Latest Posts

Navah Sea x Low Hum – Cinnamon

April 10, 2025

It took me a few listens to figure out what to say about “Cinnamon,” the latest collab between Navah Sea (aka Phill Simmonds, now of LA but formerly of Great Britain) and Low Hum (whose nationality I’m not positive on, but could be of British or American descent). The two combine forces to blast out a slick indie electronic track – dope beats and instrumentals slide through your brain waves to the point where you’re not even sure you’re listening or experiencing it. I particularly enjoyed the hazy, echoey vocals and underpinning synth.   You can hear “Cinnamon” below from YouTube or over on Spotify and Apple Music. Their EP, Dreams, is due out 4/18 and well worth the listen if you’re digging these phat jams. No tariffs here, just sweet sweet tunes that’ll get stuck in your soul.  

Cleo Handler – rules

April 10, 2025

Cleo Handler made an album and, while I’m not reviewing the *album,* I did give it a listen (though I’m focusing on the track “rules”). It’s important to point out though that she made a 13 track concept album around dating and about being yourself (but left out dating yourself).   The track itself is is a lowkey affair in a minor key that manages to be a major earworm. Clean guitar and vibrant drums mesh well with Handler’s vocals, delivering a no-nonsense take on compromise in a relationship:   “This song is about compromise and rigidity, and how, when you try to find common ground with someone quite stuck in their ways, a small offer of wiggle room can mean a lot… even if it’s not ultimately enough.”   You can hear “rules” below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify. The rest of the album, compare & contrast is out[...]

Mating Ritual – “Buffalo Blades”

April 3, 2025

Being a Buffalonian, I’ll tell you something: we always get excited when we see the word Buffalo. “Buffalo Blades” is the latest from Mating Ritual, and while I don’t think these two brothers from Central Cali are talking about Buffalo, NY, it’s nonetheless a groovetastic track. It feels super fleshed out and I *swear* I heard some steel geetar, with some synth mixed in for good measure.   You can hear “Buffalo Blades” below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify. The rest of the EP is worth a listen too, as the tracks show off their range – going from a country mouthfeel of Blades (steel geetar, hello) to a more amped up, punkier sounding “Shangri-Blah.” Speaking of….Shangri-Blah juuuust happens to be the title of the band’s upcoming album (where you can find “Buffalo Blades” as well).   Mating Ritual · Buffalo Blades

Sea Lemon – “Stay”

April 3, 2025

“Stay” is the latest track from Natalie Lew, the brains behind Sea Lemon. Coming in like a promise of a pleasantly lazy weekend, Lew’s vocals combined with the gentle guitar/bass/drums feel idyllic and warm. Speaking as to how she wrote the song:   “This older guy, probably in his 70s or 80s, was acting as a security guard at this thrift store near my house…I couldn’t stop thinking about him after I left, and wrote ‘Stay’ as a reaction to seeing this guy who I felt deserved to take a break…”   You can hear “Stay” below from Sea Lemon’s Bandcamp. Fans of physical media can pre-order a slice of vinyl with the upcoming album “Diving For A Prize” due out June 13. You can pre-save the album on Spotify as well.   Diving For A Prize by Sea Lemon

Life Coach – Cringe

April 2, 2025

I have no idea if Jamie Cameron is actually a Life Coach, but I would say that any musician worth their salt could probably find a way into that life. Regardless of credentials (the name is apparently an ironic statement), their chosen moniker is Life Coach and “Cringe” is his latest single. Based out of Glasgow, Cameron started off as a solo act but has moved into a four piece outfit, further enhancing their sound. I got some really good vibes with the vibrant choruses and the underlying synth with bombastic guitar hooks and squelchy synths (gave a similar mouthfeel to one of my personal favorite bands, Diet Cig, but Scottish).   You can hear “Cringe” below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify. If you’re a “Cringe” or cringe fan well… so is Jamie. 2023’s Scottish Cringe EP is well worth the listen (and everything in between).   Life Coach ·[...]

