Discoverer 146: new indie findings

Time for another trio of new proposals in our discoverer series! A pretty eclectic combination today, from singer-songwriter to synth-pop, so you have plenty and diverse music to enjoy with!

Twin River. Hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, around 2009, the first incarnation of the band was the stripped-down folk duo of singer-songwriter Courtney Ewan Bromley and guitarist Andy Bishop. But changes were already evident with the self-release of debut EP 'Rough Gold' in early 2012, recorded with with the help of local guitarist Malcolm Jack and singer-keyboardist Rebecca Law Gray. A full band was born, being completed shortly with Dustin John Bromley on drums. The quintet locked into the studio the year later, giving form to the tunes (with Colin Stewart from The New Pornographers on mixing duties) that, after some changes in the line-up, would became their first LP 'Should the Light Go Out', out via Light Organ Records in February 2015. Now they're back with 'Passing Shade' sophomore album out since June, consolidating the shimmering blend of garage, jangle and dream pop of their sound. Think on The War On Drugs or DIIV meeting Neko Case or Jenny Lewis. Think on dark, cloudy hazes pierced by rays of light in the form of eternal guitar lines and upped drum paces. Think on the kind of music that haunts you before stays with you.  

Margaret Glaspy. Born in Red Bluff, California, but based in New York via Boston where she became part of the local folk scene, singer-songwriter career "officially" began in 2013 (although there's a 'Homeschool' EP from 2012, available digitally at her bandcamp, collecting some home-recorded songs) with debut release 'If & When' EP. Then came tours with Lucius, Rayland Baxter or Milk Carton Kids, the signature with ATO Records and the release of a 7" 'You and I b/w Somebody to Anybody' in January 2016, in advance of first LP 'Emotions and Math', out just now. With a very distinctive, explosive voice and a approach to songs where electric guitar lead the way, Glaspy is able to croon and bite, trap you with a melody or knock you out with a killer lyric hidden between an almost grunge riff. Expansive minimalism on an artist summoning Joni Mitchell, Feist and Josephine Baker. Fated for greatness...    

Featherfin. And we end in Tromso, Norway, to recommend you the music project of Knut Børre Lindbjør, a Bloodbuzzed beloved friend, the blogger behind Eardrums Music, a founder member of the GREAT label EardrumsPop (never praised enough) and musician since the 80s, now back with this fishy moniker blending his passion for electronic music and indiepop with his ability with visuals. Although the first Featherfin tune appeared in 2014 on the 'Between Two Waves- The Second Wave' lovely compilation album, his first proper release dates back from February 2015, with EP 'Butterfly Girl', followed by the single 'The Crimson Spill /Nananarama and 'Wintersongs' EP later that same year. Now he's back with 'Helen Richey' EP, out just now (don't miss the video for the title songs, a genius mini-documentary). And he's in superb company, alongside "usual suspects" from this Blog's Jeremy Jensen from The Very Most and Michaël Korchia from Watoo Watoo. Dreamy, organic, undeniably gorgeous tunes. Haunting music.  

Hi-Five! Happy Birthday EardrumsPop!

Another special feature replacing our regular Sunday Discoverer Series, but it was mandatory: EardrumsPop is 5 years old!!

Our dear Knut, EardrumsPop' founder, summarizes the story of the label so far here. But if you allow me to make mine, here it is. Five years introducing us new artists. Five years releasing (for free) quality, lovely, enduring songs. Five years being the reason behind engaging new projects. Five years promoting bands on the blogosphere. Five years also taking care of music artworks, giving space to fantastic illustrators for the covers art. Five years of a labour of love for music. HUGE THANKS.

And in the pure EardrumsPop style, do you know how they have chosen to celebreate their anniversary? Coming out with another mesmerizing compilation, gathering 38 tunes from all the artists they have worked with during these years… Yeah folks, 38 tunes for free from many bands we love and have been featured previously at the Blog (some of them thanks to EardrumsPop), like The Swapsies, The Very Most, Making Marks, Lost Tapes,  Sleeping Policemen, The Royal Landscaping Society, and others that will be under our radar from now on (our discoveries series are fed with great names now!). As usual, you can listen the compilation at their soundcloud, or grab it... but please show that you care, and spread the word about it. The bands and EardrumsPop deserve it.

