Back with our discoverer serieswith a trio of indiepop finds ready to bring you the latest slices of summer sun as well as being your cousy companion for the Fall season we hope is arriving soon (if Global Warming allows). Check them out!
Mini Dresses. Hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, although the origins of the band have to be traced in the summer of 2012, at the home recording project of Lira Mondal and Caufield Sching in Austin, Texas. But after moving East and recruiting Luke Reed on drums, the band got their current shape, beginning a pretty steady flow of singles and EP, as well as opening slots for popular acts like Deerhunter, Weyes Blood, and Blog favourites like Fear of Men, Chastity Belt, Dick Diver or Tacocat. First full length, a compilation of tunes from the aforementioned earlier works, appeared this summer, with the self-titled album following this September, out via Joy Void Records. Dreampop meeting bedroom pop, or indiepop enveloped in haze and reflective moods, with occasional excursions to jangle pop or experimental boundaries, here's your soundtrack for the Fall.
Baby! Let me introduce you to the world of Kaley Honeycutt, a really young (she's below 25, my goodness!) Orlando musician now based in Boston, which started to make some noise around the Blogosphere last year while sharing some of their tunes, but who has taken by assault this 2017 with her first two releases: the debut EP, 'Pick Me' , out in April, followed in August by the summery first full-length 'Sunny, F.L.', out via Yellow K Records. Über catchy, between jangle and surf pop bittersweet tunes, packed with these sun kissed vibes and immediate hook melodies, but also some biting, rockier punch soaked in reverb. Not to be missed!
Sea Blite. One of the mightiest things about music is getting lost among "connections". You know, when discovering a band brings you to another, and then another and etc, etc. That's the case with this combo from San Francisco, formed in early 2016 (according to their Facebook, little info out there), found thanks to the SF Pop Fest and our previous discovery of the great Rat Fancy. With a line-up that includes former members of Wax Idols, Primary Colours or Dirty Cupcakes, their first release, out this June in the form of a self-titled EP you can physically grab on tape from Death Records, is fated to be listed among this humble Blog's best-of-year ranks. Four jangle pop gems echoing vintage pop sounds and the spirit of the likes of Tiger Trap, Go Sailor or my beloved Arts & Leisure (see? more connections). Instant crush!
Here we are! Ready to get mesmerized with this year new music findings in our discoverer series, but while they start coming, let's make a quick stop to talk about three mind blowing acts found at the dusk of 2016. Causeit's never to late for great music!
Omni. We begin in Atlanta, Georgia, with this trio formed by guitarist Frankie Boyles (previously in Deerhunterand Balkans) and ex-Carnivores Philip Frobos on vocals/bass and Billy Mitchell on drums. After grabbing our attention with first tunes 'Afterlife', 'Wire' and 'Wednesday Wedding', past summer they delivered debut album 'Deluxe' via Trouble in Mind. Summoning Pylon and Wire's angular, powerful and oddly hypnotic postpunk, this was one the best records of the year (that I discovered too late to add to the list). Now they are back with the 7" 'Fever Bass/Thesis' single, out late February via Chunklet, and we are ready to get ourselves inmersed in the cascading, propulsive guitar riffs and ringing beats. Not to miss.
Ryley Walker. Quick move to Chicago, Illinois, to meet Mr. Walker, a young folk from Rockford who moved to windy city in 2007, joining the local noise scene with bands like Heatdeath and Wyoming before shifting slowly to his current folkie style. In 2011, being just 21, Riley's first releases appeared in the form of tapes 'Evidence of Things Unseen' and 'Of Deathly Premonitions', the latest alongside Daniel Bachman. A fingerpicking promise was born. After a bike accident in 2012 that forced Ryley to quit his day job, he became a full time musician, something evident with 2013 recordings 'In the West Wind' EP and 'All Kinds of You' LP, echoing Nick Drake. But Ryley was still adjusting to his own sound, which blossomed a couple of years later with LP 'Primrose Green', out through Dead Oceans, where he combined the talents of a full backing band with pastoral and psychedelic sounds, and his latest offer to date (if we exclude the collaborative efforts with Bill MacKay and Charles Rumback), 'Golden Sings that Have Been Sung'. Fated for greatness...
Gurr. Berliners Laura Lee Jenkins and Andreya Casablanca met in university and bonded over literature, music, movies and hanging out. Becoming a band seemed the natural next step and, around 2012 first tunes surfaced their bandcamp (please check the funny song descriptions) with a very limited cassette with these songs and many more released in late 2014 and a split EP with Burnt Palms on the same year. Official debut EP 'Furry Dream' arrived in April 2015 via Duchess Box Records. But we weren't prepared for their hyper-addictive first album 'In My Head', out in October 2016. Echoing bands of the 90s like the Breeders or Belly as well as beloved contemporary acts like Honeyblood or Chastity Belt this is stunning, carefree and overpowered collection of garagepop gems.
Today we offer a discoverer seriesfocused in the most experimental side of music. Kraut, Stereloabesque and soundtrack sounds. Do not fear and let yourself go, There's a lot to enjoy!
