We think and day is a good day for some up tempo guitar pop. Today's first dose is the sparkling "Share The Right Line" by New York quartet Van Chamberlain. Tasty hooks, yearning vocals and a welcome summery sheen make this a highlight track. And we also were thrilled to learn that the band is planning a September release of their second album, As Far As The Eye Can See.
Well, that's us blown away. It is the fault of Maxwell Farrington & Le SuperHomard (aka Christophe Vaillant) via their new single "Lorene". A cinematic dream pop gem, the song recalls classic French pop. Farrington's evocatively melancholy vocals are balanced by lush orchestration and the backing vocals of Lily Buchanan. After hearing "Lorene" we discovered that it was the third single from the duo's upcoming LP, titled Window Tax. The album is out April 24 via Talitres, and we look forward to discussing it here at that time.
Prism Shores are Jack MacKenzie (guitars/bass/vocals/synths), Ben Gross (bass/guitars/vocals/synths), Luke Pound (drums/percussion/drum programming/guitars/vocals), and Finn Dalbeth (guitars/vocals). Out From Underneath is out now via Meritorio Records.
One of our highly anticipated upcoming releases is Spring Board: The Early Unrecorded Songs. The album collects 20 early-career, previously unreleased songs by brilliant songwriter Martin Phillipps of The Chills. Martin wanted the songs out in the world and had been working on this album when he unexpectedly died in 2024. With the collaboration of band members, family and friends his vision will be realized on February 28 via Fire Records. Album tracks "Dolphins" and "If This World Is Made For Me".
Various relevant links for album
Taking an aural trip through Knife Is But A Dream is like one of those pleasant afternoon naps where you shift between semi-awake daydreams, actual dream-filled sleep, and that fuzzy, gauzy space in between -- pleasing and rewarding, but ephemeral and just beyond your grasp. And interspersed with those moments are hushed lullabies, all brought to you by San Francisco musician Tony Jay. Mixing his gorgeous guitar tones and intimate vocals with ambient soundscapes, he delivers 15 tracks of inner space brilliance, simultaneously warm and mysterious. It must be said that he can't take all the credit, as his cat is said to have provided some guitar muting, keyboard playing and background vocalizations (we will have our paralegal check to see if "Penny" is credited on the copyright paperwork).
Tony Jay is Michael Ramos, who also participates in other Bay Area projects, including Cindy and Flowertown. Knife Is But A Dream is out now via Paisley Shirt Records, Slumberland Records, and in Japan by Galaxy Train.
Some of our most rewarding listening in the past five years or so has originated in the San Francisco Bay Area's lo-fi/DIY scene. The participants are talented, adventuresome, supportive of each other, and prolific. Among our favorites is Mike Ramos, whose projects include Tony Jay and Flowertown (he also contributed to Sad Eyed Beatnik's Ten Brocades LP that we featured a couple of days ago). Last week Tony Jay announced an new album title Knife Is But A Dream. which will be released in advance of Mike's upcoming Japan tour. Two of the album tracks, "Ancient Slice" and "The Darkest Corner" can be streamed now. The former is a noisy, ambient one-and-a-half minute transmission from inner space. The latter is a lovely slice of dream pop more closely related to Mike's recent work.
Knife Is But A Dream will be released by Paisley Shirt Records, Slumberland Records, and in Japan by Galaxy Train.
Portland, Oregon's Tears Run Rings are not especially prolific, but good things can take time. Besides, they have other things to do such as founding and running the excellent label Shelflife Records. Our ears are happy, however, because they have found time to record their fourth album Everything In The End. The just released first single -- "Lost Touch" -- demonstrates that the band's mastery of euphoric, layered and dreamy shoegaze remains intact. We think it is a perfect way to elevate your evening mood. Your family will thank you.
Tears Run Rings are Matthew Bice (vocals/guitar), Laura Watling (vocals/bass), Ed Mazzucco (guitar), and Dwayne Palasek (drums). Everything In The End will be released September 6 via Shelflife Records.
