Tidal Rave - Heart Screams

Sorry to interrupt, but we want to spend a bit more money -- your money -- before you waste it all on beer. We wouldn't bother, but we hear heart screams. Insistent, urgent, darkly swirling heart screams. No, not ours, and not yours. We are writing about Heart Screams from Wellington, New Zealand's wonderful six-piece, Tidal Rave (by the way, we are so envious that they picked this name before we could finish our three decade effort to learn instruments and write our debut single). This band has its finger on the dark garage pop pulse that makes so many Southern Hemisphere bands compelling. And with three guitars,  keys, and four vocalists fronting a sturdy rhythm section they pack a wide range of emotions in a tightly performed musical package. Thrill to "FOMO" and "Leave It Alone" below, as both are representative of the album and very good songs. While not in the same style, we include the album closer because it slays us, but in a very good way.

Tidal Rave are Emmie Ellis (vocals/guitar), Esther Gedye Taylor (vocals/guitar), Kristen Paterson (vocals/guitar), Ann-Marie Keating (vocals/keys), Frank Eggleton (bass), and Scott Hakkaart (drums). Heart Screams is out now in digital and CD formats via Fishrider Records.







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Close Lobsters - Post Neo Anti: Arte Povera In The Forest Of Symbols

Today is a non-stop party here at WYMA World Headquarters, and for multiple reasons. Of course, there is the "it's Friday" excuse, and the "oh my God it was sunny in Seattle for a few days in the last week of February" reason. But the major justification is that we are going to tell you about an album that will be among our favorites at the end of the year. So, let's get started.

The album is Post Neo Anti: Arte Povera In The Forest Of Symbols. It is the creation of Close Lobsters, which was formed in Glasgow several decades ago and were, for us, the go-to band and the jangling end of the C-86 spectrum. They released two albums in the latter half of the '80s, and then dropped off of the radar. They never actually disbanded, and their music was never far from our ears, but there was nothing new until an EP in 2014. Give the men credit, they have raised 'taking a bit of time off' to a very high level. But the crazy, wonderful thing is that the band have come back sounding as good or better than before, and with some of the best songs they have ever written. Understandably, there is a bit of maturity in their perspective, but the songs retain the airy charm and youthful vigor of their first two albums. Every song is a winner, so we just keep playing the album start to finish, and then beginning again.

Close Lobsters are Andrew Burnett, Stewart McFadyen, Bob Burnett, Tom Donnelly, and Jim Taylor. The album is a co-release from Last Night In Glasgow (UK) and Shelflife Records (US), and is available in digital, vinyl and CD formats (limited edition vinyl is sold out already). As the old saying (almost) goes: Keep your friends close and your Close Lobsters closer. Translated to normal, non-insane English, get yourself a copy of Post Neo Anti: Arte Provera in the Forest of Symbols now.







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Seablite - High Rise Mannequins EP

Along with many others, we enthusiastically greeted the arrival of Grass Stains and Novocaine, the debut LP by San Francisco four-piece Seablite, last August. We are happy to report that a mere half year later, the band has graced us with four new songs in the form of the High-Rise Mannequins EP. There is no change in line up, no change in style, and no change in quality. And all of that is very good news, because Seablite is one of the rising stars in the shoegaze space. We think that this will be one of the top indie pop EPs of 2020.

Seablite are Lauren Matsui (guitar/vocals), Jen Munday (lead guitar), Andy Postalaniec (drums/percussion), Galine Tumasyan (bass/vocal/synth). High-Rise Mannequins is out now in digital and vinyl formats via Emotional Response Records in North America and Meritorio Records in Europe.





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Bandcamp for High-Rise Mannequins (Emotional Response Records)
Bandcamp for High-Rise Mannequins (Meritorio Records)

Strawberry Generation - Afloat

You could throw a dart at the track list for Afloat and be thrilled with any song chosen. But in the interest of safety (for you and everyone else in the room, according to your grade school gym teacher) we recommend the easier and more rewarding route of purchasing the album. It is the debut album for the Providence, Rhode Island band Strawberry Generation. The uber-talented crew has given us plenty of previous reasons to love their music -- check out their four prior EPs linked at the bottom of the post -- but now we have a ten-song statement that announces their arrival in no uncertain terms. The band's sweet spot is sugary jangle pop, depicted in bright colors. But on most tracks there is a lot more going on than jangle and sweet hooks, and all of it is good.

