I haven’t seen anything “new” by Sweden’s shoegaze-popsters South Ambulance since… well, since Labrador dished out that lovely comp featuring one song off every album they’ve released since inception. And that wasn’t necessarily new. But the band is band and they have a new face backing them — the face of Indiecater Records, who already has an impressive catalog of artists. “Simple Obligation of a Man” follows the band’s signature shoegaze meets Swedish indie-pop sound, full on with droning guitars, a consistent pop strum, and lovely vocals …

An online tour: what a great concept. It allows a band with no means of world exploration (i.e. minimal cash, unacceptable transport, no Samsonite baggage, etc.) to tour the world through the eyes of blogs. FensePost is excited to premiere (for Bellingham and the rest of the world) the Candy Claws video for “Island Grows”. So come one, come all; see the wondrous Candy Claws, one of 2009′s hottest new acts, perform their songs acoustically in videos premiered on sites that span the world.

Sunbear‘s shoegaze-ridden pop hints at a late 90s, DC-based influence. Listening to “Leadbelt” one could imagine the band fitting perfectly in that scene, but Sunbear is from Dublin and the song is off their upcoming release Bits on Indiecater Records. Realization sets in with research: Bits is a reissue, and all of these songs were written and recorded in the 90s. The timing couldn’t be better, as “Leadbelt” is an excellent accompaniment to, say, “Seven” off that recent re-release of Sunny Day Real Estate. If you …

I would categorize Candy Claws and their single “Catamaran” as experimental pop in the vein of Panda Bear. “Catamaran” and the album from whence it came, Candy Claws’ debut LP In The Dream Of The Sea Life, has similar experimental characteristics, from the varied and incandescent instrumentation to hushed, melodic and oft indecipherable vocals. The theme is consistency and flow; each song transitions flawlessly into the next.