We’ve posted Swedish duo Grapell a couple of times knocked out by their wistful at times sax-driven dark pop. “Some Places” (from the band’s upcoming “Love Chamber” EP out September 30th) is a very good new track from the duo that sticks to a similar aesthetic as previous tracks like “Arrow” while exploring more spacious arrangement ideas.
On “About You” Colouring (fka Osca) pulls off what can at times be a near impossible task to realize, create a well-constructed modern pop song that still feels inherently soulful and just real. “About You” is that sort of song. Well done.
“Pray”, the new one from star in the making Bishop Briggs (“River”), is perfection. Ms. Briggs delivers in a big way at a crucial career moment in following up her breakout track. A+++++++++.
We were into debut track “Manipulator” from ex-Yumi Zouma Kim Pflaum’s new MADEIRA project and we’re liking the warm tones of latest “Come On Thru” which you can stream below.
“Take the Fall” is the new bit of sublime R&B from NY-based newcomer Warren Wolfe.
Out now on PMR’s Beat Club imprint is “Flight Mode” the debut single from new Nick van Hofwegen (Young & Sick) project Mr. Sanka.
The reverb-laced/atmosphere-y/melodically awesome “I Knew You” is the debut single from Newcastle UK band Seeing Hands.
Indian Wells will release “Racquets” on August 26th through Bad Panda Records. The word “hypnotic” gets thrown around a lot when describing music of “Racquets” ilk but the track truly is of the hypnotic, mesmerizing, magnetic, etc quality facilitated by a “sounds of tennis” main rhythm figure, kaleidoscope droned synths, and a great sense of pacing, dynamics, building of tension. Listen below via Boiler Room.
We like “Lately It Feels Alright”, the latest from L.A. band Kid Bloom. Rooted in the melodic context of the mid 90’s and conveying elements of 70’s pop-psych especially in it’s guitar tracks, “Lately It Feels Alright” plays both accomplished in terms of its quality and refreshing in its eschewing of a lot of current blog rock norms. “Lately It Feels Alright” is excerpted from Kid Bloom’s forthcoming “Different State Of Mind” EP.
Stream the surrealistic swirl of the latest dark pop wonder track from UK duo Over Sands, “Heartbeat”.
We were into “Love is Bad” a couple weeks back and we’re equally knocked out by latest stream “Sheila” from Portland band Minden. From forthcoming LP Sweet, Simple Things out Friday on Hit City USA, “Sheila” is a cool tune built on breezy major chords, 70’s pop-influenced instrumentation (ie. into those bongos), and some really impeccable vocal melodies. Get into Minden and “Sheila” below.
The exciting/refreshing new Fat Possum band Hoops crank out a further stream from their August 26th-due s/t EP. Set in far-off reverb and ruddered by 1-2 acoustic guitar strums, “Gemini” whirls about it’s 4:23 steadied by an excellent melodic sense. The “Hoops” EP is out August 26th on Fat Possum.
