I can’t help but wonder how much of Modern Tapes‘ bio is true; it may all be true. According to the bio, they formed in a bomb shelter last year, recording in claustrophobic underground conditions. Their sound is a play on that from a generation ago, tweaked and adjusted to be new and fresh. It’s a sound that blends a post punk efficacy with an influence of dark 80s new wave pop. Read More »Modern Tapes: Caroline [Video]
My did I love that Beach Dreams EP by Teen Daze. It perfectly encapsulated those late winter days, when we all longed for sunnier weather. Now that things are warming up, Teen Daze is back with a new EP and this time they’ve got Waaga Records behind them. The first track is “Surface” and it’s filled with mesmerizing loops and echoing instrumentation. Read More »Teen Daze: Surface MP3
Seapony is fronted by Jen Weidl on vocals with songs written by guitarist Danny Rowland and rhythm split between bassist Ian Brewer and an Alesis HR-16 vintage synth for the drum beat. Together, they have created Go With Me, featuring highly lovable songs, most under three minutes. Read More »Seapony: Go With Me [Album Review]
Holiday for Strings is a magical band, consisting of three professional chefs, John Eriksson (Peter Bjorn & John), and Pontus… Read More »Holiday For Strings: Unwilling/Not Able [Video]
Abbey over at Sound On The Sound mentioned yesterday that Quiet Life has become her sunny day soundtrack. Yeah, that’s about right. The band has a northwest style of folk-rock that definitely has a summer feel, and it comes across nicely in the dual video for their songs “Cave Country” and “No Surprise”. Read More »Quiet Life: Cave Country/No Surprise [NSFW Video]
For a concept album about a post-apocalyptic world, Home Church Road sure does have the erratic presence you’d expect. Folklore, not surprisingly, seems quite comfortable in the realm of folk songs. But they do throw in plenty of wild, borderline punk ones to match. All of it lo-fi. Read More »Folklore: Home Church Road [Album Review]
Diaper Island, Chad VanGaalen‘s awesomely titled new LP, dropped yesterday, and to celebrate the milestone he created a video. Mind you, videos from Chad are typically far from the norm, featuring original cartoonish art that’s a bit demented in a way. This is, like the oddities in his music, a very, very good thing. Read More »Chad VanGaalen: Peace On The Rise [Video]
Here comes summer. You can tell as color is returning to the landscape. Perfect timing for Battles to release a video for “Ice Cream”, a song off their forthcoming LP, Gloss Drop. Now a trio, the band enlisted several guest vocalists for the new record, and “Ice Cream” features none other than DJ Matias Aguayo (Kompakt).
Read More »Battles: Ice Cream [NSFW Video] “That Mountain Is A Volcano” kicks off Eureka Birds‘ recent EP soft and psychedelic, but the song increases in volume… Read More »Eureka Birds: Eureka! EP [Album Review]
Hip Hop music has less than subtly switched gears from it’s former peddling of brassed out beats over rhythms that are either clever, vulgar, captivating, or all of the above. No, now days hip hop has been branded with a real artistic revolution, as well as some fine examples of diversity by adding elements of R&B, electronica, and even a bit of indie rock in the mix. And a stellar combination of all these elements can be found perfectly on Light Weight Bipolar Mania from the spectacular wordsmith and soul man known as Roch! Read More »Roch: Lightweight Bipolar Mania [Album Review]