It's celebration time with EardrumsPop. So it's time for great music. Congratulations EardrumsPop, keep the music coming!

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 52

It's been a week of books with Sant Jordi, but there's always time for music, so here's we are back with a new round of our TOP TEN playlist, including the tunes we have been enjoying the most lately. This time we propose a playlist with almost all new bands, with the exception of our beloved The Swapsies, thanks to our beloved EardrumsPop (more very very soon), so this is a magnificent opportunity to explore and enjoy all the new suggestions. Please, don't forget to join us at our Soundcloud blog page.

Direct links to 2015 Jukebox playlists
Week 36  Week 37  Week 38   Week 39  Week 40 

Week 41  Week 42  Week 43  Week 44   Week 45
Week 46  Week 47   Week 48  Week 49    Week 50
Week 51 

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox 14

Once again here's a new round of our TOP TEN playlist with several exciting tunes I'm enjoying the most lately. There are things that should last in time while others should NOT.  Luckily, not everything in life is politics and we are here to talk abount music, so let's go! This week we bring you some bands with a promising career, a new song from the never-ending ¡Between Two Waves' from our dear EardrumsPop, and some consecrated musicians. Do you want to know more about the playlist? Just listen it!  This is also available at the blog's soundcloud, so please Join Us!. 

Direct links to the previous Jukebox weeks
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6 
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9 
Week 10
Week 11 
Week 12 
Week 13

Welcome to the Jukebox! 

These Go to 11: interviewing Arts & Leisure

New chapter on our interview series, this time with the irresistible singer and guitarist Gerri White of my beloved Arts & Leisure (and a terrific tune with our man Jeremy Jensen of The Very Most on EardrumsPop majestic 'Between Two Waves' compilation). Can't properly articulate with words how nice and enjoyable has been reading & collecting her enthusiastic & honestly open answers, so please, read it carefully. She's a wonder. These Go to 11!

Gerri White, Arts & Leisure

Ms. White, ready for a pop ride

The lovely band Baby Grand formed in Sacramento in 1999 and during more than a decade they offered us 2 EPs and 2 wonderful albums, including their unmissable latest release 'Arts & Leisure', that came out in 2012. But right after the group split, three of its former members, Cory Vick, Gerri White, Tim White joined forces with Becky Cale and, borrowing its name from the aforementioned LP, in July 2013 they released 'Choose Your Adventure'. Released on our dear label Test Pattern Records, it quickly became one of our favourite past year albums. Indiepop meeting power pop, sugar and electricity heavenly combined on killer melodies, intertwined vocal harmonies, a retro vibe and an undeniable, moody beat. Summoning the spirits of legends like Talulah Gosh, Arts & Leisure make pop joyful, something that we would die for seeing live (Gerri told me they're considering coming to Spain, I'm making it public so they now have to be true to their promise). Here we go!

Beauty is always on the inside

1. First record that you bought (be honest)

The first  album I bought (with my allowance) was The Go-Go's 'Beauty and the Beat'. I was obsessed with the song 'Vacation'. I was first able to record the song off of the radio using the tried and true 1980's method of phoning in multiple requests to my local DJ, and making sure I had a fresh blank tape cued up and ready to go, but this small triumph did little to quench the flames of fandom that were burning ever brighter until I HAD. TO. HAVE. THE. RECORD. 


2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)

First concert was John Denver, the smiley folk songwriter with shaggy hair and spectacles who sang with the Muppets. My dad was a big fan, and he took the whole family - I must have 11? My second concert was ALSO John Denver. By then, I was a sullen 15 year old punk and deeply resentful at having to attend a folk concert with my parents. I wore a dog collar and a home made Exploited t-shirt in protest. Third concert (that I attended of my own free will at 16) was Siouxsie and the Banshees! Me and my fashion sense finally fit right in. OK, last concert I saw (last month, I think) was JD McPherson at Palms in Nevada City. So good!

