"The Gown" by The Bats

 

In our view, The Bats were magic in the early '80s and they continue to be magic in 2025. They don't do it with bombast, frills, gimmicks, or by following the style du jour. They do it with sharp songwriting, relatable themes, personal connection, and quality performances. This week brought striking song "The Gown", which is the third single from their upcoming LP Corner Coming Up. The instrumentation is slightly restrained for a tune from this band, but with the percussion and bass up in the mix. Atmospheric and haunting, "The Gown" underscores that The Bats are not resting on their laurels. We think it is best appreciated with the volume turned up.

The Bats are Robert Scott, Kaye Woodward, Paul Kean, and Malcolm Grant. Corner Coming Up will be released October 17 via Flying Nun Records.

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"Fading Out" and "Daffy Duck" by Massage

 

Pssst! Hey you -- yes, you. How would you like a massage? Don't worry -- no one is going to put their hands on you. We are proposing an aural treat delivered by LA indie pop band Massage. After four years and several landmark life experiences (good and bad), Massage is preparing to release new album Coaster. We expect to be impressed by the groups alchemy of Britpop, dream pop and shoegaze. And having listened to their previous album Still Life earlier today, we know that we won't be disappointed.

Two of the album's songs have been shared. "Fading Out" is Britpop flavored with a hint of J&MC. "Daffy Duck is a propulsive shoegaze gem. Adding it up, our math says this is going to be a very good album. Cynics might point out that when it comes to WYMA math, main writer Scott was a history major with two law degrees. Nevertheless, with respect to music, our taste is impeccable.

Massage are Alex Naidus, Andrew Romano, Gabi Ferrer, Natalie de Almeida, and David Rager. Coaster will be released October 10 via Mt. St. Mtn. (USA), Bobo Integral (Eur), and Prefect Records (UK).

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Shopfires - We Are Not There But We Are Here

 

Much of the music that we cover is sent to us in the hope (both on the part of the sender and WYMA) that we will have time to listen to it and write about it. But some music we stumble across while trawling the internet. We Are Not There But We Are Here is one of those discovery albums. It is the product of songwriter Neil Hill recording as Shopfires. Rather than a 'big statement' type of release, this album is a lovely collage of ordinary daily life and its experiences, challenges, and memories. The presentation is unpretentious and lo-fi, but expertly layered and shimmering. The quiet, sincerely-voiced lyrics impart an intimacy that draws the listener in and holds on tight from start to finish.

We Are Not There But We Are Here is a gem you will be happy to welcome to your library. For us, it is one we revisit frequently as it seems to give us a feeling of being grounded. But we would be remiss if we didn't mention that Shopfires also has an intriguing collection of recordings available, and we have included a link to Bandcamp where you can peruse the offerings.

 We Are Not There But We Are Here is out now via Subjangle Records.

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Tullycraft: "Tarrytown", "Love On The Left Bank" and LP Shoot The Point

 

If we were to consult our carefully curated and updated lists for our favorite twee pop bands, Seattle's Tulleycraft will be floating at the top riding their trademark energy like a helium-filled balloon. The band isn't as active as it once was, but happily they will release a shiny new album titled Shoot The Point at the end of the week. Tullycraft are musicians and craft terrific stories with twists, turns and surprises behind blind corners. They clearly have a lot of fun doing it, and the listeners share in the fun.

But we aren't the kind of meanies who say "something good is coming but you have to wait". Tullycraft has shared songs from the album and we are going to let you listen to them right now. Yes, now. Here are "Tarrytown" and "Love On The Left Bank". However, we will add that we have listened to the entire album (a couple of times already) and it is terrific. If you are the kind of mope who only wants somber music, give it a pass. For everyone else with a pulse, get in line for Shoot The Point.

Shoot The Point is out Friday, August 22, via HHBTM Records.

HHBTM Records · Love On the Left Bank

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"Fabulist" and "I'm Not Sad" by The Cords

 

Well, well, well -- this is exciting stuff and it is only a taster for the upcoming album. What are we writing about? The two songs shared so far from the upcoming debut album by Greenock, Scotland's The Cords. Comprised of sisters Eva and Grace Tedeschi, the band has attracted the attention of some of the best indie artists from Scotland and beyond, and has appeared on the stage with many. The self-titled album is due September 26 via Slumberland Records (US) and Skepwax Records (UK), and you should line up to reserve your copy because you shouldn't live a minute without it.

