DATE ARCHIVES : February 2018

mikwerdna – ‘Citalopram’

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‘Citalopram’ is the lead single lifted from LA-based producer mikwerdna‘s new album, Mortar and Pastel.

‘Citalopram’ exhibits mikwerdna’s penchant for a peculiar but fruitful approach to making music. It is a silky smooth production, combing jazzy tones with spacey, out-there moments amid a fusion of drone, downtempo and dubstep influenced sounds within the confines of an unconventional, off-kilter construct; creating a unique and surreal atmosphere. mikwerdna manages to marry a crisp elegance with an unfettered playfulness that knows no bounds – the result being an alluring, imaginative and a colourful confection of electronic sounds.

You can listen to ‘Citalopram’ below & it is but one of many treats that await you on Mortar and Pastel, which you can listen to here.

The Dekkoes – ‘Divide’

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London-based outfit The Dekkoes released their debut EP Divide, in the latter part of last year and today, it is the title-track that concerns us.

The roots of their approach lie in indie-pop, merged with touches of britpop thrown in for good measure and latest single, ‘Divide’ captures this in exquisite fashion. A melodic, playful and infectious confection, it bobs along bouncily to a stomping, rhythmic beat; the engine beneath tthe jangle-tastic guitar and swooning harmonies. Lively, bright and upbeat, ‘Divide’ is utterly buoyant, utterly brilliant and seemingly effortless in its pursuit of indie-pop perfection.

You can listen to ‘Divide’ – with its refreshing and an uplifting vibe – below and if that is to your liking, you can sample more of their wares here.

Tomás Novoa – ‘Al Bosque’

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Noted for his penchant for heavy basslines, organic rhythms and emotive soundscapes, Chilean born, Berlin-based producer Tomás Novoa returns with another sublime single of his signature style.

New track, ‘Al Bosque’ is a revelation – plain and simple. Opening along a steady beat and gleaming synth, it reveals itself to be a magnificent shape-shifting beast, fluctuating between vaguely ambient, twinkling elegance and a highly danceable disposition. Taking in a series of tempo shifts, this suitably blissed-out spin through popping corn beats and ravey tones is as refreshing as cool glass of ice-water on a scorching summer’s day and as relaxing as soothing sounds of ocean waves lapping at your feet. Another sublime single Novoa, and one that offers even more reward and insight into the skills at his disposal.

Listen to ‘Al Bosque’ below now:

Cloud – ‘Wildfire’

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Cloud is a Long Island-based project, revolving around chief songwriter Tyler Taormina.

Back in 2013, the US outfit released a well received debut album, Comfort Songs, on Audio Antihero – and five years on, they have teamed up with the same label for their second offering, Plays With Fire. Ahead of the new record, Cloud have shared lead single ‘Wildfire’ – taking us on a colourful adventurous journey through synth pop, psych folk, surf rock, krautrock and electronica. It’s an uplifting, glossy, dream-pop production, mixing its baggy beat with a soft, psychedelic wave of synths which gradually envelopes everything else. This psychedelic wall of sound – with vocal interjections that call to mind The Go! Team and Pinkunoizu – will suck in the most unwilling of ears. The melody lulls you in with a repetitive loop and washed out drums, before raining down a swirling vortex of hypnotic power. A melodious, hook heavy and irresistible confection of sound. Stunning!

‘Wildfire’ is the album’s lead single, which is accompanied by a music video directed by Taormina and an exclusive non-album b-side. You can check them out below now.

Tia Gostelow – ‘Giants’

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18-year-old Australian singer-songwriter Tia Gostelow and her indie folk / pop stylings, have built up quite the reputation in her homeland and for 2018, she is kicking off with the release of her debut EP, Status Anxiety.

Ahead of the aforementioned EP, Gostelow has shared ‘Giants’ and it is a doozy. It gently canters along with a tender tone built on dreamy guitar lines, peaceful melody as the vocals swish and swoon, through smokey to ranges of falsetto with a bristling blend of innocence and defiance in the face of adversity. Joined by keys, tripping percussion and angelic harmonies, it leads to a truly triumphant climax of idyllic peace and beauty. This peaceful but stirring indie folk gem is a joy to behold.

You can listen to ‘Giants’ below, lets hope Gostelow’s Status Anxiety EP isn’t far behind it.

Lazy Day – ‘Weird Cool’

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‘Weird Cool’ is the new single of the London-based lo-fi dreamy-grunge quartet Lazy Day.