Snowdrops and Hot Air Balloons is out now in digital, vinyl and CD formats via Sunday Records.
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Neptune is out now in digital and vinyl formats via Madrid's Meritorio Records. Stephen's Shore are Viktor Sjodin, Johan Dittmer, Mattias Bergqvist, P.A. Blomqvist, and Erik Stackpole Undehn.
We expect that at this point indie pop fans, especially those fans that read this blog, need no introduction to The Reds, Pinks & Purples. But that familiarity does nothing to blunt the excitement about a new recording from the San Francisco project. So we eagerly welcome Unwishing Well -- ten songs of peerless pop craftmanship that looks at the music industry and the life of a musician from the inside looking out and the outside looking in. Those of us who have been following the band's music could be tempted to say that they have created their own sub-genre. Nevertheless, there are shifts from album to album. To our ears, Unwishing Well is both more nostalgic and wearier as compared to its most recent predecessor, and the pace of many of the songs seem to echo that weariness. But the musical and lyrical delights abound and the listener is rewarded as repeated listens reveal nuances that may have escaped notice on the first play; after all, the melodies do tend to demand attention on the first play of any recording by The Reds, Pinks & Purples. We heartily commend it to every indie pop fan.
Unwishing Well is out now via Slumberland Records and Tough Love Records.
Tourist Language is a special one -- an intimate, romantic Leap Year treat from Flowertown. The duo consisting of Michael Ramos (Tony Jay) and Karina Gill (Cindy) creates aural tapestries emphasizing atmosphere, tone, and their remarkably captivating and conversational vocals. This album doesn't rock you with volume or dazzle you with pyrotechnics (although we absolutely love the tones of the guitars that seem to live inside our chests). No, it hits deeper. Like a treasured conversation with your past lover, or maybe your next lover. We wouldn't want to live without this one.
Tourist Language was released on February 29 in vinyl and digital formats by San Francisco label Paisley Shirt Records.
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The swirling, atmospheric, and frankly emotional dreamscape of "Moving" reminds us that the new, self-titled LP by Oakland's Torrey will be here in one week and we are excited to hear it in its entirety. The tracks shared so far suggest that it might be one of our favorites this year.
Torrey are Ryann Gonsalves, Kelly Gonsalves, Sinclair Riley, Adam Honingford, and Susie Chinisci. Torrey will be out March 8 in vinyl, digital and CD formats via Slumberland Records.
Justifiably lauded for deft commentary on such topics as lost love and disappointments set to lovely melodies, Glenn Donaldson's The Reds, Pinks & Purples turns its weary eye towards the music industry itself on upcoming album Unwishing Well. They have Followed up initial single "Your Worst Song Is Your Greatest Hit" with new single "Learning To Love A Band". We really like this song. It has a warmth and love of music as its core theme and, as always, the arrangement tugs at the heart.
For this recording The Reds, Pinks & Purples are Glenn and Kati Mishikian, Lewis Gallardo, Thomas Rubenstein and Daniel Pearce. Unwishing Well will be out April 12 in digital, vinyl and CD formats via Slumberland Records and Tough Love Records.
Slumberland Records page for Unwishing Well
Tough Love Records page for Unwishing Well
Soft Science is Katie Haley (vocals), Ross Levine (guitar/synths/backing vocals), Matt Levine (guitar), Tony Cale (drums/percussion), Becky Cale (bass/backing vocals), and Hans Munz (electronics). Lines is out now via Shelflife Records (US), Spinout Nuggets (UK), and Fastcut Records (Japan).
Well, last week was a tough week and this week will be a slog as well. But we currently are in a good mood after repeated plays of "Say Nothing", the new single by Brighton noise pop duo Dreamcoaster. The song is the title track to the band's next EP, which will be released September 1 via Dreamcoster's own label, Duck Race Recording Co. The guitars, melody and harmonies are right in our sweet spot. But we think pithy descriptions are the best, so our verdict on "Say Nothing" is guitar pop bliss.
Dreamcoaster is Jane and Andrew Craig.