Cavern of Anti-Matter. Behind this sci-fi name lies the latest, Berlin-based project of (stand up please) Stereolab & McCarthy Tim Gane, alongside Joe Dilworth, also from the much revered experimental band, and German electronic master Holger Zapf. Launched in 2013, the trio came out with debut album 'Blood-Drums' that same year, followed by some very limited 7" and 12" releases within 2014 and 2015. Now they are back with sophomore record 'Void Beats / Invocation Trex', out now via Duophonic. The trio of sonic explorers, with the help of some illustrious collaborators like Deerhunter’s Bradford Cox, Spacemen 3’s Sonic Boom, and Mouse on Mars’ Jan St. Werner, have delivered an intoxicating collection of driving, motorik rhythms and synth drones. A familiar, yet intricate and hazy future, abstract, hypnotic and surprisingly organic. Dive into the cavern.
LNZNDRF. Pronounced Lanzerdorf, behinds this impossible name lies another experimental trio, formed by Ben Lanz of Beirut and (stand up again, please) brothers Bryan and Scott Devendorf from The National. Formed around 2011 in New Zealand (out of a need for a supporting act last minute), the project acquired full shape when they recorded the eight-track LP over two and half days in a church in Cincinnati, Ohio. The songs, edited down from expansive jams, evoke the essence of their expansive, largely improvised live shows, are now gathered in their self-titled debut album, out now via 4AD. Forged around their common love for Neu! and the Krautrock original legion and propelled by the galloping pulse of our favourite drummer, LNZNDRF tunes are energetic, relentless, widescreen, yet delicate and atmospheric. Breathtaking debut.
Paolo Spaccamonti. Hailing from Torino, Italy, comes this experimental composer and guitarist, who debuted in 2009 with album 'Undici Pezzi Facili', that made him being celebrated as one of the most promising acts of the Italian experimental scene. Sophomore LP 'Buone Notizie' arrived in 2011, being followed a year later with Spaccamombu, his collaboration with the Rome-based band Mombu, starting a series of exciting parallel projects for an incredibly active and adventurous musician. To name just a few, in February 2013 he took part at the first edition of the Musica 90 Sessions, along with Julia Kent, Ivan Bert and Paolo Dellapiana (Larsen). He has played live with Damo Suzuki of legendary Can, Nick Cave, St. Vincent, Ana Calvi, Xiu Xiu and, more recently, provided a live accompaniment to the documentary 'Drifters' alongside Ben Chasny of Six Organs Of Admittance for Turin's Museo del Cinema. Near the end of 2015 he released his latest solo effort to date, the LP 'Rumors', out via Escape from Today & Santeria Records. A slowly-burned craftsmanship affair of shocking intensity and über appealing cinematic quality, Spaccamonti's music sounds like the perfect soundtrack for these dreamy, mysterious and haunting nights where the darkness seems to know all your secrets.
Already exhausted, but here comes the quick update of the second day, first of the "big ones" of Primavera Sound Festival 2013. Our particular music trip!
The Good
Jehnny Beth, Savages
Photo: Bloodbuzzed
Savages:Our bet of the day (probably of the Festival too) and they didn't disappoint. Unfortunately lead guitarist Gemma Thompson had a serious issue with her guitar halfway to their gig, so after solving it, their set got shortened. But what a striking band Savages are. Singer Jehnny Beth is a fierce, sharp, mind blowing stage presence. Songs are like razorblades. They look for you, hunt you, get you and don't let you go. A real shock to your system. Brutal. Deerhunter-Grizzly Bear: I know they are big "alternative" bands with a consolidated, prestigious position on the alternative scene. But until yesterday, I honestly never gave much attention to them. My mistake. Won't happen again. Very good shows, stunning songs. Sound quality: As we hoped for on Wednesday, the sound quality (the exception being Adidas Original) was very high in all the stages we went yesterday. Great improvement.
The Bad
Dinosaur Jr., PS13. Photo: Bloodbuzzed
Evans the Death: If Savages was our first must of the day, Evans the Death was our second. A personal favourite, and the chance to see them on one of the smallest venues was extremely appealing. But they gave a terrible show. Terrible. Awful sound, a complete lack of interest on playing, and a singer who was clearly drunk, destroying completely their beautiful tunes. The performance of "Telling Lies" still hurts me. What a disappointment. Cigarettes & alcohol: And mobile phones. And pogos. And posers & fakers. I'll never understand what's the point of paying for a music Festival when all you want is getting drunk, show your clothes and keep chatting with your mobile or your partner. Can't you do that every *****ing weekend of the year?
The Queen
Phoenix' Thomas Mars on screen
Photo: Bloodbuzzed
Seven bands on a day: Our schedule was quite a challenge (and I'm sure many people saw even more bands than us): Wild Nothing- Savages- Evans the Death- Dinosaur Jr.- Deerhunter- Grizzly Bear- Phoenix. It was tiring (distances are killing) but absolutely rewarding. With the aforementioned exception, I enjoyed six very different, good/very good shows (I would like to highlight Wild Nothing and Mr. Mascis in particular) on the same day. How many festivals can offer the same? That's what makes Primavera, despite all "issues" (that become quite secondary), so unbeatable at the end.
