Latest Posts

Holding Hour – “Come Undone”

May 28, 2024

“Come Undone” is the newest track from Iowa-based duo Holding Hour – made up of Marissa Kephart and Scott Yoshimura. We previously covered the other side of this single, “Parallel Lines” back in April here, and liked what we heard then (just as we do now). Kephart’s vocals really shine through in this guitar-heavy track, doubling down on the guitar and drums while leaving the synth in the backseat. It’s complete with a set of yearning lyrics that set off the dreamy flavors here perfectly – see below: “Say something sweet to me, I wanna hear my name inside your mouth, before you chew and spit it out” I really enjoyed how this track managed to feel straightforward yet intricate, with the guitars building over each stanza in a steady simmer but never boiling over. Fans of Slowdive or Snail Mail would find a lot to enjoy here, with the[...]

B. Miles – “Emergency Contact”

May 22, 2024

New York based Brenna Miles, better known as B. Miles, brings us her latest pop gem with “Emergency Contact,” and even after being done listening it’s still stuck in my head. You’ll hear a lot of drum machine and whispers of bass guitar but the focus is undoubtedly on Miles’ vocals; her range isn’t tested too much but every note is flawless. We’ve written about B. Miles before here, and love what she’s doing now just as much as a year ago! Fans of St. Vincent or Sharon Von Etten would find a lot to enjoy here, as well as someone looking to expand their horizons from the usual male lead act. Speaking to the track, Miles had this to say: “I moved across the country from my family many years ago and depended on my significant other during my 20s to be my emergency contact. When we split up[...]

Elson – “Moments”

May 22, 2024

Elson is a three piece from England with their first proper release, “Moments,” and it’s a catchy track alt-indie track in the vein of Ride or Blur. The guitar will most certainly hook you right from the get go and keep that hook in throughout. Elson could have done very well for themselves in the 90’s – I also got some early Smashing Pumpkins vibes toward the end of the track. Their layering and composition is polished, but not to the point where they couldn’t translate to a great live band and it all just comes together incredibly well. You can hear the studio version of “Moments” over on Spotify or a neat acoustic session down below from YouTube. Be sure to give the band a follow on their socials and Spotify to keep up to date on what’s next -with this much talent it’s impossible that they stop with[...]

Swiss Portrait – “Worries”

May 22, 2024

From the Lowlands of Scotland, Swiss Portrait brings us their latest with “Worries.” Songwriting, recording, and producing is all done by Michael – the brains behind the operation and, obviously, indie as fuck. The track itself is a subdued, guitar-forward song that has that delectable warm tone/vibe (you’ll know it when you hear it) that you can’t help but like. The composition is impeccable, as you can tell every single bit of the sound has been painstakingly laid down to near perfection – but the musical kind (not robotic). Fans of Real Estate or Alvvays’ sound would find a lot to enjoy here; similar vibes but 100% more Scottish than either band. You can hear “Worries” over on Spotify or down below from YouTube. If you like what you’ve heard you can check out the album when it releases later this year. I give artists a follow on their socials[...]

Parallel – “Blister”

May 22, 2024

“Blister” is the latest from California based band Parallel, and it’s a moody post punk jam (which we particularly enjoy here at the BLOG). Released in anticipation of a six track EP due out this July 4, “Blister” employs a guitar-forward approach that somehow sounds warm and downtrodden at the same time. The veil occasionally lifts and goes in a dream pop direction before diving back to the dirge-y downbeat – providing an interesting juxtaposition while showing the line that separates the two genres isn’t that wide. If you’re into current acts like Beach House and also own a Joy Division t-shirt, this is the band for you. You can hear “Blister” below from YouTube (accompanied with a creepy stop motion music video) or you can hear it on the various streamers Apple Music or Spotify. Flooded is out in July and you can hear this plus five more tracks[...]

