Toronto's Persian Rugs cover the floor from wall to wall, window to door. Noise pop, jangle pop, dream pop, punk, and a dose of twee. Their album, This Is OK For Now, was released in 2014, but it doesn't seem to have received the coverage it deserves. The tastemakers at Jigsaw records discovered it on the internet, and offered to re-release it. So all eight tracks now are available in digital and CD formats.
The album kicks off with a rush of noise pop via "Bedhead". "I Wanted Something More" delivers bubbling pop with a current of jangle. Standout track "Naked" brings '60s girl group sounds up to current status. The mood becomes sweet for "Cotton Candy", then picks up for an ode an affliction of the young - "Underemployed". The album closes with three dreamy jangle pop gems: "Falling Through The Floor" and "Comic Book Dreams". This is a wonderful little album to brighten you mood. You deserve it, don't you?
I just lifted my head up and looked out my office window. What I see is cold rain, driven by a stiff wind. And despite being on the 33rd floor, I can't see much because of the fog and low-hanging clouds. This requires the infusion of synth pop to maintain an even keel until beer-thirty (which according to the powers that be, will in fact occur at 5 pm today). Specifically, I have turned to the Nightwalking EP from Edinburgh's Eyes of Others. Artfully blending '80s electronica with bubbling synth pop, Eyes of Others is interesting, soothing and infuses me with a cool, calm while watching the torrents of rain. Eyes of Others is the work of composer/producer John Bryden. You can stream all the tracks below, and listen to two previous singles at the Bandcamp link.
Nightwalking is a digital release via Club Fandango/INgrooves, so check your favorite digital source.
We are fans of truth in advertising, so we heartily endorse the name of the new release from Glasgow's The Creeping Ivies. Yes, the title of Your New Favourite Garage Band tells you what the goods are, and you'll be happy about that. The Creeping Ivies are a three-piece band who combine garage and roots rock with attitude and energy. Ian Duncan on drums and Mark McLaughlin on provide a sturdy rhythm that makes this record a must for anyone's party soundtrack while reminding us of The Ramones and Bo Diddley. Becca Murray on vocals and guitar is an absolute force of rock and roll nature, projecting attitude, fierce confidence and passion in one fiery package that will accept no second place in any comparison. The trio manages simultaneously project stylish grit and side street menace, while giving you a wink and a good time. If, I mean when, you get this album you'll play it over and over. You may feel guilty that you are ignoring other albums. But then you'll remember the great sounds of The Creeping Ivies, and listen to this album again because, as you will correctly conclude, this is why we listen to rock and roll.
Long-time fans may have a number of these tracks via previous EP and singles releases, but many are available on CD for the first time with this album, all conveniently assembled by Glasgow label Flowers In The Dustbin as a digital download or CD. See the Bandcamp link below for a full album stream.
True indie pop fans know that art has no geographic boundaries. Jigsaw Records proves it with Of Love & Other Affections, the latest record from Postal Blue. Founded in the late '90s, the Brazilian project has released several EPs and one LP. Most of the material has been classic indie pop, but their first LP included some bossa nova inspired songs and their third EP marked recording in the band's native Portuguese. Originally a four-piece, Postal Blue now lives via Adriano, who continued after the other members left for other projects.
The ten songs on OfLove & Other Affections are indie pop at its best. Sweet vocals with an Edwyn Collins warble, unabashedly jangling guitars, and arrangements that recall classic Scandinavian pop, as well as Postcard Records and Sarah Records bands. At times uplifting, other times melancholy, it consistently draws smiles and sighs. One listen in, I'd added it my my favorite playlist. Choosing a favorite song to showcase the album is like having to publicly declare your favorite child. But the three below serve the cause well.
The album is available from Jigsaw Records as a digital download and a CD. Ordering and full streams at the Bandcamp link below.
If you have followed Scottish pop over the years, you have heard Stuart KiDD, even if you haven't heard any of his work under his own name. He has been a member of several bands, including the venerable BMX Bandits, St Deluxe, Harmony Springs, The Store Keys, and The Wellgreen, and he has played with Jonny, Linden and Pearlfishers, among others. We are fans of his work, and featured some of it three years ago (link).
