09 Nov 2010 — Henning Lahmann
Pretty much blown away by the mesmerizing fuzziness of Lexington, Kentucky's Coleman Guyon aka
Trailblazer.
Gut Reaction and
Mallard are instantly captivating with their blend of primitive yet impulsive drum patterns, some indistinguishable wash of several guitar layers and indistinct electronic devices, and Guyan's raspy and distorted voice somewhere behind the wall.
Trailblazer's 7 inch containing the two tracks is out now on
Moniker Records. Order one of the 300 copies
here.
Trailblazer - Gut ReactionTrailblazer - Mallard
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08 Nov 2010 — Henning Lahmann
Moon Glyph's Steve Rosborough recently sent over
Velvet Davenport's upcoming LP
Warmy Girls, which will be released November 16. The record is going to be the band's third offering via our favorite Minneapolis, Minnesota imprint, and it's another step ahead for their beautifully jangly psych pop that is so pleasantly reminiscent of The Kink's best offerings. Minneapolitan Parker Sprout and the five other musicians he has gathered around him manage to deliver an incredibly warm and harmony-dripping album, every tune is stuffed with catchy guitar and organ hooks. Of course, not only the band's abstract influences, but their sound itself goes way back, which on the one hand leads to a palatable coherence among the single songs. On the other hand, this very coherence is probably also the record's only downside, as you might occasionally find yourself glancing at your player's display, double-checking if a new song has already started. Which will mostly be the case actually, only two tracks extend the three minute mark, the classic sound barrier of popular music. But all in all,
Warmy Girls is nothing less than a strong and convincing effort: Velvet Davenport sure know how to play their game, and a fine game it is.
Pre-order the LP
here. It is limited to 500 copies and comes on beautiful white vinyl.
Velvet Davenport - Mystery MichaelVelvet Davenport - Warmy Personal Routine
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08 Nov 2010 — Henning Lahmann
The Black Tambourines are a surf-infused garage outfit from the very southwest of the United Kingdom, and though apparently they haven't got the time or waves to improve the cliché activity to be carried out to this kind of music (though
Tommy even closes with the soothing sounds of the tide coming in), their tunes wouldn't be out of place in California. The band indulges in pretty Spector-ish walls of guitar washes and an overall summery feel in their songs, which is actually quite helpful at this time of the year.
The Black Tambourines are about to release a split 7 inch with Exeter's
New Years Evil, due November 29 on
Art Is Hard Records, a very promising new DIY label from Plymouth/Portsmouth/Weymouth, UK, that is aiming to put the obviously thriving southwest indie scene on display. Order the single
right here.
The Black Tambourines - TommyThe Black Tambourines - I Can't Surf
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07 Nov 2010 — Henning Lahmann
Optimist Park's Jeremy Mullins recently lifted the veil off the first single of his forthcoming debut album
Mount St Helens, due Christmas Eve.
The Batholith is another dream pop landscape full of shoegazey guitar washes and a splendidly elaborated melody, a piece that has captivated me on first listen, simple and beautiful and ethereal. Before the record is out, listen to the single's two wonderful b-sides on Mullin's
bandcamp.
Optimist Park - The Batholith
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07 Nov 2010 — Tonje Thilesen
Courtship is the bedroom-recorded project of
Patric Fallon, whom released his debut EP
Kaleidoscope Days for free download via
Bandcamp last month. He originally sent me a link to his newly recorded track
Ride, which was recently premiered on
Transparent — but after listening to the utterly beautiful pop tunes of his five-track EP, I simply couldn't help but to hum along to Fallon's honest, slightly melancholic but not exactly perfect vocals (which I myself find rather charming) mixed with underwater-like guitar playing which could remind you of the post-rock genius
Lowercase Noises, for instance.
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06 Nov 2010 — Tonje Thilesen
No vocals needed.
I've been in that kind of mood lately. Give me anything dark, electronic, ambient or atmospheric, and my ears are all yours. The Irish electronic/ambient duo
Solar Bears is my most recent ear crush; they've already been featured on NME and
Fact magazine, both giving them
splendid critics of their debut album
She Was Coloured In released back in September.
As I listen through the record, flickering images appear on the insides of my eyelids as I close them. It's like watching a good movie; you haven't got the slightest idea how it will end, but when it finally does, you're stuck with the feeling that it just seems right. Kind of like solving an equation, I guess. That, my friends, is Solar Bears' strength and entirety. Close your eyes and listen carefully.
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05 Nov 2010 — Henning Lahmann
After a comparatively long hiatus for this incredibly prolific artist, our favorite down under guy Lavurn Lee aka
Guerre is back with another breathtaking slow burner, a stunning tune that is his most intimate and fragile to date.
Forgiveness is minimal soul in its truest form, five minutes reduced to vocals and beats that leave us dazed and confused and alone.
Guerre - Forgiveness
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