New Music

Coyote Mustache – “Laced”

December 25, 2017

“Laced” is a vibrant new single by Californian indie rock project Coyote Mustache, the umbrella name for a group of musicians fronted by Phillip Yancey and assembled from various corners of the United States. It can’t be stressed enough just how much this track uses bursts of unbridled energy to its advantage. It makes for something exceedingly infectious, conceivably a mix of Arcade Fire’s stadium-ready dynamic and Cage the Elephant’s raw spirit. This tune, assigned to Coyote Mustache’s EP coming out in the new year, tackles the experience of mundanity by facing it with its inverse–the feeling of merriment.

Kid Mango – “Function”

December 25, 2017

Having grown up partially in Bangalore, India, the Boston-bred hip hop artist going by the name Kid Mango imparts raga influence in the sound of his new song entitled “Function.” The track encases an understated but driving vocal delivery. Kid Mango’s rapped lyrics release grievances against such things as the United States government, greed and dangerous tendencies like alcoholism. Such lines as “buried alive in the Petri dish of sorrow” and “cop cars move like sharks in the night,” among others, are uniquely poetic to an appreciable degree. Recorded entirely in a Brooklyn bedroom, Kid Mango’s mixtape containing “Function” has been planned for a drop sometime in the early months of 2018.

Rainsford (feat. Twin Shadow) – “Intentions”

December 24, 2017

Rainsford’s “Intentions” is dipped in graceful synthesizer, light-as-air vocals and sensuous, 1980s-seasoned beauty. The lyrics chronicle a spell of hesitance clouding a relationship, illustrated by commitment issues from the other side. The chorus bursts with emotion through its inquiry challenging this partner’s intentions and self-reflection about why it remains difficult to let go and move on. The song is met with a magically choreographed visual containing a range of captivating imagery, which can be seen below.

Thirstin Howl the 3rd (feat. Dak Lo) – “Japan Style”

December 24, 2017

“Japan Style” is different from anything you may have heard before, aside from perhaps the samurai-influenced aura of the Wu-Tang Clan. The track shows a prime culture clash between Thirstin Howl the 3rd’s Brooklyn-raised background and a Japan-centered touch brought to the table by Dak Lo. The track also infuses Asian vocal samples into its menacing, horn-carried beat and references to the culture within its lyrics, which sustain a sharp-shooting quality. The conclusion of the music video, viewable below, touts Thirstin Howl the 3rd’s place in pioneering Lo Life, a Brooklyn-birthed movement hinged on Polo Ralph Lauren clothing. The track can be found on Thirstin Howl the 3rd’s most recent album Skillmatic, which also features such names as the late Prodigy from Mobb Deep and Sticky Fingaz from Onyx.

Dear Apollo – “Parachute”

December 24, 2017

With a radiant indie rock sound at the helm, Ithaca-based duo Dear Apollo are–aptly so–on their way to the stars. The duo’s members crafted their debut EP hundreds of miles apart from one another with the aid of Dropbox, a surprising factoid given their songs’ remarkable intimacy and rich texture. One standout track is “Parachute,” which begins delicately with spacey analog synth and gentle vocals, which grow to a touching harmony once the first chorus hits. The tune collapses to a piano-based melody approximately two minutes in, which meets a steady, final build-up of instruments before one last utterance of “I need a parachute, and I need a push” tugs ever so lightly at the heartstrings. Dear Apollo’s self-titled EP is available for purchase through the duo’s bandcamp page. Dear Apollo by Dear Apollo

Catalina – “Alvarado”

December 23, 2017

Oooh yeah, calmness and simplicity are two words that come to mind when listening to Catalina’s newest jam, “Alvarado.” The duo of Jakob Shaw and Eric Poretsky have filled the song with subtlety; the plunking bass and the gentle swelling of keyboards throughout the track is ultra-pleasant to the ears… Put this one on during a mid-afternoon chill sesh, we think you’ll be better off for it. Add it to your “chill” playlist on Spotify.

Gentle Ivanhoe Death Skulls – “Green Hang Ten”

December 21, 2017

Stockholm-based Gentle Ivanhoe Death Skulls serves up a fresh take on indie rock-meets-dream pop with their single “Green Hang Ten.” The song combines lo-fi vocals, a formidable bass line, ambient synths, and fuzzy percussion to fill out a shoegaze-inspired sound fronted by prominent guitar tracks. It’s the kind of track that’s totally unique in execution, but has a crowd pleasing element that’s got a little something for everyone. Since their 2016 outset, the band has released two singles including B sides, with a debut album set for release next spring on Shiny Happy Records. In the meantime, dig in to “Green Hang Ten” below and check out Gentle Ivanhoe Death Skull’s other tracks on bandcamp.

