Southern Shores Grande Comore / Mauna Loa (BadPanda)

Southern Shores is a duo from Halifax (the same city, the hockey star Sidney Crosby comes from), Canada while residing in Europe (Berlin, Germany) now. Their 2-track single at BadPanda Records is overtly opened for different stylistic interpretations and point of views, on the first place beavering away at subtle glo-fi (yet not being hypnagogic pop on its own) and poptronic moods being compared to Air France and Washed Out, on the other side it could be viewed through lush, synth-relied baroque pop and chamber pop and tropicalia pop workout expressions as well. In a more detailed way, it is full of warbling vocal-based hitches and high-voltage-loaded brass orchestrations wrapped up by seething synthezised paces. Partly because of having obvious references to different places around the world (Grande Comore is an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa; Mauna Loa is a Hawaiaan volcano) it can be considered as a soundtrack of voyage music as well. All in all, undoubtedly this kind of sonic mould does represent nowadays pop essence still waiting for the highest chart tops to be conquered once in the future.

Listen to it here

9.8

[Artists] GuMMy†Be▲R!

Tundra Dubs/Bandcamp
Soundcloud
Lastfm

New Animal New Animal (New Animal)

New Animal is a duo from Atlanta, consisting of Kris Hermstad and Derek Burdette. Recently the duo issued their self-titled album, compiled of 15 tracks. Actually their similarity with Animal Collective is not incidental on the name level only as having much broader touch through shimmering soundscapes and blissful milieu as well. Of course, they are more contemporary (i.e blissfully arranged) group incorporating a little chillwave and glo-fi elements as well. All of it can be seen via psychotic singing manners, repeated psychedelic loops, and impressive (even epic) overdrives, all in all, those mixed electronic pop currents and acoustic folk indie grounds do make out a subtle post-crossover (or post-Animal Collective) approach. Apparently it could be called as animated indie or spiritualized disco too. Really outstanding/transcending moments are embodied in such songs as All I Want Is Gone, Grow Back Out, They Don`t Know, Kill The Lights. In fact, something similar happened about one year ago as well when another duo named as Magic Man released their Real Life Color. Indeed, New Animal might be one of the best candidate for the top album of 2011 at today`s hour already.

Listen to it here

9.7

[Artists] Blackbird Blackbird

Blackbird Blackbird
Blackbird Blackbird/Bandcamp
Plancha
Myspace
Lastfm

[Artists] Wolvepop

Wolvepop/Bandcamp
Myspace
Lastfm

[Artists] ✝ DE△D VIRGIN ✝

✝ DE△D VIRGIN ✝/Bandcamp
Lastfm

[Artists] Candle Light

Candle Light/Bandcamp
Lastfm

Hong Kong In The 60s Places (Bandcamp)

Hong Kong In The 60s is a London-based trio, lined up by Mei Yau Kan (vocal, guitar, keys), Christopher Greenberg (vocal, guitar, keys), and Tim Scullion (vocals, guitars, keys). Their 8-track sophomore Places EP - the follow-up to the Willow Pattern Songs EP (2009, Proper Songs) is full of mesmerizing, chillout/easy listening-soaked shards, dominantly loaded with the space age pop and exotica pop sensibility. Indeed, they are deeply get involved in mighty psychedelic grooves to draw upon kinds of moods and shades popularized by Jean-Jacques Perrey, Gershon Kingsley, Mort Garson, and the Barrons approximately 4 decades ago. As you have figured out yet, indeed, a set of simplistic and robust yet catchy, a bit dreadful, altogether full-blown, synth-based melodies-harmonies and burbling cadences can be expected for. Almostly, though. One of the two exceptions is A Bad Night Out which is into the exploiting of vintage-looking, downbeat-drenched Latin rhythms (of course, mingling it with electronic effects). The second feature is Disintegration The Advisory Circle Reshape, as the title admits, it is not their own creative output, playing out a notch of contemporary indie electronica/indietronica/poptronica/glo-fi. By the way, the release name of this Sean O`Hagan-afforded group is obviously used to be a hint at their vast scale of their nowadays and previous residing places/countries (The UK, Hong Kong, Brazil, Japan, Spain, Africa). In a nutshell, without some exceptions, as it is noticed above, it is an excellent quasi-retrospective/retrogard-ish outlook.

