2013 – Page 8 – INDIE ROCK CAFE

Best New Music Releases – Youth Lagoon, The Men, Cloud Cult, Javelin, Rhye, How to Destroy Angels, Chelsea Light Moving

Posted on 03/10/201301/09/2020 by Max Hammer

This week’s batch of new releases from popular, obscure and signed indie and alternative rock, electro and folk bands offers indie music lovers a large assortment of albums to pick from, as well as singles to stream and download. Keep an eye out for a whole series of recently released DIY albums coming up soon and containing a stunning collection of top-notch singles from artists many folks have never heard before. We’re also working diligently on putting together and publishing the Top 10 Songs weekly playlists for February.

The number of notable releases this past week probably makes this the blockbuster week for new releases so far this year. In fact, there were so many releases to go through, that it delayed the posting of this edition of BNMR. What we can say for sure is this playlist is a feast for the ears – don’t be surprised if you find yourself listening to it again and again. That said, let’s get right to it, starting off with the swirling, melancholic synths and brilliant compositions of Trevor Powers, aka, Youth Lagoon. His sophomore LP, Wondrous Bughouse, is IRC’s Album of the Week, and for good reason. There is a full Spotify stream of the album embedded in the review. Find out why one regular patron of the cafe called it the Sgt. Pepper of 2013.

The masterpiece track, “Dropla,” is the lead single from the album. Also, dip into the versatile genre-fication (garage rock, psychedelic rock, power pop) of The Men; the wonderfully layered prog rock and orchestral pop of Cloud Cult; the richly textured, heavily sampled electro pop debut from Grimes‘ accomplice Doldrums, as well as the totally thrilling, joyous sounds of Superhuman Happiness on the track, “See Me On My Way.” Cy Dune, aka Akron/Family band member Seth Olinsky rocks hard on the single, “Where The Wild Things,” from this solo debut EP, No Recognize, out on vinyl this week via Family Tree Records,

“Dropla” – Youth Lagoon from Wondrous Bughouse on Fat Possum

“Electric”– The Men from New Moon on Sacred Bones

“Good Friend” – Cloud Cult from Love on Earthology Records

“Anomaly” – Doldrums from Lesser Evil on Arbutus Records

“See Me On My Way” – Superhuman Happiness from Hands on The Royal Potato Family

“Where the Wild Things” – Cy Dune from No Recognize on Family Tree Records // Cassette Burger Records

New Music from Cy Dune, Hollis Brown, Helado Negro, Cave Singers and Others

This next cluster of singles from new releases dropped in the past week include chilled out tracks from Hollis Brown‘s dreamy, guitar and piano infused track, “Nightfall,” from the new release, Ride on the Train; Helado Negro‘s smooth grooves on “Dance Ghost” from the LP, Invisible Life; John Murry’s alt. country rock single, “The Ballad of the Pajama Kid,” from the album The Graceless Age. Also this past week was the first all-English LP of dreamy acoustic folk from Iceland’s Olof Arnalds, the recent Fleet Foxes ex-pats collaboration with The Cave Singers; plus, the new single, “Linens” from Water Liars‘ latest LP, Wyoming.

“Nightfall” – Hollis Brown from Ride on the Train on Alive Records

“Dance Ghost” – Helado Negro from Invisible Life on Asthmatic Kitty

“The Ballad of The Pajama Kid” – John Murry from The Graceless Age on Evangeline Recording Co.

“Linens” – Water Liars from Wyoming on Big Legal Mess

“Treat Her Kindly” – Ólöf Arnalds from Sudden Elevation on One Little Indian Records

Electro Singles from Bill Baird, Javelin, HighasaKite, Shlohmo

Next, stream a collection of new electro and synth singles from this week’s releases from a variety of artists – such as a double LP of eccentric, atmospheric electro-pop mixed with psychedelic rock from the widely praised musical mastermind Bill Baird, as demonstrated by his new single, “Spring Break of the Soul;” a new album of quirky synth pop from Javelin; the deep base, autoharp and tinkering keys of Norwegian artist Highasakite‘s track, “Son of a Bitch;” the sweet beats of the rising electro warriors Shlohmo on the mix “Don’t Say No,” featuring How To Dress Well, and other electro singles from new albums by

“Spring Break of the Soul” – Bill Baird from Spring Break of The Soul on Pau Wau Records

“Nnormal” – Javelin from Hi Beams on Luaka Bop

“Son of a Bitch” – Highasakite from In and Out of Weeks EP on Propeller Recordings

“Don’t Say No” – Shlohmo with How To Dress Well from Laid Out EP on Friends of Friends x Wedidit

Debuts from Rhye, How To Destroy Angels, Chelsea Moving Light

There were also a number of debuts this week , including Los Angeles new comers Rhye, with the deliciously smooth, Sade-like R&B grove of the single, “Open,” from the album Woman; the debut release and lead single from Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor and his wife’s post-industrial project, How To Destroy Angles, as well as the self-titled debut from the electro radar band Stubborn Heart.

“Open” – Rhye from Woman on Innovative Leisure

“How Long?” – How To Destroy Angels from Welcome Oblivion on Columbia Records

“Need Someone” – Stubborn Heart from Stubborn Heart on One Little Indian Records

And while we’re talking 2013 debuts, at the top of the list is the highly anticipated self-titled debut album from Chelsea Light Moving, the new band and brainchild of Sonic Youth frontman, and alternative rock legend, Thurston Moore, featuring a collection of punk inspired, fuzzy guitar rock tracks, like the single, “Burroughs.”

“Burroughs” – Chelsea Light Moving from Chelsea Light Moving

Listen to second track in previous CLM post

Fresh Tracks from Robyn Hitchcock, Son Volt

Since we’re on the subject of iconic rockers, post-punk pioneer Robyn Hitchcock dropped a new solo album, Love From London, earlier this week, that features an assortment of strange psychedelic folk-pop songs like the single, “Be Still”. Sticking with the theme of cult figures, Uncle Tupelo co-founder Jay Farrar and his ‘other’ band, Son Volt, just released their seventh album, chock full of roots-inspired honky tonk tracks led by the single, “Hearts and Minds.” Don’t miss the high octane pop of Seattle band Hey Marseilles.

“Be Still” – Robyn Hitchcock from Love From London on Yep Roc Records

“Hearts and Minds” – Son Volt from Honky Tonk on Rounder Records

“Bright Stars Burning” – Hey Marseilles from Lines We Trace on Onto Entertainment/Thirty Tigers

One Man Band Series: Virginia Teen Julian Earle’s Lo-Fi Garage Rock Crackles on Debut EP, ‘Eat Me’

Posted on 03/09/201312/18/2019 by Max Hammer

From the bedroom of his parents’ home in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Fairfax, Virginia, 16-year-old DIY guitar-slinger Julian Earle writes and records blaring, fast-driving and heavily distorted lo-fi garage rock with muffled, barely audible vocals. It’s probably unlike anything you’ve ever heard before.

Last August, Earle dropped his homemade debut EP, Eat Me. From the first track, we were immediately struck by the utter rawness of distorted, gritty guitar playing, accompanied by a frenetic, and kinetic, blast of noise. Unrefined and in your face, the untamed track, “Monsters,” is a captivating expression of teenage angst and the often confusing and chaotic transition into adulthood.

