensors in your brain, and then perform it perfectly.

And since I think most of us will find it possible to fall in love with Marina just on the basis of her voice, I should warn you to play "I Hate" before writing a love letter.  I've included a stream below as a public service.







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"Under the Sun" by Randolph's Leap

Scottish indie pop band Randolph's Leap is a favorite around here.  The Glasgow outfit offers melodic, often upbeat pop with a fully empowered rhythm section and a welcome touch of brass (we're talking trumpet and trombone, not attitude) and strings.  The songs are literate, witty, and vary from fun romps to more somber affairs.  Their new single, the elegant "Under The Sun", trods the reflective path.   "Under the Sun" is available as a digital download on Bandcamp.  It also serves as our first taste of Cowardly Deeds, the band's second album, which will be out via Olive Grove Records on May 20.





Randolph's Leap, when all together, are Adam Ross (guitar/vocals), Adam Florence (drums), Vicki Cole (bass), Andrew MacLellan (guitar), Heather Fox (violin), Pete MacDonald (keyboards), Ali Hendry (trumpet), and Fraser Gibson (trombone).

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Japanese Breakfast - Psychopomp

On a break from her Philadelphia-based shoegaze band Little Big Leagues to help her terminally ill mother in Oregon, Michelle Zaune, set about to writing and reworking her songs, and recording a truly wonderful album.  The album is titled Psychopomp, and for this project Michelle uses the name Japanese Breakfast.  With a low-to-mid-fi approach and melodic structures that would be at home with shimmering '80s guitar and synth pop, the nine songs showcase an adept songwriter and very appealing vocalist.  The results are professional, but not excessively polished, and they show more heart, grit and pain for all that.  There is a generosity and intimacy in this music that a lot of pop icons and their hired gun producers would love to be able to capture.  But for Japanese Breakfast, it seems utterly authentic.

And due to that visceral connection, passionate performance, and truly remarkable songwriting that I'd rate Psychopomp as one of my ten favorite new releases this year.  I may never delete it from my playlists.







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"Keep It Close To Me" by Yumi Zouma

One of the most consistently delightful purveyors of electro pop on the planet is Yumi Zouma. The now quartet of Christie Simpson, Sam Perry, Charlie Ryder, and Josh Burgess has its roots in New Zealand, although they have been multi-Continental at times.  On May 27 their new LP, Yoncalla, will be released via Cacine in most markets, Arch Hill in Australia, Rallye in Japan and Double Deer in Indonesia.  Your first taste is the bubbling goodness of "Keep It Close To Me", which is being released as a single.

Note that over May, June and September the band will be touring New Zealand, North America and Europe in support of Yoncalla.




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Silver Matter - Punks Grown Up (EP)

Silver Matter are four friends based in Vancouver, British Columbia, who make appealingly dreamy noise pop with loads of hooks.  When I first heard their music I noted the similarity with a British Columbia band named Shimmering Stars which captured my heart a few years ago (link).  Thus, I wasn't surprised to discover that two of the Shimmering Stars were sharing their shimmering pop chops as half of Silver Matter.  The band has self-released six songs as the Punks Grown Up (EP) on Bandcamp, and it is thick and sweet Spectorish slow dance with traces of the Jesus and Mary Chain.  Totally wonderful, in our view.  They are charging $5 Canadian, which if you are sitting south of the US-Canada border, is a bit of a steal at current exchange rates.








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"Remorse" by Gregor

"Remorse" generally doesn't bring delight, but this 'name your price' digital download from Melbourne's Gregor is the clear exception.  Stream it below.  The backing vocals are by Elyse Beer.  And take note that "Remorse" is one of the 14 tracks on Gregor's Thoughts & Faults, a cassette release with digital download coming out on April 8 via Chapter Music.



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Aries - Adieu or Die

Adieu or Die, the third album from Spanish electronic artist Aries is a warm, joyful and hyper-melodic.  The songs boast layers of carefully constructed vocal and instrumental elements, offering richly adorned bedroom pop that is perfect for spring.  Remarkably, it is all the work of one person, Isabel Fernandez Reviriego, who also has been a touring back up singer with Delorean, a singer on Cartoon Network's Adventure Time, and a player with bands Electrobikinis and Charades.  As Aries, every note and beat is hers -- multiple tracked vocals, guitar, synths and a delightful vision.

Each song has its own personality, but for me this is the kind of album that is meant to be played in its entirety.  The tracks fit together like pieces of a puzzle, immersing the listener into Isabel's contented world.  It is a shimmering, magical world and you won't want to leave it.

Aries "Eclipse total" [Official Video] from La Castanya on Vimeo.






Adieu or Die is out now via K Records and La Castanya.

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Long Beard - Sleepwalker

I discovered Sleepwalker by Long Beard last fall, and had intended to write about it here.  But like many good intentions, I didn't manage to do it.  But with the release of the new video for album track "Porch", the time seems right again.  Long Beard is the bedroom dream pop project of New Jersey's Leslie Bear (guitar/vocals), with Stefan Koekemoer (drums) and now Devin Silvers (bass), although Tom Christie is credited with bass and other contributions on Sleepwalker.  The tunes are easy, hazy, and melodic.  Leslie's voice is like a welcome, gentle pre-dawn kiss; like a warm summer breeze through and open window as you go to sleep; like a cup of hot chocolate on a winter day.  You get the idea.  The songs vary between more traditional indie pop and dreamy, drifting musings, and the overall effect is very relaxing.

Sleepwalker is a $5 digital bargain on Bandcamp.  Vinyl is available from Team Love.  Links for both are below.








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