KiDD's label, The Barne Society, has released a limited edition cassette of songs Stuart has recorded in recent years. The songs were picked by Stuart himself, and provide an excellent and varied listening experience. Among the highlights are the '60s pop of opener "Alfie" (did The Beach Boys mislay this one when mixing Pet Sounds?), the roots/psych of "4 Leaf Clover", the Beatle-esque "Win Or Lose", the shuffling plea to a lover who intends to leave of "Win Or Lose", the pastoral pop of "Turquoise" and "Leave Me Here I'm Sleeping" (which bring to mind Fleet Foxes), the country pop "Ring the Belle", and the dreampop "Rooftop Cityscape". You can stream, and order, the entire album at the Bandcamp link below.
We try to be helpful here at WYMA, so today I'm going to make a gift recommendation for the number one indie pop fan in your life. The identity of that person probably looks back at you when you stand in front of the mirror, so no postage will be required. However, if you have friends who like indie pop, you can give this gift as well. In fact, as psychologists say that the best gifts are those that reflect the tastes of the giver, you probably should give this gift to all of your indie pop-loving friends. The gift is Light Weight, the new album from Melbourne's The Ocean Party.
This record succeeds on so many fronts. Because multiple members of the band write, there is incredible freshness to each song. And perhaps due to an understandable, if unconscious, competitiveness, each song is a self-contained gem. One might expect that an album representing this many voices would provide a disconnected listening experience. But in fact, the album is a coherent aural presentation of introspection set in spacious arrangements. The songs are gorgeous, bathing your ears in delightful melodies and subtle instrumental details. It all goes down so easily that your first impression could be that Light Weight is, well, light weight. But each successive listen will reinforce the perfection of the music, the discipline of the performance and, most of all, the heavy weight lyrical punch. Of course, that means we hear disappointment, regret, insecurity and revealed flaws. But the nuanced wording and honesty of expression make the hearing a joy, rather than a bummer.
Three great tracks are below, but try to find and stream the title track and "Real Life" as well. Hell, stream the whole thing. Better yet, buy it and listen to all of the songs over and over. By the way, there are no geographic excuses to not buying Light Weight. It is released in the United States by Austin Town Hall Records (which is related to the excellent Austin Town Hall music blog), in Australia and New Zealand by Spunk Records, and in the UK and Europe by Caroline Records.
Tennis, anyone? OK, that isn't the most original lead-in, and Liverpool's Hooton Tennis Club most likely has heard it more than a few times. But often you get what you pay for, and I write for free.
Hooton Tennis Club, which is named after an actual tennis club is comprised of Ryan Murphy, Jaes Madden, Callum McFadden, and Harry Chalmers, long time friends whose demos attracted the attention of Heavenly Recordings. Signatures on the dotted line led to recording The Highest Point In Cliff Town -- twelve tracks of swaggering indie rock that sounds like a cross of '90s Britpop and Scott & Charlene's Wedding. Breezy in attitude, loose at the edges, and muscular when it needs to be, it varies among powerpop anthems, woozy jams and party sing-alongs. We found it a very satisfying album, and if you like well constructed and good-natured guitar rock as much as we do, you owe it to yourself to check this album out. I expect it will be on a few year-end lists, and I think it may make mine.
We've featured the music of Dublin's Paddy Hanna recorded under his own name, and with other projects. Today, we are bringing you the two songs on his new "Underprotected" single. Available as of December 4 (at the Bandcamp link below), it reveals Paddy to be a musician of formidable talents. The lead track is a perfect mini-epic to our ears, and then the b-side steals the scene. We are reminded of Edwyn Collins here, and that's no bad thing at all.
For this recording, the players are Paddy Hanna (guitar/vocals/keys), Mark Chester (guitar), Bobby Aherne (bass), and Enda Canavan (drums).
Every being has its nature. Hermit crabs stay out of sight much of the time, and then scuttle into view in all of their cute glory. They thrill for a while -- especially other beings who like to consume them -- and then they are gone until the next fortunate sighting. Such is the case with Glasgow's land-based version, The Hermit Crabs. Melanie Whittle formed the band in 2003. Since then, there have been one LP and several EPs, with various additional temporary crabs supporting Mel. True, not a massive output, but what do you expect from hermit crabs?
