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French Cassettes – “Medium Horny”

October 4, 2023

“Medium Horny” is the newest single from Bay Area quartet French Cassettes; it’s quite the banger. With a only a couple singles since 2020’s LP Rolodex, this is a fine return to form for FC with a full gamut of wistful lyrics and (as I like to call it) “focused yet lazy guitar licks.” Evoking bands like Hot Hot Heat at their more cerebral or perhaps Vampire Weekend, FC lures you in with dulcet tones and bedroom talk – “I’m more than lazy but less than exciting but medium horny.” Speaking to their influences for the track, front man Lorenzo Scott Huerta had this to say: “The first verse is Johnny Marr, middle section is Jeff Lynne and Bill Evans, the outro is Elliott Smith. I’ve never heard a full Evans song in my life… I don’t think, but I’ve heard he does ‘chord solos’ and I loved that idea[...]

James Wyatt Crosby – “Ashamed”

October 4, 2023

Toronto based musician James Wyatt Crosby sings about how shame should all feel the same in his new single, “Ashamed.” Released as a single at the end of September, it’s a fine guitar-forward track focusing on the vocals. With the unfortunate times we live in, shame and regret are rather in vogue. Crosby takes these fun feelings and crafts emotional yet hopeful call to action – are you passive in a relationship or have you done something unseemly and hurt someone you love? As JWC remarks on the song: “I guess you could say it’s a song about laziness and inaction…you can be ashamed about practically anything!” The vocals seem to be JWC as far as I can tell, but also sounds like an “Alvin and the Chipmunks” effect with the speed-up/slow down of his voice as compared to his other tracks (or it’s someone else entirely; either way the[...]

BYLAND – “Monstera”

September 30, 2023

If you’re looking to feel emotionally crushed, we’ve got the perfect new jam for you. BYLAND (aka Alie Renee Byland) makes her triumphant return with the heartbreaking “Monstera,” ostensibly about losing a once treasured musician-to-musician relationship. With all the fervor of Big Thief, Belinda Carlisle, and even Manchester Orchestra, the crunchy guitars and impassioned vocals from Byland drive this one into goosebump-inducing territory. The song’s unique lyrical content might read like a love/breakup letter, but Byland explains otherwise: “… [‘Monstera’] isn’t quite a love letter, but it is not an apology… I wasn’t just changing my address – I was breaking a promise.” Be sure to check it out via the YouTube embed below before adding it to your Spotify and/or Apple Music playlists.

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[...]

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[...]

Brimheim – “Literally Everything”

September 27, 2023

Danish act Brimheim (aka Copenhagen-based musician Helena Heinesen Rebensdorff) gives into her “most pathetic impulses” on latest single, “Literally Everything.” We appreciate her candidness, because it has resulted in one hell of a song. The blasts of vintage synth are a highlight here, as they come in unexpectedly and buzz your eardrums in the most perfect way. All the while, the rest of the understated alt pop stays effortlessly low key, including Rebensdorff’s beautiful vocal performance. Fans of PJ Harvey, Caroline Polachek, and Weval will love this. Check out “Literally Everything” on Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Tamra – “Flood”

September 27, 2023

There’s something so familiar about the midwestern emo-tinged indie rock coming out of Tamra… Familiar in a good way, of course. “Flood” is their latest single, a two-minute meandering set off by a repeating rhythmic motif that will have you air drumming in no time. Guitars laden with a tasteful crunch carry the brunt of this track, while emotional-but-sincere vocals ride along top in a passionate (but not too passionate!) delivery. Its understated nature is what makes it so perfect – let the waves of nostalgia wash over you in that all too familiar way. Fans of Braid, Manchester Orchestra, and even City & Colour will enjoy what Tamra has to offer. The YouTube embed is located below, but “Flood” can also be found on Apple Music and Spotify as well.

Sonic Blume – “Falling Behind”

September 27, 2023

“I’m sleepyhead, I’m cheesy bread.” Within the first five words of “Falling Behind” by New Jersey-based act Sonic Blume, it feels like they’ve summed up the collective millennial/gen z experience. Sounding somewhere like the child of “Where Is My Mind?” by Pixies and modern day dream-pop emo (aka dream-o), “Behind” is as emotionally crushing as it is validating. Driven by its wry guitar lines and eclectic lyrics (seriously, there is some genuine wordsmithing going on here), this one struck a chord with us on multiple levels. You can find “Falling Behind” pretty much anywhere music can be consumed, including: Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer.

