Posted by Harri Gibson

Watch: King Krule – “Easy Easy”

King Krule by Mikael Gregorsky

Archy Marshall under the moniker of King Krule has released a music video for his new track Easy Easy from his forthcoming album. You can pre-order his debut album 6 Feet Beneath the Moon from iTunes here. The album will be officially released on Marshall’s 19th birthday, Saturday 24 August 2013 by True Panther Sounds and XL Recordings.

After a plethora of different recordings since 2010 under two different monikers, Easy Easy sees a maturation in his darkwave pop style. An obvious sonic progression and maturation is evident in his melodic riffs and in the creation a fuller sound on this track. Lyrically, his references are topical such as a mention of getting swindled by Tesco due to not keeping the receipt of an expired sandwich. Pick up his prior releases both on iTunes and on his Zoo Kid Bandcamp page. Fore more information and upcoming shows check out his website. Watch the new music video below!

Review: One Hundred Year Ocean – “Where Were You While We Were Getting High?”

One Hundred Year Ocean – “Where Were You While We Were Getting High?”

OHYO Cover

Released: July 8, 2013
Label: Broken World Media
Purchase: Digital | Pre-Order Vinyl Available Soon

One Hundred Year Ocean officially today release their new four track EP Where Were You While We Were Getting High?. Oasis fans unite! Based out of Willimantic, CT, OHYO is the solo work of Derrick Shanholtzer-Dvorak from TWIABP. The band is “usually made up of close friends and weirdos” and creates an indie rock emo sound with musical influences such as Modest Mouse, The Hold Steady, and Cursive. The EP was recorded by Chris Teti at Silver Bullet Studios in Burlington, CT and mastered by Jon Markson.

The first track on the EP titled Hospital Town, is a slower paced with a long repetitive intro leading to melancholy filled lyrics thematically about giving up. The refrain “I hope there is a hell / and I hope we don’t forget to lose it all” gives off an eerie tone with a slight glimmer of hope. Soco Amaretto Bud Light Lime, the second song, which I hope is in reference to the Brand New track, picks up the pace of the EP. Quick twinkly indie melodies and two verses containing philosophical questions and obscure nature imagery portrays the adeptness of this outfit at songwriting. The track then leads nicely into a Modest Mouse sounding instrumental bridge with a medley of  synthesizer, guitar and percussion before closing out.

In Apples, the trumpet leads the start of the track with the drums and guitar following. For some reason, I just love OHYO‘s use of the trumpet in this EP it just seems to fit seamlessly. Lyrically, I really hope the band members don’t drink each other’s urine, but if that’s the secret behind these songs, then maybe more bands should be drinking each other’s piss. Despite the short length of this track, just above one minute, it’s one of the more cheery numbers with lines such “Don’t worry about the rent, this month isn’t over yet.” and “We were electric like the summer / And I said to my brother / ‘Next Halloween let’s be each other and stay that way forever'” providing a sense of optimistic realism.

The last track, Magnetic Curses is a personal favorite on the release, combining the beloved trumpet and Derrick Shanholtzer-Dvorak’s lyrical mastery. With a crescendo leading to “So where is our hope? / Or when do we get paid? /’cause I’ve been so broke” and a wail of emotion, it brought me back to that tear-jerking scene in 50/50 where Joseph Gordon-Levitt loses it in the car. This song is self-deprecating just without the humor, but it speaks to the listener and creates the mood that not many other genres can.

With more mature songwriting and a refined sound, delving into various corners of indie, emo, and pop Where Were You While We Were Getting High? is definitely worth a listen and is one of my favorite releases this year so far. Streaming now on their Bandcamp with pre-orders of a one sided 12″ available later from Broken World Media pick this album up. There is a name your price basis download here. For more information check out their Facebook and catch them on their US tour starting in August.

Standout Tracks: “Soco Amaretto Bud Light Lime”, “Magnetic Curses”

9.0

Track Listing:
1. Hospital Town
2. Soco Amaretto Bud Light Lime
3. Apples
4. Magnetic Curses

Watch: Alasdair Bouch – “Bed Of Happiness”

Alasdair Bouch

Folk blues artist Alasdair Bouch has released a music video for Bed Of Happiness a track off of his debut album titled First Person Singular. Bouch’s work is a combination of urban folk and blue-eyed soul which in turn produces melodic hook-filled tracks. With twenty years experience, his trademark confessional autobiographical tone is very much so present in his slower track, Bed Of Happiness. Watch the video below!

Alasdair Bouch has three albums in his discography so far which you can stream selected tracks of here and purchase on iTunes. Currently living in the Czech Republic, Bouch has played more than four hundred shows across Europe and has just released Third Time Lucky, which sees him take a more rhythm-‘n’-blues-infused rock style approach to his songwriting.

“Fans who came regularly to shows would pester me doggedly about particular songs by name, asking me when I would commit them to disc,“ says Alasdair.  “I’d been sitting on a lot of songs, waiting for the album with the right vibe, but the audience definitely helped out with the tracklist!  Then once I got the band in the rehearsal room, it quickly took shape.  Our new drummer Míra is a powerhouse – it clearly wasn’t going to be a quiet album!” Pick up a limited edition hand-numbered CD in record stores worldwide or get the digital version here. For more information follow him on Facebook and check out his Twitter and be sure to catch him on his European Summer Tour!

 

Watch: What Model Citizens – “Coming For Me”

What Model Citizens
Electroclash outfit, What Model Citizens have released a new video for their latest single, Coming For Me. The project consists of songwriter Alex Musto, and was created towards the end of 2009 as a means of exploring noise and feedback-heavy music grounded by a foundation in synth-rock. The video itself is quite odd and induces a sense of paranoia, but it’s definitely worth a watch and was shot at Bizarre Bar, Silent Barn, and various neighbourhoods around Brooklyn, NY. Coming For Me is the latest single in advance of a full-length album coming out later this fall. You can pick up his latest track along with the rest of his discography on What Model Citizens‘ Bandcamp page.

Listen: Kodacrome – “Strike The Gold”

Kodacrome

Kodacrome is an electronic duo comprised of Elissa (vocals/synth) and Ryan (synth/electronics). The pair crafts fragmented pop with a warm electronic pulse, that features swells and lead lines which ring from synths and throats, alike. They harbor deep love for melodic composition, as well as the gorgeous dynamics of analog electronics. Kodacrome self released their debut EP Perla, in March 2012, which is available to stream below. The duo have now released the first single off of their upcoming album. You can download their new track titled Strike The Gold here. For more information check out their Facebook page and website.