"Loline" by The Bats

 

Our long time favorites The Bats are back in the frame for 2025, and of course we couldn't be happier for that news. And the New Zealand band isn't coming in quietly. The first single is the just release "Loline", a song that fuzzes, sizzles, rattles our speaker boxes and rocks our world. This is music that isn't just energetic for a group in their fifth decade, this is as vibrant as The Bats have ever been! Check it out below in the cute 'tour de New Zeland ' video below, or the stream.

We have no details on the upcoming album as it is still being recorded. But it seems that it will be released via the venerable Flying Nun Records.

The Bats are, and always have been, Robert Scott, Kaye Woodward, Paul Kean, and Malcolm Grant.

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Bandcamp for "Loline"

Various links for "Loline"

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Cats of Transnistria - IV

 

In the past, Finnish duo Cats of Transnistria have thrilled us with their multi-layered, intense and dramatic shoegaze. But for IV, their recently released new album, Henna Emilia Hietamaki and Tuomas Alatalo have broadened their sonic platform with more varied and complex rhythms and bass guitar. The result is a further increase in intensity and a distinct wash of foreboding. With serious lyrical themes to match the intensity of the music, this probably isn't background music for the kids' breakfast before sending them out to catch the bus. But we have found it to be a great soundtrack for our days. As we recently described the album when recommending it to a friend: This is the rare shoegaze with a genuine personality". And we all like new, interesting friends, don't we?

IV is out now as a digital release and limited vinyl via Helsinki's Soliti Music.

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"Pale Blue Eyes" by Yea-Ming Chen

 

A quiet few days because one of us had surgery. But we can't avoid sharing at least some good music. Please enjoy one of our favorite songs from the past given new life by one of our favorite current artists -- "Pale Blue Eyes" by San Francisco artist Yea-Ming Chen. We have loved every version of this song, but this is one of our top renditions. We like how Yea-Ming's vocal delivery echoes Lou's delivery, but the arrangement drives a mid-tempo VU-like drone.

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Reb Fountain - How Love Bends

 

Perhaps a bold prediction to make in the fourth month of the year, but we think that more than a few tasteful music writers will include How Love Bends on their 'best of 2025' lists. The creation of New Zealand artist Reb Fountain, the album offers richly drawn alt fok/pop songs with a cinematic feel. Emotionally expansive and adventurously illustrated, how Love Bends is deeply satisfying on an intellectual and artistic level.

For this recording Reb is assisted by Dave Khan (guitar/keys), Karin Canzek (bass), and Earl Robertson (drums). How Love Bends is out now in digital form via Fountain Records and Flying Nun Records. Vinyl will  be available in early May.

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Bandcamp for How Love Bends

Various links for How Love Bends

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"Any Other World" by Deradoorian

 

"Any Other World" is a tune that grabs your brain, shakes it, massages it, and leaves you feeling more alive and energetic. That it also has an accessible social message is just icing on the musical cake. It is no surprise that such a stunning single is the work of New York synth pop artist Deradoorian, also of Decisive Pink and , formerly, Dirty Projectors.

If you, like us, like what  Angel Deradoorian is creating, note that her new album Ready for Heaven will be released May 9 via Fire Records.

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Various links to pre-order Ready for Heaven

Little Oso - How Lucky To Be Somebody

 

A few months ago I had never heard of Little Oso, but they are now one of our favorited indie pop bands. Such is the quality of the Portland, Maine's recent album How Lucky To Be Somebody. This is dreampop with tons of pep and swagger with vocals and melodies that will put a smile on your face and a spring in your step. This is solid craftsmanship with a light touch -- perfect for the upcoming Springtime.

How Lucky To Be Somebody is out now via Repeating Cloud and Safe Suburban Home.

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The Chills - Spring Board -The Early Unrecorded Songs

 

If we had to pick a music hill to die on, it would be the placement of Martin Phillipps in the pop/rock Pantheon. In our view, the frontman of The Chills is one of the greatest pop/rock songwriters of the last approximately 45 years. His lyricism was sharp, evocative and literate. His songwriting range broadly embraced a variety of styles. Despite the band's multiple personnel changes and Martin's own personal health and substance abuse challenges, the man created a wonderful body of work that deserves the word "timeless".

One of Martin's pet projects was to finish and record songs that had been written in his early years but never recorded. He took a look at the material with the increased perspective of another 40 years of life, and reworked and recorded them. Unfortunately, Martin died last year before the project was released, but happily Martin's family, band members, friends and Fire Records have brought  the project to completion. Simply titled Spring Board - The Early Unrecorded Songs, the album is a beautiful and appropriate posthumous swan song to Martins career. The album is available in vinyl, CD and digital formats. We think it is a recording to treasure.

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Fire Records page for Spring Board

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Dropkick - Primary Colours

 

We have listened to Primary Colours several times and a question lingers in our minds: If you are a guitar pop fan, why can't Dropkick be your favorite guitar pop band? The Scottish outfit has great melodies, vocals that tug on your heartstrings, and guitars and rhythms that pound in your chest. And then there is the range -- the ten tracks include crunchy powerpop songs that could nestle comfortably on a Teenage Fanclub greatest hits compilation and wiry country-washed rockers that call to mind the late Tom Petty. Add in a couple of slow burners and the answer to the question is obvious, Dropkick should be considered among your favorite bands. Take our four song challenge, if you can walk away from the album after the first four songs, it isn't for you. But we didn't even need four songs to consider it one of the year's highlights to date.

Dropkick are Andrew Taylor, Alan Shields, and Ian Grier. Primary Colours is out now via Bobo Integral Records.

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"Bubblegum Nothingness" and "Captain Palisade" by Jetstream Pony

 

Supergroup is a term that music PR firms deploy a bit too loosely in our opinion. But when applied to Bighton's Jetstream Pony, whose members' resumes include The Luxembourg Signal, Trembling Blue Stars, Aberdeen, The Wedding Present, The Popguns, The Fireworks, The Dentists, and The Treasures of Mexico, we have no complaints. Not only have those projects gifted us with excellent music, but the past recordings from Jetstream Pony earn them the right to be considered a proper successor in quality. We are happy to report that the band will release a new album this Spring titled Bowerbirds and Blue Things. We know it will be good. How do we know? Because two of the songs are available and they are sharp, energetic, and bursting with melodic goodness. Check out "Bubblegum Nothingness" and "Captain Palisade" below.

Jetstream Pony are Beth Arzy, Shaun Charman, Kerry Boettcher, Tom Levesley, and Mark Matthews. Bowerbirds and Blue Things will be release on March 28 via Shelflife Records (US) and Spinout Nuggets (UK).

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The Gentle Spring - Looking Back at the World

 

The weather here for the past few weeks has us dreaming of the joys of a gentle spring. We know it won't happen any time soon, but we've discovered the next best thing: The music of The Gentle Spring. The Paris-based trio featuring Michael Hiscock of Sarah Records darlings Field Mice recently released Looking Back at the World, a lovely instant classic of achingly perfect bittersweet indie pop. We are mature enough (finally, and just barely) to appreciate the nuanced lyricism and deft phrasing, but our perennially adolescent hearts dwell shamelessly on the emotional highs and lows. Quiet, but vibrant, it is near flawless and will keep our spirits high until our own spring arrives.

The Gentle Spring are Michael Hiscock, Emilie Guillaumot, and Jeremie Orsel. Looking Back at the World is out now via Skepwax.

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