Listen to it here

9.8

Raindeer Raindeer EP (Bandcamp)

Raindeer does consist of three lads - Charlie Hughes (vocals, synth), Devin Byrnes (synth), and Beau Cole (guitar, bass) - coming from Baltimore, Maryland, a town being once home for Animal Collective. Vis à vis with Collective, besides the trio`s aesthetical heritage originating from similar (post-)psychedelic breeds and DIY-based conceptions and lo-fi-infused common ground their start, however, is not a less impressive opening at all compared to the very launch by Avey Tare-Panda Bear circa 10 years ago, more concretely, being soaked in a rousing mix of electronics and indie pop and subtly nudging at their boundaries and zones. Yet, those 6 tracks of the debut issue are remarkably more extrovert and pop-oriented encompassed by broad yet intelligent postures and caustic keyboard (under)currents, the kind of reminiscent of those played up by the English innovative pop group Space in the last years of the Britpop-era (the track The Green Lights), and MGMT as well. Of course, there can be found out some similarities with the later-era Animal Collective, which drove some obduarate Collective`s fans to despair (Dark Place). On the other side, fortunately, Raindeer is able to avoid this kind of ostentatious artistical shelves cranking out of emotions being anchored at a subject`s genuine sensitiveness. No doubt, the trio is able to master crafty pop numbers, for instance, the ending This Is My Last Transmission which at the outset is intentionally restrained to come off into a catchy even hysterical explosion.
A solid debut, indeed.

Listen to it here

9.2

[Artists] Cody England

Cody England/Bandcamp
Rack& Ruin Records
Myspace
Lastfm

Music For Your Plants S/T (MFYP)

Though I come from Estonia I have been quite critical about the most of phenomenons regarding somehow the Estonian indie music and its musical appearances over the previous and last decade. The reason is simple because my native country does have the community of musical critics/activists and musicians very densely related to each other, however, some of them through the job, the other through dense friendship connections. This is why I am not used to believe in maximum-rated overviews in local newspapers after I had listened to some of the albums being classified as really second-rate ones in principle. Once again, I really hope I am not being misunderstood - it is not a complaint it is just admission about the inevitable shortcoming of the small communities.

The debut album by the Tallinn-based trio Music For Your Plants is one of the best issues growing out from the local scene in recent years. Their 8-track release reflects upon past, present and future, where technical know-how is finely arranged with shitloads of ideas and a decent spiritual touch, where all needful is kindly presented and played up into the balance. First off, their affinity toward retrodelic fusion and progressive rock is showed up via impressive light-hearted guitar noodlings and synthesized psychedelic electronics-based vortexes altogether reminiscent of the doings of Kaseke, Radar, and In Spe, the Estonian jazz rock and progressive rock legends by the 80`s, respectively. (Though I am aware of the facts being compared to the likes of Tortoise, Tame Impala and other experimental rock luminaries already). On the other side, though through a narrow slot, you can be a witness about the dodges toward enchanting chillwave moulds (Dr. Mudawi), or the tropicalia/surf pop-mixed-up excellence of Enchanted Sister. Undoubtedly Music For Your Plants is a record which has acquired the potential to be written into progressive rock annuals sometime. In fact, I mean it very seriously.

Listen to it here

9.5

[Artists] Music For Your Plants

Music For Your Plants
Myspace
Lastfm

Tiny Fireflies ePop005 (Eardrums Pop)

By concerning on every kind of single labels around us I have mostly referred to Beko DSL, yet, there are other akin records as well, definitely enough worth to pay much attention. For instance, the likes of Club 7, Bad Panda, and Eardrums Pop are the names to be rememebered in the first place.

In fact, the last named record was previously known by its sizable indie pop compilations (13 compilations in total), having acquired a kind of magnificient quality the better you are hardly able to find out from somewhere else (indeed, your obligation is just to listen to those ones!). However, the last notches of its discography are exclusively the matter of singles, having a geographical stretch from Indonesia to The United Kingdom, from Finland to the United States. By stilistical approach it might be compared to the sounds of the legendary The Slumberland Records, and The Best Kept Secrets. Indeed, mellow indie pop, consisting of jangle pop and twee pop shadows, yet, having a nowadays touch via poptronic elements.

