“So Real” is so, so good. On “So Real,” The Young Punx have crafted a bumping house tune with sincere, retro flair. Live strings and real grand piano truly bring this one to life, not to mention the soulful vocals from Sharlene Hector. This one could be already be a standard if it was a 70s disco smash, but it also sounds fresh and contemporary with true house pizzazz. Check it out via the widget below.
Japanincolor is the solo project from Hundred Plus Club bassist Rafi Bloomberg. Daydreams is a simple, four-song EP that finds the multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist Bloomberg flexing his songwriter muscles via interesting collaborations with other Buffalo-based musicians. Intro track “The Theme” is a piano composition by Zekeriya Spoth. Bloomberg seems to revel in collaborations with other artists, using his own knowledge of music theory and musicianship to bolster their contributions. “The Theme” is short but sweet, a beautiful way to start this EP. Song two is “High Shelf,” which features vocals from Carmen & Lizzy’s Carmen O’Keefe. This might be the stand out track on the EP – O’Keefe’s vocals ride perfectly atop Bloomberg’s instrumentals, fleshed out tastefully with lush harmonies, jangly guitars, and a simple guitar solo. If you’ve ever seen Bloomberg perform live, you know how insanely talented he is… The simplicity of Daydreams points to how reserved he can be, resisting the temptation to fill these songs[...]
Mother Nature’s daughters have come down from the clouds with an album of tender and heartfelt songs. Buffalo’s Carmen & Lizzy, cousins who grew up together singing and playing music have released their third effort in three years, 2019’s Climate. An introspective album about their past, present, and future, Climate polishes elements of folk to tackle an ever pressing dilemma: Our Environment. “Carry You,” a short lead off track, gently stirs the album to life with thick and warm acoustic pickings from Carmen, guitar and vocals. The message directly employs pathos with Lizzy, vocals, reassuring that the subject will always have an aid. Bridging seamlessly into the second song, “Shelter,” the album continues its message of protecting the most vulnerable. Lizzy and Carmen highlight their harmonious beauty throughout the entire track, which bolsters the compassionate lyrics, “Even if you want to hide/I’ll shelter you.” Pulling from their bag of magic,[...]
Crunchy, sweaty, rock-n-roll that should be played to summon demigods or while making sweet love under the desert sun has landed in Buffalo. The Crook brothers, John and Harrison, formed the rock duo Ugly Sun and have showed us the portal to a good time with the release of their first album, self-titled, Ugly Sun. The tone of the album begins at the cover. A desert sun setting behind mountains, spends its last few minutes shining down on a group of presumably nude females. If one downloads their album from Spotify, the figures will be blurred. However, I am hard pressed to believe that the brothers made that decision themselves, since their attitudes align with consistently pushing their creative boundaries. “Little Fire,” the album’s first song, and first released track, begins with an airy guitar melody that steadily builds until it combusts into a full on arena rock guitar lick[...]
We think you should check out Anoraak’s latest remix – His latest is for Portugal sensation Pongo on her song “Quero Mais.” Anoraak went with a funky instrumental take, full of nu-disco vibes and distant, siren synths. This one was made for a thumping, throbbing, high-intensity night at the club, perfect for your next DJ set. Get acquainted below and be sure to check out both Pongo and the fantastic label, Kitsune.
A blast of lighthearted indie rock for a sunny, summer day. We’re recommending Damé‘s latest track, “It’s All Over Now” for it’s bright disposition and upbeat vibes. This Netherlands act has packed their music full of jangly guitars, frantic tambourine, and incredible vocals from singer Daphne Felipie… Check it out via the widget below.
We’re loving the slacker vibes from this warbly jam from Nolan Garrett. “Better Weather” pair’s Garrett’s low-key drawl with woozy synths and a sloshing tempo that helps you sink right back into your chair. Fans of Tame Impala or Mac Demarco would love this one – check it out below or add it to your Spotify playlist.
You may recognize Generationals from their absolute bangers, “When They Fight, They Fight,” or “Put a Light On,” but we’d like to direct your attention to their newest offering, “Gatekeeper.” This one is full of bombastic drum samples, tape-aged synth glitches, and Generational’s pleasantly distinct vocal delivery. Reader as Detective comes out today via Polyvinyl. Certainly worth a listen – add it to your Spotify playlist or check it out via the widget below.
There’s something to be said about an understated indie-rock song, and Slowcoaching seem to be the masters of it. “Between The Walls” is a perfectly swimmy indie-rock song, soaked in reverb and carried by a bubbly bass riff. A perfect song to put on in any mood – we especially love the slight crescendo in the bridge. Check it out below.
German synth pop duo Fye & Fennek really know how to write a synth pop banger. “Better Lover” is sure to get your head nodding – full of a driven synth bass and curiously sexy vocals dripping with desire. “You treat me like a yo-yo” will be replaying in your head all day. Check it out below.
We can’t help but love this warbly synthpop nugget from Anchorage, AK synth wizard Paul Jacks. “In Other Words” is padded with flickering synth waves, vaguely distant vocals, and drums with a lite 80s flair. Def a good one for a twilight summer drive with the windows rolled down. Check out “In Other Words” via the Soundcloud widget below.
Falling somewhere on the spectrum between post-punk and shoegaze, gauzy act Stray Fossa happened to catch our attention with their latest offering, “Eyze.” A hush-hush vibe really sets this one apart from the pack. Despite it’s understated sensibility, it’s actually a pretty driven track. Certainly worth a listen – check it out via the widget below and swing by their Bandcamp for a download. Eyze by Stray Fossa
Great News is a fantastic Norwegian act making upbeat, synthy indie music. “TV” is a super peppy jam, full of synth blasts, driving bass, and more than enough 80s neon influence. Great News manages to capture the campy, big-hair vibes of the 80s and smash it together with modern indie rock sensibility. Check it out below.
Lo-fi dream pop outfit Borger just released their debut EP titled Camp. With a healthy amount of fuzzy DIY vibes, it’s a must listen for fans of Beach House, Cults, and Real Estate. The album opens with “when you smile,” which features a gradually building texture, and does an excellent job of setting the vibe. On “nat geo,” lead singer Mackenzie Harris’ vocals float effortlessly over the hypnotic textures. “pollen,” drifts along with a gentle lilt as does “vineyard” although both songs achieve this through different means. “mr. rogers” brings us back to the subtle driving textures present at the beginning of the album. One of the most interesting tracks on the album is the closer “strawberry.” An instrumental ambient track, it stands in stark contrast to the rest of the album in the best way. In a way, it’s almost teasing “when you smile” in the way it gradually[...]
We’re not sure whether to be more smitten by the dreamy synth pop of “It’s Not True Love” or the incredibly provocative music video… But either way, we’re taken by Bye Beneco on her latest jam. Full of soaring vocal melodies and impressive synth work, “True Love” is sexy in every sense of the word. Check out the vid below… just try not to get too hot ‘n bothered.