Discoverer 165: new indie findings

Four out latest discoverer series, we have scratched (just virtually, sadly) the world to bring you three music wonders honouring the noble tradition of melting guitars, melodies and arresting vocals in our ears &  head. It's all jangle out here!

Say Sue Me. Very excited to introduce you this quartet hailing from Busan, South Korea (yay for that!), and responsible of one of the records of the year so far. Formed in 2012, their debut album 'We've Sobered Up' arrived in 2014, followed by the EP 'Big Summer Night' a year later. But it was 2017 when the Asian combo began to make some blogosphere noise, thanks to British label Damnably Records compiling the two aforementioned releases in a self-titled album out in Europe and the US (Electric Muse did the same in Asia). Shortly after came the EP 'Semin' out for Record Store Day 2017, plus a split 7" single with the punk band Otoboke Beaver. And finally, since this April, we can enjoy their sophomore LP, 'Where We Were Together' (plus another EP, 'It's Just a Short Walk' just out for this RSD). Flirting with almost every subgenre where a guitar-driven melody takes the lead, from jangle-pop to sharper-noisier territories, sugar and some grit, Say Sue Me music is as infectious, quivering and enchanting as one can only dream about. Your next indiepop crush is here!  

Stephen's Shore. Back in old Europe to meet this band founded 2014 in gorgeous Stockholm, Sweden. They debuted in 2016 with EP 'Ocean Blue', out that August via Cloudberry Records and now, available since this March thanks to Spanish label Meritorio Records, we can relish in their first record, 'September's Love'. A moody, Byrdesque and cinematic take of jangle pop, somewhat as if one unexpected member of The Paisley Underground scene had appeared in the Nordic countries, Stephen's Shore music is perfect for wide open landscapes and long car breezy drives. Sun-baked pop wonders...   

The Catherines. And we end out trip in Hamburg, Germany, to meet Heiko Schneider's stirring music proposal. Involved in other musical endeavours such as The Pippinger Flur or Darlin' Disco, at the very beginning of 2017 he decided he wanted to indulge himself in a simpler sonic adventure completely of his own. With that idea he went into the studio with the sole dogma of playing, singing and recording a song in no longer than a day. So, if you go check his bandcamp (something you should do asap) you'll find fourteen tunes to date (latest one just surfaced and includes the vocals of Sandra Ost) in a collection that sounds, looks and I can bet smells like a treaty in classic, enduring lo-fi indiepop. Tasty Spanish label Mondo Canapé put out a (now sold out) tape with eight of his tunes this March, so fingers crossed there's another release in the very near future. From Hamburg with Love!  

The Indie Anthology 82: essential songs

Winter season (well, not so much in Barcelona, but anyway), perfect time of the year to move to sunny California in order to look back to one of the most exciting and influential bands (and records) of the so-called Paisley Underground movement in our Indie Anthology. Guitars, attitude... and a timeless tune!

Song: Tell Me When It's Over 
Artist: The Dream Syndicate 
Year: 1982

Although my favourite group from the Paisley scene might be The Rain Parade (won't be long until one of their songs ends in this section) it's hard not to consider 'The Days Of Wine and Roses' as, arguably, the most accomplished, explosive and enduring record from that period. Edgier and rockier than their Californian peers, The Dream Syndicate were not so obsessed with the sun-soaked psychdelic vibes, but instead were focused in experimenting with energy, distortion and crunching guitars. And there's not a better example of that "make no prisoners" sound than the sonic blast of single 'Tell Me When It's Over', with Karl Precoda's rattling guitar riff sounding almost like a "call to arms", being quickly joined by the rhythmic section of bass player Kendra Smith and dummer Dennis Duck, before Steve Wynn impersonates Lou Reed's vocal delivery, pointing out the obvious Velvet's reference. 'Tell Me When It's Over' is "a song of songs". You can hear the echoes of the past tunes that fuelled its existence, as well as the pieces that, going forward, pushed to create... left of the dial. "That beautiful noise", again...

The Indie Anthology 54: essential songs

Revamped section, here's another one for our Indie Anthology, this time thanks to the great Minifestival de Música Independent de Barcelona. One of the bands playing at 2015's edition is an incredible, unexpected and extremely exciting comeback. First, with 'Kunstwerk in Spacetime', a great EP on our dear Shelflife Records... and now playing in my city? The tribute was mandatory.

Song: ln Spite of These Times
Artist: Close Lobsters
Year: 1987

I can't exactly remember when I first heard of the Lobsters. I'm pretty sure it was quite long ago, at a time when I was doing 'some research' on The Paisley Underground bands after getting knocked out by The Dream Syndicate's 'Days of Wine and Roses', and then the Internet source brought me to the Close Lobsters. Wow, 'Foxheads Stalk This Land' blew my mind! It was jangle-pop, sure, full of the trademark ringing & shining guitars, but there was a different, more straightforward, post-punk-rockier vibe too. A genuine strength combined with an unparalleled talent to build indie-pop flammable anthems. Like the glorious 'In Spite of These Times'. An intro made in heaven, the rickenbackers chiming, keyboards subtly creating the atmosphere, and Andrew Burnett vocals right up in front of you, forcing you to move, dance and sing-along until the tune explodes. Oh my! The unstoppable force of nature that is the majestic chorus where the carpe diem coda "don't let it slip through your hands" is delivered like a thunderstorm, before it all ends modestly, saying bye with a little, shy bang after all the epic. Oh, God, if I'm getting emotional just by writing this imagine when I see them live in February...