Discoverer 143: new indie findings

Back with another trio of new proposals in our discoverer series. Three versions of indiepop you won't like to miss!

Oscar. Let me introduce you to Oscar Scheller and his music. Hailing from London, UK, this young musician who started to make some noise in spring of 2014 with debut 7" 'Sometimes' that June via Brown Rice, followed by 7" 'Daffodil Days' in 2015, his first release with Wichita Recordings. EP 'Beautiful Words' surfaced that summer, confirming here was an indiepop auteur to get excited about. In 2016, after 7" single 'Sometimes' he has delivered the album 'Cut and Paste', out just now. No longer a "laptop pop" maker (hate that lame definition, anyway), Oscar is a modern pop artisan, blending lo-fi gems with his baritone voice, recalling Stephen Merritt, Damon Albarn, Jens Lekman, melancholy and upbeat optimism, kind of gathering the 90s'slacker-Britpop-quirky-alternative-songsmith altogether. One to follow closely.

Desario. Hailing from Sacramento, CA, Jim Rivas and John Conley began Desario in 2004, as a side project from their other bands (Holiday Flyer, California Oranges, Rocketship), recruiting Michael Yoas and Mike Carr to form a full band, playing their first gig in September 2005. In a pretty slow-burning process, debut album 'Zero Point Zero' arrived in 2009 via Darla Records, with sophomore record 'Mixer' following in 2012 thanks to our dear friends at Test Pattern Records, achieving overall praise and even a Sammie nomination at the indie category. After drummer Jim Rivas left the band a year later, being replaced by Kirklyn Cox, Desario decided to work with recording engineer Tony Cale on their new songs with EP 'Red Returns', out just now, showing how wonderful are the results. Slightly gloomy jangle rock with a foot on the 80s indiepop classics and the other on the 90s Britpop and shoegaze. Elegant, intimate but irresistibly melodic, here's a heavy contender for EP of the year and, hopefully, an exciting promise for much more about to come...

Mercury Girls. And we end in Philadelphia, PA, to meet this mindblowing quintet featuring Sarah Schimineck (formerly of Pet Milk), Kevin Attics (Literature), Andrew Hagiwara, Chris Schackerman, and Kevin O'Halloran (Little Big League). Formed just in March of 2015, the first demos arousing at their bandcamp started making the buzz around the band's potential, collecting endorsements by fans, critics and other bands as they were sharing stage with the likes of Joanna Gruesome, Beverly, TEEN, Expert Alterations or Eternal Summers. Now they are ready to offer us first release, out now through the wise people at Slumberland Records, the 7" 'Ariana' backed with the equally gorgeous 'All that Heaven Allows'. I don't care if it sounds too bombastic, but they sound as the most incredible group ever: you'll hear Sarah Records for sure, but also the darker vibes of post-punk, with a firepowered rhythmic base along with guitars raging with urgency and a carefree intention to face some sonic experimentation. Add huge choruses and dreamy vocals and here's the instant crush. Oh my...

Best EPs of the Year 2014

After the best concerts' list, it's time for the EPs. As you know, many times best things in life come in small packages, so we couldn't miss the chance to review the best 15 EPs of the year (no singles, 3 to 6 songs). Nothing more to say, just play it loud & enjoy!

15. Expert Alterations- Expert Alterations
14. Agosto- Neleonard
13. Drag- NO/NO
12. Xeristar- Linda Guilala
11. Set Sail Someday - Parrot Dream

10. The Hills Around- The Hills Around

9. Night Flowers- Night Flowers

8. So Very Small- Blooper

7. Fool of a Kind- Marine Life

6. Indiepop or Whatever!- When Nalda Became Punk

5. Colinas Bermejas- Grupo de Expertos Solynieve

4. Veneer- September Girls

3. Jumprope- Gingerlys

2. Things Too Obvious to Sing- The Very Most

1. Line & Circle- Line & Circle

Want to check the best EPs of 2013? Click here
And 2012? Click here

The "Records List" coming shortly!

Discoverer 92: new indie findings

A guitar-driven Sunday today on our music proposals, hope you enjoy!

Burnt Palms. Back to Calfornia. From Seaside comes this trio, formed by Christina Riley and Clara Enkel with the help of Brian Dela Cruz, which in September of 2012 put out an extremely addictive self-titled record (distributed by Very Gun Records as a 12" or by our friends We Were Never Being Boring digitally) despite its short length (not even 20 minutes). While they announce the arrival of their sophomore album, they have just released a split tape with German punk band Gurr. A ridiculously lively collection of tunes, where pop meets punk, garage intensity coexists with shiny vocals, and grunge riffs share space with instant killer melodies. Addictive, addictive, addictive...
Ginnels. Let's move to our beloved Dublin to meet Mark Chester's (Grand Pocket Orchestra & No Monster Club guitarist/bassist) solo project, who is helped on stage by friends Paddy Hanna, Bobby Aherne, Roy Duffy and Ruan Van Vliet. In 2011 arrived their first releases with S/T LP "Ginnels" and the mini-album "Mountbatten Class" via Long Lost Records. A year later Chester recorded "Crowns", a 20-song double album, released on double cassette by Popical Island. The bold statement gave Chester a much deserved attention, fuelled in 2013 when Spanish label Tenorio Cotobade compiled "Plumes", 14 tunes from his previous 3 records plus several online exclusives on vinyl. Now Chester is back with "A Country Life", out since March. Defined as a more focused, less lo-fi, "pure-pop" LP, this is engaging music that combines jangle-pop irresistible melodies with the joyful chaos of Pavement or Elephant 6 bands. Pop jams & brightly loose indiepop.

Expert Alterations. And we end in Baltimore, Maryland, to introduce you to this exciting band formed in 2013, kind enough to approach me to show me their music (member Paul Krolian happens to be Baltimore Popfest's curator, so we love the guy already). They have a phenomenal S/T debut cassette out since February, five tunes where indiepop wonders are delivered with an immediacy & conviction you might think this is a forgotten band from the Flying Nun era. I even hear echoes of early R.E.M. so imagine how excited I am! The band is going on tour supporting The Flatmates and split releases with Wildhoney and Literature are in the works, so... this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox 7

Here's our next round of our TOP TEN playlist, with the tunes I have been enjoying the most lately. As with previous sets, this is also available at the blog's soundcloud (come on and join us). New discoveries, a couple of beloved bands returning to form, and the first taste of a dreamt comeback meeting all the great expectations. Great tunes indeed!

Direct links to the previous Jukebox weeks
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6

Welcome to the Jukebox!