For me, Sweden has always been a favorite purveyor of great pop music. And there is no better provider of such things than Labrador Records. Their latest is a new double A-side single by orchestral pop outfit Sambassadeur, a lovely little band we’ve been fans of since their self-titled release in 2005. Read More »Sambassadeur: Memories
When you’re stuck in the studio of a deserted campus in a small town late on a cold, rainy Friday night, a song with a title like “Fairytales & Other Forms of Suicide” is sometimes the best medicine. Everyone is out, or cozy at home and there’s loneliness in the air. Music is playing, but the emptiness is quite surrounding. Read More »The Old Ceremony: Fairytales & Other Forms of Suicide
With a name like Fatal Jamz, you’re probably expecting some loud, rambunctious rock music. However, this is not entirely the case. Fatal Jamz is most certainly a loud, rambunctious rock band, but it’s also much more. On “Another Crystal Morning”, the band has pop sensibilities and they employ bold, glam-ridden synth lines. It all adds up to one catchy tune. Read More »Fatal Jamz: Another Crystal Morning
Sometimes it’s hard to look past a catchy riff, a unique vocal pattern or upbeat instrumentation. You get carried away in the music. Add all three, as found in “Condominium”, and it’s even harder to focus on the words. Fantasy Rainbow pairs fuzzy guitars with jangle ones, wildly catchy vocal/guitar patterns, and sloshy drums with highly introspective lyrics. Read More »Fantasy Rainbow: Condominium
Colorful soundscapes adorn the hazy, upbeat and danceable “Cold Shoulder” by Savannah pop group Sunglasses. Including incessant, cool vocals, this track features handclaps, a hefty drum beat and hyper-dreamy guitars. Read More »Sunglasses: Cold Shoulder MP3
Taking notes from electro-pop bands like Purity Ring, Still Corners add some heavier beats in their new song “Fireflies”. However, songwriter Greg Hughes and vocalist Tessa Murray don’t stray too far from their origins off Creatures of an Hour. Read More »Still Corners: Fireflies MP3
Unlike most albums, there is greatness behind every single track on Gap Dream by Gap Dream. My listening habits have commenced as such: obsessive listens to “58th Street Fingers” and “Slave” followed by the same with “Go Ahead”. Now dominating my playlist are “My Other Man” and “Leather”. And this in just a few short weeks since discovering the band. Read More »Gap Dream: Generator MP3
Vinca Minor is a Seattle artist Matt Menovcik, blending classical piano with electronic-influenced synth for a hugely surreal, utterly drowning sound. Within “The Time Of You”, off his new album Capital Of Sorrow, an intense piano soundscape is backed by heavy drone-like tones. The song is minimal but encompassing; a fully instrumental, soundtrack-like tune. Read More »Vinca Minor: The Time Of You (MP3)
I’m loving Adam Hill‘s latest sounds. Always one to produce the lighter side of folk, with soft acoustic songs, Two Hands, Tulips (his new LP) expands the minimal sound slightly with a broader range of songwriting and instrumentation, going so far as pairing folk with a dabbling of other genres. Read More »Adam Hill: French Films MP3
You know, I remember picking up Love And Distance by The Helio Sequence upon its release way back in 2004. The band was young then; well, younger. Funny to think the release date of that album is rapidly approaching a decade past. Read More »The Helio Sequence: October MP3
