Discoverer 127: new indie findings

All-female discoverer series this weekend! Three very diverse takes on pop you have to hear!

Knife Pleats. My beloved Rose Melberg is back! The indie-pop legend (The Softies, Go Sailor, Tiger Trap) has a new and extremely exciting project, the latest from a pivotal artist after the recent Brave Irene and PUPS, aside of going solo. The leading part of a quartet that includes Kaity McWhinney and Tracey Vath from Love Cuts, plus drummer Gregor Phillips, Melberg formed the group because she had a new batch of songs that she felt really needed a full band treatment. What a wise choice! 'Hat Bark Beach', released by our friends at Jigsaw Records on late September is a killer. Fuzzed pop, joyful and alive with Rose's trademark vocals, her unmatched talent for melodies and vocal harmonies. What a comeback!

La Luz.  Close ride from British Columbia to Seattle, WA,, to meet this quartet formed in the summer of 2012 and leaded by Shana Cleveland, which was already featured in the Blog with her other project with The Sandcastles. Very quickly they came out with 'Damp Face', self-released debut EP that September. A year later arrived 'It's Alive' first LP  on Hardly Art Records. After and EP with Old Lacy Bed and the 7" 'Brainwash', since August we can enjoy their sophomore album 'Weirdo Shrine', produced by Ty Segall. Vintage surf-pop (it's hard not to think on Link Wray) but infused with an urgency and vibrant energy that is automatically contagious. Infinite guitars, celestial vocals in perfect harmony and vibes from distant, sunny places. Turn on the bright lights!

Martha Ffion. And we cross the Atlantic Ocean to meet the Irish, but based in Glasgow, artist Claire Martha Ffion McKay. She started to make her a name with irresistible debut EP 'Go', out in October 2014. The singer-songwriter approach became something else when Ffion starting performing with a full band, sharing bills with the likes of Honeyblood or Jessica Pratt. Now the three first tunes have had two wonderful follow-ups this year with the single ‘No Applause’ / ‘Lead Balloon’, out in May on Lost Map Records and, more recently with the shiny 'So Long', out now on Turnstile Records. Think on Angel Olsen and Nancy Sinatra, or a less-slacker version of our beloved Courtney Barnett in love with the Shangri-Las. Pop with retro and surf vibes delivered with a punchier, hazier edge without losing any of their arresting charms. More soon please!

Discoverer 79: new indie findings

Penultimate and very female-sounding new indie discoveries of the year (we have to prepare the best of the 2013 lists), hope you enjoy!

Cate Le Bon. Hailing from Penboyr, Wales, but based in L.A., Cate gained public attention while supporting Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals) on his 2007 solo UK tour. That same year, she self-released her first single "No One Can Drag Me Down"/"Disappear" and recorded the shelved album "Pet Deaths". In 2008 came "Edrych yn Llygaid Ceffyl Benthyg", an EP sung in Welsh, while collaborating on Neon Neon's album "Stainless Style". In 2009 her first proper LP "Me Oh My" came out on Rhys' Irony Bored label, followed with her sophomore release, "Cyrk" in 2012, and after singing with Manic Street Preachers on their latest "Rewind the Film", since November we can enjoy the hypnotic "Mug Museum". A peculiar folky voice, somber lyrics and a music style that summons Nico's mystery combined with Eleanor Friedberger's natural grace, Cate's tunes are an extremely charming pleasure.
Go Violets. Coming from Brisbane, Australia, this all-female quartet formed in 2011. After a digital release in March 2012, "^​-​.​-​^" EP, three tunes, "Teenager" in August 2012, "Josie" in May 2013 and "Wanted" in August 2013, anticipated her debut proper release, the EP "Heart Slice", available since October on Create Control. Six delicious tunes of immediate addiction, full of killer hooks and harmonic vocals, bringing us back to the magic music of Tiger Trap, Go Sailor, where garage meets the sweetest pop. You can't do much more than falling in love with the Go Violets...    
Lady Lamb the Beekeper. Behind this stage name hides musician 24-years-old Aly Spaltro, hailing from Brunswick, Maine, but now based in NY. She began her career in 2007 recording songs in a DVD rental store, using it as a studio after finishing her daily job duties, giving out free samples of them in handmade packages to the local Bullmoose Record Store. In 2008 multi-instrumentalist TJ Metcalfe joined her, releasing "Samples For Handsome Animals" and becoming one of most popular local acts. Reverted to a solo project again in 2010 she was named Folk Artist of the Year by the Boston Music Awards. Finally, on February 2013, she released her first studio album, "Ripely Pine". She's a storm, a singer-songwriter with an unbelievable intensity, an explosion of feelings that come in multiple forms, without missing her stark rawness. Like Torres (Spaltro has supported her live) here's a genuine talent.

