Slumberland Records in Oakland and Fortuna POP! in the UK are two of the best indie labels in the world when it comes to guitar pop, and they have teamed up on releases a number of times. But even by their historically high standards of performance, Continental Drift is a special one. I'm supposed to be the wordsmith about music here, but I can't improve on the opening line from Mike at Slumberland: "Four great bands, two great labels and two continents meet on this stellar mini-LP". There are eight songs here, with two from each band. The US is represented by Philadelphia's Mercury Girls and Baltimore's Wildhoney, while the UK puts forward Edinburgh's The Spook School and London's Tigercats. Is it a battle of the bands? An intercontinental showdown? Perhaps, but to me it just is a sampler of some of the best pop songwriting on today's indie landscape. Fuzz, hooks, clever lyrics, dreamy shoegaze, pop-punk, pop and politics, and the palpable sheer joy of participating in music are in ample supply in these eight songs. If you like guitar pop, this may be your best investment of the year. Sample the goods below and then treat yourself. You know that you deserve this one.
As an aside, sadly Fortuna POP! is closing its doors soon. They will be sorely missed here at When You Motor Away.
Slumberland Records' pre-order page for Continental Drift
Fortuna POP!
Mercury Girls on Facebook
The Spook School on Facebook
Wildhoney on Facebook
Tigercats on Facebook
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