The School is the latest band to debut on the beloved Minty Fresh label, and it’s easy to hear what attracted them to this band. Their style of pop is extremely uplifting, with tempestuously quick beats and the luscious beauty of 60s girl pop with back-up singers and instrumentation that’s as pleasant as a cool breeze in summer. The School takes the harmony vocals of The Pipettes and smooths out the rough edges, combining it with the melodic instrumentation of masters like Belle And Sebastian. “Let It Slip” is the title track off the band’s debut EP and the first single off their forthcoming LP Loveless Unbeliever. Their video for “Let It Slip” is a testament to the band’s dreamy pop.

Download: “Let It Slip” by The School

Drew Andrews comes from The Album Leaf fame, assisting Jimmy LaValle with dreamy pop that sifts between instrumentals and soft vocal melodies. You can hear select traces of that influence in the music Drew Andrews creates solo, albeit less dreamy and filled with more folk sensibilities. “Suitcases, Bandages” capitalizes on these traits yet finds Andrews pulling influence from his other group for a sound that is entirely pleasant, leading one to proclaim his ability to craft a genre that can only be dubbed as dream folk.

“Suitcases, Bandages” is off Drew Andrews’ upcoming EP Playing Birthday Games, out soon on Minty Fresh Records. Don’t miss Drew as he hits the west coast in support of the new EP.

Drew Andrews: Suitcases, Bandages [mp3]

In their extensive career, The Orange Peels have had many incarnations. Allen Clapp and Jill Pries have been the constants. Likewise, The Orange Peels have hopped labels quite excessively, having an impressive record of releases on pop-oriented labels like Bus Stop, Parasol, and Minty Fresh. For the group’s latest, 2020, they return to Minty Fresh for one of their best albums yet, and their indie-pop styling expands bountifully into power pop. “We’re Gonna Make It” packs a punch with big distorted chords and loud drums, yet the band maintains their indie-pop sensibilities with plenty of jangly guitar parts and light stringed orchestration. Undoubtedly catchy, “We’re Gonna Make It” opens 2020 on a major high point that will likely require a few repeat listens before continuing on to the remaining songs.

2020 is out now on Minty Fresh Records.

The Orange Peels: We’re Gonna Make It [mp3]

If you listen closely, you’ll hear it. You may need to turn up the volume a trite, though. Throughout “Into Pieces Of Wood”, Danish solo project of Caecilie Trier (Choir Of Young Believers), Chimes & Bells is poised to explode. The tension is grating; it pulls at the soul. At the halfway point, the song begins its true build, and that’s where you hear it: a hint of experimental pop. It’s subtle, draped behind the epic powerful notes that are the basis of the song’s emotional anxiety, but it’s there.

Despite the gradual build that lasts until the final notes of “Into Pieces Of Wood”, it never seems to reach that pinnacle you’re expecting; but that’s just fine. Chimes & Bells has still created an epic tune. It is the title track off their new EP, out now on Minty Fresh Records.

UPDATE: Chimes & Bells is not hitting the states this month with Choir Of Young Believers as initially thought. Instead, Trier will be a part of Choir Of Young Believers, who are set to kick off their US tour at Seattle’s Tractor Tavern on October 18.

Chimes & Bells: Into Pieces Of Wood [mp3]

Typical show previews on FensePost list upcoming shows throughout the Pacific Northwest, often centered around Seattle. But this one is a bit different, as France’s Cocoon is playing two shows in the states, starting this week.

09.03.2009: Henry Ford Theater in Los Angeles
09.25.2009: Joe’s Pub in New York City

These two shows follow Cocoon’s debut U.S. release, All My Friends Died In A Plane Crash, out now on Minty Fresh Records. Below you’ll find “Chupee” off that record; you can find another track from it in my video review of Cocoon’s “On My Way”.

