DATE ARCHIVES : June 2019

Faux Canada – ‘Stockton’

Faux Canada is a San Francisco-based indie-pop foursome, heavily inspired by the early 00’s Secretly Canadian lineup of indie rockers, the quartets influences also touch on elements of 90’s shoegaze, grunge, and electro-lounge, all wrapped up in a delightfully charming and energetic pop sheen.

The aforementioned brew is the sound of their new EP, Liars’ Teeth, which is led by single ‘Stockton’. It is a charming and melodic delight as sporadic guitars mesh with sweet harmonies, catchy riffs and sharp hooks, propelled onward by drums and meaty bassline, and engulfed in a mild blanket of warm fuzz and distortion. An effortlessly sweet and catchy slice of bright and bouncy indie-pop laden with delicious harmonies and warm fuzz. Faux Canada have figured out the deceptively simple, age-old secret to transcending influences: just write top notch songs.

Listen to ‘Stockton’ below and if that is to you liking, check out their new EP, Liars’ Teeth here.

Aliendawg. & Moon Pics – ‘Give In’

For starters, 10/10 for the name but far from being just a front, Aliendawg. (aka Luiz Spíndola) and Moon Pics (aka Adriano Caiado) have the substance to back up the handle.

The Brazilian duo have joined forces for the release of the excellent two-song split EP, Give In / Paper Heart, out now via Midsummer Madness.With ‘Give In’, a bright, shimmering and melodic tune from the get go, the Brazilian pair proceed to explore the worlds of ‘90s indie rock, shoegaze and dream pop over the course of three-and-a-half minutes bursting with warm, lush melodies. A rich, textured sound, blanketed fuzzy guitars to create spellbinding soundscapes swelling with heart and emotion Layers of guitars, fuzz, distortion and whirring are moulded into something beautiful, lulling you in and transfixing; it is warm, melodic, charming and deeply alluring.

Listen to ‘Give In’ below – it is a gem.

Bels Lontano – ‘Lift the Sun’

Bels Lontano is an electronic music project from US-based composer and producer aka Bret Bohman.

Following on from his stellar introduction with debut EP Kind Decade early doors in 2019, he is back with a sublime new single ‘Lift the Sun’. Bels Lontano’s sonic touch strikes a perfect balance between opposing elements, a juxtaposition that feels natural and seamless, and that is the case once again. Introducing itself is a rather soft manner, it slowly evolves a much more vibrant and energised exploration as the various electronic sounds emerge. While propelled by harsh, crunchy beats the dreaminess never relents fully as cascading twinkling electronics and shimmering synths are never far away, which, along with rich textures and an ear for melody. A track of duality; it is equally at home on a dance floor or solitary consumption – a rich and rewarding experience.

Listen to ‘Lift the Sun’ below 

Psetta – ‘Low Mid Hi’

Psetta is a Los Angeles-based producer with a flair for stunning sonic distillations that eek out a balance between contrasting components; darkness and light, hard and soft, and so on.

Psetta’s proficiency in such matters is born out for all to see on new single ‘Low Mid Hi’. It strikes a perfect balance between the extremes of muscular grooves and whispered intimacy, stitching together melancholic, semi-chanted vocals with murky, sputtering and choppy electronics and burbling synthesizers. Touching on clunky house/techno as well as flirting on the fringes dream pop, it is a marriage of sounds done with clinical precision as intricate blend of bleeps, burbling synthesizers, acid squelches are woven with dreamy tones, delicious crispness and touch of melancholy. With one foot on the dancefloor and the other not far behind, this an absolute treasure.

Listen to ‘Low Mid Hi’ below:

Party Hardly – ‘The Hopskotch Man’

Following a string of singles and last autumn’s debut EP, Leeds-based indie-pop foursome Party Hardly are readying the release of their second EP this summer.

Ahead of the new EP, the quartet has afforded us a taste of what we can expect courtesy of single ‘The Hopskotch Man’.

While born from frustration depression that tormented guitarist Matt Pownall following an injury resulting in reconstruction surgery he was left bed-bound for some months, ‘The Hopskotch Man’ comes packed as a bright, upbeat and breezy indie-pop jangle. Fuzzed-up and melodic, it fizzes and whizzes with an effervescent vibe amid a hazy atmosphere and dreamy aura. It is easy on the ear and adorned with some of the catchiest, most compelling pop hooks in the known universe. Dreamy and melodic, it’s charm, allure and delight is hard to resist.

Tune in below:

Super Extra Bonus Party – ‘Some Dark Forces’ (feat. Sorcha McGrath)

Super Extra Bonus Party have long been makers of exceptional tunes – indeed some of their choice cuts reside in my all-time favourites list – and that’s not to mention the copious amount of phenomenal live shows.

The Newbridge outfit returned from hiatus in late 2017 with ‘Switzerland’ and followed a few months later by ‘Purple Heart’ – the latter is an infectious groover and the former, it is arguably their finest tune – the second coming has delivered, and looks continue to do so.

