POSTS TAGGED : Lo-Fi

Celebrity Warship – ‘Best Friends’

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Celebrity Warship is an NYC based five-piece, fronted and led by Jacob Sanders.

Sanders & Company’s self-titled debut is a wonderful collection of understated cuts of melodic indie. There is no faffing about, they are songs that proudly embrace bare bones recording methods and none more so that lead single ‘Best Friends’. Amid the hushed tones and mild cloak of fuzz; this is pure ‘ear-candy’. Shimmering guitars mingle with crashing cymbals and hushed vocals to distil a brand of melodic lo-fi indie that purrs with a lovingly applied warmth and lightly-coated in fuzz. ‘Best Friends’ gets inside your head and refuses leave, such is its insatiably catchy nature. A fine opening introduction from this New York five-piece.

You can listen to ‘Best Friends’ below & listen to their debut album here.

 

Christopher Pellnat – ‘GTA’

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Christopher Pellnat is a musician & songwriter from Hudson, New York, who’s preference is for lo-fi tunes with an earworm quality.

Pellnat’s latest single ‘GTA’ is an infectious ode to playing computer games, young love, Nintendo 64 and of course, Grand Theft Auto. Musically speaking it is a playful, fun and consuming blend of Beck meets Cornershop. This genre absorbing sound is equally unique and strange; the lovable oddity and off-kilter whimsy probably wouldn’t resonate so much were it not for the moments of melodic sweetness and infectious groove threaded through. Add to that an intoxicating array of beats from bouncy danceable percussion, tamberine woods and samples and we’re powerless to resist. On this evidence at least, Christopher Pellnat is a unique and creative voice.

Check out ‘GTA’ below & if that is to your liking, there’s much more over on his SoundCloud page.

Fuzzystar – ‘Telegraphing’

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Fuzzystar is the moniker of Edinburgh-based songwriter Andy Thomson and band, who have a flair for off-kilter indie pop, strewn with scuzzy, lo-fi melodies.

Andy Thomson has been playing solo and in various line-ups as Fuzzystar for years; starting in Edinburgh, with a stint in London, before returning to Scotland. The band name comes from an appreciation of the bands Big Star and Mazzy Star. Fuzzystar’s forthcoming album Telegraphing is due for release on April 28th and ahead of that, we’ve been gifted record’s title-track, and it’s a doozy. ‘Telegraphing’ is three-and-a-half-minutes of melodic lo-fi indie laden with dream-like fuzz, infectious reverb and strewn with hooks you could hang your hat on. Bristling with an unobtrusive moodiness, it is permeated with a sense of melancholy and understated optimism, as Thomsen’s droning vocal echoes through the shimmering haze. A tantalising taste what Fuzzystar is all about.

The album is due out on 28th April 2017 via Satellite Sounds, you can treat your ears to the marvellous drifting haze of title-track ‘Telegraphing’ below.

Billy Changer – ‘Barbarella’

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Billy Changer is an L.A. based artist, producer, radio DJ and member of L.A. based band, Corners.

Changer’s solo work – and self-titled 2014 debut released via Lolipop Records / Burger Records – is marked by a fondness for a lovingly rough around the edges hybrid of ’60s garage and psych-pop. Taken from the aforementioned debut and exuding all those aesthetic qualities is single, ‘Barbarella’, for which he has just released a new video for – and it is a dynamite intro to the world of Billy Changer. Driven by a propulsive, whirring bass-line which cuts through the hazy jangle which at times, everything is coated in a light coat of fuzz and distortion. A deliciously ramshackle, lo-fi sound, ‘Barbella’ is an insidiously catchy, plucky and utterly irresistible slice of garage and psych-pop indebted indie.

You can check out ‘Barbella’ below. If that is to you liking (of which I’m sure it will) you can listen to Billy Charger’s self-titled debut here. You shall not regret it.

Ghost Effects – ‘Blue By You’

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Ghost Effects are Kentucky-based lo-fi indie merchants – Trey Bartley (Guitar), Jarred Halcomb (Vocals/Keys), Logan Newby (Bass) & Daniel Peach (Drums) – who released their debut LP, You Can Always Find Me Here towards the end of 2016.

While it’s a record littered with ideas, there is a certain affinity for good old fashion indie which permeates their entire LP. The undoubted high-point from their aforementioned debut LP is latest single, ‘Blue By You’. Shimmering guitars and dreamy vocals coalesce with meaty-toned bass for a laid-back yet simultaneously spirited cut of classic, indie gold. One track guaranteed to improve your day.

You can give ‘Blue By You’ a spin below and if that is to you liking, you can check out Ghost Effects’ new record here.

The Courtneys Announce new album, ‘The Courtneys II’; Share ‘Silver Velvet’

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Vancouver indie trio The Courtneys have announced details for the follow up to their marvellous self-titled debut. Simply titled The Courtneys II, it is set to arrive on February 17 through Flying Nun.

