Gothy, 80s vibes permeate this new track from Glasgow quartet The Ninth Wave. “Swallow Me” dives deeply into the darker side of human nature, exploring all the nooks and crannies of a manipulative relationship through reverb-laden drums and sharp, vintage synth work. About the tellingly-named track, The Ninth Wave says: “For the victim, the realization of the situation they are in is hard to swallow…” Like what you hear? Buy it here.
Lonely Benson is all about crafting music to relax to – case in point, his new single “Let It Go.” Boasting beachy vibes, groovy guitar work, and modulated vocals, this feel-good-jam is perfect for the burgeoning warm weather. Benson’s million+ streams on Spotify don’t lie – give “Let It Go” a spin, sit back, and enjoy. Lonely Benson has a Bandcamp – be sure to swing by if you’re interested.
London’s River Fury are here to please your ears with a brand new indie-rock jam. “21st Century Man” has all the hallmarks of a perfect indie rock song – an incredible chorus, noodly guitar work, and a driving rhythm section. Hush-hush vocals and an undeniable pop approach add the cherry-on-top. Give it a listen via the widget below – you won’t regret it. “21st Century Man” is being offered for free via Bandcamp – check it out.
Melbourne’s Bollard are up to something angular… We recommend checking out their newest single “En Bloc.” Pairing a discordant guitar riff with garage rock vibes and Hold Steady-esque sprechgesang vocals, this quartet have crafted something delightfully left-field. Fans of Pile or LVL UP should check these guys out. “En Bloc” is available on Bandcamp. Check it out. Trawlers by Bollard
Paul Mayson is a multi-talented singer/songwriter who specializes in gorgeous electro-pop soundscapes. “Letting You Go” caught our attention with its subtle groove, nuanced guitar work, and Mayson’s airy and dreamy vocals. About the song, Mayson says, he’s “passionate about pushing boundaries and merging my electronic roots with live instrumentation and pop songwriting.” We can’t help but think he’s on the right track – give it a listen below. Interested? Paul’s got you covered – check out a variety of listening options here.
Here’s some funky fresh electropop for your listening pleasure… Tickle Torture‘s latest banger is called “No One Feels For Your Love,” a trashy disco number that is sure to get your blood pumping. Tickle Torture injects his music with all the glitter-and-confetti-fueled energy of his live performances. The song is layered thick with vocals and beats. Do yourself a favor and listen for an aural pick-me-up via the widget below. Tickle Torture’s stuff is available on Bandcamp – swing by for a digital download.
Yellow House have been a buffaBLOG favorite since their 2016 debut. After a short period of inactivity, the self-proclaimed “overblown shoegaze” act is back, boasting the blend of shoegaze-meets-punk-meets-emo that we’ve all come to love and expect from them. Their latest offering is entitled III, a four-song EP that is as refreshingly simple as it is mysterious. III was recorded across two sessions across the spring and winter of 2017 and finds the duo chasing a more vocally driven mix than its predecessors… The songs explore themes of nostalgia, hopelessness, and existentialism, case-in-point, EP opener “Walking Away.” In a minute-and-a-half of fuzzed-out guitar riffs, drums, singer/songwriter Matt DiStasio sings about feeling empty-headed and unmotivated. Similar vibes can be found on EP closer, “On Sunday.” Beneath the crunchy tones and smart riffing, it’s clear DiStasio is battling the ennui of day-to-day drabness. EP highlight “Montana” is a bit more nuanced, bringing to[...]
Swedish act Damen recently sent over the video for their third single, “Freud Division…” These dudes are rather mysterious information-wise, but we think the music speaks for itself. Combining frantic drum/bass work with twinkly guitars and urgent vocals, this quartet reminds us of a mix of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Bombay Bicycle Club, and Tokyo Police Club. Check out the vid below and decide for yourself. You dig? Buy it on iTunes.
Jangly, giddy, and just the slightest bit goofy, Indigo Husk have struck gold with their latest offering, “Not Feeling Better.” A self-described self-help mantra, the song juxtaposes feelings of sadness with an inescapably happy melody… My personal favorite touch: a lead guitar that noodles its way in and out of all the song’s nooks and crannies. Check it out via the widget below. There are many ways to consume “Not Feeling Better,” check them all out here.
Australian singer-songwriter Hobart Curtis is a hook-master, case-in-point, his latest single “Don’t Hate Me.” An energetic indie-pop cut, “Don’t Hate Me” is laden with Killers-esque synth work with the 1975-style pop hooks. Packed full of themes of self-loathing and insecurity, Curtis wraps it all into a shiny bubble of washy guitars and driving bass – check it out below. Check out Curtis’ discog on Spotify.
It’s hard not to pay attention when you come out swinging with a line like “lick me like a lolly,” but that’s exactly what Yoshi Flower did on his debut single, “Movies.” Touting an impossibly perfect blend of hip-hop, pop, and electronica elements, we think Yoshi is on to something here. His half-apathetic delivery is intoxicating, and pairs well with the powerful, elephant-esque synths that power the chorus. Check Yoshi out on IG.
Epic? Anthemic? Any number of words could be used to describe the massive guitar-rock of Spielbergs and their latest offering, “We Are All Going To Die.” Channeling the fervor of bands like Japandroids or No Age, this Norwegian trio is raw and refreshingly energetic on pretty much every level. Keep your eyes peeled for their debut EP, due out April 27th. Until then, we have a feeling you’re going to binge on “We Are All Going To Die.” Add this one to your Spotify playlist – you know you want to!
Raise your hand if you like drugs! Mating Ritual aren’t sure how they feel about drugs, but they’ve come to terms with it being a part of their life and they wrote a certified banger about it. “U + Me Will Never Die” is a perfect blend of 80s synthwave and post-punk. There’s something to be said about not being in your own mind for a bit… We suggest you let Mating Ritual take over for a sec and get lost in their pulsing beats. Mating Ritual’s next EP, Light Myself On Fire, comes out May 4, 2018 via Smooth Jaws.
“Chemical Cure” was written on a bad day… “A bad day for our country and our world,” according to synth-pop duo Me Not You. About wanting to lean heavily on chemical crutches to get through the day, their moody synth work in this song evokes feelings of sadness and looming fear. All the while, “Cure” somehow remains irresistibly dance-able. The chorus in particular is incredibly hooky – have a listen for yourself below. Peep their Bandcamp if you’re feeling it.
For his latest release, Ben Talmi isolated himself for three weeks with just a guitar… He ended up writing Distractionism, upon which is the frantic lead single, “The Fear Of Missing Out.” The song is an ode to the modern anxieties brought on by technology and its effects on our interactions with each other… “Missing Out” definitely embodies that neurosis with its frantic electronic drums, which provide a jittery backbone for Talmi’s otherwise upbeat guitar-pop. Check out the music video here.