Principia is out now via Trouble In Mind Records.
Monday, February 27, 2023
En Attendant Ana - Principia
The Telephone Numbers - Weird Sisters 7"
After a week of visitors we are back to bring you news of quality indie music. We begin with the pop perfection of Weird Sisters, a two-track single by The Telephone Numbers. The project of San Francisco songwriter Thomas Rubenstein (whose terrific Ballad of Doug LP wowed us), it brings you the best of the two sides of jangling indie -- blissful and sunny on side A, and bittersweet and melancholy on side B. Great stuff, so dig in!
via Meritorio Records (Spain) and Prefect Records (UK).
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
"You Look Right Through Me" and "Resolution (Happy New Year!)" by The Plus 4
This could be one of many readers' favorite posts in a long time. Why? 1. Because it introduces them to a great new band; and 2. We don't know enough about the band to bore everyone. What we do know is that the name of the band is The Plus 4, and they are based in the UK. Their sound is an appealing '60s throwback, and .... well, that's all we know.
The Plus 4 have released two singles so far in 2023, and we have been lucky enough to hear a third which will be coming soon. For now, you will have to be satisfied with "Your Look Right Through Me" and "Resolution (Happy New Year!)".
Monday, February 20, 2023
Blues Lawyer - All In Good Time
Blues Lawyer are Elyse Schrock (drums/vocals), Rob I. Miller (vocals/guitar), Ellen Matthews (guitars), and Alejandra Alcala (bass/backing vocals). All In Good Time is out now via Dark Entries Records.
"I Wasn't Thinking At All" by Cold Irons Bound
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Today's first featured tune is "I Wasn't Thinking At All" by Melbourne's Cold Irons Band. The four-piece has an appealing sound based in scrappy power pop with '90s distortion and an Americana vibe, and this song features both their rocking and Americana bona fides. We also should mention that our spouses endorse the notion that we at WYMA feature a song titled "I Wasn't Thinking At All". We aren't sure what they are hinting, but I'm sure it is loving and supportive.
The single is out now via Golden Robot Records. It is taken from the upcoming LP No Place I Can't Find You.
Cold Irons Bound are Mark Adams (guitars/vocals), Ben Carter (guitars/vocals), Sam Fiddian (bass/backing vocals), James Alderman (drums).
Sunday, February 19, 2023
"Ride" by Nothing Natural
Welcome to the wonderfully dense and melodic sound of Nothing Natural. Seeming to be at the crossroads of '90s college rock and shoegaze, we find it captivating, soothing and thrilling. Check out "Ride", the single from their upcoming album NN.
"In Your Eyes" by National Honor Society
National Honor Society are Coulter Leslie, Jerry Peerson, Andrew Gaskin, and Will Hallauer. All The Distance Between Us will be out April 21 via Shelflife, Discos de Kirlian, and Subjangle. Check for your 'local' label among those to save shipping costs.
Friday, February 17, 2023
Cherry Fez - Honeycomb Tearoom
"Out For Magic" by Death and Vanilla
Death and Vanilla are Marleen Nilsson, Anders Hansson and Magnus Bodin.
Thursday, February 16, 2023
"Velvet Lovers" by Nate Wey and the Dreamers
We've been awol for a few days (work/illness/skiing), so we thought we would celebrate our return with a thoroughly delicious free song titled "Velvet Lovers" by Portland, Oregon's Nate Wey and the Dreamers. The song is a mash up of Velvet Underground's Waiting for The Man and The Modern Lover's Roadrunner. So the songwriting credit belongs to Lou Reed and Jonathan Richman. But Nate gets the inspiration credit for the mash up. And lets not forget a round of applause for the Dreamers: Tobias Berblinger (keys), Christa Buckland (backing vocals), Kyle Cregan (drums), Leah Heuser (backing vocals), Sarah Nienaber (electric guitars). Nate provided vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, and keys. In addition to being a musician, he also is a sound mixer and composer.
Friday, February 10, 2023
Dignan Porch - Electric Threads
When we last covered Dignan Porch they were camped out in South London. Since then main man Joe Walsh has moved to Manchester. But he still is writing music and thank the gods for that! His songs appear to have roots in '60s garage and folk rock, rinsed with psychedelia and jangle. It manages to simultaneously sound mysterious and innocent. And while it certainly isn't music aiming for the bullseye of any commercial channel, it is timeless music superbly crafted. We are going to be playing it for a long, long time.
Joe Walsh wrote, sang, and preformed most of the instruments on Electric Threads, although his brother Sam contributed as well. Electric Threads is out now in vinyl and digital formats via Hidden Bay Records (France), Safe Suburban Home (UK), and Repeating Cloud (US).
"I Hear Music" by The Sprouts
Today's first featured single is "I Hear Music" by The Sprouts. Note that these The Sprouts are not The Sprouts from Vancouver, British Columbia, but a newer project from Melbourne. And while the band is new to us, the members hail from such Australian worthies as Chook Race, Dippers (fka Thigh Master), Permits and Ill Globo, some of which have featured here in the past. While such familiarity preconditioned us to like the music, we think the tune is worthy all by itself. It chugs along in shaggy, earworm style and then gives us some shredding electric guitar to close. We like surprises!
The Sprouts are Rob Remedios, Innez Tulloch, Tom Marinelli and Matthew Ford. Eat Your Greens will be out March 24 via Tenth Court.
Monday, February 6, 2023
"Ways to Wear My Hair" by Mannone Alone
Let's begin the week with some sparkling indie pop, shall we? The artist is Mark Mannone, whose solo post-The Lucksmiths project is (almost) aptly titled Mannone Alone. We say "almost" because for this single Mark called on Joe Foley, Gus Franklin, and Louis Richter to flesh out "Ways to Wear My Hair". And a song this fine begs a question: Isn't 2023 time for another Mannone Alone LP? We certainly hope so. Meanwhile, enjoy a fine song, and presumable some hairstyle advice.