Illiterate Light – “Always Always”

September 20, 2023

There’s just something fun about the latest single from Virginia-based duo Illiterate Light. Playful, ebullient, and generally upbeat, “Always Always” is built around an inescapable vocal hook that digs into your brain, latches on, and refuses to let go. With a sound that perfectly meshes southern-tinged indie rock (think My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses, or Fleet Foxes) with the synth-laced hooks of Foster The People or Passion Pit, we think “Always Always” is a shoe-in to refresh your tried-and-true playlists. You can find this fun little ditty on both Spotify and Apple Music.

Mali Velasquez – “Shove”

September 17, 2023

Tennessee based Mali Velasquez (check our last feature on her here) has turned many heads with her single releases leading up to her debut album I’m Green due out October 13 via Acrophase Records. “Shove” is a gorgeous continuation of that trend – the track is reflective, cathartic, haunting and lush. Delicate picked guitar lines circle themselves and lock into a heart stopping drum rhythm that creates an atmosphere that feels like an ouroboros of cannibalistic anxieties. Mali’s wavering, earnest vocals possess an emotional quality that arrests the listener, and that quality only expands and consumes you more as she layers more of her singing onto the track. The way those vocals entwine with the bass creates an otherworldly experience that both possesses you and manifests the emotional themes of her songwriting. Fans who love Big Thief, Phoebe Bridgers, Elliot Smith, Julia Jacklin or Soccer Mommy should definitely find lots[...]

PARCS – “Wait!”

September 17, 2023

PARCS‘ sound has been peculating and taking shape in the South Wales scene over the past few years. Recently the group, originally just the married duo of Joe and Elly, added members Kristy and Liam resulting in new spaces to play off one another. The group’s new creative alchemy culminates in the latest single “Wait!,” a lush, teasingly restrained dance track with four to the floor drums driving your hips to groove. Sparse production gives the platform for Elly’s striking vocals to enrapture you before the grooving bass and melodic synths kick back in making you lust for the dance floor. The new track balances anticipation and release to create a ticklingly inviting experience that makes your brain tingle and toes wiggle. Fans of The XX, Caribou, and Daft Punk can find lots to love on this succulent dance track. PARCS had this to say about the origins of the[...]

atmos bloom – “Sea Legs”

September 17, 2023

atmos bloom rode the momentum of their successful debut album Flora and moved from Manchester to South London to build their full live band. The full monty of that ensemble is on display for their latest single, the dream-gaze jam “Sea Legs.” The new cut drips with reverb drenched guitars that mesh with haunting pop vocals creating an undulating ethereal pulse that can blend into itself then emerge from its own echoing depths. The whole of their sound has the pop melodies that hook and the fun of surf rock with a vampire aesthetic, all with a bittersweet center that squeezes your stomach while you weightlessly head bop and sing along. Fans of DIIV, Washed Out, Waxahatchee, and My Bloody Valentine will find lots to love on this one. Listen to “Sea Legs,” the new single from atmos bloom, now on Spotify and Youtube. Find more from atmos bloom on[...]

Floyd Thursby – “Teenage Ladybug (feat. Mademoiselle)”

September 16, 2023

I am neither teenaged, nor a ladybug, but “Teenage Ladybug” by Floyd Thursby and collaborator Mademoiselle made me feel things. A simple song with a bluesy guitar backbone, “Ladybug” pairs Thursby’s wry songwriting with Mademoiselle’s matter-of-fact, hush-hush vocals. With lyrics about living in trees and smirking while perched upon a daisy, it’s tough to literally relate to “Ladybug…” But something about it feels real to me all the same. It’s very possible that this song is just a joke, but if you really think about it, teenage ladybugs really don’t get any respect. No respect at all. Probably. You can find “Ladybug” on YouTube (below), Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Ostrology – “Only A Dream”

September 16, 2023

Is aural LSD a thing? If it isn’t, we think Ostrology has invented it with new single “Only A Dream.” If you could take Mac Demarco and turn the “Demarco” knob all the way to 11, you might have a good idea of what to expect. Warped and warbly to the max with wild lyrics to match, “Dream” is disorienting in all the right ways. Is the song out of tune? Could it even possibly be in tune? Is that even a guitar? Question upon question will build upon themselves – needless to say, we’ve never heard anything like this. Toke up with some dank bud and give this one a listen, we’re pretty sure it will change your life. Check out the equally trippy YouTube video below. You can also find it on Soundcloud.