Born Ruffians – “Supersonic Man”

April 2, 2025

Some of us become ruffians through a tragic backstory, some of us are simply Born Ruffians. I’m speaking of course, of the Toronto bred four piece and, unless you skipped the title, you’d know that we’re checking out their latest single “Supersonic Man.” It’s delightfully morose yet… somehow uplifting? Clean acoustic guitars with what sounds like a theremin (or synth, who can say?) somehow combine together for a Bob Dylan-esque ramble that will surely tickle your bramble (and ears). But like… if Bob Dylan was Canadian and a modern-day indie band that keeps churning out hits.   You can watch the music/lyric video below from YouTube (I won’t spoil it but it’s two legs on a bike). I am surprisingly atrocious with picking out lyrics 98% of the time, so seeing them in a visualizer is always incredibly helpful to help me connect more closely with music. It’s also available[...]

néomí – Do You Want To Be Honest?

April 2, 2025

néomí, who we haven’t heard from since last year’s single”talk shit” (here), has a new track that really showcases her pop chops. “Do You Want To Be Honest?” differs a bit from “talk shit” as it doesn’t quite hit the folksy notes as much (and we’re all about dynamic artists here at the Blog). Drum machines (or is it just one?) and synth feature heavily, giving a nice 80’s pop vibe (eat your heart out Madonna), with plenty of acoustic guitar to keep things feeling organic and in the alt pop/indie pop lane. Speaking to the track, néomí had this to say:   “This song is about trying to find middle/solid ground when you can’t control the movements and actions of the people/world around you…”   You can hear “Do You Want To Be Honest?” below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify. Be sure to check out her 2024 album[...]

Phantom Sugar – KATANA

March 31, 2025

“I’ve got a sharp katana deep in my back…” is how a John Wick movie could start, but it’s instead a line pulled from Phantom Sugar‘s newest track (you guessed it) “KATANA.” The title and subject matter; “getting stabbed in the back by a trusted ally and the conversation post betrayal” could go in any direction musically, but Stefano Zita et al stick with their tried-and-true brand of lo-fi pop rock (and golly, does it work!).   The guitar work is impressive but not overwrought, which is refreshing to hear. While there is a time and place for 45 layers of guitar on a track, sometimes the straightforward method is the best delivery. Coupled with earnest lyrics laying bare the feelings associated with swords in your back, you’re in for quite the treat… If being stabbed in the back is your thing.   You can hear “Katana” below from Soundcloud[...]

Honey I’m Home – Wishful Thinking

March 31, 2025

Amsterdam based Honey I’m Home brings us their latest and *checks notes* first single. Apparently putting the cart before the horse, the band has toured extensively since their inception in 2024 and then released their initial single “Wishful Thinking” in 2025.   The track itself is a delicious slice of shoegazy goodness with the haze turned up to 11. Layers of dirty guitar coalesce around a message of “…the longing to reconnect with people no longer in your life, whether it’s a lost love or a departed family member” (as per guitarist Thom Schotanus). Dreampop effects with the vocals and instrumentals give it that patented ethereal feel that you can’t go wrong with.   Hopefully we don’t have to wait a whole year for another single and more music is on the way long before! Until then, you can listen below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify. Drop the band an IG follow[...]

SAADI – “Hollow Body”

March 30, 2025

LA based Boshra AlSaadi, better known as SAADI brings us her latest single, “Hollow Body.” An artist and musician several times over, this is her first solo release since her 2020 self-titled album. Written with friend Chris Coady, it was, of all things, inspired by… Cyndi Lauper? SAADI had this to say:   “The initial inspiration was Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” but it soon took on a life of its own, especially after I added the Stratocaster guitar rhythm track.”   The track itself is a synth and/or bass affair (I’ll explain later), with the occasional rhythm guitar popping up for some added zest. I’m really bad (or synths are really good) at picking out string vs. synth sometimes, but there’s a particular tone that’s littered throughout (you can hear it most in the first 45 seconds of track). That one? Yeah you can hear it. Love that. I’m[...]