SZEGO MUSIC – “More Lst Thn This”

May 18, 2024

Swedish multimedia guru Andreas Szego is the brains behind SZEGO MUSIC and their latest single is “More Lst Thn This.” It’s an astoundingly bold production that has a lot of threads going on. I couldn’t find out much about the lyrics; seemingly Swedish chanting. It does have a nice vibe and I felt like it could either be in a video game (like the lead up to a final zone) or a tourism commercial for Mars. This is an incredibly synth forward track in that it’s….almost entirely synth. Is it even “synth forward” or is it just *synth*? Either way you slice it, it’s a fun vibey track that you’ll find enjoyment in if you like electronica/synth music. You can hear “More Lst Thn This” over on Spotify.

rincs – “Dingbat”

May 18, 2024

“Dingbat” is the latest from LA duo (or quartet now? unclear) rincs, and it’s quite the banger. While it’s been a minute since we’ve written about rincs, doesn’t mean there’s any love lost! We last heard from them in 2022 and 2020, and it looks like they’re still on their (most excellent) shit. The track starts off with a really fun diddy of a guitar riff along with Rebeca R’s dulcet tones. The time signature changes that happen sporadically throughout really keep you on your toes – really keeping with the (eccentric) “Dingbat” theme. You’ll be charmed by the twee guitars and bedroom indie pop feel, along the lines of Speedy Ortiz or Deerhoof. You can hear “Dingbat” over on Spotify or conveniently down below from Soundcloud. One of the notes my editor left me was that there was a potential WNY theme. @rincs if you see this, can you confirm[...]

april june – “starstruck”

May 17, 2024

“starstruck” is the latest from Madrid artist april june – ironically from their EP released in May. Piano and acoustic guitar mesh together well with the lyrics that take on a darker tone (both melodically and lyrically) as it pays homage to the 1993 film “True Romance.” Specifically: “Amidst the chaos of that day, when all I could hear was the thunder of gunshots, and all I could smell was the violence in the air, I look back and am amazed that my thoughts were so clear and true, that three words went through my mind endlessly, repeating themselves like a broken record: you’re so cool, you’re so cool, you’re so cool.” If you’ve been following along and have noticed a few bands we’ve written about previously, Makeout City or Bathe Alone, you would find a lot to enjoy with april june. You can hear the track on Spotify or[...]

Club 8 – “Free Falling”

May 15, 2024

Club 8, a band we’ve covered extensively (“Sunny,” “Just Like Heaven,” and “Daylight“) brings us their latest with “Free Falling.” Based out of Sweden and apparently some of the coolest people in existence, Karolina Komstedt and Johan Angergård continue to release music at a steady clip. Angergård has been in multiple bands and have released everything from bossa nova to trip hop albums over the years (having been active since 1995). “Free Falling” falls (pun intended) into the a nice little indie chill wave/dream pop niche a la Beach House; simmering throughout and lead very strongly with Komstedt’s vocals. Jangly guitars and wispy lyrics somehow feel haunting yet inviting -pulling you in with each passing stanza and wholly enveloping you in the mystique of Club 8 by the end. You can hear “Free Falling” over on Spotify or down below courtesy of YouTube. If you haven’t heard them before, definitely give[...]

Foreign Fields – “Glowworm”

May 15, 2024

Coming to you from the badger state (Wisconsin), indie rock duo Foreign Fields brings us their latest with “Glowworm.” Made up of Brian Holl and Eric Hillman, they recorded this track along with “Faultlines” and “Damages” with engineer Brian Joseph – who has previously worked with popular acts like Bon Iver and Sufjan Stevens. Unsurprisingly, you can hear some similarities and while very much their own act you could certainly imagine them opening for either artist as an opener at any venue in the US. “Glowworm” has a distinct folk mouthfeel in a similar vein to Band of Horses, but it adds in a sort of electronica undertone that is both interesting and welcome. Speaking to the track, specifically written about watching his daughter grow up: “Most of the time I’m ecstatic to watch her grow up, but there have been moments where I find myself trying everything I can[...]

wine pride – “Sunshower”

