DATE ARCHIVES : August 2016

Applescal – ‘Harmony Two’

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Dutch producer, Pascal Terstappen aka Applescal, has long been a firm favourite in these parts. Terstappen’s output thus far has been nothing short of masterly. Always a marriage of both quality and quantity, he’s rarely left us waiting around too long for something new and exciting to listen to, and that’s the way we like it.

On that subject, Applescal is back with a brand new track ‘Harmony Two’, and it is a tune! It is a deep, dark beast of slow burning techno with hard-edged analogue beats, it twists and it turns, delving into deeper and darker sonic terrains. Delivered with pin point accuracy, it expertly exudes an atmosphere of suspense and tension, that builds and transfixes to a glorious climactic finish. ‘Harmony Two’ sounds menacing and threatening, dangerous even. It would be a perfect soundtrack to companion a no-nonsense ’80s action hero, who, against all the odds and the clock battles to save the world. Snake Plissken would dig this shit.

Lifted from a new Atomnation Records compilation, Unfold, Applescal’s new one sits alongside David Douglas & Young Montana?, Koett, Olaf Stuut, Dauwd, Sau Poler, Gidge and more. The whole record deserves much further investigation, it’ll be worth the time. You can check it out here.

 

 

Soft Hearted Scientists Share New Double A Side Single ‘The Creeps/ Zeds’

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Cardiff based psychedelic collective Soft Hearted Scientists have returned with a brand new double A side single ‘The Creeps/ Zeds’, out August 12th.

Always insidiously brilliant, the collective released their new double album Golden Omens (their seventh LP!), from which both tracks are taken from. ‘The Creeps’ is a glorious tapestry of dark-psych-pop – a seductive, smouldering brew of cosmic synths, watery keys, light percussion, gentle acoustic guitars, hushed, purring harmonies and all manner of sound effects – that delivers a spectacular kaleidoscopic, spectral midnight hour adventure. The most apt description is most likely their own, a “tip of the hat to “Moon Safari” era Air, with added Greek chorus choir, and BBC Radiophonic workshop sound effects”. Whatever the case, those lushly toned, haunting and woozy sounds are utterly mesmerising.

‘The Creeps’ and its companion ‘Zeds’, is out now, along with their new album, Golden Omens. For more info etc. just click here.

Allah-Las – ‘Could Be You’ + New Album Coming in September

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Allah-Las have announced the release of their third album Calico Review.

The Los Angeles outfit’s forthcoming 12-track offering follow’s 2014’s Worship the Sun, and will be with us on September 9, via Mexican Summer. Following on from ‘Famous Phone Figure’ is new single ‘Could be Be You’, serving as another teaser for the group’s forthcoming third record. And oh my, it’s a doozy! Finding their groove and sound by melting down parts of the ’60s and ’70s and pressing them into something that is simultaneously vital and casual. Bringing with them all the laid-back hazy, sunny vibes, choppy percussion, racy guitars, and harmony vocals slots; ‘Could Be You’ spills over with psychedelic playfulness and splotches of vintage r&b, garage rock and surf. ‘Could Be You’ is an utterly irresistible and enjoyable rock ‘n’ roll ear-worm, guaranteed to have you heading straight for the repeat button.

Give a listen to ‘Could Be You’ (along with the video) below. Their third album Calico Review is out on September 9th.

Springtime Carnivore Announces New Album, Shares ‘Face the Moon’

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LA-based Springtime Carnivore (aka Greta Morgan) has announced a new album Midnight Room, the follow up to her excellent 2014 self-titled debut.

Penned for release on October 7 via Autumn Tone, the record is produced by Chris Coady (Beach House, Future Islands) and features La Sera’s Katy Goodman on vocals, Alex Greenwald (Phases, Phantom Planet) on bass, and Jason Boesel (Rilo Kiley, Bright Eyes) on percussion. Ahead of its release in the autumn, Morgan has shared the album’s first single, ‘Face the Moon’. On the surface at least, ‘Face the Moon’ seems as frolicsome as anything from her overwhelmingly buoyant debut but closer inspection reveals something far different. Musically effervescent and dreamy, as Morgan’s vocals easily soaring above the sprightly piano and brisk drumbeat. The lyrics lend a forlorn air of isolation, loss and heartache – describing love as “a cold and distant thing / you can barely see” – it is the juxtaposition between the two which adds the spark to the song. Another dazzlingly slice of indie-pop from Morgan and one that certainly bodes well for the new record.

Midnight Room comes out October 7th. Before then, you can listen to ‘Face in the Moon’ below.

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The Orange Kyte – ‘The Lone Rooster’

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If you’ve been keeping tabs on Vancouver’s The Orange Kyte throughout 2016, then you’ve been treated to some fine music already.

Revolving around Vancouver-based, Dublin-raised Stevie Moonboots (House of Dolls & The Subterranean Satellite Band), experimental music project The Orange Kyte began in January with an admirable manifesto to release a single a month, throughout the year. July’s instalment is ‘The Lone Rooster’ and joining Stevie Moonboots on guitar and synth duties is Robbie Brady of Exploding Eyes (formerly of the mighty, mighty, Dublin band The Things). A track of summery, shimmering psychedelic blissfulness, ‘The Lone Rooster’ is adorned with a bright alluring sheen, filled with an effervescent rush and a general air of coolness. It is yet another intoxicating piece of psych-tinged indie brilliance, something we’re becoming accustomed to as throughout 2016,  The Orange Kyte has proven to be the gift that keeps on giving.