Monsters” – Julian Earle from Eat Me E.P

“Monsters,” which is a appropriately named because of its beast-like persona, is basically an instrumental with the exception of a few moments when you can hear Earle almost howling, which instantly reminded us of Brooklyn musician Brad Oberhofer‘s (prior to the formation of the band Oberhofer) first demos that he sent IRC for a 2010 One Man Band profile – months before Oberhofer really took off (apparently partly due to his IRC profile) and started showing up on late night TV shows (like Letterman) and big-name music festivals, not to mention signing with a label and touring endlessly.

While Earle’s songs, including the more tame, but still blazing, track, “All Alone,” reminded us of early Oberhofer, the songwriting, playing and vocal work, as a total package, is uniquely Earle.

“All Alone” – Julian Earle from Eat Me E.P

While there is perhaps room for improvement in sound production quality (or maybe it’s just fine as it is?), the fact that Earle is only 16 years old, totally DIY, has admittedly cheap recording equipment, no outside help, and yet obviously has raw talent and his own style, is all impressive, especially if you like unrefined, full-throttle lo-fi noise.

That said, there are plenty of artists over the years who have started out with rough, lo-fi demos and go on to tour to sold out crowds in venues across North America and Europe. The bottom-line is that more people need to hear these tracks and make up their own mind.

“Overload” – Julian Earle from Eat Me E.P

Earle told IRC: “I am a teenager from around D.C just trying to make my contribution to the garage scene that I love so much. I make lo-fi music in my room.” Hopefully we are not the only ones who see that Earle has already made a contribution to the D.C. area garage rock scene. Perhaps in coming months, the D.C. scene, and beyond, will embrace his sounds and see the potential that we see.

Earle’s musical influences include Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Led Zeppelin, The Smiths, Black Flag, The Descendents, Ty Segall, Wavves, Jay Reatard and The Black Keys. He clearly has good tastes in bands from the classic rock era right up to present day garage rock movement, so it’s easy to see where he gets some of the fury evident in the tracks on Eat Me, which is also available on his Bandcamp page. This is his first profile, that we know of, on a widely-read music blog.

Album of the Week: Youth Lagoon’s ‘Wondrous Bughouse’

Posted on 03/08/201312/18/2019 by Max Hammer

Youth-Lagoon-Mute — Trevor Powers, aka, Youth Lagoon, released his masterful sophomore LP earlier this week

by J. Hubner

Wondrous Bughouse is an album that from beginning to end fills you with joy. It comes over you in waves of awestruck and wide-eyed wonderment. Youth Lagoon, the musical alias Trevor Powers, looks to the skies and questions whom or whatever may or may not be looking down on us. If Powers’ 2011 debut, Where The Year of Hibernation, was a quiet entry into a bedside journal at 2 a.m., Wondrous Bughouse is a technicolor daydream. It’s a primal scream directly at the universe – which at it’s core – is as universal as it gets. Powers has given us what is bound to be one of best albums of the year – a kaleidoscope of sounds and emotions; a Kool Aid acid test where no chemicals are required – just open ears and an open mind.

The album’s opening track, “Through Mind and Back,” is a carnival mirror. It’s a distorted version of melody and harmony. You get the feeling that the quiet, lo-fi bedroom sound of Powers’ debut album, The Year of Hibernation, may have followed him to album number two; that is until “Mute” comes pouring from the speakers like the scene in The Wizard of Oz where the film transitions from black and white to bright color. The sound is big, full, and immediate. Renowned producer Ben H. Allen’s (Animal Collective, Cut Copy, Deerhunter, MIA, The Whigs) influence in the production of the sprawling soundscapes is evident – twisty, wavering keys and chorused guitars shimmering in the air. The intense shift in the sonics for Youth Lagoon may be quite jarring for those that hold The Year of Hibernation in such high regard. All I can say to them is stick with this record.

Trevor Powers’ Technicolor Ode to the Meaning of Life and Death
Trevor Powers hasn’t lost any of his intimacy as a songwriter. His paintings are as personal as ever; he’s merely gotten a much bigger canvas and a more diverse palette of colors to choose from. The song “Attic Doctor” is a bizarre carnival ride – a calliope run on nitrous oxide. It’s sinister, sweet, and ethereal all at once. With its waltz time signature, ample amounts of ear candy, and dream-like haze, the track shows Trevor Powers can do more than quiet and intimate songwriting.

“The Bath” goes back to a more refined, quiet sound, albeit with the sonic exploration skills of Allen at Youth Lagoon’s disposal while “Pelican Man” builds slowly into a cathartic release – a feeling that I can only describe as heart swelling. I’ve listened to this record several times now and I keep going back to one name: Brian Wilson. I can’t help but compare Wondrous Bughouse to Wilson’s long gestated and recently released SMilE. It’s utter exuberance and child-like wonder pervade. This isn’t a literal comparison; this is in spirit. I can’t tell you how many times while listening to this record I just stopped what I was doing and just let it wash over me.

“Dropla” is the centerpiece of the album. It’s a song about dying and what happens when we die. Or, maybe the anger and resentment we feel when someone we love dies. I don’t know. It’s a mantra of a song. I could picture a child repeating the line “You’ll never die, you’ll never die, you’ll never die”, at the bedside of a loved one, thinking in their heart it would make a difference in the end. It’s a beautiful track that would never have had the weight it carries had it been recorded in the same lo-fi bedroom fashion of Power’s debut album.

“Dropla” – Youth Lagoon from Wondrous Bughouse

Next, “Sleep Paralysis” sounds like a song beamed in from some other time, found on some radio frequency lost for years, while “Daisyphobia” ends this immense album on a dream-like note. It’s as if Trevor Powers is singing from the edge of a chasm, one that separates us from that euphoric dream world this album comes from, and the world it leaves us behind in. Back through the looking glass you go, Alice. (10/10)

Youth Lagoon’s 2013 Tour Dates

03-13-16 Austin, TX – SXSW
03-22 Boise, ID – Treefort Music Fest
04-12 Indio, CA – Coachella
04-19 Indio, CA – Coachella
04-21 Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
04-22 Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
04-24 Austin, TX – Mohawk
04-25 Dallas, TX – The Loft
04-26 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s
04-27 New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks
04-28 Birmingham, AL – The Bottletree
04-30 Orlando, FL – The Social
05-01 Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
05-02 Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
05-03 Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle
05-04 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
05-07 Northampton, MA – Pearl St.
05-10 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
05-11 Columbia, MD – Sweet Life Festival
05-13 Toronto, Ontario – Great Hall
05-14 Columbus, OH – A&R Bar
05-15 Chicago, IL – Metro
05-16 Madison, WI – Majestic Theater
05-17 Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line
05-22 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
05-23 Vancouver, British Columbia – Venue
05-24 Gorge, WA – Sasquatch! Fest
06-05 Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center *

with the National

J. Hubner is a Midwestern family man and basement musician. He listens to albums. Lots of albums. Occasionally he writes about those albums. Check out his blog and listen to some of his music.

Singer/Songwriter Spotlight Series, Vol. VII – The Sweet Acoustic Sounds of Steve Marino, aka, Moor Hound

Posted on 03/07/201302/19/2020 by Max Hammer

Growing up in the country’s playground town of Orlando, Florida, musician and singer/songwriter Steve Marino, now a resident of Bloomington, Indiana, writes and records introspective songs under the moniker, Moor Hound.

