From the gut-puncher, supremely potent vocal to the cool bits of cleverly plotted countermelody/harmony in the track’s production “Be Your Love”, the latest track from Bishop Briggs is how this forward-thinking pop music thing is done. Another A+.
From the gut-puncher, supremely potent vocal to the cool bits of cleverly plotted countermelody/harmony in the track’s production “Be Your Love”, the latest track from Bishop Briggs is how this forward-thinking pop music thing is done. Another A+.
“Solid Air” is the debut track online for Dublin IE duo Bad Sea aka the pair of Ciara Thompson and Alan Farrell. Initially connected through Tinder the Irish twosome’s musical partnership is based on a mutual adoration of a disparate span of artists that includes Angel Olsen and Carly Rae Jepsen. “Solid Air” is a leisurely-paced bit of warm seaside pop subtly fashioned around some impressive turns of hook writing. Sample “Solid Air” below and get into Bad Sea.
More than just an awesome band name, the Michigan Rattlers hale from (you guessed it) Michigan with a fresh breath of Americana. The duo have a distinct delivery with their harmonized vocals and guitar with upright bass in tow. Like all great songs of the genre, “Sweet Diane” tells us a story with the right balance of musical and lyrical simplicity and complexity. A rebirth of roots friendly Americana seems on the horizon, and alongside the paths of artists like Sturgil Simpson and Kacey Musgraves, the Michigan Rattlers hint towards a career of relatable integrity, so long their music stays as on point as it is with “Sweet Diane”.
Team Gosh will be touring the Midwest in October (see dates below) and in sync with those upcoming dates are streaming a fly new track in the form of “True Blue”. About the track Josh S. had to say, “The idea for ‘True Blue’ came to us while we were in the car late one night driving home from a show at a college town in the Midwest – we got pulled over and had a real trippy hour or so with a state trooper. Like most of our music, sex, love, and drugs are the forefront of the story but at its essence of the song is really just about staying true to yourself and everything you stand for.” Get cool with “True Blue” below.
10/1: Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater (w/ GRiZ)
10/3: Wichita, KS @ Barleycorn’s
10/4: Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room
10/5: Iowa City, IA @ Blue Moose
10/6: Lincoln, NE @ Lincoln Calling Music Festival
10/7: Milwaukee, WI @ Back Room at Colectivo
10/8: Chicago, IL @ Township (w/ Rich Jones)
10/9: Bloomington, IN @ Bishop
10/11: Columbus, OH @ The Basement
10/12: Cleveland, OH @ Mahall’s
10/14: Detroit, MI @ Loving Touch
10/15: Grand Rapids, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme
Black Honey fire forward following “Headspin” EP from earlier in the year on big new track “Hello Today”. Heavy but melodic as hell, “Hello Today” strikes the 90’s trend touchstone while harnessing enough punch to stand on its merits. It’s a great new song from a great rising band. Listen to “Hello Today” below.
Multi-talented Chicago emcee Sir the Baptist scores a feature from gospel hitmaker Donald Lawrence on uplifting new jawn “What We Got”. Way into it.
Out now on Hand in Hive is “Tides” the reverb-spun new stream from Swimming Tapes. Following on from June’s “Set the Fire” , “Tides” sounds an oceanside backdrop of warm guitar leads and breezy falsetto-enhanced vocals. “Tides” is another strong track from the London UK quintet.
We don’t know much about Mondo Cozmo but there seems to be much to like about this LA via Philly native. With a lot of pretty consistent redundancy in the sound of today’s popular music (on both sides of the pond), Mondo Cozmo clearly doesn’t care to take note about the status quo. Distinct influence by way of decades deep Mancunian/Brit rock is paired with a tactful baritone vocal, reminiscent of icons like Bill Withers and Bob Dylan. Mondo Cozmo is sure to ring home for anyone who appreciates an honest soul in their music. For us, “Shine” is authentically classic and assertively relevant. Be on the look out for more Mondo Cozmo and “Shine” on a debut EP expected in 2017.
Scavenger Hunt is the L.A. based duo of singer/songwriter Jill Lamoureux and producer/multi-instrumentalist Dan Mufson. New single “Sweet Talk”, the follow-up to “River Runs Dry”, is oh so infectious (like have in had in my head non-stop for four days infectious, ahhhh). Built on neo-80’s production ideas and boosted up by some Robyn-esque melodics, “Sweet Talk” is a great intersection between superlative track writing, great styling and a superb main vocal. LOVE IT.
Newcastle UK newcomers A Festival, A Parade stream strong new track “If Dogs Could Talk”. Darkly melodic and refreshingly out of step stylistically with the general mode of operation of much of UK rock right now, the brooding A Festival bunch are, we think, on to something special. Listen to “If Dogs Could Talk” below and see them live on the following dates.
30 Sept – Think Tank?, Newcastle w/ The Pale White & Plaza
13 Oct – Think Tank?, Newcastle w/ Tall Ships
08 Oct – Twisterella Festival, Middlesbrough
“Blind” is the new upcoming EP from Edinburgh-raised artist Leon Power. An alum of Method Records and a collaborator of Nicolas Jaar, Mr. Power on “Open Up” sets a measured rhythmic pace to dreamy soundscape fit with circadian bass and shimmery falsetto hooks. In sum, we’re into it. The “Blind” EP is forthcoming on Majestic Casual’s new label.