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"For Me" is the final single from the upcoming Ray and Lorraine's by Australia's fine Pop Filter. Dominated by synths and a dubby rhythm, it is an enchanting two minutes. Quite unlike past tracks by Pop Filter, it suggests that the gang are continuing to push their boundaries.
Ray and Lorraine's will be out October 4 via Osborne Again (Aus/NZ) and Bobo Integral (rest of the cosmos).
Bandcamp for Ray and Lorraine's
We previously have shared a couple of singles from the upcoming Lawrence of Suburbia by Glasgow jangle pop master Laz McCluskey, AKA Bubblegum Lemonade. We now have a double treat: (1) Third single "Love's Young Nightmare", and (2) An EP with that album track packaged with two non-album tracks "Sad Comedian" and "America Calling". The lead track is an upbeat jangle anthem. For the second Laz slows the pace for a lovely, thoughtful tune. The third amps up the pace again and adds the vocals from Sandra, Laz's mate from the Strawberry Whiplash project. Bubblegum Lemonade has always displayed a deft knack for melody and is locked into what made '80-'90s guitar pop special The three-song EP is titled Love's Young Nightmare and is available digitally via Matinee Recordings.
We recalled Los Angeles' Dummy as a punky noise pop band of considerable skill and great appeal, at least to our ears. But their change of direction on new album Free Energy has us amazed and excited. The pop bent isn't gone, but it has been chopped, diced and spliced with plenty of new directions and experimental avenues. The result can vary among shoegaze, dreampop, trip hop (but with big drums) and noise pop. Of course that means that each succeeding track may sound different than its predecessor, but the surprise (and invariable delight) is part of the charm. Listening to Free Energy we felt like we were on a journey with the band traipsing through the rooms of a curious mansion. We can quite honestly write that there is not a single song on this album that we skip. Moreover, our favorite songs also seem to shift on repeated plays. We hope this album gets the wide listening it deserves.
The members of this Los Angeles band are Alex Ewell, Emma Maatman, Nathan O'Dell and Joe Trainor. Free Energy is out now via Trouble In Mind Records.
We are listening to Nothing, and it sounds great! No, we haven't given up music, we are just enthralled with "Wildflowers" by Auckland, New Zealand's Jim Nothing. The guitar fuzz in our ears and the thumping in our chest is an ace reminder of why we love guitar pop. The song is the fifth single from the 13-track Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn which is due October 18 via Meritorio Records (most of the world) and Melted Ice Cream (New Zealand). Jim Nothing is James Sullivan and some talented friends.
Emma Russack is a gifted songwriter and performer. But in our opinion what puts her above many of her contemporaries is her ability to evince curiosity and vitality in her music. And these qualities are at the forefront of her new album About The Girl, whether voicing a slow tempo vamp like "I Know You Feel It Too" or an up tempo pop should-be-a-hit like "About The Girl" and "Everything Is Big". Sophisticated yet accessible -- perhaps this is what it is like if the girl next door becomes a top flight musician but still chats over the back fence and hands you a beer on a hot summer day. She tells you about her day, and then tells you about her year. The words are direct and honest, but with perspective and humor.
We're are sure we'd stay for a second year and another round of stories if invited to do so.
About The Girl is out now via Dinosaur City Records.
We have long been fans of The New Tigers, and more recently we have lamented their absence from the recording studio. But the Finnish fuzz guitar band are back, and have followed the sage advice that if you are going to resurface after an extended hiatus, it is best done in a way that assures attention (somewhat like this blog beginning to post again after a week off). Their new single "Säbä" echoes the familiar TNT with a spot-perfect guitar arrangement. But in an startling move, the vocals feature no members of the band, but rather the voice of Jani Nyberg (Finnish ice hockey player, we believe) speaking in Finnish. We admit that we don't speak the language, but the overall effect is very pleasing to us. It is somewhat similar to Public Service Broadcasting, a UK band of which we are fond.
The single is out now via Helsinki's Soliti Music, and consists of two tracks: "Säbä" with the vocals and an instrumental-only version. Give it a try and broaden your musical experience.
If you like things that are sweet, crunchy and bold tasting, we suggest that you new musical soundtrack should include Mingling With The Thorns by Vancouver, BC's WUT. The sound may remind you of the Shop Assistants, Flatmates or other C86 bands. But the lyrics are this trios own, addictive brand of humor mixed with sharp commentary. It is a breezy, euphoric listen packed with elements we search for in new music. It is the sort of album that you can play over and over without any complaints from others in the household/office, and if you don't believe it, try it yourself.
WUT is Tracey Vath (bass/vocals/guitar), Kaity McWhinney (guitar/vocals), and Lauren Smith (drums/vocals). Mingling With The Thorns is out now in digital and vinyl formats via HHBTM Records.
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Ray and Lorraine's will be out October 4 via Osborne Again (Aus/NZ) and Bobo Integral (rest of the cosmos).
Of the upcoming albums on our schedule one of the best bets to makes us smile and earn repeated replays is The Hollow Husk of Feeling by, coincidentally, Best Bets. It will be the New Zealand band's second album and is due on September 27 via Meritorio Records (Eur/USA/Can) and Melted Ice Cream (NZ/rest of the universe). The second single is the amusingly sinister "Spooky Signals, featuring a festival of wiry and jangling guitars and some abuse of beer cans. Our only criticism is that it appears much beer was spilled in the filming.
Best Bets are Olly Crawford Ellis, James Harding, Matt Phimmavanh, and Joe Sampson. James and Olly are members of Transistors and Joe has been in Salad Boys, T54 and other projects (including the label Melted Ice Cream).
