Pre-Order links for Scatterbrain
"Hideaway" is out as a digital single via Helsinki's Soliti Music. The song also will be released on a 7" by US label Cloudberry, paired with the previous Verandan digital release "Pink Clouds" (our feature here). Verandan are Ville Hopponen, Kaarlo Stauffer, Sampo Seppanen, Aleksi Peltonen, and Aki Pohjankyro. Saxophone was contributed by Jussi Hurskainen.
Many of us who write about indie music raved about You Might Be Happy Someday, the mini album released in 2020 by The Reds, Pinks & Purples (our feature here). Of course, the quality is no surprise when you learn that The Reds, Pinks & Purples is the current recording guise of Glenn Donaldson of Skygreen Leopards and Art Museums. Happily, even though we have just digested (but not forgotten) the 2020 release, we are advised that the project's third album, Uncommon Weather, will be out on April 9. So much goodness in a short time may be more than any of us deserve, but we will accept it gratefully.
And with the announcement is the release of the first single, "Don't Ever Pray In The Church On My Street". A rousing slice of indie perfection, it both makes our day and saddens us that the full release is two and a half months away.
Uncommon Weather will be released via Slumberland Records (US) and Tough Love Records (UK).
Slumberland Records page for album
Stephen's Shore are Viktor Sjodin, Erik J. Undehn, Jimmy Ottosson, P.A. Blomqvist, and Mattias Berqvist. "Skogen" and "Brisbane Radio" are available digitally via Meritorio Records. The EP is out now in digital and limited edition vinyl formats via Meritorio Records.
We wanted to start our music week with something we think is very special, so here are the first two singles by Swansea Sound. "I Sold My Soul On EBAY" is fresh and new, and the two track "Corporate Indie Band"/"Angry Girl" was release last October. This is indie music at its finest: Exuberant with a dose of acerbic and self-referential humor and a good dose of punk. The quality is no surprise, as Swansea Sound brings together Hue Williams and Amelia Fletcher who were members of the Pooh Sticks with Rob Pursey and Ian Button. Hue and Amelia handle the vocals, Rob plays the guitar and Ian drums. Rob and Amelia also perform as Catenary Wires and formerly were members of Talulah Gosh, Heavenly, and Tender Trap.
The singles are available as digital releases. A single copy of "I Sold My Soul On EBAY" also was pressed in vinyl and auctioned off. The auction is over. You didn't win. But get the singles now, and you still will be considered a winner!
By the way, "I Sold My Soul On EBAY" is release via new label Skep Wax, which soon will release a third Swansea Sound single "Indies Of The World" in partnership with HHBTM, Formosa Punk, and Lavender Sweep.
Bandcamp for "I Sold My Soul On EBAy"
Bandcamp for "Corporate Indie Band"/"Angry Girl"
The Last Exit is out now as a digital release via Wrecking Light Records.
At George's Zoo will be out March 12 via Empty Cellar (US) and Melodic Records (UK).
The return of Helsinki's Black Twig after a half decade of silence is a cause to rejoice at WYMA World Headquarters. The return is marked by new single "Devils Please Be Gone", to be followed by a new LP. As always with this four-piece, the guitars are magnificent in this worthy beginning to a new chapter for the band.
Black Twig are Aki Pohjankyrö, Rasmus Rantanen, Kaarlo Stauffer, Janne Vainikainen. The album is titled Was Not Looking For Magic, and it will be released February 26 via Soliti Records.
If one were to choose a specialty in music archaeology, one could do worse that focusing on the Athens scene that spawned R.E.M., The B-52s, Love Tractor, Pylon and many others. Thanks to HHBTM Records another artifact has come to the surface with the upcoming release of The Complete Reissue, collecting the work of Oh-OK. Helmed by the duo of Linda Hopper and Lynda Stipe, the band was together for only a short time in the early '80s but they made some terrific music. The album is coming in early February, but you can stream one of the tracks below.
Jo Yonderly has said that he isn't generally a fan of blogs, but we need to do our job so we are bringing you his new release "Dead Inside The Inside". Is seems to us to be a garage rock/art rock/psychedelic composition that addresses mental illness. We think it evidences a good bit of talent, and we recommend it.
Apparently Yonderly has found a home with Stockholm's Rama Lama Records, which has announced that we can look forward to a full album of Yonderly's experimental indie rock in the future.
Bandcamp for "Dead Inside The Inside"
Rama Lama Records page for Jo Yonderly
Zoe will be released on February 26 via Trouble In Mind Records.