In 2008, with just an acoustic guitar and some new recording equipment, Marino set out to create strictly folk songs – anything but, he told IRC, “the saccharin, lovesick songs” he was accustomed to hearing as a teen. But it didn’t take long for Marino to find himself drifting back towards the very format and sound that he had previously committed to avoiding.

In fact, once Marino discovered the self-indulgent thrill of the melancholy love song, he eventually produced two full-length albums filled with organic, heartfelt indie folk music, as songs like “Holiday” and “Low Season” clearly demonstrated.

“Holiday” – Moor Hound from Stifled Spirit – Jan. 29th

“Low Season” – Moor Hound from Stifled Spirit

Last year, a few of Marino’s musician friends located many hundreds of miles north of central Florida coaxed him into moving to Indiana to join their band. Soon after he arrived, they were performing as a back-up band on some of his song.

“Moor Hound is ultimately a solo project,” he said, adding, “I do have friends play on my records…but it’s a solo thing at the core.” Other musical genres, such as alt. country rock, occasionally seeped into his recordings, as evidenced by the twang of the electric slide guitar on songs like “You’re Still Around.”

“You’re Still Around” – Moor Hound from Stifled Spirit

While Marino is signed with a small indie label, Rhed Rholl Recordings, the original, limited edition cassette of Stifled Spirit was released this past January via Viva La Records, a small indie label founded by Alexander Charos of the band Alexander & The Grapes.

Moor Hound’s Earlier Acoustic Releases

We decided to include one song from each of Moor Hound’s previous releases to give listeners an idea of his earlier work and his progression as a songwriter and musician over the past half decade. In February 2010, Marino released an LP titled Land/Sea with Australian friend and fellow musician Will Farina. Since we could not decide which of two songs from Land/Sea we liked the most, the decision was made to include both. In November of 2010, Marino released his debut solo LP, Love in My Jaws, from which the standout track, “Through The Fence,” is taken.

“Bolton Valley” – Moor Hound & Will Farina from Land/Sea – Feb. 26th, 2010

“Before and Between” – Moor Hound & Will Farina from Land/Sea

“Through The Fence” – Moor Hound from Love In My Jaws – Nov. 2nd, 2010

From “Before and Between” is the following stanza, which just about anyone who has ever experienced young love in the splendor and solitude of nature can relate to: In this place there is no strife or bitterness/Only the sound of the wind in our ears/Why pray for heaven/When we have it right here?

In September of 2008, Marino released his first recording, an EP titled Enduring World, which, like his other releases is available via Moor Hound’s Bandcamp page.

“Enduring World” – Moor Hound from Enduring World EP – Sept. 25th, 2008

Marino listed among his major musical influences artists such as J. Tillman, Iron & Wine and Sufjan Stevens. Marino, in response to a question we ask all featured artists, wrote that “indie rock, with its many forms and interpretations, is music that is genuine in its creation, and finds its impact in the character and personality of the creator. It’s not a genre as much as it is an approach to songwriting.”

Visit Moor Hound’s Facebook page.

In Dee Mail Vol. XXIII – Soviet, Odd Hours, Krejad, The Goodbye Radio, Curious Quail, Vague-A-Bonde

Posted on 03/05/201307/22/2021 by Max Hammer

For a few years now, the In Dee Mail series has been a popular on-going feature because it introduces music lovers to obscure, but talented, alternative and indie rock artists. For many of the musicians it is their first exposure by a often for the first time, to alternative and indie rock music fans.

The series gets it’s name from a play on words. Because all of the artists featured in the series sent in their music for review (although we now have a submission form on the About page), rather than calling it “In The Mail,” to change it to “In Dee Mail.” The other characteristic of In Dee Mail is the fact that the featured album releases, and the singles they spawn, are not published based on the date they were originally released, as the weekly Best New Releases playlists are.

Fast-forward to the present; it’s hard to believe we’ve posted almost two dozen In Dee Mail installments since 2010, including this newest edition. It has been a while since the last In Dee Mail was published, but in the coming weeks and months, there will be a number (others in the pipeline now) of new In Dee Mail features. A lot of time and planning goes into sorting through hundreds of submissions to pick the artists and bands, and of course the songs they submit, for the In Dee Mail series – as is the case with other regular post series, such as Artist of the Week, 7 Bands You’ve Gotta Hear, DIY Bands to Watch, Top DIY Releases, among others.

[zbplayer]

Soviet – Garland, Texas

The Garland, Texas DIY rock trio, Soviet, released a number of demos last November, ahead of their planned 2013 full length debut LP, which has yet to be titled or given a release date. The tracks showcase the band’s progressive rock ‘stonegaze’ sound, which has helped make them a fairly popular band in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, and earned them spots opening for indie heavy-weights, and IRC favorites, such as New Jersey punksters Titus Andronicus, and Cleveland indie rock band Cloud Nothings, in addition to shared bills with artists like Future of the Left, Stardeath and White Dwarves.

Soviet features singer/songwriter and drummer John Spies, guitarist Richy Brown and bassist Tucker Masten. With the release of the demo recordings featured below, Spies said the band “departed” from their “pop punk roots” to create “gloomier areas of stoner grunge rock,” (aka, ‘stonegaze’) and as a result, “found the back door out of teenage hell.” The majority of their songs are instrumentals. Soviet counts amongst their biggest musical influences bands such as Rush, Pallbearer, Nile, Weezer, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats. It’s a little surprising that the band did not list Built to Spill as a musical influence since their songs, especially “I Wanna Die,” is so BTS-ish.

“This Is the Day” (Demo) – Soviet from single

“I Wanna Die” (Demo) – Soviet from single

Soviet on Facebook

Odd Hours – Detroit, Michigan

Odd Hours is a noisy, loud, art rock trio that is Natasha Beste (vocals, keys), Tim Jagielo (guitar, loops), and Mike Legue (drums, vocals). They have played Detroit’s major bar circuit, and Detroit’s famous festivals including Dally in the Alley and Metro Times Blowout. Jeff Milo (Detroit Metro Times) described Odd Hours style as “evil-ing up new-wave, griming up glam, and Frankenstein-frying a disarmingly melody-keen post-punk,” on their most recent EP, Solar Plexus Power of Babooshka.

The first track, “Electric Soul,” has more potential with a better overall production value, and improvements on the vocals in the parts of the songs were the vocals are lacking. The second song, “Insomnia in Color,” is more fragmented and would definitely benefit from some re-working, again, there is progress to be made on the relationship between the vocalist and the other band members, but we can see how some folks will still enjoy it anyways, especially after spinning both tracks a few times. That said, our vote goes to the first song.

“Electric Soul” – Odd Hours from Solar Plexus Power of Babooshka

“Insomnia in Color” – Odd Hours from Solar Plexus Power of Babooshka

Krejad – Kansas City, Missouri

Impasse is the debut album from Krejad, the musical project of Clinton Houseman, who has played in several bands in the Kansas City and Joplin areas since 2006. Yearning to strike out on his own, Houseman launched Krejad in 2009 following the disbanding of his teenage-founded band, Media Frenzy.

While Houseman wrote, recorded and produced the album, as well as performed most of the instrumental and vocal parts, several musician friends also contributed. The self-produced album was recorded mostly in Clinton’s home and at a grimy downtown rehearsal space. It definitely has the feel of a lo-fi recording. The band will surely benefit from more practice and perhaps the help of a good producer. The following tracks are from the band’s new EP, Oasis, released on January 13th.

