Oh Well, Goodbye – Aquiescence (2016)

Bleeding Gold
Hail Hail

• Post-punk
• Shoegaze 
• Alternative rock 
• Indie rock 
• Dream pop

Comment: there are up some sounds within the indie music scene that will never go out. One of such sounds is a shimmery, reverberating slightly darkened guitar sound which was introduced by such bands as The Chameleons, Joy Division, Durutti Column, Cocteau Twins which later strongly influenced bands within the shoegaze scene. Oh Well, Goodbye shows us the limits of this sort of music are still up there to get expanded further. Those soothing guitar landscapes are accompanied by sublime synthesised progressions and mellow drumming. A sonic heaven is surrounded by another heaven etc. And so it goes on and on. And finally it will be out to start again and again. Even if the limits would be reached it is about reaching something universal and true. It makes me somehow laugh by thinking of it as a decelerated version of jangle pop. It is about credibility and being trustworthy (about something having always had positive impact). In fact, the rumours about the death of guitar-based indie music are strongly exaggerated. By contemporary kindred souls I recommend listen to Russian combo Motorama. This great set of 6 compositions is a joint release by such imprints as Bleeding Gold, and Hail Hail. Certainly one of the most outstanding moments in 2016.

Aunt Sis – BG082/9 Tracks (2014)

Bleeding Gold

• Americana 
• Indie rock 
• Art rock 
• Alternative rock 
• Krautrock 
• Noise rock 
• Experimental pop 
• Lo-fi 
• Drone pop 
• Electronic

Comment: Aunt Sis is a collective from Asheville, USA and their music can be categorised as Americana on its very core. On the other hand, the collective provides many dodges and twists throughout the 9-notch outing being released on Bleeding Gold. I would like to say Aunt Sis does have a similar relationship to Americana as Wilco used to have been having. Maybe it would be more righteous to admit Americana is just the most suitable term to generalise Justin Morris and his companies` songs. From thoughtful lo-fi guitar twangs to expansive and majestic (indie) pop mannerism, from emotional singing and sensual chants to the explosive temper of chemical hippies. The combo surprises at Dr. Dahl which is a bow to Neu! through Stereolab and The High Llamas. In any cases, it is fairly freeing for a listener to drift between the aforementioned shifts. Dortch is the final piece of the issue where a modern version of Krautrock meets doo wop and acidic harmonica chords. It is truly elegant to finish off an album in such a way.

Spooky Cigarette – As Loud As I Can (2016)

Bleeding Gold

• Alternative pop/rock 
• Indie pop/rock 
• Psych-pop 
• Glo-fi 
• Post-punk
• Art rock

Comment: just having abandoned all the pretenses to reach objectivity I think of it as one of the best issues in 2016. More profoundly, it is a fabulous chain made up by a catchy song-writing and a vivid rhythmic chugging and tickling contemporary sonic possibilities, all of which are adeptly accomplished. It emits audible and emotional depth and splendour mixed up tightly and exuberantly. In bold, post-punk meets with psychedelic music via Ariel Pink-esque and chillwave impacts and David Lynch-ian touch. I guess The Cure might have sounded in that way if they started today. However, what we have to admit Spooky Cigarette is not a new The Cure. I like the singer's incessant change into different roles from a careless dandy to a more brooding, zombie-alike undercurrents imbued with a velvety timbre and suggestive intonation. Frequently these are epic, hymn drenched notches. However, it is hard to convey the magic and bewildering touch of this 4 track issue. One of the most staggering (pop) issues I have heard in 2016 so far. It is great pleasure to live in the 10s and enjoying the sonorous fare of it. It is much better than the mostly horrific 90s (stupid eurobeat and spineless Britpop acts). As loud as you can. At least after listening to it you can do it for sure. The issue is a part of the discography of Bleeding Gold.

Golden Glow - Beauty/Duty (2014)

Bleeding Gold

• Alternative rock
• Psych-rock
• Garage rock

Outstanding tracks:

Don`t Forget Me

I Could`ve Known

The Scene

Gum Down

Alligator Indian - More Songs About Animals And TV (2013)

Bleeding Gold

Lastfm

• New Weird America
• Post-pop
• Avant-pop
• Art pop
• Neo-psych
• Acid pop
• Post-psychedelic electronica
• Alternative
• Experimental indie

Outstanding tracks:

Revar Yu Drœm
Corpsing

Puffin

The Sweets - Chow (2013)

Bleeding Gold

9.4

/Indie pop, Psychedelic, Glo-rock, Alternative rock/

Comment: it is a sequent, 53rd issue in the discography of Bleeding Gold. The Chow is the combo`s follow-up to their Montequilla under the same imprint just some months ago. If you are intended to categorize somehow Justin Hrabovsky and Zach Romeo`s sound it might be tagged as "renaissance indie/alternative pop", however, sounding like Real Estate, Romantic States, Arbor Glades, and Ducktails, or Slowdive`s sound at the time of recording The Elephant Soundtrack. Slightly psychedelic, slightly laid back as if having no gravity throughout the course. My own term for this sound is "glo-rock". More concretely, all these gently sounding guitar chords, elegantly susurrous noises in the background, absent-minded singing used to make really sense. All in all, you might fall in love with it.Ok?

Just Handshakes - London Bound (2013)

Bleeding Gold

9.4

/Indie pop, Alternative pop/rock, Jangle pop, Electronic pop, Remixes/

Comment: Leeds-based collective Just Handshakes` single involves a pair of pieces, one of them is the original one, and the other one is a clattery, a little glitchy electronica remix version of it by James Hare. The result is devastating on the strength of dashing guitars, suggestive female vocal lines, cloudless synthesizer passages, and propulsive drums. Just Handshake seems to be influenced by chiming Rickenbacker guitar magic, post-punk-ish rhythm impulses, and blonde hair indie divas. On the other side, it can be considered like a version of a string centered St Etienne (imagine of all those lush melodies and catchy hooks). 

Alligator Indian - Winter We Won (2013)

Bleeding Gold

Lastfm

• Poptronica
• Psychedelic
• Alternative
• Remixes
• Leftfield
• Alternative dance
• Space pop
• Electronic pop
• Experimental indie

Former Babies - The Blackout Album (2011)

Bleeding Gold

8.7

/Acoustic punk, Garage rock, Grrl riot, DIY/

Comment: Former Babies (Moll Ball, and Shawna England) is a duo from the West Coast conveying a set of short-running tracks comprising the twangs of acoustic guitars and sonorous singing all of that is wrapped up by a rebellious feeling. In fact, their template and premiss are quite intriguing because their sound is obviously inspired of punk music, self-conscious grrl riot bands and DIY aesthetics. Though they are not, they could freely be a part of CLLCT, a Bloomington, Indiana-based platform.