Hall & Oates: hair duo 

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)

I think Hall & Oates ('Rock 'N Soul, Part I') and Ace of Base fit squarely in this category. Like deep fried Twinkies at a state fair, they are of the moment and undeniably delicious! A bolt of happiness that defies analysis.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)

I'm not a music collector, so the most precious music-related items would be my guitars. I still have my first guitar, purchased on layaway for $500 when I was 19; an Olympic white '65 Fender Mustang with original case and catalog. It was absolutely pristine. A few weeks after I paid it off and picked it up, my friend's bass slid off the couch where he had propped it during practice, and his tuning key  knocked a good chunk out of my Mustang's flawless vanilla ice-cream body. I remember playing it cool, and telling him not to worry about it, but I was really trying hard not to cry.

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)

'Joe Pernice' of the Pernice Brothers has the most...just out of left field lyrics. They're surprising, evocative, sometimes crude, but I always feel like I've become a secondary character in a flash fiction piece, which I love. I tend to be drawn to lyrics that tell a story. It also helps that Joe has the voice of a dirty angel.

Mr. Misery, Elliot Smith

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)

This probably sounds weird, but I tend to not like to meet musicians. Mostly because if they're disappointing, or act like a jerk, I can't stand their music anymore. I just can't separate the artist from the music. I can do it with authors, for some reason, just no musicians. If I had to choose, I'd say Elliot Smith. He seemed so mysterious and sad; I would have liked to buy him an ice cream cone.

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)

I always loved the artwork for Belle & Sebastian records; the movie still quality of their photos, the pastel color overlays. Also, because you could listen to the songs and just kind of squint at the cover and imagine whose story you were listening to.

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both)
Books, books always! I love movies too, but they don't quite inhabit the same place in my psyche. You can be your own director, casting manager and location scout with books. One of my absolute favorite tales; Shirley Jackson's 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle'. Jackson is a master of finding menace in the mundane, of summoning horror in broad daylight. They never made a movie of 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' but they did make the 1963 film, 'The Haunting', based on her novel, 'The Haunting of Hill House'. A classic, eerie chiller.

9. Release (of yours) you are most proud of

Baby Grand's 'Everything You Say' from our first record, 'Coming True'. In 2004, I found out I had a rare tumor in my neck. It was benign, but it was in a tricky place and one of the risks of the surgery was that I might lose my voice permanently or have to go through vocal reconstruction. The doctors said I would just have to wait and see if my voice came back after the procedure. 'Everything You Say' was the first song I wrote while recovering at home. I remember demo-ing it; working to squeak out the vocals and not think too hard about what I would do if that squeak was all I would ever be capable of. I just thought, well, I can still write songs and not give up. It's not the end of everything. So that song is sort of special to me. It has a hopefulness and fragility to it.

Keeping the light with Arts & Leisure

10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)

Ha, ha. I don't really know what indie means to me. Baby Grand was always described as indie-pop but I've always felt that any band I was in (as a songwriter) was just left of whatever genre it posed as. I don't think my songwriting is indie or not indie...it is what it is. And it's all over the map. It doesn't know from indie. As the indie label applies to other bands, it usually means that I will find something to like - but what that element will be is always a surprise.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Oof. Hopefully working less; writing more fiction and songs. Keeping to the light.

Zillion thanks Gerri & Arts & Leisure!

Discoverer 90: new indie findings

What a trio of amazing discoveries, I 've prepared for you today, so sure you'll love them!

Fireflies. Lisle Mitnik is the one-man band behind Fireflies. Born and raised in New England but based in California, he's been around doing great music since early 2000s, solo or in delicious projects like Tiny Fireflies (check their wonderful EPs at EardrumsPop!), Very Truly Yours or Edine. As Fireflies he has released three "official albums" to date, "Goodnight Stars, Goodnight Moon" (2007); "Autumn Almanac" (2011) and the just out "In Dreams", via Jigsaw Records, a bunch of EPs (please do not miss the Covers Digital EP from 2009) and singles and four albums of home-recordings / demos. But let me go back to "In Dreams", because folks, this is one of the best records of the year. A humming, ethereal, gentle, delicate indiepop classic made in 2014 I cannot recommend you enough. Missing it should be considered a crime.