Happily, the band has emerged into the sunlight again with In My Flat, which I think is the band's best work yet. Recorded in Idaho with Jeremy Jensen and Jake Hite of The Very Most (with whom Mel collaborates as Baffin Island), it comprises eight songs pop songs featuring Whittle's delicate and pristine voice, appealing melodies, and uncomplicated but interesting instrumentation. And as always is the case with a recording from The Hermit Crabs, Whittle's compositions are a star of the proceedings. Personal, intimate, revealing, feisty and witty, she paints evocative little portraits of life in a manner reminiscent of Scottish indie pop peers Belle & Sebastian and Camera Obscura. This record does what good indie pop should do -- make you sigh, may you smile, and prompt you to tap your foot or even dance around the room. If mixtapes still are a thing you do, a few of these may end up in the hands of your special friends. The Hermits Crabs are back in the sunlight, get yourself some.
In My Flat is available in CD or digital formats via Matinee Recordings.
Closely following their triumphant release of Silver Bullets (our feature here), their first album of new material in nearly two decades, on December 11 The Chills will release another single from the LP. Most would consider it among the best songs on the album, and undeniably one of the catchiest, "When The Poor Can Reach The Moon" is suffused with hope for the less fortunate. Have a listen via the charming video. The single will be available via Fire Records.
Glasgow's The Deadline Shakes have been burnishing their reputation as one of Scotland's most promising young bands single by single for the past few years. Content to patiently work on their sound and sharpen their writing, they now have presented Zealots, their debut album, for fans to decide whether they have delivered on the promise. And as someone who has followed the band from their first releases, my one word summary is "congratulations".
Initially a band whose first impression was hook-filled scrappiness, albeit one with a knack for a well-crafted musical story, The Deadline Shakes as of late 2015 is now a much more complete outfit. The compositions are more ambitious, the sound fuller, the instrumentation more robust and detailed. The various faces the band presents include a familiar jangle, a sharp edge, changes of pace, and a romantic or yearning sigh. Moreover, as these faces often share space in the same tune, the songs unspool as a series of mini epics.Yet the band has retained their ability to present pop tunes that are emotionally accessible and unafraid of vulnerability. There is a good dose of polish in the production, but it never feels too slick or over stuffed. Three of my favorites are available to stream below, but you can listen to the entire album at the Bandcamp link below.
Zealots is out now in digital and CD formats via Flowers In The Dustbin. The Deadline Shakes are Greg Dingwall (vocals/guitar), Iain McKinstry (vocals/guitar), Martin McLeod (bass), Thomas Booth (drums), Michael Muir (violin/banjo), Kiera Pollock (vocals/guitar), and Sam Clark.
London three-piece Flowers is a favorite around WYMA headquarters, so we were thrilled to learn that their next album, Everyone's Dying To Meet You, will be released via Fortuna POP! on February 12. Test out the goods with opening track and first single "Pull My Arm". The purity of Rachel's vocals, teamed with the energetic arrangement and sweet hooks are a winning combination.
Flowers is Sam Ayres, Rachel Kenedy and Jordan Hockley.
Ben Harrison's regular job is as a curator at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh where, among other things, he is responsible for booking musicians to perform at the venue. To do a job like that well, one needs to have good taste, and a good sense of what fits. It appears that Mr. Harrison has those traits. But in addition, Harrison is himself a musician. He played in a band years ago, and has continued to write songs while working and raising two children with his wife. And he now has made the commitment to step up a level, and record and release his songs under the name Stutter Steps.
The self-titled album, in my opinion, is one of the better debut releases this year. Our curator/musician has drawn from his bands like Yo Ya Tengo, Velvet Underground, Luna, The Bats, and Bill Callahan to make an album of evocative melodies and satisfying guitar textures. But Harrison isn't just making a patchwork quilt of worthy influences. He is blending them together to make his own statement via a warm and instantly familiar set of songs. Sometimes sounding recalling New Zealand post-punk, sometimes The Feelies or Galaxie 500, and sometimes a bit of dusty Americana. And then, there are the vocals. Ben has a gravelly but melodic baritone that brings to mind DIY godfather Calvin Johnson. When paired with the female vocals from Cindy Yogmas, the result is magic. You don't have to have been a fan of Beat Happening to celebrate this pairing, but it will make your appreciation that much greater.
In addition to Yogmas, Harrison fleshed out the songs with Jeff Baron (Essex Green/Ladybug Transistor) on guitar. Dean Wareham (Galaxie 500/Luna/Dean and Britta) also contributed guitar for the recording. The recording band included Sean Finn (drums), David Horn (bass), who with Harrison, Yogmas and Phil Jacoby (guitar), form the band for live shows.
Stutter Steps is released via Pittsburgh label Wild Kindness Records.
