# Recent Releases We Almost Missed, VII: Sam Billen, The Press, Markaras Pen, Boy Without God, Peasant, Chromatic Flights

- Link: https://indierockcafe.com/2010/04/recent-releases-sam-billen-the-press-and-i-watched-you-from-afar/
- Published: 2010-04-29T00:04:00-04:00
- Author: Max Hammer

With so much new music coming at us from all directions all the time, there are 
going to be those that slip through the cracks. The fact that these tracks are part
of an ‘almost missed’ mix does not in anyway diminish what we think about the songs
themselves (thus the reason for this series). So, without reviewing the tracks individually–
which we’d love to do but there simply isn’t time – we hope the music speaks for
itself.

Not many people, even those who follow “indie” music, know who Sam Billen is. And
for those that do, they might say you’ve been missing out. Irregardless, we have
been really digging Billen’s cover songs and remixes lately, including his repurposing
of songs from – Removers – Sufjan Stevens, Postal Service, Deastro, and Capybara.
We’ve included two of our favorites here. Enjoy.

[“Spirtle” (Deastro)](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Spritle%20%28Deastro%29.mp3)–
Sam Billen from Removers – March 9th

[“Borderline” (Sufjan Stevens) ](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Borderline%20%28Sufjan%20Stevens%20Cover%29.mp3)–
Sam Billen from Removers – March 9th

Sam Billen’s Removers EP is available as a free download.
 [Sam Billen on MySpace](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/sambillen)
If you haven’t already heard of the band The Press (making it hard to Google their
name), now is your chance. The Brooklyn band brilliantly produces songs that are
melodic and dreamy, “Jellyfish Wrangler,” as well as raw and in-your-face guitar
rock, “Master,” as well as other styles. Put them down as a Band to Watch. Following
The Press is Makaras Pen, whose songs hover somewhere between shoegaze, pop and 
indie rock.

“Master” – The Press from _INTEOTWIJTEOAE_ – April 6th

Related Post:  Recent Releases We Almost Missed, Vol. V: The Library Is On Fire,
Son Lux, The Ambience Affair, Japanther, Yawn, Kikipau

“Jellyfish Wrangler” – The Press from _INTEOTWIJTEOAE_ – April 6th

“Falling Deeper” – Makaras Pen from _Makaras Pen_ – April 1st

Blind Man Colour’s Other Half Releases More Solo Work

Kyle Wess of [Blind Man’s Colour](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Blind%20Man%27s%20Colour1.html),
a band that received a lot of attention in the second half of 2009, just released
his second DIY EP under his moniker Chromatic Flights. The EP is pretty much an 
extension of the type of the electronic experimental ‘surf’ sounds and styles he’s
recorded in the past, and with BMC; so there are no real standout tracks, except
for the title track, which will quite possibly make it on to one of our summer playlist
mixtapes.

[“Too Beautiful for Smiles”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/01%2520Too%2520Beautiful%2520for%2520Smiles.mp3)–
Chromatic Flights from Too Beautiful for Smiles – April 19th

[Download the EP for free](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/too-beautiful-for-smiles)

Artist on the Radar: New York’s Boy Without God

Ridgewood, New York’s Boy Without God has proven to be a promising one man band 
who has collaborated with dozens of artists, including members of [Slaraffenland.](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/cover-me-playlist-series-vol-ii-killers1.html)
BWG is recommended if you like Beirut, Neutral Milk Hotel, Stephin Merritt, and 
Sufjan Stevens. The album art above is from the first BWG LP released last summer.

[“City Kids”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/BoyWithoutGod-CityKids1.mp3)–
Boy Without God – single – Jan. 18th

[Boy Without God on MySpace](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/boywithoutgod)

On The Rise: New Orlean’s Sun Hotel

Sun Hotel started as a two-piece folk act when Tyler Scurlock and Alex Hertz moved
to New Orleans for college. After writing and recording “spooky” songs in their 
college dorm room, the duo released the lo-fi EP, Oh N.O! to great fan and critic
response. Since then, the six-piece post-gospel family band has released their 2009
debut LP, Halloween Mean, and their follow-up LP, Team Spirit, in January 2010.

Related Post:  Recent Releases We Almost Missed - The Hot Dark, Norwegian Arms, 
Brave Baby, John Haesemeyer and Eric Howl

“Plantation Land” – Sun Hotel from Team Spirit – Jan. 15th

“All Ways” – Sun Hotel from Team Spirit – Jan. 15th

[Sun Hotel on MySpace](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/sunhotelsounds1)

Lastest Release from Peasant Reaffirms Remarkable Talent

When Damien DeRose turned 18, he dropped out of school, packed up his guitar, and
bought a sailboat in California with a friend. A few years later, DeRose released
his home recorded debut, Fear Not Distant Lover, and penned the moniker Peasant.
The DIY release is full of lo-fi folk pop songs that caught the attention of some
influential bloggers. In 2008, Peasant signed with Paper Garden Records, which released
Peasant’s first studio LP, On The Gound.

Last year, one of the songs from the album was included on the season premier of
the TV show, Bones. During his tour of 2008-09, Peasant recorded live sessions for
Daytrotter and WOXY radio (RIP), and shared the stage with Cursive, Delta Spirit
and Deer Tick, including shows at [South By Southwest](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/sxsw-2010-bands1.html)
and the Montreal Pop Fest. His newest album, Shady Retreat, was recorded in the 
attic of a 200-year-old farmhouse.

“Well Alright” – Peasant from Shady Retreat – March 2nd

⌊andsoiwatchedyoufromafarsongs⌉⌊andsoiwatchedyoufromafarsongs⌉
 …And So We Listened
Really Closely

We don’t usually publish instrumentals here – mainly because there are already so
many great songs with vocals(gotta draw the line somewhere). Plus, most people find
instrumentals boring. But …And So I Watched You From Afar instrumental “The Voiceless”
lights up with ambient guitar licks, chord progressions and a calm to climatic interludes,
making it well worth a listen.

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Turns It On, Ruby Suns, Josiah Wolf, Happy Birthday and More

“The Voiceless” – …And So I Watched You From Afar from s/t debut – April 6th

⌊voicesvoicesorigin⌉⌊voicesvoicesorigin⌉
 VoicesVoices Make Their Voices Heard

The final song in this mix straddles the line between instrumental and vocal, layering
smooth sounds with choruses to create a truly inspirational, relaxing and memorable
track from a band no one has heard of – Voicesvoices. Check ’em out.

[“Out From Under”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/02%20Out%20from%20Under1.m4a)–
Voicesvoices from Origin – Jan. 25th