The past week saw several notable artists — many ranking among my favorites — release new tracks. Camera Obscura distributed a new track off their forthcoming album Desire Lines, Typhoon gave us a stellar digital single, and we heard a new track off the upcoming album from The Moondoggies. On top of that, I continued the show with recent tracks off new or just released records including those by Scout Niblett, The Mantles, Phosphorescent and Club 8. (more…)

This is a song you want to hear through headphones. Through headphones, “Hounds” seems to swirl around your head, a dreamy escape from reality. The song is off Valleys‘ new LP, Are You Going to Stand There and Talk Weird All Night?, out now on Kanine Records. (more…)

Following our top EP of 2012, Portland duo (guitarist Daniel Hindman and keyboardist Sarah Versprille of Vetiver) Pure Bathing Culture returns with a new single called “Pendulum” off their forthcoming debut LP, Moon Tides. The new release will hit via the band’s new label, Partisan Records. “Pendulum” seems to expand beyond the simple pop of the duo’s self-titled EP. (more…)

To accompany the official announcement of their forthcoming LP, White Lighter, Portland’s critically acclaimed Typhoon has released a new digital single for their track “Dreams of Cannibalism”. The new album will be released August 20 on Roll Call Records. Longtime fans of Typhoon will be pleased; “Dreams of Cannibalism” follows the band’s penchant for changing up time signatures, adding plenty of horns, and featuring a chorus of singers. (more…)

In 2010, Young Hunting released a single called Into Your Mind; featuring the band at the time, I noted how the band was somewhat reminiscent of Swedish artist Moto Boy. The band also employed hints of The Beach Boys-style harmonies and had some Harry Nillson references too. Three years later, after a handful of additional singles, we finally have Young Hunting’s debut LP, Hazel. (more…)

I’ve been getting into several new albums of late, and when that happens, I often want to play several songs from the same band on my radio show. I restrained myself, narrowing it down to a pair each; that’s the theme of tonight’s show – doubles. I’ll be playing back-to-back tracks from each artist I play tonight, including new stuff by The Besnard Lakes, Wolf People, King Tuff, and Arrington de Dionyso’s Malaikat dan Singa. We begin, however, with a band I originally covered way back in 2010: Young Hunting. (more…)

San Francisco garage pop outfit The Mantles return with their sophomore LP, Long Enough to Leave. The band has given us a sneak peek from the new album with the psychedelic-leaning, garage pop track “Hello”. For fans of their 2009 self-titled debut LP, this track is sure to please. (more…)

Alex Bleeker and the Freaks is set to release his sophomore album, How Far Away. Most out there will focus on the fact that the Freaks is a side band for Real Estate bassist Jackson Pollis, or that it features Woods’ Jarvis Tanviere, but the focal point should be on the band’s name: Alex Bleeker. It his with Bleeker that the direction is set and the project comes together. (more…)

Walter Sickert & The ARmy of BRoken TOys have a few traits that I sometimes frown upon, more to my own undoing than anything else. The dual capital letters in ARmy of BRoken TOys bugs me; I’m one for proper capitalization, spelling and punctuation, and it just reminds me a bit too much of the people WhO wRiTe LiKe ThIs. Second is Mr. Sickert’s dreadlocks. The things just creep me out — on anyone. Then again, he does have a somewhat George Clinton vibe going, which is a plus on the appearance side. (more…)

Every so often an album drops that makes you freak out a little bit inside; enter Seattle-based Rose Windows, my latest obsession. Their new album, The Sun Dogs, will be released June 25 via Sub Pop and, after spending a few glorious hours with it today in the sun, I am excited to say I have a fourth contender for best album of 2013. The band just released their first single off the LP, “Native Dreams”. (more…)