As teenage Brisbane trio TheGoon Sax inch towards the release of their debut LP, Up To Anything, which will be released in April 2016, they had provided another song from the album. On "Boyfriend" Riley Jones, Louis Forster and James Harrison address young love, teenage crushes and heartache, with self-deprecatory wit and plenty of pop smarts. The single is available from Chapter Music, which also will release the album
And for those hoping that the meaning of "goon sax" would be smutty and outrageous, be advised that the term is slang for the shiny plastic bag inside cask wine. Although I suspect that its mention could still get you slapped in some places with the right inflection.
Over two years ago we featured (link) a little EP from a Scottish band named Cherri Fosphate, suggesting that they were a band to watch for the future. However, since we know what lazy slackers you all are, I expect that most of you haven't really been watching. Well, that's your mistake, because the band has released their debut full length, We Didn't Come Here To Say Goodbye, and it is even better than I would have predicted based on that fine earlier record. With vocals that recall Frightened Rabbit and a bit of Maximo Park and The Futureheads (if the latter two had been from a bit further north and west), guitars that evoke The Strokes in their prime, and pace and energy that recall Dogs Die In Hot Cars, this is a bundle of melody and muscular energy with a heavy Scots accent. The band proves more than adept in a few songs with a more relaxed tempo, but if you are like me it is the up-tempo songs that will keep a smile on your face and We Didn't Come Here To Say Goodbye on your playlist for quite some time.
I count myself as a firm fan of Belfast's Sea Pinks, so I'm pleased to report that their new album, Soft Days, will be available in early 2016. The first release from the album is the melodic and dreamy "Depth of Field". The video and audio streams are below. I think Sea Pinks is one of the finest guitar bands around, and I'm expecting Soft Days to brighten an otherwise dreary and wet January.
Sea Pinks is Neil Brogan, Davey Agnew, and Steven Henry. Soft Days will be released by the Brogan's own CF Records.
While refining my list of notable albums for end of the year awards, I discovered that one of the albums in my likely top 20 list had not been featured. I suspect the reason is that I received my copy while recovering from an accident, but I nevertheless feel that the omission should be corrected, so here it the belated feature for White Men Are Black Men Too, by Young Fathers.
With a wide scope concept of pop music, versatile compositions, tons of ability and an insistence on delivering their art on their own terms Young Fathers are, in my opinion, one of the more exciting bands indie music. Previously, the Edinburgh trio released two EPs (Tape One and Tape Two) and an LP, Dead, which won the Mercury Prize. White Men Are Black Men Too finds the band continuing to tighten their musical expression while testing boundaries, both musical and thematic. The lyrics are clear-eyed and direct. The breadth of possible musical cousins, if not influences, such as TV On The Radio, Arcade Fire, Dirigible Planets, R&B and neo-soul illustrate why Young Fathers confound those who would put them in a genre box and try to explain their music from a single perspective. It seems to me that all one can do is let the music wash over you and tell the world what you hear.
And what you hear are strong pop melodies, aggressive bass and percussion and plenty of frills filling in at the higher register. Each song is like unwrapping a present, unraveling at its own pace and in its own unique way. As a whole, it is a big sound born of big ambition teamed with breathtaking talent. The best pop music is made by having something to say, and then saying it well. Based on this album, Young Fathers are near the head of the class in pop music.
For those unfamiliar with the band, they call themselves Young Fathers because each of them is named after his father. Based in Edinburgh, Graham 'G' Hastings was born in that city, while Alloysious Massaquoi is from Liberia via Ghana, and Kayus Bankole grew up in the United States, but his parents were from Nigerian.
There is a chance you missed it, but the southern rock album of the year was released today. The artist is Tennessee singer-songwriter Joey Kneiser, who has released solo work as well as being a major engine of The Glossary, a country rock band with a tendency towards soul. Joey's new album is The Wildness -- ten songs consisting of pacey southern rock and gentle, slow burners, and released by This Is American Music. Joey's vocals are in fine form, and I caught myself wondering whether this is how Van Morrison would have sounded if he'd been raised in east Tennessee. But the real star is the songwriting. This is classic American rock and roll composition, packed with sharp observations and poignant reflections, and then played with energy, conviction and love. This is what put Springsteen, Petty and The Band high in America's musical consciousness, and The Wildness earns Joey a listen as well. Just start at the beginning with the adrenaline rush of "Run Like Hell", followed by the mid-tempo country rock of the title track (A 'callous on my heart'? Preach it, Joey!). You want more, don't you? You can spin the whole thing at the Bandcamp link, which also makes it easy to buy. You also can find the album on iTunes and Spotify.
