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Monday, April 3, 2017

Discoverer 154: new indie findings

Our discoverer series today goes back and forth continents to introduce us into the exciting music of three diverse proposals (all female fronted). Prepare your ears and let the travel begin!

Hurray for the Riff Raff. We have to talk very seriously about Alynda Segarra, folks. This singer/songwriter of Puerto Rican descent grew at the Bronx, New York, initially getting into music through hardcore punk. But she shifted that noisy direction for American roots music, wandering around the country for a while, then settling in New Orleans in 2007. There she performed in the streets and with the Dead Man Street Orchestra. before, that same year, she first used that flamboyant moniker for the first time, self-releasing EP 'Crossing the Rubicon'. More self-releases, like the albums 'It Don't Mean I Don't Love You' or 'Young Blood Blues', followed until Spring of 2011, when Loose Music compiled the best of the aforementioned LPs for a self-titled record that pushed forward Segarra's career, who kept the rhythm of activity with third album 'Look Out Mama' and the bluegrass and folk covers collection 'My Dearest Darkest Neighbor' in 2013. Then Segarra signed with ATO, coming out with the praised 'Small Town Heroes' in 2014, while she relocated to Nashville. A singular trajectory that now has a superb latest chapter entitled 'The Navigator'. A concept, socially and politically committed album, out since this March, that is a big, bold and beautiful music statement, one in which Segarra expands her sonic palette beyond the folk-blues, embracing latino sounds (son cubano, salsa, bomba) and vintage pop. The result is a rich, meaningful and necessary XXI classic. Pa’lante, Alynda, pa'lante.

HaterIt's always a good idea to move to Sweden, and even more so if we add such a great reason as discovering this Malmö-based quartet formed in early 2016. They quickly debuted with EP 'Radius' that same summer after signing with the highly recommendable PNKSLM, quickly making some buzz within the music press and the blogosphere. And now they are back with first LP 'You Tried' out since this March. Intense and emotional indiepop, propelled by the arresting lead vocals of Caroline Landahl (what a powerful presence), recalling an urgent, bitter and straightforward version of Alvvays. Hater music is a powerful Lovers gonna love...


Lunch Ladies. And we end in New Jersey to meet this quartet formed in 2014, extremely young (half of the combo still in high school), but with great expectations and an already solid local reputation forged in their "other" bands. First demos surfaced in late 2015, followed in late December of 2016 by the solitary tune 'Daydreams', a bandcamp gift to anticipate the arrival of 'Down on Sunset Strip', mini-album debut out since this March via Good Eye Records. As if The Pastels where sittin'pretty in front of a hazy yet somewhat warm, inviting beach (does it makes sense?), the Ladies' music is melodious and melancholic, dreamy but not escapist, cinematic but still "flesh and bones" or, better said, humming guitars lines and Cynthia Rittenbach's irresistible vocals. Band to follow closely and check your heart with...        

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