“Oasis in the Sandhills” – Krejad from Oasis EP

“Undercloud” – Krejad from Oasis EP

Krejad on Bandcamp

The Goodbye Radio – Huntington, New York

From Huntington, New York, DIY independent rock band, The Goodbye Radio, features four friends who are committed to creating stand out music. The band has many musical influences, including Beach House, Teenage Fanclub, Paul Simon, and Wilco, to name a few, but they stand firm in their affirmation that they want to remain independent with “no interference.”

“I Don’t Mean A Thing” – The Goodbye Radio from The Goodbye Radio

“Boiling River” – The Goodbye Radio from The Goodbye Radio

Curious Quail – San Jose, California

Curious Quail caught our attention after they were awarded the ‘Best Song’ in the Silicon Valley Music Awards for the track, “The Glow,” and were named one of the Top 20 new bands in the Bay Area by San Francisco’s legendary radio station, Live 105 (105.3FM KITS). Additionally, Death and Taxes blogger Ned Hepburn wrote that Curious Quail “might just be the Bay Area’s next big hope.”

San Jose DIY multi-genre indie band Curious Quail started off as the one man acoustic solo project of singer/songwriter and musician Mike Shirley-Donnelly. Beginning in 2008, he started writing tracks and recording them at home on guitar with a laptop and loop pedal. Over the ensuing four years, Curious Quail created a collection of songs and set out to recruit a full band that now includes two guitarists, a bassist, two violinists (one who also performs on a keytar), a keyboardist “who dabbles in accordion and harmonica,” and a drummer who “plays anything that’s left over when the drum machines kick in.”

The numerous band members, Donnelly writes, “are all over the map genre-wise.” An alternative rock band at heart, with screaming fuzzy guitars hearkening mid-90’s Smashing Pumpkins, they can also strip down to a folk element more along the lines of Damien Rice. Then those drum machines kick in, evolving their sound into something The Postal Service would feel proud of. They sometimes create their own drum machine samples from strange sources, such as an army of twenty or so film camera’s shutters and clicks.

They’ve been known to live-stream private “house” shows on the internet and have Q/A sessions with fans afterward, taking questions from twitter or e-mail. The Quails are also avid video game enthusiasts and can be found streaming their escapades via Twitch.tv – several of the members play Starcraft competitively under the banner “Team Quail.” He’s opened for OK Go and Neon Trees.

“Disappointed Smiles” – Curious Quail from single

Curious Quail Official Website

Gates – New Brunswick, New Jersey

Gates is an ambient rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey formed in 2010. In the past couple of years, Gates has released two albums, closed a vinyl deal with Devildance Records, and toured throughout the United States and the UK. The band has opened for artists like Moving Mountains, Pianos Become The Teeth, Fallacies, Gifts From Enola, and Rival Schools.

“Like This You Mean” – Gates from You Are All You Have Left To Fear

“The Sound Of Letting Go” – Gates from You Are All You Have Left To Fear

Koniac Net – Bombay, India

David Abraham, who lives in Bombay, India, performs under the moniker Koniac Net, and records DIY style in his bedroom. The entire album is a tribute to the indie & alternative genres, as well as the artists that influenced Abraham, such as Swervedriver, The French Kicks, Catherine Wheel and The Stills. After songs off the album were played on radio stations in over 30 countries globally, and it was suggested that Abraham perform his material in these countries, and thus, his solo project transformed into a five-piece band. Friend & guitarist, Jason D’Souza, who mixed the album, was the first to be recruited. In the short time they have been together, the band has been asked to play at some of the best events India has to offer, including Bacardi NH7 Weekender Festival, Ragasthan Festival, Live from the Console Festival, among others.

The Koniac Net has also been voted as Band of the Week on Indie Music Bus, Band of the Month on AlternativeAddiction.com, Best Original Band by Converse & Rolling Stone India, and have been featured in three episodes of Australia’s comedy-drama series Flat Whites. The band is currently working on new material, and concentrating hard on somehow getting a sponsor for an international/world tour.”

“This Time Around” – Koniac Net from One Last Monsoon – Feb. 8th

“Bricks” – Koniac Net from One Last Monsoon

Vague-à-Bonde – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Nicole Brenny is a Minneapolis-based producer and DIY bedroom electro artist known as Vague-à-Bonde. Last August, she released her debut album, Involution/Evolution, featuring songs constructed with lushly layered vintage synths, crisp vocals and computer programmed beats. Unafraid to experiment with various musical influences, Brenny creates tracks using both hi-fi & lo-fi production techniques. The sound rests somewhere between Fleetwood Mac & K-Pop. “Evolved” was the first single off of the album and co-produced by Chris Heidman(former member of Sukpatch). She has previously opened for some great bands, like Porcelain Raft, Diamond Rings, and Night Moves.

“Evolved” – Vague-à-Bonde from Evolve – August 31, 2012

Vague-a-Bonde Official Website

In Dee Mail Mentions

If there was a long lost cousin of the Arctic Monkeys – some might say more like a copy cat artist – Jonny Rumble‘s stake to that claim would not be considered completely out of the ballpark, since his aggressive guitar rock style reminds us a lot of the old Arctic Monkeys (not the new sound AM has evolved to in recent years). Lo-fi distortion, screeching feedback, exotic bongo beats and wailing, feedback-laden electric guitars and vocals are used to create this short psychedelic number from the band Campfires. Musician Jonathan Clancy, who records under the moniker His Clancyness, is a musician who lives in northern Canada. On the track, “Ottawa Backfired Soon,” Clancy incorporates the drumming style of the Ronettes with icy xylophone playing that has a wintertime feel to it. He has also worked with the band Banjo or Freakout.

“Brzrkr” – Jonny Rumble

“Tired Old Sun” – Campfires

“Ottawa Backfired Soon” – His Clancyness

Best New Music Releases, Week of Feb. 26th – Atoms For Peace, Shout Out Louds, Grave Babies, Johnny Marr, Gold Fields

Posted on 03/01/201312/18/2019 by Max Hammer

Radiohead fans worldwide have something to celebrate this week following the release of the debut album from Thom Yorke‘s new music project, Atoms for Peace. Other singles from new albums that officially dropped this week included Shout Out Louds, Grave Babies, Johnny Marr, The Mavericks, among others.

“Default” – Atoms For Peace from AMOK on XL Recordings (CD)

“Blue Ice” – Shout Out Louds from Optica (MP3 album)
Double-shot: “Illusions” – Shout Out Louds from Optica (MP3 album)

“Transmissions” – Deathfix from Deathfix on Dischord

“Anomaly” – Doldrums from Lesser Evil on Arbutus Records

Seattle’s Grave Babies Drop Second LP, Crusher

If you’re a fan of Pacific Northwest lo-fi goth, chances are you’ve heard the music of Seattle band Grave Babies. This week, the band, which formed in 2007, dropped their third album on Sub Pop offspring, Hardly Art, a label that has been signing up Seattle area bands aggressively over the past few years.

The band’s lead vocalist, singer/songwriter and guitarist, Danny Wahlfeldt, founded the band, bringing in keyboardist Tyler Robinson, drummer Keith Whiteman and bassist Mitch Saulsberry. Their songs are often about death wrapped in finely crafted melodies and harmonies. In addition to the double-shot of MP3 singles from Crusher, is yet another track (“Skulls”) via YouTube. In 2012, the band released their widely praised EP, Gothdammit.