Ruler – “Easy Life”

December 19, 2017

Seattle’s Ruler fits into the city’s historic music scene with years of pent-up ambition that pours through in their single “Easy Life.” The brainchild of frontman Matt Batey, Ruler supplies clarion vocal melodies, garage-rock inspired guitar lines, and drum tracks built for precision. There’s a definite light-hearted breeziness to the track, sending out a ‘let the good times roll’ spirit that immediately makes your day a little brighter. Despite the project’s recent inception, Batey is no stranger to Seattle’s musical bounds, spending the last 12 years fronting bands and cranking out releases. Those years spent cultivating a sound and building up a catalog seem to pay off here, where clever song structure and instrumentation plays tongue-and -cheek in a way that’s not overly obvious, but subtly addicting. This is Ruler’s third single release, with a debut album coming soon via Barsuk Records.

THE SULLEN – “Help You”

December 19, 2017

THE SULLEN explores the depth of electronica with his latest single, “Help You.” The Italian/Brazilian singer, songwriter, and producer does it all, drawing in elements of techno, dance, and synth pop. With a mantra-like looping melody, his lyricism takes on a storytelling quality, while electronic instrumentals provide a strident and ever-pulsing backdrop. It’s a catchy track that’s easy to get lost in and even easier to dance to. This is THE SULLEN’S second single release to date, with a debut EP set for release December 22. If DIY electropop is the name of the game, “Help You” should be right up your alley.

Typhoon – “Rorschach”

December 19, 2017

Typhoon is an octet (!) from Portland, OR whose latest single has us in somewhat of a tizzy. “Rorschach” is a great starter point for the group’s unique post-pop approach, acting a single which is actually a snippet of a greater movement (titled Floodplains) that the band released back in October. The full album, titled Offerings, will be out in October… Until then, start digesting the intricate guitar work, intimate vocal delivery, and left-field instrumentation that “Rorschach” has to offer. Fans of Manchester Orchestra, Dear and the Headlights, or Floodplains is currently on Spotify, be sure to add “Rorschach” to your playlist.

Fuzzystar – “Superhero”

December 19, 2017

Andy Thomson, of Edinburgh, has released the indie-pop showpiece “Superhero” through Satellite Records under his pseudonym Fuzzystar, a christening that provides a nod the way of groups Big Star and Mazzy Star. Marked by a luxuriant guitar sound, manic but deliberate drumming and unruffled singing, the song purveys a lesson to keep one’s head up through rough patches while conserving a reasonable amount of self-awareness. “Superhero” also lyrically ties itself to its title with reference to such tropes as Kryptonite. The music video, picturing Thomson and his band performing inside a warehouse, can be watched below.

HEPTAGRAM – “Here, Now”

December 19, 2017

HEPTAGRAM’s fresh-out tune “Here, Now” augments its transcendent sound with lyrics concerning the reality happening in the moment and the feeling of reaching contentment and strength. The official music video is breathtaking, depicting aerial views of piers, sandy beaches and red-stricken countrysides before showing a panoramic view of a beachfront. It’s an apt visual representation of the song’s meditative power. The tune and its accompanying video, watchable below, draw from the natural environment of HEPTAGRAM’s mastermind Daniel Ivanov’s upbringing in Bulgaria.

Still Parade – “Kindness”

December 19, 2017

If one were to be fed with the information that Still Parade’s “Kindness” sustains an electronic drum beat at its core, they might feel inclined to expect four minutes of heartless machinery ahead. Instead, they would be treated with a track containing remarkable emotional substance. Its even-tempered, keyboard-based groove can be easily described as beautiful and nostalgia-inducing (despite the first line ironically being “pushing the past away”). Niklas Kramer, hailing from Berlin, is the musician responsible for such wholehearted and inviting wonder, arranged from unfinished efforts during a bout with writer’s block. Kramer’s next full-length album is slated to be released in 2018.

Undercut – “Take the Wheel”

December 19, 2017

The commanding lead single from newly banded-together alternative rock trio Undercut’s eponymously titled EP, “Take the Wheel” opens up to a shimmering ambience before ringing in piercing drums and bass. The vocals aren’t rough, but they’re acerbic. About a minute and a half in, the track makes excellent use of a false ending, which keeps the listener on their toes without abolishing momentum. The breakdown and guitar solo a minute later make for a segment suggestive of the group members’ previous associations with grunge and heavy metal. “Take the Wheel” should be viewed as a paragon for anyone seeking to reclaim control of their livelihood.

Jinka – “Shock Mounted”

December 19, 2017

“Shock Mounted,” with simplicity and grace, captures a feeling of freedom in the dark, post-breakup abyss. Transylvanian producer Jinka allows her new single to float on an unorthodox, jaunty dance rhythm, complete with head-turning vocal effects and subtle doses of bass and synth. The tone of the song sounds so nonchalant and charged up, seemingly adverse to its subject matter but also an admirable, hard-to-attain emotional response to heartbreak. It all adds up to a hooking electro-pop track.