Yumi Zouma is of New Zealand, but not often in New Zealand. Several members live on other continents, and in the past compositions have involved sending contributions via email. But for their sophomore album, Willowbank, the band reconvened in the home country to write and record together. We expect that the record, to be released October 6 via Cascine, will feature the band's trademark romantic dream pop and pristine production. Our first taste is "December", and we are indeed excited.
Note that the band will tour the United States in October 2017.
We were worried that Obedient Wives Club didn't love us any more. The five-piece from Singapore has been all two quiet on the recording front for several years, although with things like marriages, jobs and other projects (including guitarist Cherie Ko's promising Tomgirl), one can't accuse them of idleness. However, in mid-July the band released Cinematica, their latest EP of super-addictive Spectorgaze. For those not familiar with the genre, is is Spector-like wall of sound, female vocals, lots of reverb and a bit of fuzz. It is retro, atmospheric and, at times lush. As compared to their prior recordings, the sound is cleaner and the vocals higher in the mix. And our ears think that it is quite delicious. Sweet melancholy and wistful sighs, just what the doctor prescribed.
Obedient Wives Club is YinQi Lee (vocals/keys), Keith Tan (guitar), Cherie Ko (guitar/backing vocals), Sulaiman Supian (bass), and Lennat Mak (drums). Cinematica is released in digital and vinyl formats. Check your favorite outlet for digital; vinyl will ship in September, and can be pre-ordered at the band's website (linked below). And you should be able to stream it on Spotify if you are a user.
When I walked into the office today two interns were fighting for control over the WYMA music delivery system. One argued that they wanted to hear Hulaboy, the long-running musical partnership of Boyracer #1 Stewart Anderson and Eric M. Stoess of Hula Hoop. The other intern was arguing for Safe Distance, which consists of Simon Williams of Crayola Summer, Great Leap Forward and others, and the aforementioned Stewart Anderson. With the wisdom of Solomon, and control of the WYMA catalog, I stepped into the dispute and settled it without blows (and good thing I did, because she would have taken him apart). What is my secret? The knowledge that Emotional Response Records recently released the Hulaboy + Safe DistanceSplit LP. Album cued up, peace restored, music joy delivered in surround sound.
I'll add that both interns are correct. The bands are worth listening to, and what better way than to have them in a single album? Check it out below, and hit the Bandcamp link for more.
It is the band's job to provide the music, and it is our job to use words to try to describe the music. But sometimes the band describes their music so perfectly that our initial reaction is "what they said". And so it us with Scotland's Errant Boy, who provide the following description on their Bandcamp page for their 2016 album A Wayward Mirror: "Melodic guitar manoeuvres and lyrical unease". Exactly so! Of course, if you follow along with the lyrics for A Wayward Mirror (which are helpfully provided on the Bandcamp page), you won't find the band's concise descriptive accuracy any surprise. Errant Boy delivers the melody, lyrics and performance in equal measure. The variety is impressive, and the album demands repeated plays.
You might well wonder why we are bringing you an album released over a year ago. The answer is twofold. First, we only became aware of the album when preparing for a feature on the upcoming solo album by Stephen McLaren, which is to be released by the label that released A Wayward Mirror. Second, we think this album is just too good to not feature.
Errant Boy is Chris Harvie (guitar), Keith Kirkwood (drums), Fabien Pinardon (bass/drums/piano), Sean Ormsby (vocals/guitar/synth), Stephen Dennis (occasional keys), and Ann Coates and Emmanuell Le Coz (occasional backing vocals). The album was released via Errant Media.
Annie Hart can make one feel inadequate. Hart is one of the three vocalists/keyboardists in Au Revoir Simone, which has released four well-received albums. If I had that credit on my resume, and my band went on hiatus, I'd probably read a few books, get some exercise, and lie to my friends about my progress in writing a thriller that not only would be a best seller, but also would be made into a Hollywood blockbuster. To put it another way, I'd not get a lot done. On the other hand, Annie Hart used her downtime to craft the eight songs that are Impossible Accomplice. And I can't even criticize her for making me feel inadequate, because those songs are really, really good.
Hart employs her great melodic sense and a beguiling voice to spin concise pop gems and melancholy ballads wrapped in dreamy synths. She played all of the instruments and recorded nearly all of the album in her basement. With a dark perspective and eight songs of less than four minutes, the effect is like a warm summer rain shower. Make that a welcome summer rain shower. This may be your synth pop find of the summer.
In our opinion, Sweet Madness was a band that deserved to be regarded as one of the United States' best new wave band (our review of one of their compilations here). They had just enough raw garage and punk to add some frayed edges to the new wave gloss, and they could write and perform at a very high level. Maybe it was bad luck, maybe it was their location in out of the way Spokane, Washington, but it didn't really happen for them. But not a band full of quitters, by 1981 they decided they needed to change their venue and their name (in the latter case, to avoid confusion with second wave Ska band Madness). So Sweet Madness of Spokane became Next Exit of Seattle. Ancillary to those changes, John Robison the keys/synth player and one of the songwriters, and bass player Don Lynd, dropped out and guitarist Greg Morlan and bassist Jef Morlan added to the remaining members Jan Gregor (vocals/guitar) and Mark Fenton (drums/backing vocals). In Seattle Next Exit continued to play from the Sweet Madness catalog while developing new material and reworking the new, more guitar-centric sound. I know, you are asking how you can get some of this material. Well, this is your lucky day, because a trip to Bandcamp can get a digital download of One Way Ticket 1981 -1982, which includes 13 Next Exit interpretations of Sweet Madness songs and three new songs. We'll note that even if you have the Sweet Madness material this album is worth getting, because the added edge and energy of the added lead guitar puts a different cast on the Sweet Madness songs.