Bedolina – “We Are the Clock Ourselves Again”

March 30, 2025

“We Are the Clock Ourselves Again” manages to raise interesting philosophical considerations, like, what does that even mean? It also happens to be Ken Gould’s latest single – playing under the guise of his latest act Bedolina. There’s no other way to describe it, but this track friggin’ sets an incredible groove and just runs with it, but in the chillest way possible. I felt some whispers of Tom Petty; not only how Gould carries himself lyrically but the way guitar intersects with the ever-present bass.   You might think effortlessly rocking this hard and making it sound easy is the hallmark of a strong musician… and you’re almost there. Bedolina feels more like a force (kids these days might call it a “vibe”) and you’ll surely not be disappointed for letting your ears reckon with it (works better calling it a “force” because it sounds weird to reckon with[...]

Transmission Lost – “Hometown Zeroes for 2”

March 26, 2025

“Hometown Zeroes for 2” is the latest single from five piece alt rockers Transmission Lost. I was disappointed that there isn’t a Hometown Zeroes for 1, but I canceled my disappointment when I saw they had a track called “Smashing Pumpkins” that was honestly hilarious (check that out after you listen to HTZF2 though).   I could try to tell you “yo, these guitars rip” or “man this track slaps” (which, honestly, true)… BUT, just listen for the first minute and tell me you don’t feel something right around the :36 mark. Felt that in my soul.   You can hear “Hometown Zeroes for 2” below on the band’s SoundCloud or throw it on your latter aughts alt rock playlist. These guys seriously know how to rock and do it in *style*.   Transmission Lost · Hometown Zeroes for 2

Eric Gabriel – “Long Gone”

March 26, 2025

Reverb and effects with synth (or guitar, hard to tell sometimes) your thing? Buddy, do I have the thing for you! Eric Gabriel’s latest single “Long Gone,” off of his March 21st album Samara, is that thing for you… In case you forgot what we were talking about.   It fits perfectly between your ears for a pensive evening drive, or, for addition to your indie-electronica adjacent playlist (or both). This is also great for people who think music needs more syncopated beats. The rest of the album is a fun listen too, especially if you enjoy a *whole* album and not just the singles and you’re looking for tonal shifts in abundance.   You can hear “Long Gone” and the rest from Samara below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify.  

Love Ghost – “Just Another Sunday”

March 26, 2025

“Just Another Sunday” or another new track from Love Ghost? Well, it’s both… Even though it’s another Wednesday (currently). It’s also a collab with Jazz Moon, an Austrian musician! While I couldn’t find much info on her, she nonetheless has a magnificent set of pipes and we’ll hopefully hear more from her soon. Love Ghost, on the other hand, is Finnegan Seeker Bell, whom we’ve written about previously here and here (a fun album to bite into, also a collab).   The track itself is a hazy IPA with indie rock hops with notes of grunge malt adding to the sound (flavor?). Straight out of the bottle, the guitar is initially subdued but ebbs and flows with extra layers becoming evident, especially with the finish that fades out just over the three minute mark. IPAs aren’t for everyone, (and neither is beer, as my editor will attest) but this is[...]

Moon Age – “Time is Running Out”

March 20, 2025

Clear some space and pump this one up because it’s groovy baby. “Time is Running Out” is the chillest vibe I’ve felt in awhile because, I’ll tell you what: I do know a chill vibe when I hear it. UK based duo Moon Age are clearly products of the 80’s or really really really love working that [metaphorical] thang. Bass licks marinating in pools of synth with the softest, slickest vocals you could ever hope to find could have easily found their way to the GTA: Vice City soundtrack.   You can hear “Time is Running Out” below from Soundcloud, or over on Spotify. Their first single “Lie to Me” is equally groovetacular and well worth the listen on the aforementioned music sites. I’m not saying you should throw these on your sexytimes playlist, but you’d be a fool if you did not.   Moon Age · Moon Age –[...]