The Reds, Pinks & Purples - Dust In The Path Of Love

Around the holidays it is common to hear "it is more satisfying to give than to receive". And while that generally is true in our experience, an unexpected gift is always a welcome pleasure. And today our day is made brighter by Glenn Donaldson, the mastermind of The Reds, Pinks & Purples. Today the man who has been filling our ears and hearts with wonderful sounds the last few year dropped Dust In The Path Of Love -- a free 5-track digital EP. Perfect for any time or place, but the timing and vibe is excellent as a soundtrack for our present wrapping duties tonight.

Enjoy!

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Principia" by En Attendant Ana

 

Smarter indie pop fans than the brain trust here at WYMA may be long-time fans of Paris four-piece En Attendant Ana. We just learned of them this week. But we aren't too proud to jump on the bandwagon now. Our introduction is "Principia", the lead track, first single and title track of the band's upcoming album. We understand that En Attendant Ana is known for their jangle, but this track is infused with dynamics and layers that go beyond jangle pop. It is an intriguing glimpse at the band's talent and we eagerly await the full length from our new friends.

En Attendant Ana are Margaux Bouchaudon, Camille Frechou, Maxence Tomasso, and Adrien Pollin. Principia will be out February 24, 2023 via Trouble In Mind Records.

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"Grassharp" by Julian Never

 

A bit over three weeks until the release of Pious Fiction, the debut album by California's Julian Never, we have "Grassharp", the second single. With roots in New Zealand guitar pop and a wash of darkly shaded post punk, it is a compelling track that further elevates our excitement for the release of the album.

Julian Never is the project of Julian Elorduy, who formerly was the drummer for MAYYORS. Our post about the first single is here. The album will be available on January 13 via excellent Sacramento label Mt.St.Mtn, and will be distributed by Revolver USA and Cargo UK.

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Pre-order page for Pious Fiction

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"Mountain Pony 20" by Spice World

On our somewhat humble opinion, the perfect close to the weekend is "Mountain Pony 20 by Spice World. Relaxed and DIY, it has a bit of jangle and a lot of strum, and offers the Sunday evening intimate vibe that we craved. The song is the fourth single taken form There Is No I In Spice World by Freemantle, Australia's Spice World.

The album will be out on January 20 via Tenth Court and Meritorio. US orders will ship from Portland and European orders will ship from Spain.

Bandcamp for album pre-orders

The Catburgers - Dreamworld Sessions

 

We can't claim to have been lucky enough to have seen The Catburgers perform in Edinburgh back in the '80s, but probably not many can. More would have heard them if the songs that they recorded for Dan (Television Personalities) Treacy's Dreamword label had ever worked their way to the top of the "print" list, but that didn't happen either. Fortunately the good folks at Copenhagen's FELT label grabbed those recordings and had them remastered. The result is the three-song Dreamworld Sessions. The 7" is available in vinyl or digital at the links below. You might be interested if you are into collecting Scottish music, or it you are a jangle pop fan, or you are a C86 era obsessive, or if you thrill to collecting rare music. But our reason is simple -- these are damn fine tunes that we would want whenever and wherever recorded by anybody. So there!

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Bandcamp for Dreamworld Sessions (digital)

Rubadub page for Dreamworld Sessions (vinyl)

FELT bandcamp page

Galore - Blush EP

 

Well, well, well, this EP is precious. And we mean "precious" in the most complimentary way. It is sweet, melodic, hooky jangle pop of the kind that we often spend hours scouring the web to find. And here is Blush, in our inbox and created a few hours down the west coast in San Francisco by Galore. It isn't the band's first record (the released a self-titled LP on Sonny Smith's label a couple of year ago) but it the first of their records that have come to our attention, which is our loss. The five songs display solid pop smarts and an undertone of punk attitude without the insecurity that leads to snarls and shouts. They wouldn't sound out of place on K Records or one of several UK labels in the '00s, but as it is they have found a perfect home with hometown label Paisley Shirt Records. And may we bold to say that these tunes go well with the upcoming holidays?

Galore is Ava Rosen (bass, Britta Leijonflycht (guitar), Griffin Jones (guitar), and Hanna Smith (drums). Blush EP is out now in cassette and digital formats via Paisley Shirt Records in the US and Safe Suburban Home in the UK. Note that tapes are sold out in the US, although you still can get one shipped from the UK.

Bandcamp for album

"Dead Meat" and "Sniveller" by Tubs

 

A band name like Tubs does invite some humorous references, but since we a pretending to be serious journalists, and because our partners frequently remind us that we have a ridiculously inflated opinion of our own humor, we will refrain (but some partners are getting a lump of coal for Christmas -- oh hell, make that a TUB of coal for Christmas).