“Over and Under Ground” – Grave Babies from Crusher (CD or vinyl) on Hardly Art
Double-shot: “No Fear” – Grave Babies from Crusher (CD or vinyl)

Johnny Marr’s Debut Solo Album, The Sharp Things and The Mavericks

Johnny Marr, the former guitarist for bands like The Smiths, Modest Mouse and The Cribs, finally got around to recording a long-anticipated solo LP, The Messenger. The album’s lead single, “Upstarts,” sports a progressive uptempo pop/rock wound, embellished by an ‘ohhh-ohhh-oh’ chorus, bright, brilliant guitar riffs, and rhythmic percussions. The CD version of the album is #22 on the Amazon charts today.

“Upstarts” – Johnny Marr from The Messenger (CD)
Double-shot: “The Right Thing Right” – Johnny Marr from The Messenger (CD)

“Lights” – The Sharp Things from Green Is Good

“Come Unto Me” – The Mavericks from In Time

Albums From Wayne Hancock, Girls Names and Woodpigeon

It’s great to see rockabilly as a genre holding its own in a music scene that is increasingly saturated by technologically advanced music. The title track from Wayne Hancock‘s new album is the type of song you’d play driving on Route 66 in a 68 Mustang with the top down.

“Ride” – Wayne Hancock from Ride on Bloodshot Records

The Girls Names‘ fresh single, “Pittura Infamante,” from the new LP, The New Life, sports an 80’s sound that reminds us of a cross between The Cure and The Police. Also listen to lead singles from new albums by Gold Fields, Mister Lies, and The Embassy.

“Pittura Infamante” – Girls Names from The New Life on Slumberland Records/Tough Love

“Children Should Be Seen, Not Heard” – Woodpigeon from Thumbtacks and Glue

Fresh Releases from Artists Gold Fields and Mister Lies

“Dark Again” – Gold Fields from Black Sun on Astralwerks

“Lupine” – Mister Lies from Mowgli on Lefse Records

Singles from Ivan & Alyosha, The Civil Wars & T Bone Burnett & Permanent Makeup

“On My Way” – Ivan & Alyosha from All the Times We Had on Dualtone Records

“Long Time Gone” – The Civil Wars & T Bone Burnett from A Place At The Table Soundtrack on Sensibility Music

“Not A Riot” – Permanent Makeup from The Void…It Creeps

Album of the Week: My Bloody Valentine’s First Album in Over 20 Years Is An Immediate Classic

Posted on 02/28/201312/18/2019 by Max Hammer

mybloodyvalentinereview — The simplistic, icy dark cover to My Bloody Valentine's self-released album 'MBV'

For a band that only released two albums, Ireland’s My Bloody Valentine made a huge impact on alternative and indie rock, so much so, that the band has been forever immortalized as trailblazers, and often cited by other musicians as a major musical influence. Now, after two decades of near silence from the band, MBV are back in a big way.

They were pioneers of the shoegaze movement in the late 1980s through the early-to-mid 1990s, and their influence on alternative and indie rock since then has only grown. Although it failed commercially, the band’s 1991 sophomore album, Loveless, is considered by critics and fans alike to be a classic album and a milestone achievement of rock history. (Plus, they have one of the most memorable, and provocative, band names ever). And yet the captivating, thrilling and droning soundscapes of Loveless, which popularized the shoegaze genre worldwide, still sounds as epic and fresh as it did two decades ago. But who was to know that Loveless would have a true contender for shoegaze legacy, and that the competition would be from the same band, 22 years later?

Earlier this month, MBV fans were treated to a big surprise when the band suddenly announced via their Facebook page that the new self-released, and somewhat self-titled album, MBV, was released via the band’s official website. Within an hour of the news, there was so much web traffic going to the site all at the same time that it crashed the site completely. And for a good week or more, it was touch and go as far as being able to make it all the way through a successful purchase of the album – because it was the only place to get a copy.

The band did, however, ease the pain at least for many fans by also putting up a full stream of the album via their official My Bloody Valentine YouTube channel. While the album is not yet (or perhaps never will be, since it’s self-released) on Spotify, you can still listen to Loveless and other singles and EPs via the My Bloody Valentine Spotify playlists.

On song after song, the band have reignited the flame they lit all those years ago; in fact, MBV may be even better than Loveless – the more we listen to it, the more we’re convinced. Songs like “In Another Way,” the rumbling guitar rock instrumental of “Nothing Is,” the lo-fi guitar noise and soaring notes of “Who Sees You,” the dreamy, fuzzy psych rock of “She Found Now,” the long and winding progression of distorted guitars and haunting vocals on “Only Tomorrow.”

“Only Tomorrow” – My Bloody Valentine from MBV

On the first couple of spins of MBV, we were simply blown away. Afterall, with nearly 22 years of lost time since the release of Loveless, we were expecting a mediocre album with a couple good songs, or a totally flop, since many bands that come back with a new album after that many years (and even less), don’t usually fair that well. But MBV blew all expectations out of the water, made pretentious fools out of us for assuming prematurely that it would be less than the astonishing work of noise rock that it is, and reaffirmed the band’s legendary status as the pioneers of shoegaze, and now, as middle-aged folks, as once again the indisputable gods of shoegaze rock. Roll out that bloody valentine colored red carpet.

mybloodvalentine — My Bloody Valentine band portrait from 1992

Immediately, fans (those who were able to get through and purchase it) started posting about how fantastic the album sounded. In the ensuing days, the praised spread to music critics – who did not have an advanced copy (which is so DIY and cool) – as well, who almost overwhelmingly have applauded the band’s third, and comeback (way back), album as everything from a DIY masterpiece to a triumphant return to the spotlight to a renewal of the power of the electric guitar. Life’s little and welcoming surprises are the best surprises of all. MBV is easily in the running for best DIY album of 2013 even though the year is only 7 weeks old, and hopefully will be in the running for one of the best albums of the year, DIY or not.

“In Another Way” – My Bloody Valentine from MBV

One fan of MBV, known only as TagoMagoTexas wrote this: “The music is dynamic, some songs are forceful and ferocious, others are smooth, gentle, romantic – they all intertwine, they build on one another. It’s a welcome resurgence of the beauty of the electric guitar.” Indie’d.

Fact Magazine wrote: “It’s as if they’ve recaptured innocence. It’s the only way to describe what you feel had to have happened in order for the band to preserve the very essence of what was the music of their youth, in such a way that goes beyond replication.”

Overwhelming, the reception from all sides has been big thumbs way up. CMJ wrote of m b v: “You’ll be hard pressed to find another album that’s this much fun to crawl inside,” Paste Magazine added: “My Bloody Valentine successfully followed up a decades-old classic with m b v, an album that stands as confidently, beautifully and masterfully composed as its predecessor.

One exception to just about every other review by fans, blogs and the mainstream music press, was PopMatters‘ (which isn’t exactly known for having great taste in music) lukewarm review.

In a rather snarky and misguided review, the editors at PopMatters, concluded:”It’s a good album, but not a great one, and though the long tail of history will eventually render such a long production time moot, it’s certainly not a record justifying the ludicrous wait.” Yeah, so the part about the length of time it took for this record to come out is valid, but only for a minute. So, the short tail of history has already rendered that criticism moot and inconsequential.