The Wildness is an album made by a man who loves rock and roll, for listeners who love rock and roll. What more do you need?
Strawberry Whiplash is one of the projects of the prolific jangle pop royal, Laz McCluskey. In this one, he plays the instruments while Sandra provides the vocals, creating sweet-sounding pop songs that recall The Monkeys, The Cyrcle, British Invasion, early '80s Glasgow guitar pop and Sarah Records. Their second full album, Stuck In The Never Ending Now, finds the band musing about the passage of time over the course of 12 hook-filled songs. The band has an incredible knack for crafting the perfect aural nuggets, with just the right amount of instrumentation and spot on vocal nuances. Each song is distinctive, but they are so similar in quality that I would have been hard pressed to choose which to use as streams for this post. I'm saved this task by having only three songs available to share. And they are great songs. But as good as they are, I think there may be several equal songs on the album. The rambunctious "Halcyon Morning" and the '60s shaded "Fly Me Over The Rooftops" never fail to get a replay hit from me, and the reflective "Ride The Waves to Shore" and "This Is All We Have" invariably produce happy sighs.
Stuck In The Never Ending Now is available this week via Matinee Recordings.
Wreckless Eric (the performance name for Eric Goulden) climbed into the consciousness of many of us indie rock fans as a musician we considered very British. British like Ray Davies, Robyn Hitchcock, Peter Astor and Nick Lowe. Like many "facts", the truth is a bit different. Eric is, in fact, a bit less British in current physical form, as he has lived a number of different places over the years, and if my usually casual research is correct the man now is living in upstate New York. And for those not inclined to research, the latest Wreckless Eric album is titled amERICa, and the cover announces "Made in the USA Using American Parts And Labor". So if you want to 'buy British', I think the man's work still qualifies, but if you want to buy American, I think you can be comfortable.
Now, after that background the relevant questions is whether the album is worth your time and money. Our answer is"yes". The album contains eleven eccentric nuggets of personal stories and societal observations, packaged in Eric's adept songcraft and recorded with a chugging style that oozes both rock and roll spirit and the feeling that the author doesn't quite fit in society's well-defined boxes. And for those of us in America, it is interesting to see our country through another's eyes.
We won't have many words about Optic Nerve, because we don't know very much. They are self-described as an audio-visual project from London/Amsterdam/Edinburgh. There are two members and, at least on "Fade To Fade", the vocals are provided by the female member. That's all we have, except that the referenced song is a lovely tune. Enjoy both the audio and visual below.
The Obleeks are two brothers, Andy and Lee Ketch, plus Nick Harris. The Chicago trio plays power pop and bar rock with energy and verve. A self-titled four song EP was released in March, and it is available for 'name your price' at the Bandcamp link below. The Bandcamp page has links to other releases by the band.
To our ears, The Obleeks have the rock and roll fever, and will happily infect you as well.
The Jackals are an Edinburgh four-piece whose brand of warm, psychedelic indie rock sounds as at home on the American west coast as it does in their home city. Their new album People features soulful vocals, jangling guitars and melodies that range from dusty psychedelia to surf to foot-tapping country rock. Some of the songs, such as "Ghost Soul Traffic", are perfect for racing down the highway with the top down. Some are better for late at night. But the boys don't put a wrong foot forward over the course of this album, and the quality begs for a wide audience. Unfortunately, no major label has stepped up to do assist with that task, so it fall to fans like WYMA. Check out a few tracks below and then hit the links.
The Jackals are Scott Wilson (vocals/guitar), Paddy McMaster (drums/vocals), David Panton (bass/vocals), and Gary Quilietti (guitar). People is available in digital and vinyl formats from the Cartel page and other outlets below. The cassette version is available from Burger Records.
Mt. Doubt is an Edinburgh-based band that plays dark, brooding indie rock. The frontman is Leo Bargery, who writes the songs and them brings them to life with the band. This is perfect music to play late at night when finishing your last drink before bed. There are some similarities with American band Pela (now defunct) and its successor, We Are Augustines: Good writing; and sincere performances. Their recent song "Soak" can be streamed and downloaded below.
You can buy a physical copy of the band's EP My Past Is A Quiet Beasthere. If you are satisfied with digital, a number of their recent songs are available for free download at the Soundcloud link below.