You can get your hands on ‘The Lone Rooster’ here. Or, conversely, check it below.

Introducing: Mirror Test

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Some of you may remember Melbourne based psych-popper Wilding (aka Justin Wilding Stokes) coming in for lavish praise on the blog, numerous times over the past few years.

Well, Wilding has teamed up with a bunch of friends from various Melbourne bands, including Tam Vantage & Grand Prismatic, for a new project called Mirror Test. Connecting through a shared love ’80s British indie – like The Pale Fountains and The Smiths – it is little surprise then, that their debut single ‘Washed Up’ is of a similar mould. With guitars bright and shimmering, ‘Washed Up’ is an bright, infectious and irresistible cut of sing-along, jingle-jangle indie. Hushed vocals add a certain tone of melancholia, as we’re treated to a rather splendid three-and-a-half minutes, emulating the sparkling brilliance of Echo & The Bunnymen or The Smiths at their finest.

You can check out new single ‘Washed Up’ below now, while we await Mirror Tests’ debut EP, which is in the works too.

Pictish Trail shares ‘Dead Connection’, New LP Coming in September

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Scottish singer-songwriter Pictish Trail, a.k.a. Johnny Lynch, has shared newest release titled ‘Dead Connection’. The single is taken from his upcoming album Future Echoes which is due for release on September 9.

The follow up to the excellent double album Secret Soundz Vol. 1 & 2 has been in the works for a couple of years. ‘Dead Connection’ follows the first single off the record, ‘Far Gone (Don’t Leave)’ – a mysterious, cinematic and slightly darker side to Lynch’s DIY electronic-tinged indie/folk (with a bit of hip hop) – in offering us a glimpse of what to expect. The latest tune is a little different. It is much more uplifting, buoyant piece of electro-pop, with a Moon Safari-esque playfulness to it. Add to that a touch of the psychedelic, bouncy fuzzy bassline and spectral vocals drifting through the synths, ‘Dead Connection’ twists and turns toward sheer polished perfection! While the lyrics lend a slight air of the melancholic, the music raises the tune toward the uplifting. Brilliant and wholly infectious.

Future Echoes is set for release on September 9th, check out ‘Dead Connection’ below now.

Trails And Ways Announce New Album ‘Own It’, and Share Video For ‘My Things’

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Having released their wonderfully infectious debut LP, Pathology only last year, Trails And Ways are back on it, and have announced its follow up, Own It.

Ahead of the new record’s release on November 7, the California foursome have shared a snappy new video for latest single ‘My Things’. It is yet another strong offering of sun-drenched, tropical-tinged indie-pop but embracing a slightly more rock and roll sound, while retaining their signature infectious, dream-pop air. ‘My Things’ is a simply sublime, joyful distillation of sweet summery vibes. Trails And Ways have been pasting smiles on faces with their alluring, bright and joyous sounds for quite some time, and long may it continue.

You check out ‘My Things’ (and video) below and the track is available free of charge, here. And, if you’re in Vancouver, Trails And Ways play The Cobalt on Friday, August 5th (Yes, that’s TONIGHT!). Not to be missed for sure, and all the details you need are here.

Oh Boland announce debut album ‘Spilt Milk’, share ‘Jane Russell’

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Galway trio Oh Boland – Niall Murphy, Éanna Mac Donnchadha and Simon McDonagh – having been delighting our ears with their raw and unpolished, noisy garage pop for quite sometime now.

Now is the time to rejoice, Oh Boland have announced their debut LP, Spilt Milk will be released via Californian label Volar Records in October. And as if that were not enough to get us excited, the trio have shared their superb new single ‘Jane Russell’. It’s a sub-three-minute masterclass in ragged, raw and unpolished, blast of lo-fi garage-rock. While ‘Jane Russell’ trashes, screeches and rumbustiously rumbles along, it is supremely catchy and mashed with earworm hooks, continuing a trend of magnificence set out from square one. Here in lies the brilliance of their sound, traversing the space between brash and beautifully catchy they create perfection through imperfection.

Such is the high esteem in which they are held around these parts, they were hardly in need of an introduction. Needless to say, you should check out ‘Jane Russell’ below and you can pre-order the new record here. Go on, you know it makes sense.

Oh Boland also play Whelan’s Upstairs w/ Hot Cops, on Friday, August 19th – all you need to know here.

Franz Ferdinand’s Nick McCarthy forms new band ‘Manuela’, & debuts ‘Cracks in the Concrete’

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Having recently announced a time out from guitarist duties with Franz Ferdinand, Nick McCarthy has announced news of a brand new project, Manuela.

Manuela is a musical collaboration between McCarthy’s and his wife, vocalist and songwriter Manuela Gernedel, and ‘Cracks In The Concrete’ marks the pair’s first released single together. The single is a joyous introduction to their eclectic, off-the-wall post-punk meets disco sound. Instantly addictive, it slinks and shuffles along with echoing, surging guitar lines and snappy percussion, to create a refreshing DIY pop sound, full of intensity. With Manuela’s debut album expected to be announced sometime soon on the fabulous Lost Map Records, this is a perfect taster and a delicious intro to the pair’s sounds.

‘Cracks In The Concrete’ is available as a postcard (plus download!) from Lost Map, and you can check it out below.