Cocoon: Chupee [mp3]

I’ve never been one to regret. Anything. To me, it’s pointless; after all, the compounding experiences of my past have all led me to become the person I am today. And I like me. Before I start sounding like a cheesy self-help novel, it should be noted that SOLDOUT, from Brussels, Belgium, often uses regret as inspiration, whether being a forsaken action or a future opportunity soon to be lost.

Now, personal beliefs and states of mind all lean one toward favoring something. If I’m depressed, I’ll toss on a sad record. If I’m stressed, it’s jazz and a bottle of wine. If I’m happy, how about some lovable Swedish indie-pop? But select bands transcend such an element and SOLDOUT is one such artist, obviously as I’ve already displayed my thoughts on regret.

SOLDOUT blends a sound somewhere between CSS and MGMT, and like those artists the band opts for an all caps moniker. Packed with electro-heavy beats and sex-riddled female vocals, you could almost imagine the band fronted by a Lovefoxxx on downers, or maybe Metric’s Emily Haines in her early career.

Check out “The Last Ride” below and let me know your thoughts. I do have a comments section, you know. Their upcoming release, Cuts, will be their North American debut, and if it holds the sound of this track, my guess is that it’ll be a hit.

SOLDOUT: The Last Ride [mp3]

In true Minty Fresh fashion, Cocoon is a lovable pop group with folk leanings that writes incredibly catchy tunes. With the lyrical prowess of Elliott Smith and the blues-y vocal styling of an indie-pop rendition of Ben Harper, Cocoon is sure to win over a diverse crowd with their upcoming depressingly titled My Friends All Died In A Plane Crash.

The song of the hour is “On My Way” and here the instrumentation also hints of a Smith influence. Mark Daumail may pull the Harper reference, but it’s when co-vocalist Morgane Imbeaud adds in her vocal harmonies that Cocoon breaks through its thin shell to become an audible butterfly (OK, so maybe that’s a lame metaphor, but whatever). Cocoon hails from France and originally sang in their native language – they are now set to switch things up a bit, as can be heard here.

“On My Way” in video form also shows the group’s creativity and ability to think outside the box; the Cocoon duo goes on a pop-ridden animation journey that sees them riding pandas, fleeing a mustachioed and near-invisible abominable snowman, and experiencing a nasty plane crash into a mountain. Yet despite the horrors within, it’s all fluffy and colorful and fun.

All My Friends Died In A Plane Crash is out next month (April) on Minty Fresh Records.

Cocoon: On My Way [mp3]

I’ve been planning to write about La Blogoteque’s Take Away Show series, of which I’ve been familiar with for quite some time, since their early days. But I had a plan. It was this: cover the release of The Lovely Sparrows’ spin-off Take Away Show, filmed in Seattle. You see, I was present and thus there may be a Fense cameo. Cool. But then I stumbled upon Soy Un Caballo (MySpace) playing “Robin” and I just couldn’t resist.

Soy Un Caballo has a wonderful world pop sound. Their music is a foreign lover’s dream, from the soft and romantic instrumentation, to the sing-along (if you know the language) vocals. That language, of course, is French; however, their name translates to ‘I Am A Horse’ in Spanish.

These guys come to us via Minty Fresh Records and they’ve got a few notable releases of late. First is a split 7″ single with Tuung, who plays their own version of “Robin” on the single. The second is their mid- to late-2008 debut release, Les Heures De Raison.

Soy Un Caballo: Robin [mp3]

The video for “Not In A Million Lovers” is apparently an intimate portrait of Beangrowers (MySpace) frontwoman Alison Galea. The title itself marks a potential heartbreak and evokes an ellipsis: Not in a million lovers… what? It could go either way, but ultimately the romantic in me concludes the phrase as follows: Not in a million lovers will I find someone as great as you.

The video begins with a box; you know, the box. It’s what you use to store all those things that remind you of your old flame. Included are the typical items: romantically themed mix tapes and CDs, photographs of one or the both of you, and gifts you can bear to see no longer. “Not In A Million Lovers” begins with this box and zooms in, honing in on the photograph.

