Harri Gibson
Stream: Humfree Bug Art – “Flowers”
Humfree Bug Art is a sextet pop outfit based out of Stockholm, Sweden. The band released their first EP Chairlene in October 2012 on their own music label, Esplanaden Fonogram and then released the single, With Nights and Lights via 100 SONGS. Most recently they released a second EP titled Collema. You can stream a new song titled Flowers below via Swedish-based web radio station Gimme Indie. For more information and to pick up some tracks for free head over to their website. Be sure to also check out their Instagram for some pretty innovative artwork. Here’s looking at you, kid.
Listen: Suntrapp – “All The Seas”
All The Seas is the debut single from Newcastle indie-folk outfit Suntrapp. The song is from their forthcoming EP titled Yannina, “inspired by Neil Young’s emotive narratives and The Beach Boys’ carefree pop but most importantly, the overlooked simplicities of day-to-day life.” Singer-songwriter Jake Houlsby delivers a soulful acoustic number with light relaxing melodies and vocals throughout. Alongside the release of the single, All The Seas is also accompanied by a music video which you can watch here. Stream the track below and for more information check out their Facebook and website.
Listen: Lucy Wilson – “Wake up Alone”
This September Jackknife will be releasing the debut 7″ from Lucy Wilson titled Full To The Brim. Known for her collaboration with Wil Wagner as the second member of Mulder & Scully and on The Smith Street Band‘s track The Belly of Your Bedroom; Lucy has also been performing solo in the pub festival circuit at The Poison City Weekender in her hometown of Melbourne, Blood Sweat & Beers in Sydney and All Tomorrow’s Shoeys in Tasmania.
“Drawing inspiration from the present day Bic Runga and Gillian Welch to the past in Hank Williams, Lucy Wilson frolics between folk, pop and poetic storytelling with a seemingly casual ease. . . Arming herself with a six string acoustic and her trusty ukulele, Lucy recently headed south for the hills of Hobart to record her debut EP with Lincoln LeFevre at The Infirmary studios, built on the grounds of the old Tasmanian Women’s Prison. . . From the nonchalant narratives to the raw romance of her lyricism, the strength of Lucy’s music lies in its honesty and openness.”
Full To The Brim will be available to pre-order with an instant download in August through Jackknife. The 7″ will be out this September but for now you can stream a song about a dead beat dude, Wake up Alone below. For more information check out her Facebook page.
Watch: Flamingo Bay – “Serpentine”
Watch: Dreamers Dose – “She Is Good”
Los Angeles’ psych-rock band Dreamers Dose earlier this week released their debut full-length titled, At Least We’re Happy. I talked about this outfit last month when they unveiled their track Pray for Me, Fragile here. The album was produced by Alain Johannes (Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures) and features eleven tracks that swell through peaks and valleys of raw, roaring rock and blissful balladry. A personal favourite off of the release, She Is Good’s music video can be watched below. The album is full of hooks, riffs and lyrics that you would never expect from recent high school graduates. Honestly, just listen to it, I’ve fallen in love with most of these tracks already. They have recently been added to the 2013 Sunset Strip Music Festival lineup on August 1st as well as other festivals and shows throughout Southern California. Stream the full album via PureVolume here and purchase it from iTunes. Keep up with Dreamers Dose on their Facebook page.
Watch: King Krule – “Easy Easy”
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?”
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”
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”
Listen: Kodacrome – “Strike The Gold”
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.
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