The Fireflies`s 3-tracks single set is the first missive, signifying the departure from the array of compilations. A duo (Leslie and Kristine) comes from Chicago, having been sharing their duties at Very Truly Yours, and proceeding their solo projects (Tiny Microphone; Fireflies) as well. One of those beatific tracks is a cover of Skeeter Davis` hit The End Of The World, inspired by Claude Longinet`s interpretation of it, and another (Holding Pattern) exploits a sample by Serge Gainsbourg`s La Horse. As it is said yet, it sounds really beatific reminiscent of chillwave oozings and sighs, getting quite close to Memoryhouse (Kristine`s hyper dreamy timbre and vocal manner turns/ascents tend to be similar to Denise Nouvion). On the other hand, a kind of slow(core) movement with the help of drum machines and cathedral-alike organs conveys a decent cue toward Beach House, though. Or hinting at the beautiful coverprint (by Minkee) could have it be named as "lovewave" instead of? A great music, no doubt.

Listen to it here

9.4

[Artistid] Evenings

Evenings/Bandcamp
Myspace
Lastfm

[Artistid] PREGNANT

PREGNANT
Free Music Archive
Bandcamp
Life`s Blood
Lost Lamp
Myspace
Lastfm

Evenings North Dorm EP (Bandcamp)

Nathan`i nimeline noormees Charlottesville`ist (Virginia, USA) pakub tasemel chillwave/glo-fi/dream pop/stargaze/haze pop elamuse. Hõrgud meloodiad ning paitavad harmooniad moodustavad vastupandamatu kombinatsiooni - isegi siis, kui konkreetne helind näib kohati laisalt või suisa passiivselt kulgevat. Kuid see on näivus/või näivusega manipuleerimine, kuivõrd sellega külgnebki varjatud mõte. Kaunikõlalisus on alati töötanud, ning andes ühtlasi tunnistust, miks sarnast helikudet produtseerivad-reliisivad samaaegselt sajad pundid üle ilma. Tundub üha enam, et on moodustunud uue meinstriimi vöönd, mida ka toetab üha enam established muusikapress (nt Pitchfork on haaranud plaadifirma Arcade Sound`i oma "hoole" alla). Jutud aastaid tagasi, et Stereolab`i (järjekordne) album kõlab kui popmuusika aastal 2050 või hiljem, on osutunud valeks. Tõsilugu on, et see aeg on märksa varem pärale jõudnud. Kuulata "North Dorm" EP`i tähendab langeda sulniduse mõjusfääri, lasta vajutada teatud klahvidele. Filosoofid ei kõnele tänapäeval enam sõnades, vaid helide keeles. Nupumuusika.

Kuula albumit siit

9.4

[Kogumik] Various Artists - Season of the Sun (Rack & Ruin)

Inglismanni Dean Birkett`i kureeritud Rack & Ruin on leibel, mis annab peavarju pöörasele lo-fi muusikale, mille nime esimene pool on kahe aasta vältel tunnusmärgitsenud alternatiivpoppi-indie`t ning teine pool eksperimentaalset, kohati suisa irriteerivat elektroonikat. Tõsi, nimetet kogumik - mis on pühendatud käesolevale suvele - ei järgi niivõrd teravalt seda eristust võrdluses mõne varasema eelkäijaga. Mõnes mõttes on see ka paratamatu, kuivõrd elektroonika on ajapikku segunenud traadimuusikaga ning ka vastupidi. (Nimetagem seda poptroonikaks). Ennekõike väljendub nimetet tendents artistide puhul nagu Western Homes, T Bear ning Hipster Youth. Vincent Lillis jätkab tavapärast peitusemängu varjude ning folgiga, Woodland Heights teeb silma hoogsa kidrapopiga, kompilatsiooni koostaja Chad Golda pakub omalt poolt elektrist särisevat elektroonikat. Kogumik pakub loomulikult ka üllatusi - Frost Faire`i - mis on siin esindatud surf pop-liuglemisega - ninamees Brad Fielder, kes eelmisel aastal sai maha meisterliku alternatiivfolgi albumiga, pakub brass rock`i ja hip-hop`i hübriidi; auger shell pakub sulnist unenäopopi ja kingapõrnitsemise segu - kuulajana tahaksin isegi volüümi juurde keerata; kogumiku pikima - 14-minutilise - träki eest hoolitseb Dave Menzo, kes segab üheks psühhedeeliat, lo-fi`d ning abrasiivset elektroonikat-efekte, hoolitsedes seekord märksõna "Ruin" eest. 11-looline kogumik on tõepoolest väärtasi, iseasi muidugi, kas see just päikeselõõsas kuulamiseks mõeldud oli; kuid mõnusalt jahedasse ning vihmaootel augustiõhtusse sobib küll suurepäraselt.

