Latest Posts

Kai Undrell – “Can It Get Any Better…?”

September 30, 2023

England based musician (and filmmaker, evidently) Kai Undrell of Sheffield dropped his lead single “Can It Get Any Better…?” September 22 in anticipation of his debut EP Full Fat Fear due out October 13. Citing influences from Arcade Fire and Scissor Sisters, “Any Better…?” sounds like what would happen if Elton John started making music in the early aughts but was a bit more reserved. This is definitely a piano forward song with some tight bass licks in the background with Undrell showcasing his delightful vocals (seriously, that man has some PIPES). It’s honestly quite refreshing to hear a piano/synth piano clone starring as the main instrument (with a beat to boot) in contemporary music. While I’m not sure if the question the song poses is ever answered (or if it’s even supposed to be), Kai Undrell absolutely is worth a listen and someone to look out for. Be sure to check[...]

Fur Trade – “Monaco”

September 30, 2023

A surprising and altogether exciting track, “Monaco” is a blast from a past for some readers around my age. Fur Trade is a project of Hot Hot Heat front man Steve Bays and Parker Bossley of Gay Nineties and formerly of Hot Hot Heat. “Monaco” is their newest single off of their recently released album Dark Celebration (September 22) and it’s an absolute banger. This is their first major album release together since 2013’s Don’t Get Heavy,  and, fittingly, there’s a (possible) self dig in the lyrics: “It’s 10 o’clock and writer’s block is thriving, driving me to drink…” The intro is mostly the aforementioned vocals and some smooooth bass that eventually brings in neurotic blasts of synth and super tight drums, evolving into a full blown ruckus that reminds me of somewhere between vintage HHH meshed with a disco electronica feel. Be sure to check out “Monaco” over on Spotify[...]

The Seshen – “Waiting For Dawn”

September 30, 2023

Bay Area based six piece The Seshen bring us their newest single, “Waiting For Dawn,” an absolutely scrumptious amalgamation of sounds impeccably crafted and mixed together. Singer Lalin St. Juste is on an altogether different level than most vocalists as she weaves her incredible voice throughout the track, guiding us and pulling us like a siren’s call. The song itself is a deep dive into the feelings after a significant life transition, partially born from the divorce between St. Juste and fellow bandmember Aki Ehara. Fans of Grimes if she kept her electronica sensibilities and joined an indie band would find a lot to enjoy here but that’s just the tip of the iceberg and doesn’t quite do The Seshen justice. Be sure to give “Waiting For Dawn” a listen over on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube. If you you’re feeling the vibe, be sure to check out their album Nowhere[...]

Dawn Park – “New Material”

September 30, 2023

NYC based duo Dawn Park bring us their latest single “New Material,” the most recent follow up to their June EP Petulma. We originally covered a single from that very same EP here and had good things to say about them then, and that hasn’t changed in the ensuing months. Improving on their previous release with deeper experimentation with mixing and some additional complexity, “New Material” was written about: “…the feeling that we need to make some sort of dramatic, drastic change to fix whatever is going on in our lives.” I particularly enjoyed the fuzzy bass tone throughout the track, it’s difficult to describe but it just scratches an itch that’s probably related to hertz (or maybe some undiscovered childhood trauma). A lot of bands can get it wrong or overdo it; definitely not the case here. Be sure to give “New Material” a listen on Spotify, as well as[...]

Casual Confrontation – Marriage Culture

September 22, 2023

Casual Confrontation is the stage name of Frankie Diez, a Romanian born artist who grew up in Puerto Rico and Miami before landing in Nashville. He’s here with his latest album, Marriage Culture, a sprawling and expansive 17-song offering that promises a look at the institution of marriage from all sides. A producer and classically trained pianist, Frankie has released and produced three albums previously under his own moniker and also had cowriting credits with other artists. He touts his songwriting and producing prowess and that he also “…aim[s] to help artists say exactly what they want and need to say in the form of a song, giving them a space to let their words, feelings, and emotions flourish without boundary or judgement.” This sentiment translates well in Marriage Culture – Diez explains below: “‘Marriage Culture’ explores the concepts of marriage as an institution, one’s desire for connection with others[...]