This week's primo good news is that Peter Astor will release a new LP in 2016 via Fortuna POP!. Astor, veteran of The Loft and the Weather Prophets, as well a considerable solo work, has featured on these pages several times this year for his single Mr. Music (link) and his single with Keith Negrus for a project titled The Fairlight Myth (link). The album, named Spilt Milk, will include Mr. Music, as well has "My Right Hand", which can be streamed below. The album was recorded at the home of James Hoare (Veronica Falls, The Proper Ornaments, and Ultimate Painting), with James providing much of the instrumentation. Based on what we have heard so far we think we will love this album.
The Moonlight may never be well-known outside of New Zealand, but if such is the case it won't be my fault. Their recently released self-titled album is superb guitar pop, and I intend to sing their praises to anyone who will listen. Softly sung harmonies riding jangling guitars over a chugging rhythm section, sometimes dissolving into swelling dream pop. Songs with appealing melodic structures and gentle but insistent hooks, then painted in melancholy shades. For fans of jangle pop we could just write "New Zealand" and folks would nod knowingly. But true fans know that there is no template, and while hints of other bands are audible here, the trio of Tim Lewton, Nich Cunningham and John Crocker are mining their personal existential vein in their own vision. And it is well worth your ears. And speaking of worth, a digital download is only ten New Zealand dollars. Test out three tracks below and stream the entire LP at the Bandcamp link -- where you will be prompted to buy. And which you will do ...
Aspiring punk and garage rockers must always remember to KISS. Yes, 'keep it simple, stupid', is the mantra. And if they are looking for the principle in action, they need look no farther than Wimps. The Seattle trio's brand of rock is rapid fire, with downtrodden slacker themes, the right amount of attitude, and no distracting frills. To be perfectly honest, the musicianship is much better than usually is found in this genre, and the keepers of the secret punk rolls may be tempted to kick them out because they really are too good. But to be blunt about it, that is the Wimps' problem (or they might say that is a problem for wimps). As fans, we can just be happy to have a really good punk and garage band on the scene.
Wimps latest effort is the 12-song Suitcase, the band's second full album Channeling the cynicism, boredom, angst and drudgery of life in concise nuggets of self-effacing lyrics and chugging punk and garage rock, it is the band's best work and among the best punk to be released this year. Guitarist Rachel Ratner shout-sings and tosses of angular riffs, while Matt Nyce's bass and Dave Ramm's drums provide energetic drive to the proceedings. The songs are varied, with plenty of pop hooks and a good dose of humor leavening the sharp observations of life in the hipster city. The video version of the opening track and a stream of the title track are below. But because the band, the label, and WYMA are all very nice people, a full album stream is provided as well. It is almost Friday, rock on, crash, and then line up to purchase a suitcase.
Suitcase is out tomorrow, November 13, via Kill Rock Stars. And Seattle fans should note that the band's release show is at the Funhouse Lounge with Stickers, Mombutt, and Boyfriends. The following night they will play at The Know in Portland.
I take no credit for Chorusgirl. But I will take the time to point out that I was on this bandwagon early, as just short of two years ago I featured the band based on a couple of demos (here). Twenty-three months later the London-based outfit has presented us with their self-titled debut LP for evaluation of their progress. After multiple spins, and noting that we are most of the way through 2015, my verdict is that Chorusgirl is a top fifteen album for the year. Consider all the promise we've heard in the best tracks from emerging indie guitar bands in recent years (I won't mention names), and imagine a greatest hits compilation. Wait, no need for such speculation. Just get a copy of this album and let the fuzz pop, new wave, alt-rock and '60s revival tunes with layered harmonies and walls of sound make sweet love to your ears while the rhythm section knocks the air out of your lungs.
There are many reasons why this album feels special, starting with the high quality of the vocals and musicianship. But that should be expected of an album worthy of review. What Chorusgirl brings to the party to put them near the top is tight, fresh songwriting and a palpable joy in performing. The lyrics have weight and, in some cases, an edge, but the music always lifts you up. German-born Silvi Wersing, a musician in other bands, composed most or all of these songs on her laptop, and then recruited a band to bring them to life. The name of the project is a wry nod to her prior roles. And maybe that background goes part of the way to explain the euphoric sound the band produces. Silvi is now doing her own thing. And we're very glad for that.
Chorusgirl is Silvi Wersing (vocals and guitar), Udo Westhoff (bass), Michael Boyle (drums) and Diogo Oliveira (lead guitar). Chorusgirl is out this Friday, November 13, via Fortuna POP!
