Holidays might be over, but we're going places with this ace trio of discoveries we propose you today!
Presents for Sally. Many thanks for this one Mike. This powerful British trio formed in 2009, with track 'Flowers Falling Sideways' being featured on the Invada records compilation 'The Secret Garden', quickly followed that November with the praised 7" single 'Catch Your Fall'. A year later arrived debut album 'A Touch of Joy, A Touch of Sadness' plus 7” single 'Anything Anymore'. After a couple of quiet years and a self-financed 7” single for Xmas 2014, now they are back with sophomore LP 'Colours & Changes', out now by Saint Marie Records. A fantastic voyage to the realms of shoegaze, at times shiny, delicate and melodically blissful, others edgier and menacing. An extraordinary present for all of us.
Camera Shy. Hailing from Oakland, California, Nick Bassett, from Whirr and Nothing, and former Whirr band member Lexy Morte have joined forces on a sweeter, brighter affair since 2014. Debut EP 'Jack-O-Lantern' arrived on June last year, out on Run For Cover Records, followed this April with another EP, 'Crystal Clear' and a glorious self-titled album. Think on the Softies, think on the Sundays, think on Sarah Records. Fall in love with Alexandra Morte syrup voice. Be embraced by the warm jangly guitar lines and summery, dreamy vibes. Put yourself in front of the camera. Don't be shy. You'll enjoy.
Tomiji. And we end in Paris to meet Thomas Guilcher, the vocalist of our dearly loved Pale Spectres (new songs anytime soon, please?) and one of his most exciting solo projects. Released this June, this self-titled debut EP (that you should run to grab at his bandcamp, what a bargain!) is a slice of indiepop heaven, Impossibly, ridiculously catchy, melodic to the bone, it looks eye-to-eye to the The Pastels or makes you think on how The Field Micewould sound in the new millennium, with an irresistible subtle danceable beat. Enchanting and delightful.
It's Sunday, so here are the new band recommendations. Warning: it's a psychedelic week!
Toy. Like past week, another deserved hype coming from London. Formed in 2010 by singer/guitarist Tom Dougall (who is the younger brother of my beloved Rose Elinor Dougall), the quintet, with three former members of the band Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong quickly become "one to watch" at Festivals and as supporting slot for The Horrors on 2011, with whom they share friendship and musical style. Two celebrated singles, the debut "Left Myself Behind" and "Motoring", preceding their self-titled album, out next week on Heavenly Recordings. Post-punk, psychedelia, Toy are an exciting indie-rock sonic adventure full of promise...
Stealing Sheep. From London to Liverpool, with a female trio formed in 2010. They debuted with "What If the Lights Went Out" EP that year, followed by two singles in 2011 and "Noah & The Paper Moon" EP in 2012, before their debut album, "Into the Diamond Sun", arrived last week (Heavenly again). Defined as "whimsical pagan pop", if you allow me a more down-to-earth interpretation they sound like Warpaint embracing psych-folk territory, understanding folk as an enormous landscape where almost everything fits, always with their shining harmonies and intriguing melodies, full of little secrets, on top. Haunting. Stealing Sheep
Whirr. Our third proposal comes from an Oakland, California, sextet. Active since 2010, they debuted with "Distressor" EP in June of 2011, quickly followed by the 7""June". After a slight change of name (from Whirl to Whirr), on spring of 2012, they released "Pipe Dreams" first album on Tee Pee Records. Whatever you choice, their EP's rougher side, or their poppier, more diverse and polished album, you'll find a band on absolute command of a cohesive, hypnotic shoegaze/dreampop. Yeah, you can bring the "untouchable" names to the table (Ride, My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive) for comparisons. They are that good. Ladies and gentlemen, let's float in space with Whirr for a while. Whirr - Home is where my head isWhirr - "Junebouvier"
Presents for Sally. Many thanks for this one Mike. This powerful British trio formed in 2009, with track 'Flowers Falling Sideways' being featured on the Invada records compilation 'The Secret Garden', quickly followed that November with the praised 7" single 'Catch Your Fall'. A year later arrived debut album 'A Touch of Joy, A Touch of Sadness' plus 7” single 'Anything Anymore'. After a couple of quiet years and a self-financed 7” single for Xmas 2014, now they are back with sophomore LP 'Colours & Changes', out now by Saint Marie Records. A fantastic voyage to the realms of shoegaze, at times shiny, delicate and melodically blissful, others edgier and menacing. An extraordinary present for all of us.
Tomiji. And we end in Paris to meet Thomas Guilcher, the vocalist of our dearly loved Pale Spectres (new songs anytime soon, please?) and one of his most exciting solo projects. Released this June, this self-titled debut EP (that you should run to grab at his bandcamp, what a bargain!) is a slice of indiepop heaven, Impossibly, ridiculously catchy, melodic to the bone, it looks eye-to-eye to the The Pastels or makes you think on how The Field Mice would sound in the new millennium, with an irresistible subtle danceable beat. Enchanting and delightful.