Strawberry Generation are Luk Yean, Valerie Zhu, Alejandro Subiotto Marques, Dan Davis, and Max Naftol. Afloat is out now in digital and CD formats via Chicago's Sunday Records.







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Bandcamp page for all Strawberry Generation releases

"Attitude" by Lewis OfMan

Starting out our day on a fun note, here is the stream and video for "Attitude", the new song by French artist Lewis Delhomme, aka Lewis OfMan.






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"Light" by The Churchhill Garden

Our last tune before ending our weekend is the lovely shoegaze/dreampop tune "Light". The creation of The Churchhill Garden, it is a glorious song, infused with positivity. As is the case with all music from this project, it is available on Bandcamp for 'name your price'.

The Churchhill Garden is the project of Swiss musician Andy Jossi, who composes the music and plays the instruments, and American Krissy Vanderwoude, who provides the lyrics and vocals.




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Spinning Coin - Hyacinth

It won't surprise regular readers to learn that we eagerly dove into Hyacinth, the new LP by Spinning Coin. The Glasgow four-piece (well, half of them now reside in Berlin, to be honest) have long been favorites here. But we can confidently state that the delights to be found in the album are accessible to anyone with ears, not just the confirmed fans. Named for a tragically doomed lover of Apollo in Greek mythology, Hyacinth contains a generous 14 tracks of spirited, sometimes biting, but ultimately hopeful art pop. Shared songwriting and vocal duties result in varied and interesting perspectives. The music is dynamic and the production values high, with psychedelic touches balanced by sparkling arrangements. Three previous singles from the album -- "Feel You More Than World Right Now", "Ghosting", and "Get High" -- are stellar songs and well-chosen to prepare the world for the album. However, what often separates a great album from a merely good album is the quality of the tier of songs not chosen as singles. And since we previously shared two of the singles (here and here), we will demonstrate our point below with streams of our next favorite tracks.

Spinning Coin are Chris White, Jack Mellin, Sean Armstrong, and Rachel Taylor. Hyacinth is out now in digital, vinyl and CD formats on the Geographic imprint of Domino Records.







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Various links for Hyacinth
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Joy Mills Band - Echolocator

A superficial characterization would put The Joy Mills Band on the shelf labeled "modern country", but a more thoughtful consideration of the tracks on Echolocator, the band's new LP, prompts consideration of "roots" and "alternative pop", as well. But we music fans know that the label is unimportant. The important factors are the emotional resonance, the internal colors conjured in your mind, and the lasting impact of the songs when the last note fades. And in these areas, Echolocator arrives as a winner. We found ourselves drawn into the stories, reading the lyrics, and enjoying our own memories prompted by the songs, as well as impressed with the merger of country twang and indie pop shimmer. Nicely balanced between upbeat stomps and ballads, this is a set of music that has made a tough week a lot more bearable. Give it a chance - no prescription required.

The Joy Mills Band are Joy Mills (guitar/vocals), Tom Parker (bass/vocals), Lucien LaMotte (guitars/pedal steel), Mikel McDermott (drums), Jack Quick (keys/vocals). Echolocator is out now in digital and CD formats.








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DRAMA - Dance Without Me

We always choose music with care, but never more so than selecting our late night listening. If we are going to stay up past bedtime, robbing our ever-aging bodies of the rest needed to serve as global influencers and trend-setters the following day, the tunes need to be compelling. So it is with confidence and joy that we share our current late-night soundtrack, Dance Without Me. The album is the creation of Chicago-based vocalist Via Rosa and producer Na'el Shehade performing as Drama. The duo seamlessly blends electro pop, R&B and dance into a smokey tapestry of troubled romance, dignified resignation, and hope. Rosa's agile and emotionally resonant vocals tell the stories, and Shehade illustrates them with punch and flair. Their mutual understanding seems almost otherworldly, like lovers completing each other's sentences are filling a request before it is made. Quite simply, it is achingly perfect.

To be fair, this album is not just for late night listening. It will bring joy to your day walking down Fifth Avenue or cycling around Stanley Park. But it really hits your core in the dark. Dance Without Me is out now in digital, vinyl and CD formats via Ghostly International.








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Various links to source Dance Without Me
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Various Artists - Somewhere In England: A Sunday Tribute to They Go Boom!!