Third day beginning in few hours. Many more bands to talk about. Briefing available here!
Real Estate. There's always some great music you miss. It's impossible to reach everything. Luckily, you can always solve that problem. That's my case with the truly mesmerizing music of Real Estate. Formed in New Jersey in 2008, after some singles, an acclaimed self-titled debut on 2009, tours with Girls, Kurt Vile and Deerhunter, they signed with Domino in 2011 to release their sophomore record, "Days", a wonderful blend of jangling guitars and driving soft indie rock with a nostalgic, comforting vibe full of crystalline melodies. Sorry I missed you last year, guys. Won't happen again.
The Middle Ones. Let me introduce the lovely duo of Anna Knowles and Grace Denton. Anna went to Norwich to study in 2006, and there she met Grace, founding The Middle Ones. After their self-titled EP, they released "It Is the Rehearsal that will Make This" past April, a first album full that's full of harmonies, soaring vocals and melodies to keep your smile always on your face. This collection of little lo-fi and indie-pop gems is sometimes subtle, sometimes funny, sometimes delicate, but always gorgeous and contagious.
Wild Flag. If I say Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony, Rebecca Cole and Janet Weiss you'll probably be unimpressed (specially the youngest ones). But if I write Helium, The Minders and, in particular, Sleater-Kinney, you should realise we are in front of a special band. This all-female American four-piece supergroup came to public knowledge in September of 2010, and a year after, following a couple of singles, they released their eponymous album. And what an album! Is a record you NEED. Upbeat, dynamic, vital, alive. A love letter to music, and a blood injection to you. Another missed album now rediscovered. Wild Flag - Future Crimes Wild Flag - Romance Wild Flag - Glass Tambourine
Mazes - Summer Hits Mazes - Most Days Art Museums. Thanks to our beloved Slumberland records, who has just released their new "Dancing EP", I have found this delicious band. Hailing from California, they are responsible of a joyous small collection (two EPs and the mini-album, that I enthusiastically recommend, "Rough Frame" from 2010) of tunes, that recall the 60s, jangle pop, Sarah Records, 90s lo-fi, and an engaging etc. But who cares about definitions? Anyone who can comprise in 1:30 minutes a gem like "Dancing With A Hole In Your Heart" should be defined as a pop genius, period.
Fonda. 90s are back. And they are very welcomed while they have the form of music as good as this "Better Days" EP. Behind L.A.'s Fonda are Dave Klotz and Emily Cook, who made three albums and an EP between 1998 and 2003. Then, band was put on hold. They married and developed successful careers, she as screenwriter (blockbusters "Gnomeo and Juliet" and "Ratatouille") and he as music editor (famous TV show "Glee"). But now they are back recording. Dreampop, smooth shoegazing and hints of brit-pop in this great EP. Welcome back, hope this is just a (new) beginning. Better Days - EP by fondaband
Mini Dresses. Hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, although the origins of the band have to be traced in the summer of 2012, at the home recording project of Lira Mondal and Caufield Sching in Austin, Texas. But after moving East and recruiting Luke Reed on drums, the band got their current shape, beginning a pretty steady flow of singles and EP, as well as opening slots for popular acts like Deerhunter, Weyes Blood, and Blog favourites like Fear of Men, Chastity Belt, Dick Diver or Tacocat. First full length, a compilation of tunes from the aforementioned earlier works, appeared this summer, with the self-titled album following this September, out via Joy Void Records. Dreampop meeting bedroom pop, or indiepop enveloped in haze and reflective moods, with occasional excursions to jangle pop or experimental boundaries, here's your soundtrack for the Fall.
Baby! Let me introduce you to the world of Kaley Honeycutt, a really young (she's below 25, my goodness!) Orlando musician now based in Boston, which started to make some noise around the Blogosphere last year while sharing some of their tunes, but who has taken by assault this 2017 with her first two releases: the debut EP, 'Pick Me' , out in April, followed in August by the summery first full-length 'Sunny, F.L.', out via Yellow K Records. Über catchy, between jangle and surf pop bittersweet tunes, packed with these sun kissed vibes and immediate hook melodies, but also some biting, rockier punch soaked in reverb. Not to be missed!
Sea Blite. One of the mightiest things about music is getting lost among "connections". You know, when discovering a band brings you to another, and then another and etc, etc. That's the case with this combo from San Francisco, formed in early 2016 (according to their Facebook, little info out there), found thanks to the SF Pop Fest and our previous discovery of the great Rat Fancy. With a line-up that includes former members of Wax Idols, Primary Colours or Dirty Cupcakes, their first release, out this June in the form of a self-titled EP you can physically grab on tape from Death Records, is fated to be listed among this humble Blog's best-of-year ranks. Four jangle pop gems echoing vintage pop sounds and the spirit of the likes of Tiger Trap, Go Sailor or my beloved Arts & Leisure (see? more connections). Instant crush! 