Oh, and since we lauded the songs, we would be remiss if we didn't link them below. Feel free to form your own opinions about influences, but our thoughts - limited to one for each song - are Heavenly for "Fabulist" and Shop Assistants for "I'm Not Sad".

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Slumberland Records page for album (USA)

Skepwax page for the album (UK)

Autocamper - What Do You Do All day?

 

Manchester's Autocamper have absorbed the sounds and styles of C86, college rock, Scottish bands such as Close Lobsters and Fire Engines, and janglers of the Sarah Records roster. But like a fun house mirror, what the band reflects back to the listeners on their debut LP What Do You Do All Day? is the band's proprietary blend of the guitar pop canon. In addition to being an entertaining listen from first play, we think that the album suggests that this band has the resources and originality to continue to grow. The presentation is sincere and unpretentious and the overall vibe is of a intimate show in a comfortable local club, and that is a good thing in our book. Maybe its just us, but we give extra points to boy/girl vocals that remind us of The Pastels (for that matter, tracks four and seven remind us favorably of The Pastels).

So if you haven't given Autocamper a listen, we recommend you do so. It is one of the better debuts we have heard this year, and it is out now via Slumberland Records.

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Tony Jay - Faithless

 

We have been absent from our keyboard for most of the past six weeks. We offer apologies, but no excuses or explanations. Life is like being on the surface of the ocean -- sometimes it is calm, sometimes it is stormy. And sometimes you catch a wave and thrill until you wipe out. Winning is staying above the surface as long as possible. So, what brings us back? Well, the soundtrack to our lives is important to us, and to our readers, and a large backlog of good music needs a cheerleading voice. We won't get to all of it, but we will give it our best efforts.

One recent album that we cannot ignore is Faithless by San Francisco's Tony Jay. We are great fans of Michael Ramos' work in various Bay Area bands (e.g. Cindy/Flowertown/Pennys/April Magazine), but his Tony Jay project digs into our soul. The combination of atmospheric whispers and  delicate melodies breaking through fuzz and hiss like sunlight chasing away the fog sound more like an inner dialog being repeated back to us than a external musical score. We don't mean to imply that we have any ownership in the music, but the effect us that we are all in the water together.

Faithless was written and recorded on their recent tour of Japan, and explicitly informer by Japanese indie pop artists such as Les Rallizes Denudes and Shizuka. The band wrote all of the songs except for a cover of Gabys "Familiar Dreams". Tony Jay is Michael Ramos, Kelsey Faber, Cameron Baker, Ida Belisle, and Evie Brown For the Japan tour, the band was joined by by San Francisco musician Kati Mashikian (Mister Baby/April Magazine) who provides vocals on tracks five and six.

Bandcamp for Faithless

Jeanines - How Long Can It Last

 

With sharp songwriting and a sound that combines the familiar guitar pop with echoes of Sarah Records and folk rock, Jeanines are a band we treasure. And their recently released How Long Can It Last finds them at a new high. The vignettes are compact but colorful, told with an adult perspective but a youthful vigor. Always tuneful, with pleasing harmonies and thoughtful lyrics, this album pleases the ears at the first listen, and then draws the listener back for repeated encores.

Jeanines were formed by songwriters/musicians Alicia Jeanine and Jed Smith. The album also features contributions from Maggie Gaster, who plays bass for the band's live shows.

How Long Can It Last is out now via Slumberland Records and, in the UK, Skep Wax Records.

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The Perfect English Weather - Just Beyond The Lights

 

Wendy and Simon comprise The Perfect English Weather, in which they create perfect indie pop. With memorable melodies and thoughtful arrangements supporting Wendy's sublime vocals, the husband and wife duo (also members of The Popguns) are at the top of their artistry with their delightful new release Just Beyond The Lights. The album is a set of songs that reflect locale and time. The locale is small-town south English coast, as well as Simon and Wendy's past residences. The time is the period of life where enough years and experiences have occurred to allow reflection, perspective and appreciation. The stories are deftly and warmly illustrated and adorned with restrained instrumentation. The first time listener may be first impressed by the simple beauty of the music, as were we. But in our view the full appreciation of Just Beyond The Lights comes with attention to the stories, reflections and remembrances.