Happily, this isn't even all we'll here from this talented lot. Next Exit lasted two more years and an additional compilation may be ready by this Autumn. By the way, the band later became Variant Cause, but I have no word on whether any of that material is forthcoming.
Jane Weaver lives up to her name. For Modern Kosmology, she takes the motorik rhythms of Krautrock and blends in pop melodicism, operatic folk, electronic psychedelia and a bit of prog rock, to create a seamless musical tapestry that is as intriguing as it is unclassifiable. The moods shift from dark to light, the sound from heavy and claustrophobic to spacious and airy, the impressions from pastel to primary colors. Everything is in connected, but in constant motion. For me, it was like being inside a large musical kaleidoscope. It is a stunning bit of adept musical shapeshifting, and a very entertaining listen.
Zachary Schneider is a member of Australian bands Totally Mild and Free Time, and also has recently recorded with Full Ugly, Milk Teddy and Lehmann B Smith. But Zach felt the urge to create his own music, resulting in Great Outdoors. Originally a solo project, it became a trio with the additions of Dylan Young and Max Sheldrake-Falovic. The band's ethos is to write and record quickly, resulting in Fake News -- a ten-song LP with palpable immediacy and a warm, organic vibe. The album, which apparently was recorded in two days, offers a change of pace from their previous record, Dad's Oasis. While the former album presented a more dreampop set of songs, Fake News is more direct, and many songs are taut, post-punk tunes. We especially liked the jittery "Keep Your Focus". However, the softer edges remain with the lovely "Bachelor's Bliss" and "Mara".
Great Outdoors is a talented band with the confidence to create fine music without worrying about painting between the boundaries of a specific genre, and Fake News is the perfect introduction to their music. The album is out now via Smooch Records.
We are drawn to Glasgow band The Just Joans by their sharp-eyed and witty songwriting, twee sensibility and melodic sense. Any band that can make us laugh and sigh, often in the same song, is a band to keep in your playlist. Later this year we will be graced with For Those About To Weep, their new LP. However, we don't have to wait that long for a bit of The Just Joans, as the single "No Longer Young Enough" will be released tomorrow. Consisting of the title track and "Breakfast for Our Tea", it is just what we needed to hold us over until the album is available. Check out the title track below, which offers girl-group vocals pointing out that for all of us, there is a time when Friday nights/Saturday mornings in the clubs becomes reading at home in our PJs and an early lights out.
Both the single and the album are to be released via Fika Recordings.
Renee Barrance and Tim Player are OV PAIN, a band that dwells in the musical landscape of Gothic darkwave. On their new self-titled album the keyboards create thick layers of swirling sound over pounding percussion, with haunting vocals partially hidden in the fog. The effect is claustrophobic and dissonant, but ultimately vital and majestic. Through earphones, late at night, this album has become a first choice way to end the day.
How many things in your life achieve "I'd hate to live without it" status? For me, in addition to my family, there is coffee, my running habit, good books, good beer, any beer, and, of course music. And speaking of music I'd Hate To Live Without, my gaze turns to The Complete Loma Singles: Vol. 1. Why? Well, I really love '60s R&B and soul. But like many of us, when we turn to our personal collections or find an oldies station on the radio or internet, we tend to have a limited range of standards. Don't misunderstand, I'm a big fan of the Motown and Stax/Volt hits. But life demands variety and adventure. Don't we R&B fans deserve the raw energy of the striving talents who never made it to more or less identical loops of oldies hits? I think so, and thank Odin, Real Gone Music thinks so as well.
On The Complete Loma Singles: Vol. 1 Real Gone Records collects a generous 50 songs from the Loma label. A Warner subsidiary, the label only existed from 1964-1968, and while it wasn't known for producing hits, its releases have long been sought by soul music collectors. And a spin through this two disc collection tells you why that is so. You can feel the passion and your mind's eye can see the sweat, joy and tears. If anyone every asks you what soul music is, just offer to sit them down and play this compilation. Do not, I repeat, do not lend them the discs because you might not see them again. And as we said at the top of the post, this is a 'can't live without item'. When You Motor Away blog, and its officers, directors, employees, shareholders and camp followers will not be responsible for self-harm by those who do not take care of their The Complete Loma Singles: Vol. 1.
Oh, and save your pennies, because this is the first of a planned four album release of Loma material. See, we have a lot to live for!