SEBP are busy working their third album, which is well overdue but in the meantime, they have released a brand new single and video. ‘Some Dark Forces’ features Sorcha McGrath from Ships on vocal duties; one of Ireland’s foremost vocalists adding a next level touch of class. It’s an upbeat, driving and emphatic electronic indie anthem. Propelled by a stomping drum beat and rhythm, ‘Some Dark Forces’ is littered with glistening synth lines and soft guitars, as cascading electronics and synths gradually fill the remaining space as it swells to an emphatic climax. It is a lush backdrop for McGrath’s stunning vocals to excel, in fact, the subtle swagger of the groove isn’t a million miles away from the cosmic disco vibes of Ships, so it is a perfect paring for McGrath. Another stunning single from SEPB mark II, hopefully work on the new album continues at pace.

There is also a video, directed by fellow Newbridge native Peter Fleming, which is equally magnificent and gorgeously shot. Check out ‘Some Dark Forces’ and video below:

Menik – ‘Brothers’

Menik is a producer with a preference for music that is colourful, ambient, melodic and driving, and drawing inspiration from everything from blues, rock and hip hop, jazz, house and techno, and everything in between.

Menik is plotting the release of his debut album Story Time, which features field recordings from milestone stages of his life. The latest single ‘Brothers’ gazes backward, inspired by Menik’s short time spent growing up in San Francisco. It is elegant, dreamy and wide-eyed, unfurling with a steady, soft and seductive beat, gentle guitar strum ‘Brothers’ intoxicates and woos with a brimming sense of optimism. Soothing soundscapes and dreamy lullabies flow into wave upon wave of gentle fuzz lapping from the side, introducing a next level calm and tranquillity akin to floating among the clouds. So much so that even the glistening riff midway through cannot offset the overwhelming sense of snug dreaminess.

It is blissful, enthralling and all-consuming track; listen to ‘Brothers’ below:

Brí – ‘Low Supply’

Brí is a Dublin-based musician and singer-songwriter from Offaly.

Drawing from a deep well of folk influences ranging from Birdy, Laura Marling, Lisa Hannigan and Gabrielle Aplin, along with subtle touches of psychedelia and electronica, Brí crafts her own unique brand of beautiful, expansive, fragile and experimental psych-folk It is something born out on exquisite new single ‘Low Supply’, and aided and abetted by producer Darragh Nolan of Asta Kalapa studios and guitarist Aidan Mulloy, it is a perfect introduction to Brí.

‘Low Supply’ is a languid psych-folk daydreamer that whisks us away on a lush meditative journey. Swirling layers of vocal harmony gently unfurl an essence of pastoral warmth as it meanders along a soft beat, splashes of subtle electronics and rhythmic psych undulations. It is a mesmeric canvas for Brí’s bewitching atmospheric tones to transfix the listener entirely. An elegant, awe-inspiring and charming blend of shimmering pastoral psych-folk; it is a hazy, soothing and altogether wonderful song.

To celebrate the single’s release, Brí plays Whelan’s Upstairs, in Dublin on Tuesday. June 11. For further details / tickets etc. click here

In the meantime, you can listen to ‘Low Supply’ below.


Kidsmoke – ‘She Takes You Under’

Welsh indie-pop foursome Kidsmoke – Lance, James, Sophie & Ash – have been charming us with their shimmering brand of dreamy indie-pop for sometime now.

Following on from recent singles ‘Rising Sun’ and ‘Passenger’, the Wrexham quartet return with another beautiful and balmy slice of dream-pop splendour; ‘She Takes You Under’. Like its recent predecessors, it is all dreamy, elegant, breezy and evocative indie pop. ‘She Takes You Under’, is easy on the ear, as shimmering and chiming tones mix with glistening guitars, sweet harmonies and buoyant energy for a pristine, dazzlingly and somewhat wistful pop song. A charming and addictive three-minute masterclass in indie-pop, and one that certainly whets the appetite for their debut album. A sweet slice of indie-pop heaven.

‘She Takes You Under’ is Kidsmoke’s third single lifted from their forthcoming album, due out later this year. Tune in below:

Sorcha Richardson – ‘Don’t Talk About It’


Photo by Cáit Fahey

NYC-based Irish artist Sorcha Richardson will release her long-awaited and much anticipated debut album First Prize Bravery in the Autumn.

This great news is heralded by a charming new single ‘Don’t Talk About It’. Sweet, charming and infectious, it skips along a jovial rhythm as Richardson’s lush vocals are accompanied by jagged guitars, sweeping synths and warm textures, creating – musically at least – a sweet, idyllic and nostalgic vibe. Lyrically however, it is a song about avoiding conflict and trying to keep the peace, no matter how much you end up sacrificing in order to do so. Richardson’s approach on ‘Don’t Talk About It’ is somewhat more expansive, it remains an intimate and moving experience. Richardson’s work to date was enough to mark out her debut as one to look out for but with ‘Don’t Talk About It’, it has upped the ante.

Listen to ‘Don’t Talk About It’ below: