French Kiss Records is poised to release the new LP, Endless Flowers, by Crocodiles. They’re giving away the first mp3 from the album, and it’s apparently supposed to make you fall in love with them all over again. So, let’s see if it lives up to that quite substantial line. Read More »Crocodiles: Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9)
Ravens & Chimes is a New York art-pop band fronted by Asher Lack (son of famed artist Stephen Lack). The band has been together now since 2005, having released their debut LP Reichenbach Falls in 2007 and a follow-up EP in 2009. Ravens & Chimes is poised to give listeners their sophomore release, Holiday Life, tomorrow and have been critical acclaim for songs like “Night” (which you can sample below) and “Division Street”. Read More »Ravens & Chimes: Division Street (Video)
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band is back with their first new material since their 2010 sophomore LP, Where The Messengers Meet. “Warm Body” is off the new MSHVB EP, due out on Dead Oceans in the near future. The track is on the softer side of what we’ve heard from this Seattle band, but it remains as tight and composed as their existing library or work. Read More »Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band: Warm Body
It is happening again. After two dormant weeks of doing virtually nothing (OK, very little is more like it), evenings this week were spent spinning vinyl by The Smiths and painting Andi’s sewing room in preparation for putting in the bamboo flooring this weekend.
Read More »Fense’s Radio Show: March 30, 2012 
Alpaca Sports is a new Swedish indie pop band from Andreas Jonsson. Featuring Amanda Ã…kerman on back up vocals and a slew of friends on accompanying instruments, Alpaca Sports boasts a sound on par with Jens Lekman. “Just For Fun” is a lovable indie pop track off the band’s brand new debut single, which sold out a few days before its official release thanks to pre-orders. Read More »Alpaca Sports: Just For Fun
In their song, “Atom”, London-based Inca Gold filter their psychedelic drone through an array of colorful tones as vibrant as the new video for said song. “Atom” has a laid back beat, high-pitched near indecipherable vocal tenor, and a hint of nerdy-ness on par with what you might expect to hear from the live band at the Roadhouse in the David Lynch masterpiece Twin Peaks. Read More »Inca Gold: Atom (Video)
Finland’s Cats On Fire returns with a new LP called All Blackshirts To Me on Matinee Records. Within you’ll find the dreamy indie-pop tune “A Few Empty Waves”. With Smiths-esque vocals, hints of a jangle rhythm guitar, and an occasional space-y post-rock one. With its instantly memorable vocal chorus and the employment of vibraphone, this is Cats On Fire at their finest.
Read More »Cats On Fire: A Few Empty Waves
I always get excited when I hear something new from Phil Elverum, the mastermind behind post-Microphones project Mount Eerie. He’s local to me; Anacortes is just a quick 20 to 30 minute drive from my house. And for being local to a somewhat rural area, he’s built an empire of great recordings. He is, to put it frankly, a local indie legend.
Read More »Mount Eerie: House Shape
Another variety show, no particular theme. It was set to be a sunny weekend, and that meant hitting the road. After a late Friday night at the station, I woke up early, grabbed my bike and went on a solid 10 mile ride. It was the first of the sort for 2012; the first of many. I need to get in shape for the 200 mile Seattle to Portland ride in July.
Read More »Fense’s Radio Show: March 23, 2012
Mind Spiders are a bit out there, with wild synth-based music that conjoins 60s pop sensibilities with heavy late 70s garage rock. Their video for “Wait For Us” is similarly out there, the premise being “A reclusive man sends a distress beacon to catch his ticket off an abandoned planet”. Featuring a two-minute drone intro by Mark Ryan (who also stars in the band and in the film as “Spaceman 1”) before launching into the song. It’s definitely worth a watch and has a nice little twist toward the end that should not be all that surprising given the synopsis.
Read More »Mind Spiders: Wait For Us (Video)