“Wonder 2” – My Bloody Valentine from MBV

Lighten up guys; the band members were obviously doing other things during the past 20 years – like raising families and living their lives. We certainly don’t think a band has an obligation to put out another album (especially as a follow-up to a classic album) until they’re ready to do so, and the folks at PM certainly are being petty by giving it only a 6 out of 10. And for diehard MBV fans, and the new fans they’ve now brought on board with this release, the “ludicrous (wrong usage of the word, by the way) wait” was well worth it.

If one were to make a rock music time capsule and bury it to be opened one hundred years from now, it would have to contain Loveless or mbv, or both, along with Sgt. Pepper, Dark Side of the Moon, The Kinks Kronikles, Astral Weeks (Van Morrison), Land of Gypsies (Hendrix), Led Zeppelin I or II, Steely Dan’s Greatest Hits, Blonde On Blonde (Bob Dylan), and Nevermind (Nirvana), to name just a few.

As the Los Angeles Times wrote: “It’s everything its fans have been pining for the past two decades.” That’s all that matters. Nothing is achieved by holding the band up to some ridiculous, petty standard. All we would add to what the Times wrote is, MBV is ‘everything and more.’

Singer-Songwriter Spotlight Series, Vol. VI: Washington Musician Blake Cowan, aka, Wickerbird

Posted on 02/26/201312/18/2019 by Max Hammer

After returning to Mt. Rainier, Washington from New York City, where he earned a biology degree at Columbia University, dream-folk musician, singer-songwriter Blake Cowan retreated to the wooded hills at the foot of Mt. Rainier to record a new LP, and this week’s release of a new EP, in a borrowed trailer where “he commenced a pivotal expedition into his own mortality and ephemerality” to form the musical project, Wickerbird, which is “composed of mountainside reveries rendered forth in bare guitar, cavernous harmonies, Gregorian drones and bird song.” The title track, “The Westering,” is an experimentation in acoustic, natural sounds, feedback and chants, followed by the similarly sounding track, “Hollow.”

Cowan wrote that “Indie rock is a strangely inviting umbrella term that has, at least for me, managed to become one intrinsic to, and rapturously embracing of, all things eclectic, experimental and liberating in music. The term provides a haven for the innovators and the quirky, expanding and transcending their musical mode of expression, unyoked from a need to be defined or derivative.”

“The Westering” – Wickerbird from The Westering – March 1st

“Hollow” – Wickerbird from The Westering

Listen to more Wickerbird via Spotify, including this September 2012 debut. A new message on his Facebook page says that his songs have had more than 60,000 plays on Spotify, which is completely believable.

5 DIY Bands To Watch, Vol. II – Umbrella Cult, Roadkill Ghost Choir, No Shoes, Hints, The Hoot Hoots

Posted on 02/24/201312/18/2019 by Max Hammer

Based on a number of recent, popular DIY posts, it’s clear that many people who dig indie and alternative music particularly like to read about and listen to music from talented, under-the-radar bands they’ve never heard of before.

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Each week, we feature DIY and ‘underground’ bands and artists that are making music just as good (and sometimes better) than artists and bands who receive plenty of blog love, praise from the mainstream press, fan adulation and financial success.

We’ve reviewed and listened to music from hundreds of submissions in recent months, and narrowed down our favorites into a number of posts recently, such as the 7 Bands You’ve Gotta Hear, DIY Bands to Watch, and the Artist of the Week series, in addition to Best New Releases and a variety of other posts featuring DIY and signed indie artists.

It’s still always amazing to us, after all of these years of reviewing under-the-radar bands, just how many excellent bands we profile who are largely unknown. That fact makes them, in our view, even more special (as long as they don’t go the way of a band like fun. where everyone knows that one way overplayed song), which is clearly why people come back to IRC – for great music the rest of the blogsophere is missing out on.

Umbrella Cult – Sarasota, Florida

In December, the Sarasota, Florida DIY band Umbrella Cult released their debut album. However, the fact that it came out only four days before Christmas means that it basically got lost in the crush of the holidays, when people are not really paying attention to new releases. In 2011 and 2012, the band’s gritty production style and high energy concerts quickly garnered them a strong and loyal fan base in their hometown and the surrounding region. The band purposely embraces the “raw and reverb-y production of the 60’s and 70’s,” to create a sound that is balanced by modern and vintages aesthetics.

In 2012, the band began work on an entirely self-produced album in Lee’s foreclosed childhood home (long ago nicknamed the “Umbrella Cult”, which seemed the appropriate name when the band formed). Recording nearly 30 songs during the home sessions, the band members eventually narrowed it down to the 14 tracks on their debut LP, Apocalove.

“Another One Goes” – Umbrella Cult from Apocalove

“New Mistakes” – Umbrella Cult from Apocalove

Umbrella Cult covers all kinds of genres from alt. pop and indie rock to garage rock and psychedelic. Originally formed in 2011, Umbrella Cult counts among their top musical influences excellent bands such as Guided By Voices, The Kinks, The Smiths, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Magnetic Fields, and Neutral Milk Hotel.

In response to a question included on the IRC submission form (“What is indie rock?”), band member Promise Hope (yup, that’s his name), replied: “indie rock is spirited and thoughtful music that has the freedom to operate independently of the well-worn style and genre constrictions. Indefinable perhaps, its sounds are as varied as it’s purveyors.” We like that take on the subject – well put.

Umbrella Cult on Bandcamp

Roadkill Ghost Choir – Deland, Florida

From the Florida swamp lands filled with alligators and cypress trees covered with Spanish moss, has emerged the relatively new ambient folk band, Roadkill Ghost Choir. In recent months, the band of brothers – quite literally – have exploded in popularity, selling out gigs up and down the east coast, and landing spots in the lineups for various festivals, including South by Southwest (SXSW) and other musical events. The ball got rolling for RKGC last year when Andy Shepard (vocals, guitar) was invited to perform a gig at a local club. Not wanting to perform solo because he feared it would be boring, Andy recruited his brothers – and brothers Maxx Shepard (drums) and Zach Shepard (bass) to join him on stage. And that was the planting of the seed.

Soon after, the band was completed with the addition of Kiffy Meyers (pedal steel, banjo, guitar), Joey Davoli (keys, trumpet) and Stephen Garza (lead guitar). Indie music lovers have clearly shown over the years that they love indie folk music, as evidenced by the success of bands like Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, Avett Brothers, among others. The bands debut EP, Quiet Light, was released in September of last year, produced by David Plakon and mastered by Doug Van Sloun (Bright Eyes, She & Him).

“Beggar’s Guild” – Roadkill Ghost Choir from Quiet Light

“Bird in the Window” – Roadkill Ghost Choir from Quiet Light

Roadkill Ghost Choir Official Site

No Shoes – Brooklyn, New York

No Shoes is a Brooklyn prog-punk quartet consisting of Fabian Kaupert and Arcody Ruin, both guitarists and vocalists, plus, bassist Dan Kunkel and drummer Emilio Herce. Since launching the band a year and a half ago, No Shoes has formed a underground following, including plenty of women, which is inspiration to the band members, on more than one level. Herce told IRC: “We are known for our high energy show and eclectic time signatures. A surprising number of faces in the crowd during our sets are young and attractive females.”

