# 7 Overseas Bands You’ve Gotta Hear, Vol. III – The Naturals, Echoic, Lausch, AppleTree, Bearskin, Captain Dangerous and The Shy Lips - Link: https://indierockcafe.com/2013/05/7-overseas-bands-youve-gotta-hear-vol-iii-the-naturals-echoic-lausch-appletree-bearskin-captain-dangerous-and-the-shy-lips/ - Published: 2013-05-07T02:21:59-04:00 - Author: Max Hammer One thing is for sure about the regular readers and listeners of IRC: you want to hear more underground, DIY, new and under-the-radar bands and artists. Over the past couple of years, the posts that usually get the most love, if you will, are often profiles and playlists that highlight DIY and small label bands that are pretty much unknown by the vast majority of indie and alternative rock music lovers. In recent months, there has been a flurry of [DIY and Small Label Bands to Watch](https://indierockcafe.com/category/diy-bands-to-watch/) posts, including [5 DIY Bands to Watch](https://indierockcafe.com/2013/04/5-diy-bands-to-watch-vol-v-copies-plastic-animals-carson-monkeybird-sictor-valdana/), [7 Bands You’ve Gotta Hear](https://indierockcafe.com/category/indie-rock-mixtapes/7-bands-you-gotta-hear/), [Artist of the Week](https://indierockcafe.com/category/artist-of-the-week/) and many others. The major difference between the 5 DIY Bands and 7 Bands features is that the former profiles only DIY, unsigned bands, while the ‘7’ series also includes bands that are signed with a record label. This latest edition of [7 Bands You’ve Gotta Hear](https://indierockcafe.com/category/indie-rock-mixtapes/7-bands-you-gotta-hear/) highlights overseas bands that sent their music in via the submission box, and who were hand-picked from hundreds of other submissions following a careful review. The bands include **The Naturals** (Bristol, England); **Echoic** (Helsinki, Finland& London); **Lausch** (Vienna, Austria); AppleTree (Bogota, Colombia); Bearskin (London, England); **Captain Dangerous** (Nottingham, England); **The Shy Lips** (Gothenburg, Sweden). #### The Naturals – Bristol, England From** Bristol,** England, **The Naturals** spent their adolescent years steadily maturing into a band that sculpts their own unique spin on influences like **Foals, The Cure, Idlewild, The Chameleons** and **Neu!**. “Concrete Sea” is the band’s debut single released via **Howling Owl Records** (Towns, United Fruit, The Concubines) last June. The _BCC_ program, _BCC Introducing_, said of the band: “The Naturals have matured and ripened delightfully into a distinguished and beautiful post-rock band.” Approaching a decade of making music together, the band have honed their artistic din in damp basements, church crypts, art spaces, venues, festivals and even Olympic Park, growing into a live monolith of controlled and explosive sound. While the band members have been individually pursuing interests in music, visual arts and film, The Naturals’ share a love of stark melody, sculpted noise and artful sonic contrast. The Naturals are not completely off the radar – they have opened for bands such as **Noah and the Whale, Trans Am, Bombay Bicycle Club, This Will Destroy You**, and **Johnny Foreigner**. We obviously detect the exciting promise in the band’s sound, and hope to hear an album from them at some point. What we’re not clear on is why, after nearly nine years together, the band has never dropped an EP or a full-length album. Only recently did they release their debut double single 7″, which is included here for IRC listeners to make their own determination of. According to the band, they plan to release their debut album sometime this summer via Howling Owl. You can bet we’ll keep you posted when more information becomes available. Related Post:  7 Bands You’ve Gotta Hear, Vol. VI – Analog, The Lukewarm, Bee Caves, The Post Age, The Revies, Stereo Off, Danny and Caroline “Concrete Sea” – **The Naturals** from _Concrete Sea_ 7″ “Finishing Moves” – **The Naturals** from _Concrete Sea_ 7″ [The Naturals on Tumblr](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/thenaturalsmusic.tumblr.com) #### Echoic – Helsinki, Finland Echoic is a Helsinki/London DIY alternative rock duo formed by two musicians barely out of their teens: **Otto Nuoranne** and **Markus Vuoristo**. While Nuoranne is based in **Helsinki**, Finland, and Vuoristo in **London**, the two began collaborating via the web in 2011. Last year, they began recording sessions in a Helsinki studio apartment, which resulted in the duo’s debut album, _Springbook_, released just a couple of weeks ago. Echoic’s music is rich and layered art rock, a product of a clash of two musicians with a classical training in cello, and a passion for electronic music, rhythm, and rock. The young musicians have diverted from the traditional classical path and now explore their own musical endeavors: Echoic’s music is written and performed by Nuoranne and produced and programmed by Vuoristo. Electronic and acoustic elements interact seamlessly, and are topped with lyrics about expectations, disappointment and hope. Their classical training is audible in the frequent use of the cello throughout _Springhook_. In response to ‘what is indie rock,’ the duo replied: “Indie rock is music in the limitless ocean of music. To us, indie still means independent – to make independent music is to work hard to be able to hold on to one’s vision of what the music consists of and what it sounds like, not taking orders from the markets.” The duo’s main musical influences include Radiohead, Battles, Liars, The Knife, and Tool. “This Roof – **Echoic** from _Springbook_ – April 15th “Unicorn” – **Echoic** from _Springbook_ Echoic Official Website ![bearskin](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/bearskin.jpg "bearskin") #### Bearskin – London, England **London** indie rockers **Bearskin** is the brain-child of **George Hudson** and** Michael Pumo**. Hudson and Pumo began Bearskin in 2011 by writing and recording demos in their lo-fi home studio, until eventually crafting something worthy of listening to. In early 2012, drummer **Josef Emmet** and bassist **Paul Braker** were added to