When the good people at Sunday Records assemble compilations, magic happens. Today's case in point is Somewhere In England: A Sunday Records Tribute to They Go Boom!! The honorees are They Go Boom!!, a '90s UK electropop band who awarded themselves two exclamation marks. And if we may say so, we believe they earned the punctuation. Moreover, as the compilation illustrates, they clearly earned this tribute album as well. Collection covers of They Go Boom!! songs by terrific indie bands, many of which have graced these pages with their own compositions, ably celebrate both the original composers and the contributors. I suppose one could invent a reason not to get this album, but why start out the week being wrong?

Somewhere In England is out now via Sunday Records. The CD version is sold out already, but the digital is there for your listening pleasure.










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Sunday Records

Steve Buscemi's Dreamy Eyes - Sweetie

Sweetie has arrived in time for Valentines Day, and we think it is the perfect gift from the music world to those of us with ears and hearts. This debut LP from Sweden's Steve Buscemi's Dreamy Eyes has been a long time coming, but it was well worth waiting for and, in our not so humble opinion, is one of the best albums of 2020 so far. There are 12 tracks of crystalline Scandinavian pop, with soaring vocals, bright synths and unforced energy and joy. Much of it is fast-paced and dance floor ready, and even the melancholy songs manage to put smiles on our faces. It is Valentines Day, and we are in love with our Sweetie.

Steve Buscemi's Dreamy Eyes are Siri Sjoberg, Tilde Hansen, Elias Mahfoud, and Edvin Arleskar. Sweetie is out today via Rama Lama Records.








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"Godless" by Close Lobsters

One of the most eagerly anticipated 2020 albums in the marble halls of WYMA world headquarters is Post Neo Anti - Arte Povera In The Forest Of  Symbols. Although the long awaited new album by Scottish band Close Lobsters will not be available until the end of the month, we can assure you that it is terrific. But you don't have to just take our word for it, you can hear a track right here, right now. All of us agree that one of our favorite all time bands hasn't lost a single step over the years.

Neo Anti - Arte Povera In The Forest Of  Symbols is a co-release from Last Night In Glasgow (UK) and Shelflife Records (US). It is available now for pre-order at the Bandcamp link below.



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"Ebony Goldfish" by Alexandre Saada

Some cynics might think that we are providing scant background about Alexandre Saada, the band behind "Ebony Goldfish", because we don't know much about them. But maybe we like a little mystery. Maybe we just want to enjoy our song of the day without any side story.

But we will offer that Paris-based Alexandre Saada are Laurent Brifo, Alexandre Perrot, Bertrand Perrin, Thomas Pegorier, Melissa Bon, and Caroline Rivoal. Their new album, Songs For A Flying Man, will be released on April 10 via Labrador Records. And if the rest of it hits the levels of "Ebony Goldfish", we will be very pleased indeed.







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Labrador Records

The Crayon Fields - All The Pleasures Of The World (Reissue)

If you are a fan of perfectly detailed, unabashed indie pop with baroque leanings, we have a deal for you. One of the finest albums in that channel in this millennium so far was All The Pleasures Of The World, by Melbourne band The Crayon Fields. Crafted by four friends who had formed the band a few years earlier while still in high school, it achieved an almost impossible level of quality and consistency. The album was acclaimed in Australia and internationally, and the vinyl version has long been impossible to find. Eleven years later, the label has wisely decided that the world will benefit from a fresh edition of the album, with a few added covers and rarities to sweeten the deal. This is an album that never fails to put smiles on our faces and give us a springtime bounce in our step, even in the dead of winter. That kind of magic should be cherished.

The Crayon Fields are Geoffrey O'Connor, Neil Erenstrom, Brett Hudson, and Chris Hung. The reissue of All The Pleasures Of The World is out now in digital, vinyl and CD formats via Melbourne's Chapter Music.







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Dropkick - The Scenic Route

You may not be aware that Scotland's Dropkick is one of the finest jangle pop bands on the planet, but if not it certainly is time to educate yourself. After all, the freshly released The Scenic Route is their 16th album and how many chances can they be expected to give you? It has everything we need: Jangle, fuzz, harmonies, and hooks. Nothing here is complicated, and nothing here should be complicated - just 10 expertly crafted musical arrows aimed at our hearts. Better late that never for a good Dropkick.

Dropkick are Andrew Taylor (vocals/guitars), Mike Foy (drums/vocals), Ian Grier (keys), and Alan Shields (bass/vocals). The Scenic Route is out now via Madrid label Bobo Integral.







