Discoverer 169: new indie findings

A veteran with a flamboyant comeback and two most promising newcomers are our latest proposals in our discoverer series, all coming from the States, where there's still a lot to love despite the dark times they are (we are) facing. As a wise man used to sing, "music will provide the light you cannot resist"... Enjoy!

Papercuts. We begin our music trip in Los Angeles to meet Jason Quever and his long-standing project. Based in San Francisco until very recently, Papercuts began as a solo endeavour, debuting with album 'Rejoicing Songs', followed by 'Mockingbird' in 2004. But it was their next stride of releases, 'Can't Go Back' in 2007, 'You Can Have What You Want' in 2009, both via Gnomonsong Records, and 'Fading Parade' in 2011, out via the mighty Sub Pop, who certified Quever's talent as a songwriter... as well as a producer, something his ever-growing resumé, including names such as Luna-Dean Wareham, Cass McCombs, The Mantles or Beach House, proves. That studio work became has been his major focus during this decade, with just another Papercuts album, 'Life Among the Savages', out in 2014, breaking that sort of hiatus. Luckily, that standstill is over, as since this October we can enjoy 'Parallel Universe Blues', out via Slumberland Records. A striking combination of melodies and atmospherics, Quever's tunes are the perfect marriage of shoegaze's distant spaces and feedback, the dreamier, moodier side of folk, and an irresistible "Velvetian scent". A soundtrack for the Fall, and a record fated to top the best-of-the lists year.    

Blades of Joy. And without leaving California, we remain in the Bay to meet this exciting new combo, formed around 2015 by members of local bands Swanox and Dissolve. There's not a lot of info about the quartet, so we'll happily stick with the music, as their debut, self-titled mini-album out now now via Melters speaks for itself. Seven killer tunes naturally pairing the electricity with the dusk, the jangle with the haze, the spectral with the rockier. Like the Rain Parade under the Kevin Shields "treatment", there hasn't been a more apt name to define a sound in recent times than Blades of Joy. Not to be missed!

Carbon Poppies. And we end in Lafayette, Louisiana (finally this Blog travels to the Deep South musically), in order to introduce you to this trio responsible of what it looks, smells and, most importantly, sounds like one of the EPs of 2018. Members of other music acts such as Brass Bed, Lost Bayou Ramblers or Kind Cousin, Allison Bohl DeHart, Jonny Campos and Peter DeHart formed Carbon Poppies around 2011, debuting with self-released  6-song, 12” vinyl EP 'And Don’t the Kids Just Love It' in 2012. Since then, not much info available... until now, as the always worth checking Elefant Records has just released their selt-titled sophomore EP under its 'New Adventures in Pop' collection. Four slices of top-notch, hyper-addictive indiepop, with an arresting version of 'Rain On My Face' by the 60s lost band Shape & Sizes, nods to our dear The School as well as to power-pop humming choruses or the slightly psychdelic pop vibes from the golden era of the West Coast pop. A knockout pop gem.   

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 69

September and its challenges. Always a month of decissions, but also opportunities and possibilities. And new discoveries, as the ones we suggest you to listen in this new TOP TEN playlist, alongside the stunning tunes of some blog regulars like our beloved The School, The Ocean Party, Space Daze, and new friends like Hazte Lapón (you're going to see them frequently at the Blog). And remember, it's also available at our Soundcloud, so please join us! 

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   Week 52  Week 53  Week 54    Week 55  
Week 56   Week 57   Week 58  Week 59   Week 60 
Week 61   Week 62   Week 63  Week 64  Week 65 
Week 66   Week 67   Week 68

Discoverer 61: new indie findings

Back from one of the most intense weeks of the year with a new dose of great findings!

The Mantles. We begin in Frisco/Oakland with a band active since 2007. Shows and early singles followed until 2009, when they released their self-titled debut album on Siltbreeze. A follow-up came out next year with "Pink Information" EP on Mexican Summer. But their proper comeback will arrive this June with sophomore release "Long Enough to Leave", out on the infallible Slumberland Records. Janglepop with sweet vocals but also rumbling guitars, infectiously bright garage of immediate effect, paired with pop harmonies, echoes of the Paisley Underground mixed with joyous, classic indiepop, The Mantles offer a relentless collection of ridiculously catchy tunes.

Without Feathers. Back to the UK. Blog followers know I adore Nat Johnson. I'm sure that if she records herself just singing the entire Sheffield phonebook, I'd love it. But the former songstress of beloved Monkey Swallows the Universe, currently a Figurehead, now has another project with Emma Kupa, ex Standard Fare currently in Ely, and solo artist Rory McVicar, now in IT. The trio began their adventure this March, but recently made available (name your price) their first three demos. Three guitars creating an instantly lovable stripped down affair, three harmonious voices intertwined. A gentle music supergroup on the works, folks!

Beach Vacation. And we our week proposals end going back to the States, with a quartet from Oak Harbor, Washington, formed after playing a high school talent show. They quickly got signed to Dufflecoat Records, and debuting with "Maritime" EP, out since April (digitally and physically). Fresh and undeniably attractive, this four tunes are hard to resist. In the league of bands under the "surf pop label", think on the happiest Wild Nothing version, Craft Spells or Beach Fossils, but with a bigger scope, that also makes you recall C86 bands or the most upbeat Swedish indiepop. Definitions aside, the promise of this first batch of songs is exciting, Beach Vacation are a name to follow closely from now on.