"Ways to Wear My Hair" is out via Melbourne's Lost and Lonesome Records, with a vinyl available via Finland's Royal Mint Records.
Sunday, February 5, 2023
"Too Late for an Early Grave" and "Life in the Void" by The Reds, Pinks & Purples
For indie music fans, we have had a good start to the year. And it going to get even better. How do we know? The Reds, Pinks & Purples have a new LP coming this spring. The first tracks available are "Too Late for an Early Grave" and "Life in the Void". It won't shock you to learn that we love the songs and very much look forward to the album. The album is called The Town That Cursed Your Name, and the songwriter helming the project advises that it is about trying to live while feeling compelled to make music.
The Town That Cursed Your Name will be out March 24 in digital and vinyl formats via Slumberland Records and Tough Love Records.
Thursday, February 2, 2023
John McCabe - Somehow Or Another (2017-2022 EPs and singles compilation)
With 26 songs and a range that encompasses Americana, alt country, indie rock and jangle, Somehow Or Another (2017-2022 EPs and singles compilation) has songs that are certain to please any indie fan. The artist is California singer, songwriter, and guitarist John McCabe. John has released five EPs and some singles since 2017, and this record collects all of them. The country/American-oriented material has heft and and authenticity. As for the songs in the pop and rock channel -- which, to our ears, is most of the album -- useful touchstones are R.E.M. and Miracle Legion (John's vocals even sound like Michael Stipe's). John's lyrical perspective seems to be the loner, looking in at the world. But the material isn't soft and mournful. His vocals adorn full-blooded electric guitar arrangements in overdrive. Quite simply, it sounds wonderful.
The album is out now via Janglepophub in digital and CD formats. By the way, John also plays in a band called Good At Rockets.
Monday, January 30, 2023
Tubs - Dead Meat
Dead Meat was released last Friday so music fans with their ear to the ground for great new releases probably have listened to it several dozen times by now. For the rest of the world (including those waiting for us to bestir ourselves and write a post), it is time for you to hear one of the better albums of 2023. And yes, we are confident in making this statement less than one full month into the year.
The album is by Tubs whose members count several bands in their backgrounds. Notably, two members are Owen Williams and George Nicholls who were in Welsh band Joanna Gruesome. Other projects on the members' resumes include Snifanny & The Nits, The Snivellers ns SUEP. The band sketches their songs with a wide palette, encompassing post punk, '80s alternative, scrappy jangle. punk aggression and Frightened Rabbit-style folk rock. No matter the breadth, every song has deceptive complexity but fits together like a perfect puzzle. All that is left for the players is to sell it, and oh, do they sell it with fire and intelligence in equal measure.
Dead Meat is out now in CD, vinyl, cassette and digital formats via Trouble In Mind Records.
Saturday, January 28, 2023
"Vulture" by Holiday Ghosts
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We typically go into a period of mourning after 'tax day' in the United States. It is sad to make millions of dollars from an indie music blog only have taxes diminish our beer budget. We thank you in advance for your sympathy. However, this year the mourning period will not be gloomy, because on April 21 Holiday Ghosts -- on of our favorite current bands -- will release new album Absolute Reality. The first single is the energetic, and a bit spooky, "Vulture".
Holiday Ghosts are Katja Rackin (vocals/drums), Samuel Stacpoole (vocals/guitar/synth), Benedict Nightingale (guitar/backing vocals), and Morgan Lloyd Matthews (bass). The single and album are released via FatCat Records.
"Into The Puzzle (Shortcut)" by Locked hands
Intriguing electro pop drops from Edinburgh's Locked Hands have been all too infrequent. However, we understand that that will change this year with the project's debut full length, The Fort Rhythm Section. The album is scheduled for release this Spring, but the inventive and rhythmic first track "Into The Puzzle (Shortcut)" is available to stream now.
Locked Hands is the project of Belfast-born, Edinburgh-based Sean Ormsby. Other Ormsby projects are Night Noise Team, Blue Tiles, and Errant Boy, all of which have featured on these pages in the past.
Friday, January 27, 2023
"Sunset Sea Breeze" and "Rain Song" by Whitney's Playland
We find it hard to imagine that true indie pop fans could listen to "Sunset Sea Breeze" and "Rain Song" and not pre-order the album from which they are taken. The songs are dreamy but substantial, and stick in your brain like all great pop does. It is true that Sunset Sea Breeze doesn't release until mid March, but a pre-order gets these two tracks now which makes the wait more tolerable. Complete details are at the Bandcamp link below.
Sunset Sea Breeze is the work of San Francisco band Whitney's Playland. The project began with Inna Showalter and George Tarlson, and more recently added Evan Showalter and Paul DeMartini.
The album is a joint release by Spain's Meritorio Records (vinyl and digital) and San Francisco's Paisley Shirt Records (cassette).
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
"Gone Tomorrow" by The Bluebells
Glasgow's The Bluebells have a reputation in knowing indie circles that is outsized in relation to their duration (a few years in the '80s and a couple of reunions) or output. But the reputation is deserved. One of the finer jangle/new wave bands of their era, they produced polished songs that transcended the music produced by many of their contemporaries. Although the core members went on to other projects, they have reformed and will release The Bluebells In The 21st Century, their first LP in a few decades on April 28. Lead single "Gone Tomorrow" is out now, and it is a cracker with a bouncing rhythm and soulful vocals. Strutting and breezy, it made our week. Two more singles will drop before the album. This is a very welcome return.
The Bluebells In The 21st Century will be available in vinyl, CD and digital formats via Last Night From Glasgow.
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