Discoverer 115: new indie findings

Three quite different, but equally amazing proposals for you to enjoy in our discoveries' this weekend!

Mikal Cronin. Let's start in Laguna Beach, California, with this incredibly skilled singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Cronin has been around for quite a while, being part of bands like Epsilons, Charlie and the Moonhearts, Party Fowl, Okie Dokie and, most known, playing bass and backing vocals with Ty Segall. In 2010 he began his solo career with 7" 'Gone', followed by 7" 'Tide' and his debut album 'Mikal Cronin' out in Trouble in Mund in 2011. The buzz started rolling so he got signed by Merge Records, releasing sophomore LP, 'MCII' in 2013, to unanimous acclaim. Now he's back with 'MCIII', out this month, completing the picture. The energy and loose joy of garage-rock packed with lush, brianwilsonesque arrangements and an unmatched talent for melodies. The time to tell (very personal) stories melted with the urgency of shimmering guitar lines and surprising bits of instrumentation. Found (just in time for Primavera Sound) a genius!

Funeral Advantage. Let's move to Boston, MA, to meet Tyler Kershaw. In 2013 he began his lo-fi bedroom pop project releasing a demo tape and split 7" with Caténine on Disposable America. But since then it has evolved into a full band with an impressive cv of gigs alongside Alvvays, Whirr or Craft Spells. This 2015 they have released the double a-side 'Not In My House / That's That' with The Native Sound and, in April, another split 7" with Former Ghosts, with debut album scheduled later in the year. Moody, reverb-drenched dreampop crafted with jangly guitars. Looking forward to Kershaw's band new tunes. Most promising.
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Murder Shoes. Glad to go back to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and introduce you another exciting band from Land Ski Records' roster. Here's an indie rock quintet, initially the music vehicle of Derek Van Gieson and Chris White under the name of A Marriage at Nevers. But they quickly found Tess Weinberg, Elliot Manthey and Tim Heinlein to complete the line-up. Murder Shoes was born and two EPs, 'Cash on Fire', in late 2014, and self-titled 'Murder Shoes', out now, demonstrate how powerful the combo can be. Guitar-driven indie rock with a shocking ability to morph into surf, immediate pop or a more atmospheric, dark post-punk, at their will, always with the irresistible voice (killer, killer, killer) of Tess Weinberg, reminiscent of Widowspeak's Molly Hamilton, leading the mix. Seductive and fun. What else can you ask for? Just one thing: more!