What a trio of
new indie proposals we have for you today, love at first listen guaranteed!
Arts & Leisure. The people of Test Pattern Records broke my heart recently.
Baby Grand, the adorable band from Sacramento called it a day after releasing the indiespensable "
Arts & Leisure" in 2012. But half of its members quickly "
hit the reset button and see what happens" quoting guitarist Cory Vick, who alongside Gerri and Tim White, plus Becky Cale, re-assembled into
Arts & Leisure, releasing their debut album, "
Choose Your Adventure", this July. Not so faraway from their previous incarnation, but with the volume pumped up, right where indiepop meets power pop. You're going to hear instant killing melodies and harmonies, courtesy of Gerri and Becky's intertwined vocals, a never-ending collection of delicious hooks echoing every decade of the best pop music, and a beat so joyous you're going to recall genre myths like Talulah Gosh.
One of the best records of the year.
Males. Anyone willing to go down to the South Pacific with me? I really need to find out what's going on Dunedin, New Zealand. Two weeks ago it was
Trick Mammoth, and now
this trio, formed in 2011, my second discovery of this scene (bassist Sam Valentine is Trick Mammoth's drummer). Their debut EP, "
MalesMalesMales", from July 2012, now comes packaged with 2nd EP "
RunRunRun" as a nine-song album, out since past week on
Fishrider Records. Relentless indiepop full of explosive guitar lines, immediate melodies and propulsive beats, short in length, but
ever-lasting in its addiction. All eyes (and ears) on you, Dunedin.
The Salient Braves. We move to Yorkshire, UK, to meet Matt Bailey's project, a
vehicle for the songs he has been writing for over two decades. He defines himself as an unskilled musician who struggles with the technical aspects of recording, which explains why it took him so long to release his songs. But judging its debut EP, "
Somewhere Sordid", out since October on
Dufflecoat Records (yes, again), that's very hard to believe. Sing-along choruses, undeniably British in-your-face vocals, melodies that won't let you go, and a very
rare sense of authenticity (a tricky word to use today, but he deserves it). You'll think this is a lost recording gem from a C-86 finest acts. More soon, please.
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25. Johnny Cash- Coach Station Reunion 
Arts & Leisure. The people of Test Pattern Records broke my heart recently. Baby Grand, the adorable band from Sacramento called it a day after releasing the indiespensable "Arts & Leisure" in 2012. But half of its members quickly "hit the reset button and see what happens" quoting guitarist Cory Vick, who alongside Gerri and Tim White, plus Becky Cale, re-assembled into Arts & Leisure, releasing their debut album, "Choose Your Adventure", this July. Not so faraway from their previous incarnation, but with the volume pumped up, right where indiepop meets power pop. You're going to hear instant killing melodies and harmonies, courtesy of Gerri and Becky's intertwined vocals, a never-ending collection of delicious hooks echoing every decade of the best pop music, and a beat so joyous you're going to recall genre myths like Talulah Gosh. One of the best records of the year. 
Males. Anyone willing to go down to the South Pacific with me? I really need to find out what's going on Dunedin, New Zealand. Two weeks ago it was Trick Mammoth, and now this trio, formed in 2011, my second discovery of this scene (bassist Sam Valentine is Trick Mammoth's drummer). Their debut EP, "MalesMalesMales", from July 2012, now comes packaged with 2nd EP "RunRunRun" as a nine-song album, out since past week on Fishrider Records. Relentless indiepop full of explosive guitar lines, immediate melodies and propulsive beats, short in length, but ever-lasting in its addiction. All eyes (and ears) on you, Dunedin. 
The Salient Braves. We move to Yorkshire, UK, to meet Matt Bailey's project, a vehicle for the songs he has been writing for over two decades. He defines himself as an unskilled musician who struggles with the technical aspects of recording, which explains why it took him so long to release his songs. But judging its debut EP, "Somewhere Sordid", out since October on Dufflecoat Records (yes, again), that's very hard to believe. Sing-along choruses, undeniably British in-your-face vocals, melodies that won't let you go, and a very rare sense of authenticity (a tricky word to use today, but he deserves it). You'll think this is a lost recording gem from a C-86 finest acts. More soon, please.
The Julie Ruin. We start with a NYC quintet formed in 2010 and leaded by Kathleen Hanna, riot grrrl myth, feminist activist and former lead singer of the seminal bands of like Bikini Kill and Le Tigre. As a matter of fact, Hanna released a solo album entitled the Julie Ruin in 1998, but until 2010 the project didn't acquire its final, full band incarnation, with a first performance arriving that December. In 2012, they released the song "Girls Like Us, and the debut album, "Run Fast" is out since September. As expected, the album is fire and fun, vital and tough. The B-52 fuelled by the punk sharpness and wisdom of a 20 years spanning and honest career. Welcome back, Kathleen, we needed you!
The Meaning of Life. Still in NYC to meet a Brooklyn-based trio, born through an ad in 2012 and creating their only release to date, "Play Fuego" EP, during that summer, preceded by the advance single "Laura V.". The release, that you can still grab (name your price) at their bandcamp is an exciting blend of dream pop with the more melodic version of shoegaze, where the layers of reverb and noise doesn't attempt to bury the thrilling vocals of Marta DeLeon, which imo recalls to my beloved Beth Orton, but instead propelling her to wide, cinematic, and haunting spaces.
Trick Mammoth. Only two songs, but I already know I have found a band to love (thanks to the great Just Music that I Like blog for the recommendation). Hailing from Dunedin, New Zealand, they formed in 2012, and after some late-year demos, the trio of Adrian Ng, Millie Lovelock and Sam Valentine recorded their first full album in mid July of 2013, which is entitled "Floristry" and will be out in late November via Fishrider Records but... only in NZ! We Europeans will have to wait until February 2014 through Occultation Recordings! That's unfair, that's a tragedy! Judging by the mind blowing first single "Delphine (With a Purpose)/Pinker Sea" available at their bandcamp the wait is going to be excruciating... Immediate but intriguing indiepop, delicate (Millie's voice is disarming) and uplifting. Love at first hear. Want the record now!