The album is available via Bandcamp outside of the USA, and via Matinee Recordings In the USA.

Matinée Recordings · The Perfect English Weather - Pilgrimage

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"Cologne" by Allo Darlin'

 

Yes, we enjoyed our time away from blog duties while traveling and reconnection with friends. But as we return to the lucrative business of blogging about indie music, it seems appropriate to make our first post about a band that has returned after over a decade away from the scene. Yes, Allo Darlin' is back to recording and touring. Their new album Bright Nights will be available July 11 via Slumberland Records in the US and Fika Recordings in UK/Euro. Do you want to know whether the band still has the indie pop chops? Of course you do, so check out recently released album track "Cologne" and the two previous singles, "My Love Will Bring You Home" and "Tricky Questions". We will tip our hand - this is sharp, evocative songwriting and assured performances. That all adds up to a very promising album.

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The High Water Marks - Consult The Oracle

 

The High Water Marks have done it again. Their new album Consult The Oracle is packed with rocking powerpop gems that plays out as much as a proto-greatest hits album as a single LP. To our ears, this may be their best album of their two decades of recording, although given their trajectory I wouldn't discount the possibility of greater heights (or higher high water marks) in the future. The magic sauce in songs by THWM is a heady blend of impeccable pop smarts and joyous, playful exuberance. And for fans of the jangle, like WYMA's executive editorial board, this band delivers at a premium level.

THWM are Hilarie Sidney (Apples in Stereo and Elephant 6 co-founder), Per Ole Bratset, Logan Miller & Øystein Megård. Consult The Oracle is out now via Meritorio Records.

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The Pennys - The Pennys EP

 

We are fans of separate work of both Michael Ramos (Tony Jay/Flowertown/Cindy) and R.E. Seraphin (excellent recent solo power pop), so we eagerly awaited the debut of their joint project The Pennys. Happily, the self-titled mini-album exceeded our high expectations. Gorgeous guitars, hushed vocals, and chords that tug at the heart nestle in lo fi production to create and intimate set of songs that its creators aptly refer to as heartbreak pop. The result is immersive, immediate and compelling. Is six songs sufficient to make an album qualify for our year end list? When the songs are this good, yes.

The Pennys is out now via Mt.St.Mtn.

Bandcamp for The Penneys

Link to order of vinyl version of The Pennys

Sad Eyed Beatniks - Hot Dish of the Sun On the Table of the Heavens Demos 2016-2024

 

A feature on a collection of demos? Perhaps unusual, but Sad Eyed Beatnniks always attracts our attention. The solo, lo fi project of Kevin Linn, the head honcho of San Francisco's Paisley Shirt Records, showcases Kevin's knack for melody and invention while never over-complicating the end result. Will you like every song? Maybe, maybe not. But the digital release is $1 so a positive return on the investment is likely. And there are NO TARIFFS on these demos.

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Say Sue Me - Time Is Not Yours EP

 

UK indie fans have a genuine treat coming to their doorsteps. Busan, South Korea's Say Sue Me are playing six shows in May (dates and locations are at the end of this post). And to remind music lovers why they should pay attention, the band has just released five-track EP Time Is Not Yours. We featured lead single "Vacation" a few weeks ago, but for this post we want to lead with our favorite track -- and in fact one of our favorite songs of the year so far -- title track "Time Is Not Yours".

One of the great joys of this band is their versatility. Compare the above song with the joyous chaos of the instrumental "Mexico" --

But they continue to surprise with the gentle, sun-kissed closer "Bone Pink".

Say Sue Me are Choi Sumi (vocals/guitar), Kim Buyngkyu (lead guitar), Kim Jaeyoung (bass), and Lim Sungwan (drums). Time Is Not Yours is out now via Damnably.

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Red Sleeping Beauty - Late Nights EP and Late Nights EP Vol. 2

 

Continuing with our Maintee Recordings matinee, today we bring you two thrilling EPs by the Swedish synthpop icons Red Sleeping Beauty. These recordings breathe new life into classic and beloved slices of synthpop.

The first is Late Nights. Released in January, it leads with a new version of their 2015 single "Always". It is labeled the 'late night' version because it is intentionally darker in tone than the original. The second track, a similarly dark version of "Could Have Been Me" from the band's Diary album. The third track is a lovely surprise -- a 'late night' version of their initial single, the 1992 "You Are The Kind".