Should. Formed in Austin, Texas, initially under the name of shiFt, Marc Ostermeier together with Tanya Maus and his brother Eric debuted with EP "A Folding Sieve" in 1995'. After a 7" in 1997 came trio's first full length "Feed Like Fishes", in late 1998 via Words in Music. In 2002 the label re-released a expanded version of their debut EP, now a full album. In April 2011 arrived "Like a Fire Without Sound" while label Captured Tracks kicked off its Shoegaze Archive series reissuing again "A Folding Sieve" on its most complete version. And finally, since this March we can enjoy fourth record "The Great Pretend". Diverse and lush, dream pop, shoegaze, traces of post-punk, chiming guitars, propulsive drum beats and vocal harmonies coexist on an impeccable album full of rewards for the listener.  

The Skywriters. And we end in Philadelphia with this short -lived band now rescued from the twee-pop vaults. This quintet came out with a self released cassette tape, a CDEP, a Japanese 7” record, and a handful of compilation tracks on a career that only lasted from 1998 to 2000, with band members forming The Snow Fairies, Ex-Friends or more recently Scary Monster. But now the always reliable Jigsaw Records alongside with label Lost Sound are releasing a new compilation entitled "Skywriter Blue" that resumes the group's career. Fourteen songs of lovely twee-pop, full of the catchiest melodies, jangly guitars and adorable intertwined male/female vocals. Hard to resist.

These Go to 11: interviewing Young Romance

Awww, what a crush I have on our next interviewed band. You know there are groups you like, others you simply adore and then there’s a special category when a group’s song can hit somewhere very very deep inside of you? Young Romance is one of these bands for me. So happy to feature indiepop’s most adorable duo... These Go to 11!

Paolo Ruiu and Claire Heywood, Young Romance

The indiepop's romance.

This inseparable London couple has been making delicate and stunningly gorgeous indiepop tunes since 2011, with an intensity that reveals real emotion and sensitivity in what they do. Initial tunes like "Swollen Hearts, Bitter Tongues", "She, Me, Him and You", "Six Sides" gave me the alert they were a band to watch out closely, but after summer of 2012, with the release of their stunning EP ePop022, with our dear EardrumsPop's friends, including the sublime "Follow on Your Own" (personal favourite) I became a devoted fan. More tunes arrived on 2013, like the great “Lines”, but 2014 is going to be Young Romance’s year as “Twenty Five”, track included on the Candy Twist Fanzine compilation’s “ Nobody’s Business” or “Pale” their first official single that will arrive this March courtesy of Banquet Records proves. Pure pop perfection, as immediate as lasting. Here we go!

Manchester City Rollers

1. First record that you bought (be honest)
PAOLO: Oasis, “Roll With It”
CLAIRE: 911, “Bodyshakin'”

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)
PAOLO: The Counterfeit Beatles / Veronica Falls
CLAIRE: 911 / Bombay Bicycle Club

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
PAOLO: Kanye West, “Bound 2”
CLAIRE: East 17, “It's Alright”

No, not alright

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
PAOLO: Original copy of The Rolling Stones’ “Sticky Fingers”
CLAIRE: Lou Reed’s “Transformer” vinyl.

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)
PAOLO: The Strokes, “Someday”: "Alone we stand, together we fall apart, I think I'll be alright. I'm working so I won't have to try so hard, tables they turn sometimes".
CLAIRE: Mystery Jets, “Flakes”: "The trouble with dreams, they're not what they seem, cause when you awake they fall through your fingers in flakes".