The band’s new EP, Mingling, was released last September by Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen. No Shoes have opened for bands like Viva Mayday, Jangula, Osekre and The Lucky Bastards, and named some of their major musical influences as Banzai, Fall of Troy, The Mars Volta, and The Dillinger Escape Plan.

“Honeycomb Mirrors” – No Shoes from Mingling EP

“Raindrops” – No Shoes from Mingling EP

Hints – Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn unsigned new wave/post punk band Hints sent in a couple of tracks recently from their fresh release, Vol. I. Since forming as a musical project in the summer of 2011, the line-up has solidified with Garrett Morin on vocals and guitar, Matthew Fisher on drums, Collin Lewis on lead guitar and Wyeth Hansen on bass. Honing in on their individual, diverse talents, Hints set out to forge something entirely unique from the get-go. “Our goal has been to make something both fun and earnest that honors influences without becoming derivative,” according to Lewis. Among the band’s top musical influences are bands like Orange Juice, The Church, The Cure, and Echo & The Bunnymen. They’ve recently shared the stage with bands like Menahan Street Band, Owen & The Eyeballs, Rifle Recoil, Relations, Ash Reiter and Jenny Besetzt. On January 29th, the band released a new double single available via the Hints Bandcamp page.

“Ritual” – Hints from Vol. I

“Built A Church” – Hints from Vol. I

Hints on Tumblr

The Hoot Hoots – Seattle, Washington

The Hoot Hoots, hailing from the beautiful city of Seattle, have been dishing their brand of fuzzy power pop to local admirers for the last three years. Their latest LP, Appetite for Distraction, gained critical praise that paved the way for the band’s latest release, an EP titled, Feel the Cosmos. The Hoot Hoots fun, whimsical songs have been compared to artists like The Flaming Lips, The Unicorns, and The Shins. Such comparisons to legendary artists for a largely unknown, DIY band is no doubt a risky assertion, but The Hoot Hoots meet the requirements in this case. The band was founded by brothers Adam Prairie (lead vocals/guitar) and Chris Prairie (drums), and was completed when they recruited musicians Geoff Brown to play bass and Christina Ellis as the resident synth master.

“Home” – The Hoot Hoots from Feel The Cosmos

“Empty Hands” – The Hoot Hoots from Feel The Cosmos

The Hoot Hoots Official Website

Best New Music Releases, Week of Feb. 19th – Nick Cave, Atlas Genius, Beach Fossils, Iceage, Apparat

Posted on 02/22/201301/09/2020 by Max Hammer

The breadth of new 2013 music releases – albums, EPs and singles – that have been coming out in recent weeks, and those set to drop in the ensuing months, have been keeping us very busy, especially when you factor in all of the DIY releases that we receive on a weekly basis, which are not usually posted in the weekly Best New Music Releases (listen to top releases posts for 2013 and 2012) because this series focuses on more well-known and signed artists’ newest drops.

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The first album that caught our attention this week is the new release from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, followed by fresh albums from Atlas Genius, Beach Fossils, Iceage, Apparat, STRFKR, Flume, Mitzi, Matmos and many others. This week there is a lot of synthesizers and dance singles.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Atlas Genius, Beach Fossils, Iceage

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds return with album No. 15, Push The Sky Away, a brilliant experimental album of heady themes that is dark and eerily beautiful, and displays some of Cave’s finest song-writing and the Bad Seeds’ remarkable instrumentation, even though it’s the band’s first album without Cave’s long-time colleague Mick Harvey, who left the band in 2009.

“Jubilee Street” – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds from Push The Sky Away

Another indie artist, Atlas Genius, has signed to a major label for his latest release, When It Was Now. While it’s always difficult to stomach an originally ‘indie’ favorite abandoning the DIY or small label world to play in the majors, it happens so frequently nowadays that people have seemed to stop noticing. It appears that as long as the music itself remains unscathed by the label execs, and sometimes even when it’s manipulated by commercial pressures, that most music fans don’t notice or don’t care. But it’s always a risk too though, especially to the artists’ ‘street cred’ within the alternative and underground music scenes. Check out the lead track from When It Was Now, the dance-tinged, “Trojans.” If you dig da beats, you should find some keeper tracks in this playlist of singles from new albums out this week.

“Trojans” – Atlas Genius from When It Was Now (deluxe version) on Warner Bros.

“Careless” – Beach Fossils from Clash The Truth

“Coalition” – Iceage from You’re Nothing on Matador

“A Violent Sky” – Apparat from Krieg und Frieden (Music for Theatre) on Mute

“While I’m Alive” – STRFKR from Miracle Mile on Polyvinyl

“Chasing The Light” – Lust for Youth from Chasing The Light 12″ on Sacred Bones

“Evil Man” – Destruction Unit from Void on Jolly Dream Records

“Because I Care” – Pony Time from Go Find Your Own on Per Se Records

“Space Academy” – Eat Skull from III on Woodist

“Holdin On” – Flume from Flume on Mom + Pop

“Valleys” – Misfit Mod from Islands & Islands on Stars & Letters Records

“All I Heard” – Mitzi from Truly Alive on Future Classic

“Hurricanes, XO” – Beat Radio from Hard Times, Go! on Awkward For Life Records

“Fortune Teller” – Campfires from Tomorrow, Tomorrow on Fire Talk Records

“Primetime Clown” – The Howling Hex from The Best of the Howling Hex on Drag City

“Teen Paranormal Romance” – Matmos from The Marriage of True Minds on Thrill Jockey Records

“Dirty Mind Melt” – Natasha Kmeto from Dirty Mind Melt EP on Dropping Gems

“Devil Moon” – Bobby Long from Wishbone on ATO Records

Band Alert: San Diego Experimental Electro Psych-Pop Band The Glass Canoe

Posted on 02/20/201304/18/2018 by Max Hammer

San Diego experimental psychedelic pop band, The Glass Canoe, released their widely praised album, Through Lianas, earlier this month, featuring dreamy, smooth electro pop songs with Beach Boys-like harmonies, guitar and synth interplay and fusions of various sound samples. Musician friends David Korrigan and Max O’Reilly began working together as a duo after discovering they had common musical interests. Both had played in rock bands as teenagers, and equally inspired by the experimental, neo-psychedelic movements that have taken root during the past few years thanks to artists like Toro Y Moi, Neon Indian and Tame Impala, to name just a few.

Confined to a small upstairs bedroom, Korrigan and O’Reilly began to find their unique sound creating experimental songs through buzzy synthesizers, manipulated samples, the clicks and cracks of drum machines, and the whirling spin of guitars. All of the songs on their debut were recorded/mixed in this noisy little room, eventually adding additional band members Blake La Grange and Drew Galindo. The band’s name was originally created simply scrolling through a playlist; a mix up of words from other songs and artists. As the style of the band progressed, however, the name grew deeper meaning through the thick woodsy tones and clear water-like textures. Spark FM aptly described their sound as a swirled mix of “[Brian] Eno/Bowie, Phillip Glass and some High Lamas” while Rock Revolt added: “The album is essentially a sonic masterpiece.” The band are signed to the small indie label Korora Records.