Kuula albumit siit

Ducktails: Live at WFMU on Marty McSorley's show on 10/24/2008

Üle-eelmise aasta jõululaupäeval salvestatud 7-looline sett (sh intervjuu) paljastab Matt Mondaline`i suuruse. Kuigi väljutanud muusikat suht lühikest aega, on New Jersey resident mõne aasta vältel jõudnud üheks silmapaistvaimaks DIY-liikumise suurkujuks tõusta. Jänki on lugu pidanud töötlemata helikvaliteedist, salvestamiskeskkondadeks on olnud tööriistasara ja kelder ning levitanud oma loomingut üksnes kassettidel ja vinüülidel.

Kitarrid, Casio, Moog ja helifaaside modulaatorid on tema mänguvahenditeks. Helipilt on ühelt poolt uinutav, kuid teisalt (kohati väga) erk oma tekstuurilt. Mulksuvad elektroonilised (mini)efektid/drone, newage`ilikud süntesaatorite ja loodushelide põimumised ning minimalistlikult progresseeruv kihistus on vundamendiks, kandes edasi Neu!, Tangerine Dream`i, Conrad Schnitzler`i ja Harmonia aegumatuid ideaale - demonstreerides ilmekalt, kus peitub chillwave/glo-fi ideoloogiline lähtepunkt. Tõepoolest, suurepärane sessioon.

Kuula albumit siit

Okinawa Lifestyle Lazy Friend You Move So Fast (haaa00a00a0a/Bandcamp)

Tbilisi duo eelmist reliisi "Naha" - kahtlemata üks parimaid sellest aastast - arvustades avaldasin lootust, et loodetavasti kuuleme neist veel ja veel. Tõepoolest, meisterlik looming, milles on esindatud ning omavahel tasakaalustatud meeliülendavad harmooniad ja kaasakiskuvad nurgelised strobo-rütmid. Uus 5-looline EP jätkab vankumatult eelmise reliisi "Naha" rida. Funky`d electro-haagid ning läbi klubimuusika filtrite kulgev elektrooniline popmuusika kätkeb eneses loomulikult ka tugevat chillwave-glo-fi elementi, olles rohkem kui eales varem lähedal näiteks The Neon Indians`ile. Kuigi David Datunashvili-Gigi Jikia alustasid atmosfääriliste-unistuslike numbritega (debüütreliis "Roswell Crash" EP), on rütmid järjest olulisimat rolli nende helipildis omandamas. Kaasaegne indie dance´i vaste.
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Having reviewed their previous release "Naha" I expressed my strong hope that we would get a lot of issues from this crafty Tbilisian duo in the future again and again. Their alchemistry is a good example of balancing of magical harmonies and edge-y strobo rhythms. Indeed, a new EP does continue walking on in the steps of "Naha". All of those funky electro strokes and through the filters of club music roving electronic pop tunes are previously blended strongly with exhilarating chillwave/glo-fi aesthetics, for instance, being as close to The Neon Indians as they have never done it before. This music can seriously be described as contemporary indie dance.

Kuula albumit siit

9.3

Atlas Young beko_54 (Beko DSL)

Jaapanlase Atlas Young`i kahelooline singlitaies/EP on üks selle aasta impressiivseimaid. Hea meel on tõdeda, et kaunikõlalisus, eepilisus, panoraamsus, kaleidoskoopilisus, majesteetlikkus on epiteedid, milledel on tänapäeval taas üha enam tähendust ning jõudu kuulaja hinge tungimisel. Uued Pulp`id, Suede`id, Mercury Rev`id, Lightning Seeds`id on esile tulemas - milleeniumivahetuse pikk pohmell on ümber saamas ning suured meloodiad-harmooniad oma kohta tagasi võitmas. Erinevalt nt Memoryhouse`ist ja The Bilinda Butchers`ist - kahest teisest suurepärasest chillwave/glo-fi/dream pop-artistist ning leiblikaaslastest - on Atlas Young veidi karvasema helipildiga - trummid peksavad intensiivsemalt, kitarr kooldub atmosfääriliste kihtide keskelt valla, liikudes märkamatult elektroonilise shoegaze`i maastikele, kus kaugustesse suunatud ainitipilke häirib leitsaklik virvendus, konstrueeritud jõuetuksvõttev miraaž. Stephanie on selle aasta ilusamaid lugusid - eneseteadlikult joviaalne ja hõiskav, kus maskuliinne ja feminiinne alge ühtsuse leiavad. Penetreeriv ja orgastiline saund teisisõnu. Platon tantsinuks selle muusika järgi.

Kuula albumit siit

9.8