With their 2013 debut, The Courtneys peddled a lo-fi fuzzy slacker garage-pop that drifting back toward the ’90s and first taster from the new record, ‘Silver Velvet’ leads a very similar charge. Endearingly ramshackle, it is pumped with fuzzed-up distorted guitars, sweet licks and heavy, driving bass lines. Done and dusted in exactly three minutes, it is topped off with some intricate drums and dreamy vocals, rarely has ramshackle indie been so appealing and so pretty damn irresistible. A pure noise pop gem.

The Courtneys’ new album, The Courtneys II, is out on February 17, 2017. For now, enjoy the irresistible earworm that is ‘Silver Velvet’. Also, if you haven’t done so already, check out their snappy 2013 debut LP here. Well worth your attention.

Duncan Lloyd – ‘FReak FAcade’

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Duncan Lloyd is probably best known as the guitarist in Maximo Park, but away from the day job, he’s kept himself busy with various side-projects including Decade In Exile, Nano Kino and solo work under his own name.

It is the latter which requires our attention today with Lloyd planning to release a new EP, FReak FAcade very soon. Ahead of which, he’s afforded us a glimpse of the title track and ‘FReak FAcade’ is a doozy. It is four-and-a-half-minutes of beautiful, wistful meanderings treated with lo-fi fuzz. Bristling with an unobtrusive moodiness, it is permeated with a sense of melancholy and understated optimism. Lloyd’s hushed vocal echoes through the shimmering guitar, which twinkle like stars in the night sky. A tantalising reminder of what Lloyd is capable of on his own; marvellous.

There is no date as yet for the forthcoming EP (watch this space I guess) but you can listen to ‘FReak FAcade’ below. Is is also available to download as a ‘pay what you like’ from Bandcamp.

London-based Lazy Day Return With Beautifully Melodic New Single; ‘Disappear’

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If you cast your mind back to Record Store Day last year, you may remember Lazy Day teaming up with Tuff Love for excellent split single, ‘Portrait’ / ‘Groucho’.

Well, since then, things fell sadly quite – until now that is. The London-based quartet have teamed up with Lost Map records to release their brand new single ‘Disappear’. Now 18 months is a bloody long time, but this is a beautifully melodic return, and one that radiates warmth. Led by Scantlebury’s powerful and compelling croon, it quietly builds from ambient origins, as guitars chime and flicker around the vocals before being engulfed by a swell of instrumentation – exploding into life with tight percussion, cascading melody and thick and crunchy guitars billowing from all sides. ‘Disappear’ perfectly balances the light with the dark. Scantlebury’s vocals splattered with melancholy and yearning, are tempered by hazy guitar textures, dreamy melodies and lively drums to give life to a sort of lo-fi, dream-pop/grungey hybrid. Phenomenally brilliant, and unforgettable.

Released on a super limited run of 7″ vinyl, ‘Disappear’ is backed by b-side ‘All The Time’. Limited or not, we have here, listen to to ‘Disappear’ below.

Introducing: Milk

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Comprised of former/current members of Watermelon, Village, and Soft Serve, Milk have just released their debut EP, Late Bloomer.

The Vancouver quartet’s debut release is one of sleepy, mellow beauty, specialising as they do, in sweetly crisp guitar licks, dreamy melodies and jangling tones, while singer-guitarist Thom James’ drawl looms large above these laid-back indie-alt-country. Across the 6-track release, it is one treat after another. ‘Don’t Laugh’ is bright, catchy ditty with the clean, jangling tones and crisp electric twang accompanying James’ deep drawl. ‘Standards’ is just as instantly lovable, like Village Green era The Kinks meets melodic alt-country tones. ‘Marmalade’ and ‘Funeral’ showcase Milk’s darker side, not too gloomy, just a shade darker and imbued with sentimentality which eventually merges into dreamy, laid-back indie pop. Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the nicest new sounds of 2016 thus far; sleepy, laid-back and promising stuff from the veritable Vancouver super-group.

Milk’s debut EP Late Bloomer is out now and available here. Meanwhile, there are a number of choice cuts below.

Hinds – ‘San Diego’

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Madrid quartet Hinds previously shared ‘Garden’, one of the best tunes this year, from their debut album, Leave Me Alone, which will be out on January 8 via Mom + Pop.

Now, Hinds have shared another track from their aforementioned LP, the bopping new single ‘San Diego’. It’s an upbeat, jolly slice of scratchy lo-fi surf-punk, with an unashamedly west coast vibe. ‘San Diego’ crashes and bangs with snappy drums, reverb-soaked guitar melodies, playful harmonies and back-and-forth vocal. It’s not all sunshine and cheer however, the lyrics tell a darker tale of struggles with insomnia and deals with the devil. Of course, this rollicking adventure is draped with frenzied chants and relentless infectious energy; fast becoming group’s signature scuzzy calling card.

You can stream ‘San Diego’ below while Leave Me Alone will be out on January 8 via Mom + Pop/Lucky Number.

Hinds just wrapped up their North American tour but they’ve got a pile of European dates coming up. All the dates are listed here.