OK, who are Tubs? They are a London-based band with DNA reaching back to Welsh band Joanna Gruesome via Owen 'O' Williams and George 'GN' Nicholls. Their album Dead Meat is due in late January on the Trouble In Mind label, but we have the first two singles for you now. Of course, two singles are a slim basis to judge an album, but if we were forced to predict the future we would put Dead Meat down on our just started list of favorite albums of 2023. Yup, this is stuff we love.

  

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Long Odds - Fine Thread

 

Fine Thread is not a new release, although it was released in the first half of this year. But we won't let the fact that we belatedly discovered it to keep it off this blog. It is a fine album of lo fi guitar pop that we would have featured if we had heard it last spring, so we bring it to you now with apologies to our readers and, especially, to Long Odds. Your ears may detect some Sebadoh or GBV, although only hints of main man Adam Elliott's fine former band New Times Viking. It is lo fi and recorded in mono, but the songs are pop earworms well-worth your time and cash. And speaking of cash, this is a 'name your price album' so you can give some holiday cheer to Long Odds and still feel good at beating inflation.

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Katie Lass - Hypnopomp

 

Hypnopomp is a multi-layered treasure box that might just be the best tapestry of sounds that you have heard in a long time. It is sufficiently different that it presents a challenge to describe, but we will try -- creator Katie Lass has earned that. The songs on this album are colorful and detailed bedroom pop that fall more on the atmospheric/ambient side as opposed to the more traditional pop song. But the melodies are sweet and the sounds are like quickly blossoming flowers in a multiple or colors. Perhaps an apt analogy is that it is a musical version of a kaleidoscope. You probably won't miss you friend's 'new favorite jam' if you don't listen to this album, but you would miss a delightful and rewarding listening experience.

Hypnopomp is out now in vinyl and digital formats via HHBTM Records and Remove Records.

HHBTM Records · Katie Lass - Shadow On The Shoreline

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Bandcamp for Hypnopomp

Various links

"Jag ser bara fel" by E. Bjorklund

 

Four to five years ago we covered several releases by a Swedish band known as Delsbo Beach Club. The group was headed by Erik Bjorklund, who also fronted Blodmyren. We had no news of Mr. Bjorklund in the intervening years, but we now have learned that his new project is E. Bjorklund. Our introduction comes via the very catchy and "Jag ser bara fel" (which we are advised translates to "I only sell flaws/faults"). The song is about being overwhelmed, but Erik's arrangement gives it an appealing swagger.

The single is out now via Rama Lama Records. A debut album is expected in the spring.

Rama Lama Records · E. Björklund - Jag ser bara fel

Bandcamp for single

Various links for single

Label page for artist

"High School" and "Silver One" by Julian Never

 

Although we haven't even completed our Christmas shopping, our priorities are in order: We have already begun our shopping lists for music to be released in 2023. And one of the first on that list is Pious Fiction. The album is by Julian Never and will be available on January 13 via excellent Sacramento label Mt.St.Mtn. Julian Never is the project of Julian Elorduy, who formerly was the drummer for MAYYORS. He released well regarded 7" previously, the two tracks of which are also on the upcoming album. Check our the jangling goodness on "High School" and "Silver One".

We give you permission to copy our work -- put Pious Fiction on your list too.

Mt.St.Mtn. · 2. High School

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Pre-order page for Pious Fiction

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The Reds, Pinks & Purples - Mountain Lake Park

 

We would never tell you that the only music you need is by The Reds, Pinks & Purples. But we will tell you, and often have told you in the past, that you need his music. His offerings have expanded yet again with the recent release of Mountain Lake Park. The album, which is comprised of eleven instrumental tracks, was originally an limited release, vinyl only add on to the Summer At Land's End LP. However, Glenn has made it available now as a digital download. Give the relaxing set of music a listen and, if you are so-inclined, get it at the Bandcamp link.

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"This Is Gonna Change Your Mind" by Martin Frawley

 If your wish list for 2023 is like ours, it has an entry about new music from former Twerps maestro Martin Frawley. We are here to tell you that you can put a check mark next to that entry, because The Wannabe, Martin's sophomore release under his own name, will drop on June 23 via Trouble In Mind Records (North America/UK/EU) and Spunk Records (Aus/NZ). And for those of you not sure, well, "This Is Gonna Change Your Mind". Yes, that is the name of the debut single, and it is an irresistible calling card.

TroubleInMind · Martin Frawley - This Is Gonna Change Your Mind (Trouble In Mind Records)

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Bandcamp for The Wannabe

Skytone - Adrift

 

Skytone is a duo consisting of siblings Rodney and Darius Doddridge. When we first encountered their music they were best described as a jangle pop band. However, for new album Adrift the brothers have created a very appealing tapestry of crystalline synth pop. So the sound is more Stockholm/Malmo than Dunedin/Glasgow. But the hooks are good, the choruses soar, and the arrangements paint in warm, bright colors. This album is so good that you will want to play it right now and think of warmer times. But don't forget to break it out again next summer for a worthy encore.

Adrift is out now via Ottawa label The Beautiful Music.

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Bandcamp for Adrift