Robin Cederman and Penelope Esplin have graced these pages before as members of Dunedin's The Prophet Hens. As a duo, they have launched folk pop project Grawlixes, and, after touring in Europe, they have released debut full length record Set Free. The album's melodies are delicate, intricate, and sweet, while the themes tend toward melancholy and clear-eyed realism, and particularly clear-eyed realism about melancholy-inducing relationships. Restrained acoustic guitar provides most of the instrumentation, but accordion, violin and occasional electric guitar provide notable sonic depth. Both Penelope and Robin sing, sometimes in unison, sometimes with one lead and one in the background. Their voices compliment each other well, and the material is enhanced by the varied approaches. Infectious and intelligent, Set Free is a real treat for your quieter moments. And if you don't regularly have quieter moments, this album makes a strong argument for making time for them.
Set Free is out now via Home Alone. You can stream the entire album at the Bandcamp link below. The lyrics are provided, and we found them quite worth reading while listening. By the way, the band helpfully points out that a "grawlix" is a spiral-shaped graphic used to indicate swearing in comic strips.
When we last listened to Stephen McLaren he was in Edinburgh dream poppers Collar Up. Now the talented gent is launching a solo project, and his first offering is "No More (Say Yes)". Opening with an insistent thumping beat and anthemic vocals, it is the perfect platform for a song about the Scottish independence vote. We'll add that it also translates well to the dance floor, the running trail, or speeding down the highway. Kind of like a valuable and soon-to-be-treasured musical utility tool. In case you hadn't noticed, we love it.
"No More (Say Yes)" is out now via Errant Media. Stephen's debut LP, We Used To Go Raving, will be released by Errant Media on September 29.
Minneapolis' Real Numbers blew us away last year with Wordless Wonder, their debut LP released via Slumberland. But now they prove that it only takes two songs to remind us just how good they are. Please welcome "Frank Infatuation" and "Leave It Behind" to your record collection. That is, welcome it if you act quickly. It is a limited edition vinyl single from British label Market Square Records. Buy a copy and get unlimited streaming and a digital download. What a deal!
Guitars, guitars, wonderful guitars. On Rival Party they chime, jangle, and layer over each other, riding a pulsating rhythm section, and the result is aural euphoria. Austin band She Sir has been known as a dreampop and shoegaze band, and those elements remain dominant on this album. But there also is that aforementioned robust rhythm section and many uptempo songs, so to our ears this band has stepped outside the lines to great effect. With ten songs in a bit over a half hour, Rival Party is like a pleasant daydream in the sun, and one you try it, you may find yourself reworking your schedule for more frequent naps.
She Sir are Russell Karloff, Matthew Grusha, Jeremy Cantrell, and David Nathan. Rival Party is out now via Shelflife Records.
This will be a busy week for the blog, with a large number of recent noteworthy releases to cover. But we are starting out with a demo. Yes, that's right, a demo. Jetstream Pony is just too exciting to ignore, and "Self Destruct Reality" is a good way to kick off Monday.
Today is Life Model's lucky day. Or, more precisely, their Lucky day, because their new EP with that title has been released. The band has been known for their dreamgaze (dreampop + shoegaze), but this record finds them muscling up with a touch more rocking, and it is a sound they do very well. Opener "Skin and Bones" rumbles and threatens like something seeping out of the Seattle underground in the early '90s. Title track "Lucky" brings the melody in a noise pop charmer. The lovely "4ever" and "Together" hint at and build upon the band's dreampop roots. Take it for a spin below -- if you are looking for good, new music, this may be your lucky day as well.
Life Model is Sophie Evans, Chris Smith, Joanne McCafferty, and Michael McDonald and they are based in Glasgow. Lucky is out now in cassette and digital formats via Frux Tapes.
We started out the day with some R&B, so we'll continue with an electronic R&B/future pop track from up and coming American artist Teflon Sega. Keep your ears open -- we are sure you will hear more from him.
Today is almost the end of the week. Almost. What is needed is a shot of energy to help us make it to Friday. And where will we get it? We will get it from "Do You Want My Love?", the new disco-tinged R&B song from Melbourne's Harpoons. Put it on repeat, and make it through the week. And then send the band a thank you note.
Harpoons are Henry, Jack, Bec, and Marty. Their second album will be released later this year.
Let's be honest here - we all find ourselves feeling a bit lazy at some point. For example, every now and then I think I should make a new playlist with my favorite recent songs, favorite songs overall, favorite songs of a certain genre, or whatever. But then I sit down, open a beer, and let the moment pass. True, it sometimes takes two beers for the moment to pass, but I'm not a quitter so I stick with it. And that's all fine, except that after the moment passes I don't have the hits compilation I had intended to make.
However, once again Jen and Stew at Emotional Response Records have saved the day. Emotional Response Records releases a lot of records, in a lot of styles, by artists from lots of places around the globe. As a public service for us lazy types, they are offering 23 Bangers - The Casual Lurkers Guide to Emotional Response (2017). As the title suggests, the record contains 23 songs selected from the label's 2017 releases. It is a no effort, no fuss and quite low-priced way to get a hits compilation of indie rock, punk, psychedelic, electronic, and indie pop songs well worth collecting. Try some songs below and then visit the Bandcamp link.
