Sunday, July 9, 2017

Discoverer 155: new indie findings

Another long hiatus in our discoverer series (hard to find the time to write) that we are glad to break today, thanks to three exciting and sonically very diverse bands we haven't stopped listening this 2017 and we couldn't miss the chance to talk you about. So, back across the globe in search of great music!

The Stevens. A no-brainer, we had to begin the trip in our dear Antipodes, with this band hailing from Melbourne. Formed in 2011 as the project of guitarists Alex Macfarlane (from our beloved Twerps, as well as Tyrannamen) and New Zealander Travis MacDonald, initially joining forces with Macfarlane’s old school friends, Tam Matlakowski and Callum Foley, later on 2012 being replaced by Gus Lord (also in Twerps) on bass and Matthew Harkin on drums. The band debuted with a self-released and self-titled EP, re-issued in 2012 with the essential label Chapter Music. Two years later, in 2014, they came up with first LP 'A History Of Hygiene', that gave them the chance to tour supporting the likes of R Stevie Moore, Wire, Parquet Courts or Real Estate. Now the band is back with sophomore album 'Good', out just now. And what a return to form this is! A lot of love for the 'Flying Nun sound', shiny jangle pop, a well-rounded dose of "slacker" pop, tones of short lo-fi gems and a wonderful sense for the listener you could be listening to the record over and over and you'll find new things each time. 18 times THAT good.

PriestsFormed in 2012 in Washington D.C. this quartet of punk rock and post-punk preachers lead started to convert their fandom thanks to their live shows, lead by the fierce presence of frontwoman Katie Alice Greer as well as their collection of self-released tapes and 7-inches spreading throughout 2012 and 2013, and delivered by their label Sister Polygon Records. Then the combo started working with Don Giovanni Records, co-releasing the mini-album 'Bodies And Control And Money And Power' a year later. Now Priests are back with their debut album 'Nothing Feels Natural' out since past January. A thunderous, politically committed, smart, sonically ambitious and rich, swaggering record that channels Fugazi, Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney into Trump's era. At least something feels natural... and powerful.


Sonic Visions. And we end in Helsinki, Finland, to introduce you to this promising & young 5 piece group formed in 2015 and with their first release, the EP 'Lost in Between', out since late January via Soliti Records. An immediate burst of adrenaline , the six tunes are an intoxicating collection of shoegaze and space-rock tunes with rousing guitars and a refreshing pop twist, recalling Ride´s most exuberant moments, or my beloved Toy, unabashedly indulging themselves into the realms of pop. Or even a rockier, Jesusandmarychainesque (not bad for a word, right?) version of the Stone Roses. All in all, a very addictive way to get lost into music... 

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