Vancouver quintet Illacuda hit us up with the brand new music video for “Stop Calling” and we dig it. Beyond the abstract visuals and haunting imagery of the video, we’re loving Illacuda’s use of swirly guitars, washy drums, and the Morrissey-esque vocals. You can tell Illacuda takes influence from both the 1950s and 1980s. Snag “Stop Calling” from Bandcamp if you dig it.
O+S, the latest musical venture for Orenda Fink and Scalpelist (aka Cedric LeMoyne) nestles itself on the dreamier side of alt-rock with their single “Hold You Down.” Heralding from the duo’s long awaited sophomore album, “Hold You Down” spans a sweet array of emotional scrutiny and soul-searching. Fink reveals “’Hold You Down’ is about the impossible task of accepting you are going to lose someone before you actually do. It wonders if love is the thread that weaves our collective fabric- and supposes that once you love someone they are a part of you forever, regardless of if they still inhabit their physical body or not.” The song’s relatively sparse and exposing instrumentation and gentle vocals lend even more to this idea of soothing rumination. For more of O+S keep an eye out for their upcoming album You Were Once the Sun, Now You’re the Moon, out later this Spring[...]
19 year-old French producer Tancrede dives into the electronic scene with his remix of Bonobo’s “Break Apart.” Molding a genre-bending amalgamation of funk, dance, and chillwave, Tancrede brings something new to the table, and makes sure everyone knows it. It’s dreamy and indulgent, as it continues to introduce new elements that slip in and out of the texture while the seconds tick by. This is only the start of Tancrede’s production ventures, so be sure to stay tuned for many more remixes and originals where that came from. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/309368045″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
For those of us that have seen the highly decorated La La Land, I think we can agree that the ending was nothing if not a little heartbreaking. Indie-pop outfit Lo-fi Indie Crush seem to share the sentiment, as clearly laid out in their track “La La Land (Made Me Sad.)” As the band eloquently put it, “When half the films you see leave you feeling like you’ve been dumped and Netflix just digs a deeper hole, sometimes there’s only one thing to do to cheer yourself up… write a song about it.” In a little under 2 minutes, Lo-fi Indie Crush lays out all of our romantic qualms with the film, with bright guitar lines and picturesque vocal harmonies churning on all the while. For more of Lo-fi Indie Crush, catch the B side to this track, called “Make You Happy,” out on Grandpa Stan. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/308979546″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%”[...]
Alt-rock trio Can I Say brings us a piece of ponderous rock and roll all the way from Austria. Their single “Worlds in Transit” is moody and brooding, but manages to keep it light with buoyant chord progressions and a cheering chorus. The band’s favored arrangement for catchy verses and heavy-hitting choruses leaves this track as no exception, as the instrumentation reflects a complex thought process that spans every emotion under the sun. If “Worlds in Transit” has sparked you interest, be sure to check out the band’s debut album In Your Arms, out on Pure Sound Recordings. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/308981369″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
The alt dance-pop stylings of Glassio are the latest breath of fresh electro-pop air to hit your speakers, in the form of their new single “Morning House.” With dismissal of negative energy as the main driving force behind the track, “Morning House” essentially emanates positivity. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Odesza and Flume, this song is vividly synth driven, with smooth-as-butter vocals and a rousing chorus, all tied together with the production stylings of Charles Fauna. Dip into some of Glassio and Charles Fauna’s sweet melody combo below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/308681536″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Norwegian indie-acoustic artist Simen Mitlid is stealing hearts all over the world with his latest single, “I Don’t Care.” With vocals like honey, ethereal harmonies, and endearing piano-guitar interplay, what’s not to love? The track grasps onto hints of folk, conjuring a sound comparable to The Head and The Heart and City and Colour. Although lyrically the song is about letting go and leaving the past behind, it holds an unmistakable note of optimism. Settle in and allow Mitlid’s voice to sweep your worries away below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/305228106″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
“If We’re Telling Secrets (Reprise)” off of Pierce Engineer’s recent album release is a taste of smooth indie-pop with an electrified edge. There’s some subtle R&B influences there, with a crass, energized core. Its foundation is built on slinky guitar motifs, brassy synths, and dynamic vocals. Nothing in this song is the same twice, and that’s what makes it so enticing. And best of all, there’s more where that came from on Pierce Engineer’s brand new and aptly named debut album Violently Stimulated, released via PATCHES. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/308852092″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Budding Brooklyn record label YouTooCanWoo is hitting the ground running with its first single release from electro-pop trio Violet Sands. The track “Hello, I’m Free” is a spunky fusion of glitch-pop and a 90’s power-pop ballad. The latest house party soundtrack, laced with nostalgia and introspection. As a conglomerate of seasoned musicians from Savoir Adore and French Horn Rebellion, this certainly isn’t their first rodeo, and it shows. Try it on for size, and if you’re feeling “Hello, I’m Free,” we highly recommend you check out the band’s EP Strange Attractor. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/309259719″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Alex Lewis, AKA, Turinn is an English electronic producer based out of Manchester. From his debut record, 18 1/2 Minute Gaps on the always stand out label, Modern Love, drops the single of the same name. The title is a reference to the 18 minutes of unexplained erased audio, that in part led to the impeachment of Nixon. The inclusion here makes sense, and plays with the idea of absence revealing truth. “18 1/2 Minute Gaps” doesn’t waste time, jumping right into a moody house style beat that sits on top of a rich and dark synth. A quick shot here and there of high pitched, feigned, jazz style synth notes cuts through the gloomy fog of the beat. It’s an incredible blend of textures and electronic genres. The jazz synth itself is a very mutilated James Blake sample from one of his early dub EPs, that’s almost been turned[...]
Psychedelic quartet Shadowgraphs have a banger on their hands with their latest single, “Scarlet Tunic.” The song has a real pep to its step, finding the North Carolina-based quartet experimenting with fuzzy guitars, echoey vocals, and a never-ending drum and bass assault. Fans of music from the 1960s and neo-psychedelic bands like The Black Angels will like “Scarlet Tunic” Swing by their Bandcamp for a preorder of their next release, Venomous Blossoms. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/309030776″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
These guys mix a 60s mentality with 80s sentiment and a bit of Alex Turner flavoring… We’re talking about Weird Milk, a London quartet who we think are on to something judging by their latest single, “This Close.” Chorusy guitars and lo-fi production values channel the melodic side of the 80s – a perfect requiem from all the scuzzy indie rock currently flooding the scene. Here’s their iTunes link. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/308012956″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Glammy quartet Coyóte caught our ears with their latest jam, “Dirty Work.” The song is a dirty spiral into the mind of a manic pixie type, aurally envisioned through their use of blunt guitar work, dance-heavy rhythms, and soulful vocals. Fans of The Growlers or The Clientele will surely get down to this one. Peep the track below and be on the lookout from this plucky foursome. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/306961591″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Mt. Doubt is an Edinburgh-based collective whose “Tourists” has been on rotation in the buffaBLOG office as of late. Most notable is frontman Leo Bargery’s distinct baritone delivery, which saunters smoothly overtop the band’s warm indie rock instrumentals. Fans of Morrissey, Father John Misty, or The National should give this one a spin. “Tourists” is available on Bandcamp. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/304698548″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Baby Galaxy is a trio from the Netherlands with a pretty stellar new single… “New Flavors” is wrangled and loud, highlighting bent guitar chords, aggressive basslines, and pounding drum beats. There’s a hint of 80s noise and college rock in there, but all in all this rowdy single sounds fresh and fun, especially the explosive ending. We’re sure you’ll like this one, so head over to their Bandcamp page and snag it. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/307071840″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]