Phil Spector, aka "The Hair"

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
PAOLO: Phil Spector, David Bowie, Keith Richards, Kate Bush
CLAIRE: Elvis, Lou Reed, Ringo Starr, Tina Turner

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
PAOLO: The Madcap Laughs– “Syd Barret”
CLAIRE: The Ramones– “S/T”

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both)
PAOLO: Films - "The Godfather 2"
CLAIRE: Books - Oscar Wilde - "The Picture of Dorian Gray" / Daphne Du Maurier - "My Cousin Rachel"

9. Song (of yours) you are most proud of
PAOLO: "Follow On Your Own"
CLAIRE: "Pale"

10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
BOTH: Not compromising personal ideas for a commercial purpose, therefore having complete creative control.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
BOTH: With a few records out and playing shows to the people who love those records in the way that we do with other bands.

Zillion thanks Claire & Paolo!

Discoverer 78: new indie findings

More fantastic new indie discoveries selected for your listening pleasure, enjoy!

Dutch Barn. Our beloved EardrumsPop again folks. They not only come out with another fantastic (and FREE!) release, the ePop 036, but they also remind me there was a band waiting to be listened. This five piece from East London were formed from the embers of folk group Little Ray in 2011, debuting with album “Lighter Later“ in April 2013. The record and the EPop single are delightful trips to guitar-driven indie-rock tunes. Open spaces, sparse, folky roots, heavenly coexisting with reverb and upbeat melodies. They've been defined as a cross between Teenage Fanclub, Dinosaur Jr and Stereolab. The comparison is accurate in terms of sound, but also in terms of potential.
Upset. Careful, super-indie band here. This L.A. trio, formed in 2013, is leaded by Ali Koehler, former drummer of Vivian Girls and then Best Coast, alongside ex-Hole drummer Patty Schemel.(looks like they met over Twitter) and guitarist Jenn Prince from La Sera. Upset's debut, "She's Gone", is out since October 29 through punk label Don Giovanni. Any hint of what could the record sound like? Right, pop-punk infected with hooks, channeling '90s indie-rock spirit and so ready to grab you from the ear you will think this record has been on your shelf since 20 years ago. Not to miss. 

Old Lacy Bed. Back to Japan to meet this young girls-band from Nagoya formed in 2012. As always happens (unfortunately) with Asian bands, there's not a lot of info out there, so we'll stick with what we know. Although there are some more tunes at the soundcloud, what it seems a split release with band The Moments and song "Coastlands" included on the Ano(t)raks "Soon V.A." compilation from September 2012, their first proper debut might be this lovely, immediately addictive 7" single "Little Girl" on Dufflecoat Records, available since June. Somewhere in the middle of the sweetest shoegaze and the fuzzier twee-pop this three songs are just wonderful. We want more! 

These Go to 11: Interviewing EardrumsPop

For our third interview, we move from musicians (after Astrid Wiezell, aka Northern Spies, and Vasco Batista, aka Big Summer) to the man who started EardrumsPop.Yes, a personal music hero. These Go to 11!

Knut, EardrumsPop

Knut, indiepop superhero

How many times EardrumsPop has been featured in this blog? Did you know I run a formal petition & campaign to make the label win the Nobel Prize for their contribution to mankind's well-being & good-taste? Any indiepop lover with ears knows that each time this label announces a new EPop release great music is awaiting us. Do you want to know who started the netlabel & still runs it today along Stefan, Tim and Silja? Coming from Norway, our own Batman, making justice for indiepop on the blogosphere, is Knut B. Lindbjør, and here are his answers.
 
1. First record that you bought (be honest)

The first record I bought was actually a cassette tape, and I got it when I bought my first cassette player. The tape has indeed been a very influential one for my taste in music. It was a compilation of new wave bands, and included several songs and bands I have much love for even today. My first vinyl record was probably something by Elvis or Beatles or Kiss. I can't remember it as well as that first cassette tape. My taste in music was as varied then as it is today! In 10 years time, will you be asking people about their first mp3 or the first song they streamed on Spotify? :-)

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)

I think my first concert was an outdoor one with A-Ha in my hometown of Tromsø, Norway. Me and my friends played in synthpop-bands at the time, and I think all of us only had our eyes on the synth gear of Magne Furuholmen throughout the concert. I remember we were impressed that he seemed to play everything live, and not much seemed to be on sequencers. The last concert was last week, actually. It was an acoustic concert with the Norwegian singer/songwriter Richard Holmsen in Drammen, Norway. A wonderful night! He's good.