Matinée Recordings · Red Sleeping Beauty - Always (Late Nights version)

Matinee Recordings page for Late Nights EP

Bandcamp for Late Nights EP

Late Nights EP Vol. 2 arrived in March. It also has three late night versions of popular songs from previous albums. In this case the songs are "Caroline (I Found Love)" from the album Diary, "Breaking Up Is Easy" from the Kristina album, and "Swedish Winter" from the album Stockholm. On a personal note, the last two are among our favorites.

Matinée Recordings · Red Sleeping Beauty - Caroline (I Found Love) (Late Nights version)

Matinee Recordings page for Late Nights EP Vol. 2

Bandcamp for Late Nights EP Vol. 2

"Caroline of Brunswick Square" and "London-By-The-Sea" by the Perfect English Weather

 

Simon and Wendy of  UK band The Popguns are icons around the WYMA World Headquarters taproom Executive Suite. But it isn't just because of our love of The Popguns. Working in the more acoustic space as a duo they have been recording as The Perfect English Weather. The project highlights their knack for euphoric melodies and evocative songwriting. We understand that they will release a new album in May, but for now you can swoon with us over the singles "Caroline of Brunswick Square" and "London-By-The-Sea". The digital releases are out now via Matinee Recordings.

Matinée Recordings · The Perfect English Weather - Caroline of Brunswick Square

Matinée Recordings · The Perfect English Weather - London-By-The-Sea

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The Royal Landscaping Society - Fractals EP

 It's time for a Matinee matinee! What, exactly does that mean? Well, it means that we are going to publish a series of posts about recent releases from the one and only Matinee Recordings. We usually don't stack posts about releases from a single label, but Matinee is one of our favorites and they have been busy lately. Stay with us, all are terrific, and these small labels deserve our support.

First up is Spain's The Royal Landscaping Society. The recording is titled Fractals and is a three-song EP of breathtaking heartbreak pop. Key track "When There Is Nothing Left To Look Forward To" is a starkly straightforward but eloquent lament about lost love wrapped in a rhythmic and chiming arrangement. But the quality doesn't falter with the following two tracks.

Matinée Recordings · The Royal Landscaping Society - When There's Nothing Left To Look Forward To

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"Vacation" by Say Sue Me

 

Busan, South Korea's Say Sue Me has featured here a number of times in the past, but it has been a long while. Happily, they are back with the rifftastic "Vacation". It is the first song released from their upcoming Time Is Not Yours EP, which will be out April 30 via Damnably. April/May tour dates for Australia and the UK are listed at the end of this post.

Say Sue Me are Choi Sumi (vocals/guitar), Kim Buyngkyu (lead guitar), Kim Jaeyoung (bass), and Lim Sungwan (drums). Kim Hanjoo  of Korean band Silica Gel features as a guest vocalist on "Vacation".

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On tour

14 April - Sydney, AU - Oxford Art Factory

16 April - Melbourne, AU - 170 Russell

06 May - Bristol, UK - Strange Brew

07 May - Manchester, UK - Academy 3

08 May - Hebden Bridge, UK - Trades Club

09 May - Glasgow, UK - CCA

14-17 May - Brighton, UK - The Great Escape Festival

19 May - London, UK - 100 Club
link.damnably.com/ssmlive

"Say Something" by The Pennys

 

We are quite excited about the news that Mike Ramos and R.E. Seraphin have collaborated to record an self-titled album under the name The Pennys. We have featured work from both artists, and they have given us much joy. However, we wondered about the direction of the project, which they describe as 'occult heartbreak pop'. Mike's work (Tony Jay, Cindy, Flowertown, and others) often reflects a slowcore esthetic emphasizing tone and nuance with a deft use of space. Ray Seraphin (R.E. Seraphin, Violent Change, Talkies, Glitz), on the other hand, more often paints his creations in powerpop and indie rock. We don't have a final answer, but we have a hint in the form of debut single "Say Something".

What does it sound like. Well, we have to admit that once we heard it, we understood the reference to heartbreak pop. It is absolutely gorgeous in tone and composition while depicting the slow dissolution of a relationship.

The Pennys will be out this spring via Sacramento label Mt.St.Mtn.

Bandcamp for The Pennys

Link for Pre-order of vinyl version of The Pennys

"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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Various links for "Loline"

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