Idledaze – Sandbox

September 20, 2023

Sandbox is a seven song EP from Whitewater, Wisconsin-based one man band Idledaze, released in anticipation of a full length album due out spring of 2024. Idledaze performs as a solo act but also does cover projects as a the Idledaze Trio with a setlist that spans everything from Alice in Chains to Zeppelin. Sandbox as a whole trends toward a bluesy flavor with a country-tinged edge, especially with the fun 90’s feeling video made for the track “Hot Feet” that you can see over on YouTube. Interspersed throughout the rollicking bass lines and meandering guitar is Idledaze himself amongst a montage of oil paintings and a Chicago go-go dancer (hence the name, not a reference to Quentin Tarantino’s favorite body part). Evidently a big oil painting guy, the album art for Sandbox is based on artwork done by his sister. The first track “In The Mood” feels like an[...]

Pale Puma – “Cast a Shadow”

September 14, 2023

Bringing you a rare double shot, we have ANOTHER Pale Puma track hot off the presses; their other song was “Down by the River,” (which I wrote about here). This one is “Cast a Shadow” also off of their September 8th album Haunted By Dreams That Were Never My Own and while in the same vein as “Down by the River” it’s definitely the shinier of the two. The chord progression and steady drum beat gave me the same feeling of playing an epic video game or journeying into a decisive battle with the BBEG in Dungeons and Dragons with my friends (editor’s note: BBEG means “Big Bad Evil Guy” in D&D parlance, and Chris is a friggin’ nerd). A galloping drum beat and haunting guitar work certainly add to that mysterious and adventurous feeling. If you’ve already listened to “Down by the River” and enjoyed it, this one is a[...]

Bazemore – “in your arbor”

September 13, 2023

According to an unverified post on the genius.com page listed on his Instagram; Bazemore is based out of Baltimore and is a triple threat of producer/musician/sound engineer. His latest single is “in your arbor,” and it’s a simmering, noisy romp with ALL of the guitar layers and ALL of the feedback. It’s a mashed-together conglomerate of shoegaze and EDM that shows off Bazemore’s composition chops – the way he builds the guitars/effects/drum machine to a rousing crescendo shows a true mastery of his craft. Fans of M83, My Bloody Valentine, or my personal favorite Beach House would find a lot to enjoy here. While shoegaze typically eschews a gentle electronic beat for sheer noise, you can’t help but ignore the driving rhythms and washy presences here. You can hear “in your arbor” on Spotify, Apple Music, or if you’re thrifty like me, here’s the YouTube link.

tiger del flor x MKSTN – “like we’re an indie movie (url remix)”

September 13, 2023

“like we’re an indie movie” is a track by Hollywood based tiger del flor and Toronto based MKSTN – quite the long distance affair! As if the track wasn’t good enough, it’s been given the remix treatment by url – an impressive artist in his own right with a deep catalogue of collaborations and originals. The remix does a good job of keeping the meat and potatoes of the original track more or less intact and adds a bit more extra flavor and pizzazz a la squelching bass synths, airy synth touches, and bedroom-pop drumming. TDF’s lyrics are hauntingly longing – if Timothée Chalemet, Greta Gerwig, and Sofia Coppola were combined into a romantic indie movie this would definitely be on the soundtrack. url turns up the bass and ensuing funk up to 11, something fans of EDM music in general or Daft Punk or Chemical Brothers would appreciate. You[...]

Pale Puma – “Down By The River”

September 11, 2023

Amsterdam-based four piece dreampop band Pale Puma brings us their newest single “Down By The River” off of their recently released album Haunted By Dreams That Were Never My Own (September 8, Excelsior Recordings). Shimmering guitars backdropped by slick bass create a shoegazy vibe with singer Django Duijns’ echoing voice wallowing in (calm) despair. Feeling somewhere between an upbeat Interpol or less upbeat Alvvays, Pale Puma’s sound is unique enough that they stand on their own quite well. The album itself is well worth the listen if you enjoy “Down By The River,” which you can find over on Spotify. My next favorite was probably “Sea of Discontent,” especially for letting bassist Remy de Kok shine a bit more. Be sure to let us know what you think over on our social medias – Facebook or X (aka Twitter, seriously that was the silliest rebranding of all time).