And then there are more photos, displayed on top of each other in a very Noah Kalina sort of way. The video is quite effective. Galea’s voice is dark and seductive – you wonder why this guy who appears in many of the pictures would leave her in the first place, with a voice like that. Hers is a voice that people like Dick and Rob and Barry from High Fidelity pine over. Hell, it’s a voice that people like me pine over. This is the style of pop music that people fall in love to. They’ve been releasing albums since 2000, but I’ve gotta say: Where has this band been all my life!?!?

Their recent album, Not In A Million Lovers is out now on Minty Fresh Records.

This review was originally posted Tuesday, June 10, 2008 on the old version of FensePost.

Beangrowers: Quaint Affair [mp3]

Written by Fense

I didn’t check out Fugu 1, the debut LP by Fugu, until well after its release. Featuring an impressive lineup of French and European pop artists, Fugu’s music is a blend of pop styles, from the upbeat to the softly melancholy. And, to continue the trend, I’m just now checking out Fugu’s latest.

Like the early stuff, As Found is awkward at times, a little off-kilt. But that’s what makes it great. It’s got a distinct nature, a quality that makes it unique, and that’s a rarity in the pop world, has been a rarity in the pop world for some time, and gives the album a fresh sound. Songs like opener “Here Today” and the first single, “Civil Rights”, fit the description perfectly.

Despite the occasional strange nature of Fugu’s music, it’s super clean and clear — a single listen to “Blackwell” will tell you that. It is often a bit jangly, heavily upbeat, and simply gives off warm vibrations; it’s quality pop for sure — and after only a few brief tastes, it’s quite apparent that As Found is tailoring quite well to my palette.

Fugu: Civil Rights [mp3]

Minty Fresh Records [CD, 2008]

1. Here Today
2. You Pick Me Up
3. Blackwall
4. Civil Rights
5. Straight From The Heart
6. A Bigger Splash
7. I Give Up
8. Hold It Tight
9. People
10. The Flow
11. She’s Coming Over
12. Here Today (Sean O Hagan Remix)

There are so many great pop labels around these days it’s becoming difficult to keep track of ‘em all. The good news is that there are several viable forces you can always count on to release great music. I am, of course, thinking of my all-time favorite label, Labrador Records. But in the case of Ezra Furman & The Harpoons (MySpace), that label is Minty Fresh; for you pop fans out there, this is definitely a label with which to make an acquaintance.

Furman’s latest endeavor is Inside The Human Body. His music is a mash-up of garage and folk and pop, as can be heard on the single “We Should Fight”. It’s catchy in all the right ways, has a massive punch of poppy jangle guitar distortion, and, of course, Furman’s classic vocals. He comes off sounding slightly like a more toned Alec Ounsworth, but that comparison can sometimes be a stretch.

Inside The Human Body is out now on Minty Fresh Records. Below you can check out the first single from the album, “We Can Fight”. It’s a great one!

Ezra Furman & The Harpoons: We Should Fight [mp3]

Written by Fense

The opening to “Persist” reminds me a bit of early Portishead. It’s got the hefty bass and pleasantly depressing strings. But All India Radio (MySpace) is nowhere near the Trip Hop that Portishead’s music fit into. Instead, the band fits a dark and dreamy pop mold that dabbles lightly in folk.

The video for “Persist” follows the life of an elephant trained for circus. Abused and misled, the elephant strikes back, earning it a death sentence. But elephants don’t expire easily. The conclusion is interesting and, had it been shot using an actual elephant or real characters, would be shocking and likely bring a major outcry from activist groups like PETA.

“Persist”, as a tune, is a lovely and dreamy pop gem that can be found on All India Radio’s Fall, out now on Minty Fresh Records. Also below is an mp3 of “Persist” for your listening pleasure.

All India Radio: Persist [mp3]