“Paradise” – The Glass Canoe from Through Lianas – Feb. 5th

“Miss That Love” – The Glass Canoe from Through Lianas

The Glass Canoe Official Website

2013 DIY Releases – The Stone Foxes, Wild Wants, Brave Baby, Giuseppe Andrews

Posted on 02/18/201312/18/2019 by Max Hammer

The Best New Releases post from this week featured lead tracks from highly anticipated 2013 albums by Foals, The Little Ones, Veronica Falls, among others, including a dozen more singles from a variety of artists and bands.

In addition to the official release this week of new albums, EPs and singles from indie and alternative artists signed to record labels both large and small, there has also been a huge number of excellent, even out-of-this-world, new releases in the past week from talented and promising DIY bands that most people have never heard of before. In fact, many of the unsigned and talented artists who DIY drop new material each week do not even appear on the radars of high profile indie blogs and music sites, and are often either brand new or simply unknown by even the most intrepid indie music enthusiasts.

That’s why IRC has become a top web destination for music lovers that are hungry for new, exciting, original and talented artists and bands, most of whom have not been profiled on a major music blog before, and for some. We are constantly amazed and thrilled by how much fantastic, totally under-the-radar music is sent to us directly by DIYers that we’d otherwise never hear. For the tens of thousands of music lovers that have been regularly visiting IRC for months and years, we salute you, because you favorite so many of the songs and bands we feature on a regular basis, as evidenced by the weekly Top 10 Songs playlists – which are a reflection of the most popular songs posted in a given week.

Band (Still) to Watch: SF’s The Stone Foxes

San Francisco rock band The Stone Foxes have opened for bands like The Black Keys and Cage The Elephant at San Francisco’s Outside Lands festival and New Orleans’ Voodoo Music Experience. They’re also no strangers to these pages with a number of profiles on IRC over the years. And yet for all of their talent, the band is still under-appreciated in the larger arena of well-known alternative garage rock and indie rock bands, which we still find to be a head-scratcher.

The first single from Small Fires, “Everybody Knows,” has been making the rounds in the past couple of months on a number of blogs and mainstream press websites thanks to the song’s standout rock sting. In fact, the track is a modern representation of Edgar Allan Poe’s “A Tell Tale Hear.” The second single, Psycho, is gritty, hard edge garage rock that serves as yet another example of the band’s truly remarkable talents. The track has more of a bluesy rock feel to it than “Everybody Knows,” and includes a Jack White type of harmonica jamming that beckons the memory of classic rock blues bands like the Yardbirds and newer bands like Wolfmother, Dead Weather and The Black Keys. In fact, as mentioned earlier in this post, The Stone Foxes are often compared to Keys – and there are few higher compliments than that nowadays.

“Everybody Knows” – The Stone Foxes from Small Fires – Feb. 12th

“Psycho” – The Stone Foxes from Small Fires

The Stone Foxes Official Website

Hearts & Plugs’ New Sampler Features Brave Baby Single

First up, here are a couple of tracks from a recent Hearts & Plugs Records‘ sampler, including a track from one of our (and based on the statistics, many of you as well) favorite ‘new’ bands of 2013 – Brave Baby – and another from the artist Mr. Jenkins. The sampler also includes tracks from ELIM BOLT, The Lovely Few, and Run Dan Run.

“Lakeside Trust” – Brave Baby from Hearts & Plugs Sampler, Volume 2 – Feb. 1st

“You’re Free” – Mr. Jenkins from Hearts & Plugs Sampler, Volume 2

Seattle Musician Drops Debut Solo Album

Unsigned Seattle musician D.A. Wright, who performs solo as the force behind the new project, Wild Wants, released his debut album, We Are Committed To Excellence!. The album, according to Wright, was “sporadically self-recorded and mixed in various bedrooms, bathrooms, and bandrooms, between day-naps and nights out from July 2011 to December 2012.” Except for the drums, every instrumentation and vocal is Wright’s work, and his penchant for melody, layering and utilization of the full stereo spectrum add a special flare to the album’s overall production, as the two signals here demonstrate. It’s no surprise that his major musical influences include Guided By Voices, The Magnetic Fields, Dr. Dog, The Beatles and The Smiths.

“All Your Answers Will Be Questioned” – Wild Wants from We Are Committed To Excellence! – Feb. 13th

“Twirl My Curls” – Wild Wants from We Are Committed To Excellence!

Netherlands Band April Release Debut Single

Formed in 2011, Utrecht, Netherlands duo APRIL have a sound that has been called “a muscular, Baroque approach to boy-girl guitar pop” supported by the rich and melodic vocals of the Julia Hendriks as well as the growling croon in the lower registers of the band’s frontman, Jorn Mathijssen on new tracks from their new Subroutine Records 7″ single release, including the upbeat, joyous lead track, “The Rise And Fall Of A Beautiful Bird.” Think of a European Matt & Kim. The band has previously opened for artists like The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Rats On Rafts, and Daily Bread.

“The Rise And Fall Of A Beautiful Bird” – APRIL from The Rise and Fall Of A Beautiful Bird 7″ – Feb. 12th

APRIL Official Band Website

Austin’s Giuseppe Andrews Drops New LP

Austin artist Giuseppe Andrews is a prolific musician, filmmaker, and writer who has completed 37 records, 37 films, and seven novels to date. As a teen, Andrews and his father moved to Hollywood and lived in a van before landing roles in movies like Independence Day, Detroit Rock City, American History X, Never Been Kissed and Pleasantville. In 2002, he left Hollywood and acting to move to Austin to pursue music full-time. Giuseppe’s music includes experimental avant garde, pop, rock, comedy, and rap. Here are two top singles from his newest album release, Rubber Duck. This is a case where you cannot judge an album by the cover art (even though people do; and it does make a difference), which itself leaves a lot to be desired.

“Welcome to Air” – Giuseppe Andrews from Rubber Duck – Feb. 12th

“White Mind” – Giuseppe Andrews from Rubber Duck

Orlando Band Stiletto Red Release Debut LP

Orlando alternative rock band Stiletto Red dropped their debut album, Her Love Is A Lie, on Feb. 17th, featuring punchy, rhythmic grooves, sharp, melodic hooks and an artistically-driven, yet classic rock sound. Thrust together by a unified vision that drove them through thick and thin, the band members took leave from different bands and worked around hectic schedules to record their debut album. With songs you can hear and feel loudly, the album handles topics like angst, rage, rites of passage, and finding hope.

“Her Love Is A Lie” – Stiletto Red from Her Love Is A Lie – Feb. 17th

“Further Addiction” – Stiletto Red from Her Love Is A Lie

Stiletto Red Official Website

Way Back Now: Old UK Boy Band Regroups

They were first featured by the legendary John Peel on his popular BBC radio show in the mid 1980’s, but the oddly named ‘boy band’ The Passmore Sisters from Manchester, soon fizzled out and disbanded. Now, all these years later, some of the original members have regrouped to create a new band, Fever Hut, and just released a new album, Segovia. The album was written in Spain and recorded in the U.K. and includes the two singles below, “Ropewalking” and “Love Like A Car Crash.” Contributers to the album included renowned artists like drummer Jonny Cragg, violin virtuoso Davide Rossi (Goldfrapp & Coldplay) and members of the English electro band Zoot Woman on keyboards. The album was dropped on the small indie label, Vegetable Records.

“Ropewalking” – Fever Hut from Segovia – Feb. 14th

“Love Like A Car Crash” – Fever Hut from Segovia