January 15 is Scott's birthday, and what better way to celebrate than with a new single from the upcoming LP Bystander by Melbourne's Cool Sounds? "Crimson Mask" continues the band's string of '70s soft rock vibes, layered arrangements and terrific guitars. This one isn't quite as laid back as some of the band's songs, but it still has a chill vibe, a few curve balls and hooks galore. But really, it is not surprise -- everything Cool Sounds created is top shelf.
Bystander will be released February 12 (Abraham Lincoln's birthday) via Osborne Again Music and Spunk Records in Australia and New Zealand, and Nice Guy Records in the rest of the whole wide world. Cool Sounds are Dainis Lacey, Nick Kearton, Ambrin Hasnain, Steve Foulkes, Jack Nichols, and Pierce Morton.
Bandcamp link to pre-order Bystander
We think that one of the better indie albums to be released this month is The Last Exit by London-based duo Still Corners. You will have to wait until January 22 for the album, but you can take it for a trial run with the desert noir gem "White Sands". We have become ardent fans -- the songcraft is impeccable and Tessa Murray's vocals are swoon-worthy.
The Last Exit is Still Corner's fifth LP, and will be released via Wrecking Light Records
Pre-Order links for The Last Exit
Here is a really, really good way to end the day: Sarah Mary Chadwick, her piano, and her new single "Full Mood". Romantic and restful, we needed four replays before we were ready to leave it and hed to bed. The ten-miler in the morning may start a bit late.
Chadwick, a native of New Zealand, is living and recording in Melbourne. Her work trends toward the intimate, with direct lyrics and a penchant for exploring sadness, effects of trauma and other emotional states. "Full Mood" is taken from her new album, Me And Ennui Are Friends, Baby, which will be released February 5 via Rice Is Nice Records and Ba Da Bing.
Looking for a new talent to follow? Meet Jess Locke, indie rock singer-songwriter from Melbourne. She will release new album Don't Ask Me Why on March 26 via Dot Dash Recordings/Remote Control Records. You can sample her music below with the new single from the album, "Dead and Gone". Melancholy with a touch of blues, it showcases Jess' vocal style and her songwriting talents.
Our midweek treat is brightly-colored cosmic pop via "Heartflow" and "The Revolution of Super Visions", the two singles thus far released from Jane Weaver's upcoming album. Titled Flock, the album will be available March 5 via Fire Records. "The Revolution of Super Visions" was released last fall, and features some funk to go with the pop grooves. "Heartflow" is brand spanking new and shines like a freshly created star -- but a star you can dance to.
If indie pop fans were allowed to create bands from among their favorite songwriters and performers, we would't be surprised if one delectable combination would consist of Jeremy Earl of Woods and & Glenn Donaldson of Skygreen Leopards and The Reds, Pinks and Purples. We are happy to report that you can cross that one off the "wish list" and move it to the "completed" column. On March 5 Woodsist will release Heaven and Holy, a full album from the duo's Painted Shrines project. The first single is "Gone", and you can stream it below. Fans will not be disappointed.
We have a very happy start to the week with "Directions" -- the second single to be released from Dannika's upcoming LP Gems. Winsome and infectious, if it were a stray dog you encountered out walking you couldn't resist taking it home. It is not, in fact, a stray dog. But it is a perfectly formed pop tune, and you can take it home with you.
Melbourne's Dannika is the project of musician, songwriter and filmmaker Dannika Horvat and three friends, they produce indie pop that seems to have a gloss of something special. Take a test drive with the single, and set a calendar alert for January 29, when Gems will be released via Spunk Records and Osborne Again Music. The other members of Dannika are Liam Parsons, Stefan Blair, and Paul Ceraso.
With all of the turmoil in the United States we find ourselves turning to more aggressive music frequently. Consider it a bit of stress deflection. One of the best noisy albums in the first part of 2021 is the third album by Dutch band Rats On Rafts. The album is titled Excerpts From Chapter 3: The Mind Runs A Net Of Rabbit Paths, and you will have to wait until January 29 to gift your ears with the full treat. But you can get the new single "Fragments" (and the two previous singles) right now. We assure you that this album isn't just an exercise in noise. It is smart, focused, and brings psychedelic tones to the band's post punk arsenal. Enjoy "Fragments" below.
Excerpts From Chapter 3: The Mind Runs A Net Of Rabbit Paths will be released via Fire Records.
Various links to stream/buy "Fragments
Peregrine is out now via Das Body Records.
Wurld Series founded by transplanted Brit Luke Towart, and Luke and drummer/producer Brian Feary recorded What's Growing with like minded friends participating as available. The album will be released March 19 via Meritorio Records (Europe/USA), Osborne Again (Australia) and Melted Ice Cream (New Zealand/Rest of the world).
