The past week saw several notable artists — many ranking among my favorites — release new tracks. Camera Obscura distributed a new track off their forthcoming album Desire Lines, Typhoon gave us a stellar digital single, and we heard a new track off the upcoming album from The Moondoggies. On top of that, I continued the show with recent tracks off new or just released records including those by Scout Niblett, The Mantles, Phosphorescent and Club 8.
Weather here in NW Washington has been dreary at best, but that just means more time to check out new tunes. Of course, the biggest news of all: this weekend is Season 4 of Arrested Development.
Check out the full playlist below with embeds of videos or songs of the tracks when available. And tune in tomorrow, Friday May 24 at 10pm PST to KSVR for another show.
Earlier this year, I thought to myself that Camera Obscura was far overdue for a new album. Thankfully, the band thought the same and Desire Lines will be out in early June. Earlier this week, the band released a sneak peek off the new LP called “Fifth in Line to the Throne”.
Light and haunting, Therese Aune’s music can be classified as borderline minimalist piano folk-pop with occasional accordion. Aune hails from Oslo, Norway and her new LP, Billowing Shadows, Flickering Light comes out in early August on Red Eye Transit.
Nadine Shah’s “Dreary Town” features vocals backed by a robust, echoing piano. This piano is the focal point, but other keyed instruments are used that make Shah’s music rich and emotive.
I covered “Dreams of Cannibalism” earlier this week. Released as a digital single, you can also find the track on Typhoon’s forthcoming LP, White Lighter, out in August.
The styling in Akron/Family’s vocals in “Until the Morning” remind me, to an extent, of the same for one of my favorite artists, The Lovely Sparrows. There’s a twist of words that mimics a trait Shawn Jones typically employs in his songwriting. Sub Verses (Dead Oceans) is Akron/Family’s new album and, like the band’s previous work, this one is equally as diverse.
Traits of folk, Americana, and pop all adorn the latest by Phosphorescent, “Song for Zula”. With a consistent beat and soft, elongated strings, the emphasis becomes Matthew Houck’s cracking-yet-soothing vocals. In “Song for Zula”, Houck weaves a touching, highly emotive tale. You can find the track off Phosphorescent’s new album Muchacho.
So many great new tunes this week. Another favorite, The Moondoggies, dropped a new track off their forthcoming album Adiós I’m a Ghost called “Red Eye”. This is the first we’ve heard from The Moondoggies since their phenomenal LP Tidelands (2010, Hardly Art). Listen to the song here.
I haven’t listened to The Dutchess and The Duke in a while; it only seemed fitting to play a track after digging the new one by The Moondoggies. Sadly, the duo of Jesse Lortz and Kimberly Morrison stopped making music in 2010, but they left us with two stellar LPs. Both tracks off this single can be found on their 2009 LP Sunset / Sunrise.
Here’s the band performing the song live at KEXP.
KEXP inStudio 19.1 – THE DUTCHESS & THE DUKE from More Dust Than Digital on Vimeo.
I’m really digging the new LP by Scout Niblett. First up is her track “Gun” which is extremely eerie (especially when accompanied with her video). Closing the album is “What Can I Do?” a track that sees Niblett accompanied by a slew of strings that take her often minimalist, stripped down gritty garage-folk to a full-fledged, borderline anthemic level.
I love the new Vietnam album, An American Dream, but damnit. The band included only a single FCC-deemed-OK track among many stellar ones including “Stucco Roofs” and “Kitchen Congas”. “Flyin'” is the song and it matches the other two in greatness, but damnit. I want to play more.
Correspondents’ “Chicha Latte” reminds me a little of Federale’s garage rock-meets-Spaghetti Western instrumental side.
The opening track off Darlings’ 2013 LP Perfect Trip was the first song I covered this year. Not surprising, the album remains among my favorites so far in 2013.
Darlings – Nothing I Don’t Care For from Jonathan J. Johnson on Vimeo.
To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t the biggest fan of The Mantles’ EP, Pink Information; after their self titled LP, this one was a bit hit or miss for me. My despair that the band might be heading in a direction I wouldn’t approve of was all for naught. They released “Raspberry Thighs” (OK, not entirely sure which came first, but I picked them up in this order) and it renewed my faith that I would continue my obsession with this band.
At 32, I completely understand what Mize is talking about.
The latest by The Mantles reminds me a bit more of a marriage between British Invasion and 70s psychedelic rock rather than that era’s psychedelic garage from their self-titled debut. I love it. This sound seems to me to be the natural progression and I’m just about as excited to hear Long Enough to Leave as I am to watch the new season of Arrested Development. OK, maybe that’s a stretch, but you get my point.
Cool Ghouls have that raw, garage sound of bands like Harlem and Lace Curtains. It’s carefree with the right amount of jangle, a hint lo-fi and ridiculously upbeat. Listening to “Natural Life”, it makes complete sense that Cool Ghouls are from San Francisco.
Go back and read that quote from Cheyenne Mize, then watch Small Black’s video for “Despicable Dogs”. I get the sense the creator of this video may have had a similar epiphany, or the protagonist in the film was holding onto the youthful, I don’t wanna grow up thought that, well, I have pondered a bit of late. “Free at Dawn” is the new one by Small Black and its even dreamier than their early stuff.
I’ve covered Club 8’s new track “Stop Taking My Time” a few times so far, most recently with their new video for the song.
Everyone’s raving about Shaking the Habitual. This is no surprise. It’s f*ing phenomenal. Don’t be surprised if this tops many a year-end list. “A Tooth For An Eye” is the first track that stuck out to me and remains my favorite off the double LP.
I’m somewhat obsessed with this song. In the same way I was obsessed with Pure Bathing Culture’s “Ivory Coast” last year. PBC’s EP went on to be my favorite of the year. It’s yet to be seen just how long it will take me to progress on to the rest of Saskatchewan’s Occasion, and whether it’ll follow a similar path. One thing is certain: Father/Daughter Records knows how to find and release a stellar band.
“Hounds” by Valleys off Are You Going to Stand There and Talk Weird All Night?
We covered “Hounds” earlier this week. It sums up everything nicely.
Somewhere between New Zealand legends The Bats and the recurring popularity of fuzz-driven pop music, Big Deal’s “Dream Machines” is a colorful track that will get under your skin. Throughout, the harmony male/female vocals give the song a great edge that makes you want more.
Toronto’s Hooded Fang produces raucous garage-pop that’s super upbeat yet has a hint of slacker to it. “Ode to Subterrania” even has a surf-pop sound that can be likened to Pacific Northwestern artists like Orca Team or Week of Wonders.