Discoverer 56: new indie findings

New dose of great discoveries for your listening pleasure!

PUPS. Had several options among to choose from, but friend TVM's Jeremy Jensen just let me know that Rose Melberg has a new band! So first goes first. The indiepop heroine (Tiger Trap, The Softies, Go Sailor, Brave Irene, solo, etc) has started a Vancouver based trio called PUPS (or it's Puppies?). Their first release is a split tape with Movieland on Green Burrito Records, released just two days ago (name your price on their bandcamp). Six tunes that sound like a slightly edgier version of Melberg's usual magic compositions, but equally shiny and addictive. A must, of course!

Wonky Doll and the Echo. First Greek band that reaches my inbox? Hailing from Athens, this oddly-named quartet, formed in 2010, then recorded their first promo that December. Many local and national performances followed, crystallised with the arrival of "Pleasant Thoughts" on September 2012. Nine hypnotic and flawless songs bringing us back to the 80's. A solid blend of post-punk, new wave and indie rock that flirts with synths and retro electronica as well as goth sounds. Think on The Cult meeting Echo and the Bunnymen. Icy atmospheres, ethereal guitars, gloomy vocals... and a lot of talent and promise.

 
The Choo Choo Trains. Meet Emma, Catherine and Veronica, my latest music crush. Active since 2010, they come from London, UK and their first release, a 17 tracks tape, came out in April of 2012, making them achieve some sounding reviews. Now it has a follow-up in the 7" EP entitled "I Choo-Choo-Choose You!" out this February on Manic Pop! Records, with some hints on a forthcoming album. They define themselves as "girl-guide shoegaze" from the heart and soul. But this is a twee-pop delight mixed with some lo-fi attitude. Irresistible charm coming from the fragile vocals, the whispered stories of the lyrics and the colourful melodies that shape their sound. Band to love.

Discoverer 3: new indie findings

Third round of indie proposals!!

The Middle East. Hailing from Townsville, Australia, and they sound a bit like mixing Great Lake Swimmers with Neutral Milk Hotel (yes, that means superb folk). An excellent homonymous EP, where you can find the gorgeous "Blood", precede their debut album, "I Want that you are Always Happy", that will released on April 8th. Check their facebook to hear two more tunes, including the amazing "Jesus Came to My Birthday Party".



Brave Irene. I've only heard two songs, so this is a bold statement. But there's no risk considering that Rose Melberg (Tiger Trap, The Softies, Go Sailor, Gaze, and solo) is in front of this project. The jangle-pop heroine is back, now with a 5 piece band format based in Vancouver, releasing their first EP next week. And its seems the magic is still intact. Catchy pop tunes, with a slightly psychedelic side thanks to the keyboards and unforgettable melodies, Rose's trademark for almost 20 years. 
Brave Irene - No Fun by Slumberland Records
Brave Irene - Longest Day by Slumberland Records

The Dodos. A new discovering for me despite being around since 2005, next week is a very important one for this San Francisco duo, as they will release their fourth album, "No Color". "Black Night", an amazing example of frenzied folk that turns into an epic cascade of drumming and riffs, is an excellent first taste on an album that promises a lot of emotions.