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"Set Me Free" by Steve Buscemi's Dreamy Eyes

Our long wait for a debut album from Swedish band Steve Buscemi's Dreamy Eyes will be over on Valentine's Day with the release of Sweetie. But before that happens we have "Set Me Free", the final single. A briskly pace, '80s-tinged anthem, it is keeping us moving on a dreary Friday.

Steve Buscemi's Dreamy Eyes are Siri Sjoberg, Tilde Hansen, Elias Mahfoud, and Edvin Arleskar. "Set Me Free" and Sweetie are released via Rama Lama Records.






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Various links for "Set Me Free"
Bandcamp for Sweetie

"Love You To Death" by Snowy Band

Since we started the day with a couple of pop heroes from Sweden, we will continue part of the theme with Liam "Snowy" Halliwell, the man behind Snowy Band (although he is joined in the venture by some ace contributors) and another pop hero. If you enter "Snowy" or "Liam Halliwell" into this blog's search engine, you will discover that he has featured in a number of projects we cherish, including the The Ocean Party and Studio Magic. Snowy Band will be releasing new LP Audio Commentary on March 27 via Osborne Again Music and Spunk Records. To let you know how special it will be, we have shared the first single, "Love You To Death", below.

Snowy Band consists of Liam Halliwell (vocals/guitar/others), Emma Russack (vocals/guitar), Nathalie Pavlovic (vocals/bass), and Dylan Young (vocals/drums).






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"The Absence of Birds" by The Radio Dept.

Some of the most delightful music we have heard in our lives is the creation of The Radio Dept. The Swedish duo consisting of Johan Duncanson and Martin Carlberg have refined the musical textbook for melancholy, bittersweet dreampop. Thus, any news about forthcoming music from the band is welcome, and today we bring you a triple header. First, the band has released the lovely new "The Absence of Birds" (with an accompanying remix), deftly sketching a block party with a parallel focus on the narrator focusing on an absent person. Second, on March 27 the band will reissue their sophomore album, Pet Grief. And third, and of special interest to US fans, The Radio Dept. will be touring with fellow Swedish band Hater in North America in April and May.



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Just So! (label)

Peter Hall - There's Something Wrong With Everyone

We are not particularly familiar with UK artist Peter Hall, but the four tracks on There's Something Wrong With Everyone have made fans of us. This is intimate, carefully crafted and richly melodic indie pop that has lifted our spirits today. We suggest it may well do the same for you. There may be something wrong with everyone, but there is nothing wrong about this EP.





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The Late Pioneers - The Late Pioneers

The Late Pioneers have been around long enough to have released multiple EPs, albums and singles, but they are a new discovery for us at WYMA. And while it may be embarrassing (for us) to be late to the party, their music is too good to not jump in and tell our readers about it. Fortunately, the Subjangle label has made our task easier by collection 20 of the band's tracks and presenting them in a self-titled compilation. The result should delight new fans as well as old fans that appreciate having the songs in a single edition.

The band boasts a large sweet spot spanning jangle pop, powerpop, '60s guitar pop, and early '70s California country rock. Sometimes we thought we were listening to Teenage Fanclub, and other times Buffalo Springfield or one of our other favorites. But at all times we were entertained. Although the members of The Late Pioneers have other musical projects, they mesh together seamlessly and offer tightly constructed and sincere music that hits our pleasure spots in just the right way. One run through this album and all the songs sounded like old friends that we have turned to for years.

The Late Pioneers are Nathan McGahern, Peter McNicholl, Craig Sumner, and Nick Worrall. The album is out now in digital and CD formats.









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Pia Fraus - Empty Parks

If we wanted to illustrate dreamgaze, which obviously is the intersection of dreampop and shoegaze, we probably couldn't find a better example than Empty Parks, the new album by Estonian band Pia Fraus. This is music packed with blissed out vibes and positive energy, briskly paced superbly performed by musicians that have played together for over two decades. Soft harmonies, guitars and synths mesh together to create soundscapes that both sooth and inspire. Grab this album and play it loud while driving through the country. You won't be disappointed.

Pia Fraus are Eve Komp (vocals/synths), Kart Ojavee (synths), Rein Fuks (guitar/vocals/synths/tambourine/shaker/songwriting), Reijo Tagapere (bass), Joosep Volk (drums/percussion), and Kristel Eplik (backing vocals). Empty Parks is out now in digital, vinyl and CD formats via the band's own label, Seksound, and Vinyl Junkie in Japan.








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