Helenor – “Bad2”

September 6, 2023

Brooklyn born musician David DiAngelis, the brains behind Helenor, brings us a nice diddly of a bedroom indie pop gem with his newest track “Bad2.” Beginning with a hooky lo-fi synth (that reappears throughout the song) DiAngelis wastes no time establishing a steady pace, bolstered by acoustic guitar, that builds upon itself. Speaking to the track, he had this to say: “This is a soundtrack for pretending you have the ability to be present…. ‘Bad2’ is a ball and a chain and a weighted walk through a vitamin D soaked summer day.” “Bad2” gave me Real Estate vibes, but slowed down and deconstructed. Fans of Alex G, Bonny Doon, or even MGMT would also find a lot to enjoy with “Bad2” and the rest of DiAngelis’s impressive catalogue. You can find that and more over on Spotify or YouTube if that’s your music listening preference.

Martha Rose x GRIP TIGHT – “Come On Over”

September 6, 2023

Berlin based musician Martha Rose teams up with collaborator Benjamin Luke Gregory, aka GRIP TIGHT, another artist who makes his home in Berlin by way of London. They’ve worked together previously on another single, “Never B Mine” and keep the magic going with the breezy lo-fi stylings of “Come On Over.” Contrasting the two songs is initially difficult, but “Come On Over” mostly stays in it’s synth-based dream pop lane – putting more focus on Rose’s vocals. It’s an incredibly sexy, synth-laden track that puts Rose’s haunting voice front and center, based on a mythical (or real?) “party” (re: orgy) on Mt. Olympus. Fans of Blue Hawaii, TOPS, or Grimes looking that “next big band” would certainly find a lot to enjoy here. Rose and Gregory have an ear for composition and have the sound of artists punching well above their weight with a polished yet not overwrought vibe. You can[...]

GRRL GANG – “Better Than Life”

September 2, 2023

Grrrl Gang, a power punky trio from Indonesia, brings us their latest track “Better Than Life” off of their new album sharing the same name. We previously covered them here, and had nothing but good things to say then… But to be fair that was mid August and we generally don’t turn on a band that quickly! You’re immediately assaulted with the full force of the entire band playing their hearts out and singer Angeeta Sentana droning and screaming into the mic a la Karen O. Just when the song reaches its peak, it’s over and you’re onto the next song. I can definitely get behind a song that grips me like that and manages to simultaneously give me what I need while leaving me wanting for more. I got some Sonic Youth noise vibes with with a touch of Ramones with this track, especially with it coming in at[...]

The Lovelines – “May Be Love”

September 2, 2023

Mysterious sister/brother duo, by way of Germany and Florida, The Lovelines bring us their latest single “May Be Love.” I found in it a fun, meandering piece that was honestly *so* relaxing to listen to that I felt like I was on vacation. The wavy guitars interspersed with the sister’s (no idea of their names, unfortunately) singing creates a soothing atmosphere that dream pop aficionados will most definitely enjoy. It’s a perfect, sauntering, dog days of summer vibe for that one last hangout by the pool. I think the most accurate comparison is probably Alvvays with the jazz vibe turned up like 30%. This was honestly a great stepping off point and I found some of their other tracks such as “1-800-LOVELINE” and their biggest hit “Strange Kind of Love” to be equally awesome. Be sure to check out “May Be Love” over on Spotify or Apple Music.

TELLL – “Garlic”

September 2, 2023

Mysterious collective TELLL, coming by way of Austria, brings us a slow burn, folk-tinged indie gem with their single “Garlic.” Morose to a fault (in the best ways), it’s the perfect end of summer slow jam and an easy shoe-in for an end of summer playlist. Big Thief with Adrianne Lenker turned up to 11 (on the morose monitor) is the best comparison I can think of, specifically the observations as the singer looks back on a failed relationship. This part of the song really gutted me: Did you cut your hair or leave it Like I always said you should Is your cat still on a diet Or did you give up on that plan? Do you sometimes, sometimes think of us? The subtle instrumentals give singer Änn plenty of room to shine and leaves room a instrument to shine at points (spoiler, it’s a trumpet). It’s obvious the[...]