Artist: clipping.
Album: Splendor & Misery
Song: Air ‘Em Out
Sub Pop, clipping.’s record label, writes: “Splendor & Misery is an Afrofuturist, dystopian concept album that follows the sole survivor of a slave uprising on an interstellar cargo ship, and the onboard computer that falls in love with him. Thinking he is alone and lost in space, the character discovers music in the ship’s shuddering hull and chirping instrument panels. William and Jonathan’s tracks draw an imaginary sonic map of the ship’s decks, hallways, and quarters, while Daveed’s lyrics ride the rhythms produced by its engines and machinery. In a reversal of H.P. Lovecraft’s concept of cosmic insignificance, the character finds relief in learning that humanity is of no consequence to the vast, uncaring universe.”
Artist: Midnight Faces
Album: Heavenly Bodies
Song: Blue Haze
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGU8h76ptfE
From Consequence of Sound: “It’s fitting that Midnight Faces hail from Los Angeles, because they make music that’s cinematic in both scope and execution. Any number of the songs featured on their new album, Heavenly Bodies, could soundtrack a film in which the protagonist speeds down the 405 late at night with the windows open and the blinking lights of the Hollywood Hills serving as a kind of otherworldly backdrop. It’s tempting to label this dream pop or shoegaze or some other genre that connotes ethereal sound, but it’s got a quicker pulse than all that stuff.”
Artist: Allah-Las
Album: Calico Review
Song: Could Be You
Co-Sign talks about Allah-Las by saying: “The band was formed in 2008 while three of the members were working at the legendary Amoeba Music record store. Their 2011 self-titled debut was nominated for independent album of the year by the A2IM Libbys. Of the debut, Pitchfork said, ‘it sounds like an effortlessly wistful batch of starry-eyed, minor-key beauties that gently ruminate on the usual young-guy subjects: sex, freedom, the ways the former can interfere with the latter and vice versa.’”
Artist: The Ramona Flowers
Album: Part Time Spies
Song: Dirty World
When a band is named after Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, it’s impossible not to love them. The AU Review said: “The Ramona Flowers reignite that spark with their new single ‘Dirty World’. They combine furious electronica production with a strong and rousing chorus section that comes out chaotic and passionate. There’s an anthemic quality to the music the band is making and while the band is still establishing themselves to crowds outside the UK, there’s definite potential there.Their music video for “Dirty World” took the band to Albuquerque in New Mexico, and follows the journey of ‘Skullman’ as he navigates the busy world of ‘big money’ – reflective of the song’s lyrics.”
Artist: Babewatch
Album: Wasted Time
Song: Darken My Door
https://babewatch.bandcamp.com/album/darken-my-door-brian-no-sleep
Michael Band writes for The Bay Bridged. He wrote, “We last heard from Babewatch a couple weeks ago with the driving energy of “Brian,” the first single of the album. The full-length will come out in June, with Some Weird Sin Records (out of Texas) releasing vinyl and Lolipop Records(LA) doing the tape. They’re also heading out on a West coast tour, going all the way up to Vancouver before coming back to the bay and then heading down to LA.”
Artist: Ray and Remora
Album: Startle it Up
Song: The Happening
From their website: “Startle it Up drifts from synth-driven epic ballads to head-bopping indie pop, all the while highlighting 23-year old Remora’s lush, emotive vocals. Comparisons have been made to bands like Florence & the Machine, Ms Mr and HAIM, though the songwriting is still rooted in the influences covered on 1994—bands like Guided By Voices, Pavement, and Sebadoh.”
Artist: Beach Baby
Album: No Mind No Money
Song: Limousine
TW: self harm mention
Stereogum writes: “Beach Baby are a London four-piece who first caught our attention with the post-punk jangle “No Mind No Money.” Since then, they’ve shared the bleached, dreamy “U R” and today we get another new one, “Limousine.” It rolls along on a deep bassline and some funky guitar grooves, and sounds exactly like the kind of carefree surf rock I would want to blast if I was gleefully leaning through the sun roof of a limousine. I really wish I was. Listen and imagine away.”
Artist: Local Natives
Album: Sunlit Youth
Song: Coins
Once again, we’re turning to Stereogum to get the scoop on Local Natives new track: “[They] are gearing up to release their third album, Sunlit Youth, in a few weeks. We’ve already heard ‘Past Lives,’ ‘Villainy,’ and ‘Fountain Of Youth’ from the California band’s upcoming LP, and today they’re sharing a sultry, sunny new track called “Coins,” complete with a pastel-colored lyric video. In a tweet, they mention that it’s “quickly become one of our favorite songs to play live.’”
Artist: Warhaus
Album: We Fucked A Flame Into Being
Song: Memory
https://soundcloud.com/warhausmusic/memory
Warhaus named their newest album after a quote from D.H. Lawrence. Maarten Devoldere talks about his newest release: “It’s a goodbye song for a woman returning home. She left with the words this never happened.’ I probably didn’t do her a favour by pouring it into a song.”