Explanation needed Knut!

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)

Not embarrassing at all! I have lots of guilty pleasures, and I am proud of them all. My daughter introduces me to all these boybands and hits of today, and I actually like One Direction. They do have some really catchy songs! I am also a part-time hiphop fan, especially when I am out walking. And Elvis is still cool. And Duran Duran and Bananarama and Bronski Beat. I could go on and on and on!

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
I am not a collector at all, but I think I must say the compilation "Shadow Factory" by Sarah Records, or the early Creation Records compilations "Doing it for the Kids" and "Doing God's Work". The reason is mainly because they had a huge influence on me at the time, and have shaped me musically.

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)

I would have to say Kraftwerk's "Pocket Calculator" or any of Cocteau Twins' lyrics. :-)

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
There are not many musicians that I find so interesting that I would like to meet them in person, but I think Kristin Hersh sounds like an interesting person, and maybe I would like to meet Martin Gore as well - but only if he would show me around his studio and let me watch when he makes music.

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
It's not easy to pick one. Impossible, I would say, but let's try. It will be "ONE OF my favourite artworks", not "THE favourite artwork". One of the artworks I have dreamt myself into the most, is probably Yo La Tengo's "And then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out". It's beautiful. I usually fall for illustration-kind of cover art, but this one is very special to me. From more modern bands, I really like the artworks on The Leisure Society's releases. The art on Golden Fable's releases are also outstanding.

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both)

Books. Rob Sheffield - "Love Is a Mixtape". 

9. Song (of yours) you are most proud of
I think it has to be the "Between Two Waves" compilation. It became much bigger - and much better - than we dared to hope for. It also means a lot to me, because it was the start of the label as a team-based project, and I started working with people who mean a lot to me today, - Stefan, Tim, Leena and later Silja.

10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)

I hate serious questions! The word indie does not mean much to me, and I think I mainly use it as a name for a very wide genre. A long time ago, it meant "independent from the major labels", but today, - I don't know. I don't like the mentality that often goes hand in hand with the word indie. "We're indie, and we're so much better than the major-label-shit-bands". I care about good music, not where it has been released. We at EardrumsPop are probably very indie, if you use the word as "independent", but mostly because we can do whatever we want. That has kind of become an internal slogan for us. It's a creative freedom that we really appreciate. We have no deals with anyone, we are not limited by money and we don't have to please anyone other than ourselves. We hope we make a lot of our listeners happy, though!

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I am myopic. I can't see that long.

Zillion thanks Knut!

Discoverer 60: new indie findings

The 2013' harvest is being amazing so far. Here's another round of great findings!

Legs. We start in Oakland, CA, with Jeffrey Harland and Matt Bullimore beginning a personal recording project in the winter of 2011. But the batch of finished songs keep growing and with the help of friends and the addition of vocalist Amelia Adams, the quintet was born and an amazing debut album got its final shape. "Pass the Ringo", out since April, is a ridiculously solid collection of jangly guitar pop tunes drenched in reverb, so full of sun-soaked harmonies and hooks as armed with tones of vintage sounds and hazy layers that will keep you smiling all summer. What a shimmery, pleasant indiepop record. Immediate love.   

The Airplanes. Second discovery comes thank to the wise people at Indie Pop Saved My Life (to put it simply: they are infallible). This band is the work of Joshua Vest, who hails from Fayetteville, Arkansas. In October 2012 they released their self-titled debut EP (name your price download here) with a second feature, "The Jingle Jangle" EP, out since April on the great Manic Pop Records. Vest music has an irresistible, contagious vibe. Upbeat, catchy and carefree tunes. Straightforward, infectious indiepop that can be the ideal soundtrack for the summer.