complete the band’s maturation to full band status. Meanwhile, they continued to play gigs throughout London, gradually growing their following. In December, the band’s EP, _A Light That Finally Shines_, containing the pensive and upbeat track, “Volcanoes,” went viral on the social networking website Reddit. That, in turn, resulted in the band being profiled by the _NME_, the UK’s most important music publication. Related Post:  7 Overseas Artists You've Gotta Hear, Vol. V - Metaform, Matt Churchill, James Kerr, Flat Ed, Reebosound, Heifervescent, Lillian Todd-Jones “Volcanoes” – **Bearskin** from _A Light That Finally Shines_ [“Dreams of Waking Up”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/BEARSKIN%20-%20Dreams%20of%20Waking%20Up.mp3)–** Bearskin** from _A Light That Finally Shines_ ![theshylips](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/theshylips1.jpg" theshylips") #### The Shy Lips – Gothenburg, Sweden The first twenty seconds of **The Shy Lips**‘ track, “In Your House,” sounds like they’re channeling **Vampire Weekend** the morning after a night of boozing. But soon, the song breaks out into a straight-away mix of semi-quirky UK-style guitar rock mixed with punk elements. The Shy Lips originated during vocalist **Adam ben Rahmoun**‘s travels around Latin America, where he first met bassist **Victor Pettersson**. Upon realizing that they had a mutual love of indie and alternative rock, they settled in **Gothenburg**, Sweden, where they were joined by Adam’s brother,** Jonas ben Rahmoun**, on guitar, and soon after, **Alexander Lisinski** on guitar and **Anton Ekedahl** on drums. The Shy Lips released their self-titled debut EP after only two months of playing together as a quartet. The band quickly went on to play some of the most famous venues in Gothenburg, including club **Woody West,** which has hosted acts such as **The Vaccines** and **Destroyer**. Last fall, the band released the sophomore EP, _Nowadays_, showcasing a blend of musical influences, and quickly gaining some buzz and some radio play on Sweden’s national radio. Not surprisingly, Shy Lips musical influences include **The Strokes, The Vaccines, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Libertines**, and **Babyshambles**. [“In Your House”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/01_In%20Your%20House.mp3)–** The Shy Lips** from _Nowadays_ [“Nowadays”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/02_Nowadays.mp3) – **The Shy Lips** from _Nowadays_ ![appletree](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/appletree-500x446. jpg "appletree") #### AppleTree – Bogota, Colombia **Elpatron Records** recording artist **AppleTree**, the moniker of the new Colombian recording duo comprised of **Bogota** musicians **Andrés Cárdenas** and **Alex González**, recorded an EP titled _Draft_ in various bedrooms and living rooms with the intent, despite an apparent access to a recording studio, of producing a lo-fi record that has the feel of a DIY project. Related Post:  7 Overseas Bands You've Gotta Hear, Vol. IV - My Empire of Sound, Deaf Phonetics, The Wakeup Suzzys, E-MUTE, Opioids, Ka Tet The resulting EP was well-received in the Bogota rock circuit; so much so that the pair decided to recruit two friends – **Cristian Galeano** on drums and **Felipe Merchán** on guitar – to complete a four-piece band. According to Cardenas, the band’s top musical influences include **Sebadoh, Pavement, Guided by Voices, The Pixies, The Ramones**, and Nirvana. AppleTree’s first show as a full band was an opening gig for the British rockers **The Palace of Justice**. Due to the success of _Draft_, and their electrifying live shows, the band has been invited to record their debut full-length album in **Turnpike Lane Studios** in **London** this spring. “Waiting for Nothing” – **AppleTree** from _Draft_ “Mary” – **AppleTree** from _Draft_ ![canadaisfalling](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/canadaisfalling- 480x480.jpg "canadaisfalling") #### Lausch – Vienna, Austria **Lausch** is a **Vienna**, Austria alternative math rock/post-core band that got our attention after sending in a few tracks for review. The songs included below are from their third album, _Canada Is Falling, _ which features the tracks “Endgame” and “Candyman.” As part of their submission, the band stated that their goal as a musical endeavor is to “carry the alternative rock heritage of the 1990’s” forward and to contribute post-modern tracks full of “well structured, tight and powerful music.” In addition to fans of post-modern alt. rockers, we think other music lovers, based on reactions of patrons of the cafe, will also dig the band’s sound. While they haven’t opened for any well-known bands that we know of (yet), their major influences include the **Deftones, 65 Days of Static, And So I Watch You From Afar**, and **Circa Survive**. “Endgame” – **Lausch** from _Canada Is Falling_ “Candyman” – **Lausch** from _Canada Is Falling_ ![the-empire-never-ended](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/the- empire-never-ended-500x423.jpg "the-empire-never-ended") #### Captain Dangerous – Nottingham, England Hailing from **Nottingham**, England, **Captain Dangerous** perform wonky-pop music with heartbreaking stories, drawing off influences from bands like **Pavement, Pulp** and **Blur**, all tied together with bombastic orchestral arrangements. The band has toured extensively since forming in 2010, including a recent tour that included a 20-piece orchestra, and have become known in the U.K. for their rich and thrilling live shows. Captain Dangerous have previously opened for bands such as **Marina & The Diamonds, Ash** and **The Holloways.** [“Heather and Tommy”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/04%20Heather%20And%20Tommy.mp3)–** Captain Dangerous** from _The Empire Never Ended_ – Jan. 14th [“Merrow Song”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/05%20Merrow%20Song.mp3)–** Captain Dangerous** from _The Empire Never Ended_ [Captain Dangerous on Bandcamp](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/the-empire-never-ended)