May 15, 2024

North Carolina based wine pride‘s latest is “Sunshower” and we’re lucky to have the chance to hear it and share it with you over at the BLOG. Bass, guitar and distorted vocals bring a fun low-fi/new wave/shoegaze (shoewave-fi?) vibe reminiscent of acts from across the pond and stateside – specifically The Cure (you may have heard of them) and bands like DIIV or Day Wave. wine pride finds a way to honor the new while surging forward with fresh ideas and composition. The intro bass quickly gives way to light guitar interspersed with Aaron Felger’s warped vocals – operating on a similar wavelength as the guitar (like, actual literal wavelength which creates a fun echo chamber of sound). If you enjoy “Sunshower” be sure to give The Lost EP a listen – it clocks in at less than twenty minutes and was a perfectly timed listen for my short commute[...]

EVNTYD – “Sunday”

May 14, 2024

Austin based Julián Berdegué, the brains behind EVNTYD (‘eventide’) brings us their latest with “Sunday.” Written about a walk home on Sunday morning after a weekend bender and the (strangely) uplifting sadness that comes with it, Berdegué hits hard with this guitar-forward banger-and-a-half and doesn’t let up. Using the spare time brought on by the pandemic, Berdegué, having already been a proficient in guitar, taught himself bass, drums, and piano for his previous self-titled album. This dedication to craft carried over to the Watershed EP, upon which “Sunday” resides. The enmeshed shoegaze sound is a fun, ever-evolving genre that started oh-so-long ago with your Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentines, but is carried on and honed by bands like EVNTYD (and their contemporaries DIIV and Alvvays). It’s not a “you’ve heard one, you’ve heard them all” scenario; you’ll always find a new riff or sound you didn’t hear before and[...]

Bonfire Vanity – “Key to the City of No Regrets”

May 14, 2024

“Key to the City of No Regrets” is the latest from NYC based four piece Bonfire Vanity, who are apparently very talented when it comes to song writing, song names, and band names. With a title like that there’s just no telling what you’re getting into, but thankfully your pals at the BLOG gave it a perusal. The verdict? A chill shoegaze jam with impeccably crafted vocals, showcasing (or… shoecasing) the entire band’s talents as all four members have songwriting credits. and can recommend it strongly. The track begins with a synth/guitar duo that meshes together and diverge throughout; intermingling with the vocals in a perfect balance betwixt. While four minutes is a little long for a punk track, it is the perfect amount of time for a shoegaze track. Fans of DIIV and Wild Nothing would find a lot to enjoy here, plus it’s always exciting to hear a[...]

Laurel – “45 Degrees”

May 7, 2024

45 Degrees is the latest from LA based Laurel Arnell-Cullen, aka Laurel, released in anticipation of her forthcoming album “Palpitation” due out June 14th. This is one hundred percent a delightful pop romp, with Laurel’s impeccable pipes blazing the way. I know I mention it a lot, but having played bass, I can’t help but notice the sick bass line throughout the track meshing with light synth effects and occasional fleeting guitar. Fans of Lorde, Charli XCX, or Florence + The Machine’s brand of pop would find a lot to enjoy, and then some, with Laurel’s talents. Speaking to the track Laurel had this to say: “The love you feel is so deep, yet the life you live in this love is lighthearted, heady, euphoric, and youthful. It sends you crazy when you are not near them, they are the one that can cool you down like a breeze on[...]

Paris ’82 – “Lost My Way”

May 7, 2024

“Lost My Way” is the latest single from Paris ’82, a project from electronica singer/songwriter Ethan Farmer. I couldn’t find much info on him other than his IG and X; but through the intriguing mystique, he seems like a cool dude from what I could see. The track itself is incredibly groovy and even me, who can’t carry a rhythm to save my life, was able to bump my head to the beat with little difficulty (I might even be able to dance, because it’s just that dang good). The song itself is about personal struggles and strength, giving an even more uplifting message to the whole shebang. Anyone who is into EDM, electronic music, or pop in general would find a lot to enjoy here, with Farmer’s approach encompassing all genres seamlessly. You’d be hard pressed to find a note out of place, as you lose yourself to the[...]