Subsonic Eye are Nur Wahidah, Daniel Castro Borces, Jared Lim, Sam Venditti, and Lucas Tee. All Around You is out now via Topshelf Records.
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Subsonic Eye - All Around You
The Umbrellas - Fairweather Friend
Fairweather Friend is out now via Slumberland Records and Tough Love Records.
Bandcamp for Fairweather Friend
Thursday, January 25, 2024
The Maureens - Everyone Smiles
Is everyone smiling out in the Blogsphere? We don't know the answer to that question, but all jangle pop fans should be smiling when they hear Everyone Smiles by Dutch band The Maureens. This is the sort of hooky, melodic, mid-tempo powerpop that the Posies and Teenage Fanclub adroitly used to capture our hearts decades ago and, to no one's surprise, we find that there is plenty of room in our hearts for the version performed by The Maureens. It also is no surprise that the rights to release Everyone Smiles were snapped up by Madrid's Meritorio Records. The label is fast becoming known for impeccable taste in the guitar top space and this band fits perfectly in their roster along with Scots/Spanish band Dropkick. And while the melodies and jangle may attract your ears, we think it is likely that you will find the harmonies to be a star in the show.
This one is pure musical pleasure.
Thursday, January 18, 2024
"Chemical Animal" by The Jesus And Mary Chain
Glasgow Eyes will be out February or March of 2024 via Fuzz Club.
Various links to pre-order Glasgow Eyes
"Vibrations Now" by Fantastic Purple Spots
Austin Town Hall is one of the best indie music sites on the internet, specializing in short form but incisive blurbs about recently released music. If you want to know what good stuff came out on any day (or maybe the day before) ATH is your source.
But ATH also has a little record label that releases the kind of stuff that they feature on their site. And today they have announce an upcoming EP from Austin psychedelic/garage duo Fantastic Purple Spots. The band consist of Barrett Jones and Dave Junker, and not only do they have a perfect name for a psychedelic band, but their music is ace. Check out the title track below and note that the Vibrations Now EP will be released January 26 via Austin Town Hall Records.
Various Artists - Under the Bridge 2
The good folk at UK label Skep Wax have a promising young label (as well as being members of the smashing band Swansea Sound). They also are alums of the Sarah Records/c86 era bands such as Heavenly, The Pooh Sticks and Talulah Gosh, which leads us into today's post. Calling for contributions from their fellow indie pop veterans of Sarah/c86 days, Skep Wax issued a terrific compilation titled Under The Bridge in 2022 (our feature here: link). However, while that release was stuffed with treasures, not all of the worthy submissions could be included. So the label has decided to issue Under the Bridge 2. Consisting of 20 tracks from beloved bands such as Boyracer, the Orchids, Action Painting and St Christopher, it will be released in digital, CD and vinyl formats on April 6. The astute fan will note that some of the band names reflect current acts not in existence in the Sarah/c86 era. Do not be alarmed as those name simply reflect the current artistic homes of the original artists. This album should be a wonderful buffet treat for indie pop fans.
The first two tracks are available to stream now. The first is "Dodge the Rain" by The Gentle Spring, a song that echoes the material of the main man's former band, The Field Mice. The second is the more rambunctious "Just Who Are The Cockleshell Heroes?" by Action Painting!.
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
"Chain of Days" by Topographies
Dark, icy shoegaze is just what the musical doctor prescribed for this midweek evening, and it comes via "Chain of Days" by San Francisco's Topographies. It is the second single from the band's upcoming second album, Interior Spring, and it certainly raises both our interest and expectations for the release.
Topographies are Justin Oronos, Jeremie Ruest, and Gray Tolhurst. The album will be out February 2 via Dark Entries Records.
"My Circle Line" by Hanemoon
Hanemoon is the project of Berlin artist Hans Forster. Rain or Shine will be released on February 2 via Jigsaw Records.
Thursday, January 11, 2024
"No Matter How" by Torrey
Early in another year and we already have a stellar album from San Francisco on the near horizon. It is the self-titled LP from Torrey. Listen below to the artful fusion of indie pop and shoegaze on the album's first single, "No Matter How".
Torrey is due March 8 via Slumberland Records.
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
"Gone" by The Umbrellas
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In some parts of the United States people are thinking about snow shovels, and in other parts people are thinking about umbrellas. Where we live, we are thinking about snow shovels and umbrellas. And that's because it may snow a lot here over the next few days and we have a new song from San Francisco's The Umbrellas. "Gone" begins with echoes of early R.E.M., but with bigger drums. However, the Athens stars didn't have the trading male/female vocals that add depth and interest to songs from this band. We have been advised to expect a bigger and bolder soundscape from The Umbrellas on their upcoming LP Fairweather Friend. And the singles so far indicated that the promise has substance.
Fairweather Friend will be out January 26 via Slumberland Records and Tough Love Records.
Monday, January 8, 2024
"Caroline (I Found Love)" by Red Sleeping Beauty
We suppose that artists search for their own personal way to find inspiration and motivation (we need to "suppose" because there seems to be a -- at least temporary -- gap between true artistic talent and our "talents"). Our beloved Swedish band Red Sleeping Beauty has decided to release a song every month in 2024 to prime their creative side. But buying the song isn't just going to get you a single, it is a purchase of an album in progress. And every ensuing month will bring another track. At the end of the year the purchaser will have a 12-track Red Sleeping Beauty album!
Well, it is January of 2024 and we have single number one: "Caroline (I Found Love)". It is classic Red Sleeping Beauty with big pop hooks and bigger vintage synth arrangements, and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Bandcamp for "Caroline (I Found Love)"
Sunday, January 7, 2024
"Hollowed Out" and "Train Full of Gasoline" by Ducks Ltd.
Ducks Ltd. consists of Tom McGreevy and Evan Lewis. Harm's Way will be out February 9 via Carpark Records and Royal Mountain Records.
Saturday, January 6, 2024
Tony Jay - Better Before Vol. 1
Here at WYMA World Headquarters we believe that there is no such thing as too much Tony Jay, an opinion that was reinforced by the release of their Perfect Worlds LP (our feature here) a few months ago. We recently learned that Better Before Vol. 1, a compilation of earlier songs by Tony Jay and other bands in which Michael Ramos has performed, is now available via Slumberland Records as a digital download. It previously had only been available as a limited run cassette to accompany Perfect Worlds. For fans of Tony Jay, this release is an excellent addition to your collection. We can only hope that the "Vol. 1" designation signals that one or more following releases is in the works.
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Field School - A Familiar Fate EP
We have been gone for a while. You know the drill: Holidays; winter illnesses; family gatherings; and ski trips (or rather trips looking for patches of snow). So as is our usual practice we want to bring you something special. And special today comes in the form of the A Familiar Fate EP by Olympia, Washington's Field School.
Field School is the project of Charles Bert, alum of the much loved jangling twee pop band Math and Physics Club. On the five tracks of this EP Charles nimbly assesses aspects of past segments of life and the relationships that give them meaning. Appropriately, that results in painting in colors both bright and muted. But even when bittersweet, the melodies are vibrant and upbeat while the jangle and strum are just what we expect and want. Every song is top class, but if we had to tag one as unmissable it would be track 2, "I Think You Are Amazing, Grace". Emotional and revealing but never maudlin, this EP is a treasure.
On A Familiar Fate Charles was assisted by Jimmy Ulvenes, Chris Hanzsek, Eric Fleming, Jules Bert-Worrell, and Ethan Jones.
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