Another day, another new talent to follow. Cloves is a young singer songwriter from Melbourne, Australia, with an undeniable knack for singing the song you wish you could sing after your heart has been broken. And thank goodness she does it so well because in those situations we are usually too busy sobbing to try and sing a note, so we're happy to delegate. The arrangements are simple: Cloves and a piano or guitar, and some percussion. But what a voice! She's toured in the UK and US, and has a vinyl-only three-song EP titled XIII. Three songs are below - listen and weep, with joy.
Wring The Moisture From The Surf is one of the more interesting releases I've encountered this year. Created by a UK collective called hd hausmann, whose members are helpfully identified as AS, TS, MR, LP, SD, JH, AL, RH, AO, AO, and NJ. LP is the vocalist and lyricist, and apparently the others variously contribute their parts, recorded in isolation in different locations and without hearing the contributions of the others. And perhaps defying expectations, the result is a soaring, uplifting celebration of melody and textures. Acoustic and electronic elements combine, building tension and emotion to grand musical statements that evokes wide spaces, racing clouds and a pounding surf. With little biography, back story or geographic detail, one can only focus on the music. I assure you, that is enough. This is a wonderful LP that will live on your playlist for a long time.
Wring The Moisture From The Surf is out now via Marshall Teller Records.
The vital elements of the self-titled LP from Terrible Truths are rhythmic post punk and a super cool vibe. Long respected in their homeland, their self-titled debut LP for Bedroom Suck Records is their first album, despite five years together. While the band obviously didn't hurry into the album format, focusing on EPs and singles, their decision to release Terrible Truths provides listeners with a readily accessible method of experiencing the band's new songs, as well as some old tunes.
The songs are tightly wound, with guitar lines by Rani Rose that alternate between jagged/angular and soothingly jazzy. Anchoring the songs is the steady groove provided by bassist Stacey Wilson and drummer Joe Alexander. In fact, while the guitar and twin vocals by Rani and Stacey are top class, what repeatedly draws me to the album is the groove. At times it reminds me of a more sophisticated brand of the adventurous '70s work by Lizzy Mercier Descloux. The final result is an album of evocative and varied textures of sound that is deeply satisfying and completely addictive.
The band was formed by Rani Rose and Stacey Wilson in Adelaide, and were joined by Brisbane's Joe Alexander. Terrible Truths is now based in Melbourne.
Terrible Truths is available now on vinyl and CD, and as a digital download, via Bedroom Suck Records.
I must admit that I don't know the background of the decision to name a musical project Car Seat Headrest. Perhaps it was a game to close one's eyes and name the band after whatever one sees first when opening one's eyes. In that case, the name chosen may not have the sparkle of Beautiful Blue Sea or Majestic Waterfall, but is a damn sight better than Unidentifiable Mess On My Lawn or Suspicious Mole On My Friend's Arm. But we won't dwell on it, because we are here about the music, and the music that brings us here today is decidedly feature-worthy.
Car Seat Headrest is young Will Toledo. A prolific musician, the Seattle-based transplanted Virginian has just released Teens of Style, which I expect to be his breakout album, via Matador Records. The songs are a bit scruffy at the edges, but the hooks and melodies are great, the production crisp, and Toledo never forgets to flex his rock muscles. Add in an outsider's observational perspective and an adventurous craftsman's approach to structuring his songs, and you get an album that sounds like Guided By Voices songs reinvented by a talented, voluble young young man with an appreciation for orchestral pop. In the wrong hands, that could be a messy combination, but on Teens of Style, it is magic. Not all of the songs on the LP are recently, but rather represent selected songs that Toledo has penned over the last several years and recorded (or re-recorded) in the first half of 2015. But unless you have collected his prior work, that detail should be of no consequence to you. Perhaps that makes Teens of Style a bit of an appetizer, as a following release of new songs named Teens of Denial is planned for 2016. But I suggest that you don't wait. This album is too good to ignore and who knows what will really happen tomorrow, much less next year.
The players on Teens of Style are Andrew Katz (drums), Jacob Bloom (bass), Amanda Schiano di Cola (trumpet on tracks 5 and 10), Eleni Govetas (sax on track 8), and Will Toledo doing everything else.