Skelocrats. And our third proposal comes thanks to a classic on this blog: EardrumsPop and their wonderful free EPs. On ePop034 they introduce us to this band from Dublin, active since 2012, and members of the Popical Island collective. With three releases to date, two EPs, "Whip Crack Away" and "Hot Yoga", also available together on the exhaustive collection "The Complete Skelocrats", plus now the trio of blissful tunes courtesy of EardrumsPop (including a version of French standard "Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son") we can already make a solemn statement: this folks know how to make a pop tune. A burst of brisk and addictive indiepop to your ears.

Discoverer 57: new indie findings

New wonderful discoveries this Sunday. Great indiepop groups on infallible labels, enjoy!

The Fireworks. How many times have I referred to a Shelflife Records' release? Here's another one! Coming from London-Brighton, initially this was just Matthew introducing some of his songs to his closest friends over the phone. Luckily Emma (from the lovely Pocketbooks) Isabel and Carys (later replaced by Shaun) were convinced enough to form a proper band by 2011. Gigs, including Indietracks, and a session for Dandelion Radio followed, hitting the studio on 2012 to record their self-titled first EP, out since March. Instant pop melodies infused on feedback, soaked in reverb. Vocal harmonies assaulting walls of noise. The Pastels backed up by My Bloody Valentine. A noisy indiepop feast.

Northern Spies. Speaking of recurrent labels, this blog & the world would look like a musically miserable place without our beloved EardrumsPop friends and their wonderful free singles. On their EPOP30 they introduce us to the world of Astrid Wiezell Howell, young musician from gorgeous Stockholm, who just started to sing under this nickname after the summer of 2012. With witty but lovable lyrics, she makes the blend of acoustic songwriting and indiepop charm so natural & disarming I'm sure her tunes will become your homespun treasure. Plus the EP comes with some delightful bonuses, so what are you waiting for?

The Smittens. Aww, the music connections! Thanks to Northern Spies I found out about this much veteran combo from Burlington, Vermont. Formed at a party in 2002, since then the quintet has released fourth studio albums, a remix ep, a handful of singles and compilation appearances. Their latest LP,  "Believe Me", arrived past summer thanks to another always reliable label, Fika Recordings. They make expansive, in-your-face, joyful indiepop. Believe me, just try one tune, and if doesn't bring you a smile to your face, a ridiculous desire to do some hand clapping or start shaking yourself, I'll stop writing from this moment on.

Discoverer 46: new indie findings

We're back with our Sunday dose of new bands proposals for you, enjoy!

The Holiday Crowd. Our first band comes from Toronto, but judging for how they sound, you would say they hail from a grey and rainy British borough, not very far from London, in the 80s. The foursome formed in 2010, describing themselves as "minimal and stripped-down" which is an incredibly wrong definition. Because if you listen to their debut mini-album "Over the Bluffs", out in Shelflife since January, or the forthcoming (next week) 7" "Sick Days" you won't find anything "minimal". On the contrary, this is an impressively beautiful, expansive and touching collection of tunes. A heartwarming, epic (the Morrisseysque voice, the chiming guitars) and vital dose of the best jangle-pop.
The Holiday Crowd - Over The Bluffs sampler

Sleeping Policemen. German bands are not very usual on this blog, sadly. That's why I'm specially happy introducing you to this Hamburg quintet. Discovered thanks to the infinite good taste of EardrumsPop, with whom they have just released a very nice EPop single. But I wasn't "that" convinced. I needed more songs. Something that I have found after checking their self-titled debut album, out since March. Gentle indie-pop, sometimes beautifully embellished and melancholic, others upbeat and straightforward, but always shiny, welcoming and full of irresistible melodies.

September Girls. And our third band comes from the haunting Dublin, thanks to another referential label, Matinee Recordings. The all-female five-piece band formed in September 2011, debuting with a limited cassette single on Soft Power Records in April 2012 (sold out within a week). More recording and touring followed, releasing a trio of 7 inch EPs this autumn. Eps that you should check out, as this band play the most absorbing and infectious garage pop tunes I have heard in a long while. Fuzzy and noisy yet harmonic (these girl group vocals are disarming) and melodic. Their music make no prisoners, comes like a rush of blood to your head and affects all your senses. You have been warned.  

September Girls sampler