Beginning life in 2014 as the solo bedroom project of Tilly Scantlebury, Lazy Day have expanded to a live four-piece band, going from strength to strength and served us with a series of superb releases. Latest single ‘Weird Cool’ is no different and spoils us in a similarly splendid style. Simultaneously biting and moody, ‘Weird Cool’ shifts along a groovy bubbling bassline and reverb-ridden, chorus-y guitars as Scantelbury’s beautiful, powerful and impassioned vocals soar effortlessly over the top. The single is aptly self-described by the band as a ‘groovy moody weird love song’, but in general terms Lazy Day are reliably brilliant and honestly heartwarming.

The single coincides with a series of UK headline shows (Bournemouth, London and Bristol) as well as Irish & UK support with Alex Lahey, including Belfast on March 30 & Dublin on April 1 – no joke. The complete list of dates are here.

For now, the only thing to do is listen ‘Weird Cool’.

 

Freedom Baby – ‘When We Go’

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Freedom Baby – initially a Toronto-based bedroom project between Eric Reid and Brianna Bordihn – has progressed and evolved, to trade in magnificently melancholic sounds to soothe your soul.

From these humble beginnings the pair have studiously spent the past six months carefully crafting their debut EP, How You’ll Grow, which shall be with us on March 9. Ahead of its release, the pair have shared lead single ‘When We Go’. The song is an ode to the inevitability of death and dying; marked by an acceptance of the loss of loved ones but in a hopeful, grand celebratory fashion. Representing an end as well as a beginning, it seems rather apt and fitting that ‘When We Go’ is our first introduction to Freedom Baby’s forthcoming EP. A bittersweet, misty-eyed cut of orchestral-pop, it unfolds with a lonely ukulele, quickly embraced by a warm blanket of trumpet before the percussion pops up. These carefully compiled layers are allow the sparsity of Bordihn’s angelic vocals to hit home. Hovering tentatively over burgeoning orchestration, the music swells to consume you and everything else in its wake. An exquisitely crafted, compelling, captivating and emotive tune. Simply magnificent!

Listen to ‘When We Go’ below and you know, keep your eyes peeled for Freedom Baby’s forthcoming EP in March.

The Echo Bombs – ‘Pistachio Pudding’

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Phoenix, Arizona trio The Echo Bombs – aka Eddie Horn, Daniel Endicott & Michael Regan – do a rather redoubtable trade in the seriously potent garage rock stakes.

They play fast, energetic and loud, something abundantly clear upon hearing ‘Pistachio Pudding’ – first single off the forthcoming second album, Pleb, penned for released in April. Musically, it’s a whirlwind of crunchy guitars, searing riffs, pounding drums and raspy vocals (decrying a seething revulsion at growing older), all clamouring for air above a sea of fuzz. There are shades of Weezer meets Fidlar, in a confection of punky, surfy, power-pop that across two-and-a-half minutes, delivers an undeniably infectious catchy and anthemic cut of garage-rock.

You can listen to ‘Pistachio Pudding’ below – as yet, there is not confirmed date for The Echo Bombs new record but watch this space.

Klangplanet – ‘Starlight’

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For a while now, German producer KLANGPLANET – aka Frieder Mollat – has been a steady source of nocturnal, brooding house-inspired wizardry. Not one to break with tradition, Mollat has floated back onto our horizon with selenological new single, ‘Starlight’.

Lifted from his new EP Electronic Universe, an EP to commemorate his solo adventures, ‘Starlight’ a mellow, late-night, atmospheric jam. It certainly feeds into his pre-established predilection for minimal vibes, meticulously merged with field-recordings from different surroundings he aims to create a musical journey and alluring sound mélange. Stylistically speaking, it is his deft touch working in tandem with a preference for organic field recording that marks his chilled, downtempo works out from the crowd. Adding piano and guitar’s to the entrancing spectacle leaves us with a beautiful melodic downtempo effect with a deep house flavour. This is vivid, cinematic and immersive – music to get lost in if you will, and escapism at its very finest. Enjoy the trip.

Listen to ‘Starlight’ below, and if that is to your liking, there’s plenty more where that came from here.

Altvater – ‘Arcturus’

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Hailing from Columbia, South Carolina, Altvater is an electronic music producer who’s downtempo jams are a fusion of electronica, trip hop, and dark synthwave.

Altvater’s style has shades of early techno sharing colour and warmth to a glacial but imperious ambiance, as evidenced by ‘Arcturus’; lifted from the Walking Creatures EP. It slinks along at its own pace, unhurried or bothered by anything else, hissing into life before the throbbing bass permeates the steady drive with a menacing air. This menace is punctured only by twinkles with a glacial aura and crystalline chimes, before the shiver of chilling ominousness returns, with spooky tones and squelches at every turn. Precise, pristine and pulsating – it is a spectacular introduction to Altvater.

Listen to ‘Arcturus’ below – and there is plenty more where that came from, over here.