The skies are dark, rain is falling and the wind is picking up. I need some soaring pop tunes to lift my mood and fee alive. And here to the rescue is "Feel Alive", the opening track of Souls, the debut EP by Norwegian band Aleks Grey. I can't listen to the song without smiling and moving around. The second track, "Unstoppable" continues in similar vein. At this point, I could almost believe that the sun is starting to come out. The beginning of the piano-driven "House" offers a mid-tempo, more contemplative take on pop, but unspools with a loud/soft dynamic and lush vocal harmonies. The piano remains the main instrument for the lovely following ballad "Save Me". But knowing what we need on foul weather days, the band's final offering -- appropriately named "Storm" -- dives back in to the anthemic pop that is this band's sweet spot. Aleks Grey, make a note of the name and look into this EP. It will make you day better.
The band is Aleksander Raftevold (aka Aleks Grey), Reece Cairns, Eline Brun, Andreas Oxholm, and Andreas Skuggen.
Zack Buchanan is The Outdoor Type. It's true -- it says so on his Facebook page. But more important than his implied rugged demeanor and skill in building a fire in the wilderness, Zack is an excellent songwriter and musician. We first featured his music a year ago (link) to feature his shimmering "Are You Happy", a wonderful tune with a '70s country rock vibe. Last April we featured "When The Sun Goes Down" (link), an equally good post punk song, and a month later featured his debut EP (link). So I guess you could say we favor the outdoor type.
Zack is back again with "On My Mind", which takes a scrappy, bouncy, but thoroughly engaging song with hints of Lou Reed (not completely an original thought on my part) and a bit of The Clean.
As a music blogger, I have a list of favorite blogs that I check myself, either because I like the way the bloggers address and write about the topic, or because the blogger has access to music to which I don't have ready access. One of such blogs is Ian's Pop Lib blog. His most recent post features an Auckland, New Zealand-based band (although I think they have roots in Montreal) named Wormstar. The band's recent album, Turning Red, is the sort of jangling guitar pop -- alternating between woozy shimmer and fuzz -- that we love here at WYMA. Test drive a few songs below and if it tickles your ears, click on the Bandcamp link below.
Efe Tekkanat is Oceans, a Finnish producer who crafts electronic soundscapes featuring warm tones, bright colors and surging rhythms. His second EP, Thrill, which is out now via Helsinki's Soliti Music, seems to find the artist in transition. While retaining his feel for atmospheric songs, Efe's five offerings on Thrill will be more than welcome on the club playlists. I find it a confident and well executed progression, resulting in an EP with provides considerable immediate satisfaction and intriguing promise for the future.
Alert readers will note that "Give All" is available for free download.
The Chills command a certain amount of attention in indie rock circles just by dint of their importance to the emerging New Zealand guitar pop scene in the '80s, the transcendence of their better songs, and the human drama of their changing lineups and the personal travails of frontman and lone constant member, Martin Phillipps. And if that helps bring music fans to Silver Bullets, their first album of new music in 19 years, then that is a fine result. Because the album should be attracting attention for what it is; and that is classic Chills guitar pop. Infectious guitar lines, accented by keys, soaring over a sturdy rhythm section and with the plenitude of hooks that Phillipps seems to craft as well as anyone in the business. Moreover, the listener finds Phillipps in fine voice, with the focus on nuance and passion rather than range and volume, he is as good as he ever was.
Silver Bullets begins with a dramatic intro, and then launches into the delicate and dramatic "Warm Waveform", the rousing "Silver Bullets", and the pensive "Underwater Wasteland". All three are album highlights and, in my view, compare favorably with the band's work in the '80s and early '90s. "America Says Hello" delivers political observations in a classic Chills wrapper, while "Liquid Situation" is a too-short slice of early '80s Dunedin pop-punk. "Pyramid/When the Poor Can Reach the Moon" wears a dream-pop mantle for the beginning, then transitions into an experimental rock tune, and then becomes an upbeat pop song. Track 8 is the pacy "Aurora Corona", which to my ears is one of the best three songs on the album, and may deserve release as a single, and the following "I Can't Help You" is only slightly behind it. "Tomboy" provides a more serious note before the album ends with the triumphant "Molten Gold".
This album reaffirms Phillipps' knack for marrying the scrappy South Island New Zealand guitar sound with soaring pop sensibilities, crafting pop gems that feel memorable and timeless. In terms of consistency and quality, this is among the best set of songs in The Chills' discography.
The current version of The Chills consists of Martin Phillipps, James Kickson, Todd Knudson, Erica Scally, and Oli Wilson. Silver Bullets is out now via Fire Records.
