Twenty new tracks from the US, UK, Australia and Canada. New music from Estrons, Grimes, Soccer Team, The Drink, Eleanor Friedberger, DIIV, White Fang, Summer Twins (pictured), Besnard Lakes, Joanna Newsom, Beverly, Trust Fund, World Champion, Martin Courtney, Thee Mightees, Florist, Frankie Cosmos, Close Lobsters, Daughter, and Ensemble Economique.
Fourteen new tracks from the US, UK, New Zealand and Canada. New music from Joanna Newsom (pictured), The Besnard Lakes, The Drink, Summer Twins, Animal House, Merchandise (featuring Dum Dum Girls), Pure Bathing Culture, Protomartyr, Boss, The Chills, Chorusgirl, Dilly Dally, Martin Courtney, and Greg Dulli.
Summer Twins ‘Florence’
Summer Twins are Californian sisters Chelsea and Justine Browne, playing dreampop with rock and roll, psychedelic pop, garage rock and French girl. Chelsea writes most of the songs sings and plays guitar, but this track was written by and features guitar from bass and drum playing sister Justine. And it’s the guitar that kicks in at the 15 second mark that’ll stick inyour head. From the album Limbo (out now, Burger Records)
[Summer Twins]
Merchandise [feat. Dum Dum Girls] ‘Red Sun’
I like the idea of 4AD signed Merchandise more than I enjoyed their album of doomy / goth stadium-sized post punk. But here, roping in Dee Dee Penny, slowing it down and giving it lots of space, it really pays off. This is for a one off Sub Pop single (out 27 November), but I could definitely go a whole album of this.
[Merchandise]
Joanna Newsom ‘Goose Eggs’
My current favourite track from her wonderful new album Divers (out now, Drag City). There’s an extended instrumental outro with electric piano and the song is underpinned by some lovely haprsichord or celeste, but it’s the the vocal performance that is the hero here. Stunning, it would be amazing to here the isolated track.
[Joanna Newsom]
The Drink ‘You Won’t Come Back At All’
Another highlight from the London-based trio’s fantastic new album Capital (Out November 13, Melodic). The star here is the the extended instrumental outro, Derbhla Minogue runs free with her guitar, weaving in and out of the rhythm laid down by Daniel Fordham and David Stewart.
[The Drink]
Animal House ‘English Girls’
I thought it odd that such a post-Libertines Brit-sounding band would have a song called ‘English Girls’, turns out these Brighton-based boys are originally from Brisbane.
[Animal House]
Pure Bathing Culture ‘Pray For Rain’
Woozy electronic dreampop title track from the Portland band’s second album (out now Parisan / Memphis Industries) the follow up to 2013’s Moon Tides.
[Pure Bathing Culture]
Protomartyr ‘Cowards Strave’
I used to have a cassette with Girls Against Boys ‘Venus Luxure No.1 Baby’ on one side and Cop Shot Cop ‘Release’ on the other. I reckon if you played both sides at the same time it would sound not entirely dissimilar to Protomartyr’s second album The Agent Intellect, from where this track is taken. Probably why I like it. (out now, Hardly Art).
[Protomartyr]
Boss ‘I’m Down With That’
New side project for Warpaint’s Theresa Wayman is tropical electronic psych pop with a rubbery bass line recalling the loose grooves of Tom Tom Club. Out soon on Speedy Wunderground.
[Boss]
The Besnard Lakes ‘Golden Lion’
Sunshine psych rock title track from the B’Lakes new EP (Jagjaguwar, Nov 13).
[The Besnard Lakes]
The Chills ’I Can’t Help You’
One of many jangling highlights from The Chills’ Silver Bullets album, their first in nineteen years (out now, Fire!).
[The Chills]
Chorusgirl ‘Dream On, Baby Blue’
First released as a limited 7” back in July, this now features on the band’s debut album for Fortuna Pop (out next month).
[Chorusgirl]
Dilly Dally ‘Next Gold’
Another great track from the Toronto ‘soft-grunge’ band’s excellent debut album Sore (out now 9, Partisan Records).
[Dilly Dally]
Martin Courtney ‘Airport Bar’
Taken from the Real Estate frontman’s melodic dreampop solo album Many Moons (out now Domino).
[Martin Courtney]
Greg Dulli ‘A Crime’
Afghan Whigs / Twilight Singers / Gutter Twins Greg Dulli has only released one album under his own name, 2005’s Amber Headlights. After last year’s triumphant Afghan Whigs comeback Do To The Beast, the band are currently back in the studio but Dulli is taking time to head out on a solo tour and is marking it with a free download of a cover of this 2011 Sharon Van Etten song (Dulli’s version features Ani DiFranco on backing vocals). The original is just SVE and acoustic guitar, but here GD makes it his own and it becomes a lush, dark, bad love number. Dulli recently posted that Van Etten joined the ‘Whigs in the studio – what a treat that will be if it sees the light of day!
[Greg Dulli]
Twenty-eight new tracks from the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Denmark.
Indie rock, indiepop, garage punk, dreampop, psych folk, psych pop, and psych rock, dance punk, post punk and electronic pop. New tracks from The Drink, Soccer Team, Desperate Journalist,
Eleanor Friedberger,
Ex Hex, Torres, Protomartyr, The Wharves, Shunkan, Terry, Hiccup, Fuzz, Dilly Dally, The Spook School, Lowly, !!! (chk chk chk), Deerhunter, Porches, Pure Bathing Culture, YACHT, Beach House, Majical Cloudz, Daughter,Gun Outfit, Lawrence Rothman featuring Angel Olsen, Weyes Blood (pictured), Paul Bergman featuring Emily Kokal.
Eighteen new tracks from the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Sweden. New music from Two Cartoons, Chvrches, Girls Names, Sports, Widowspeak, Cristobal and the Sea, US Girls, Robert Forster, Fidlar, Joanna Newsom, Baio, The Decemberists, Empress Of, Soda Shop (pictured), Black Honey, PWR BTTM, Family of The Year and Lust For Youth.
Two Cartoons ‘Males’
Catchy garage pop from ex-pat Dunedin duo. Taken from their forthcoming debut album Happiness isTrouble (Far South, release date tbc).
[Two Cartoons]
Chvrches ‘Bury It’
Their disappointing and bloated debut album was only rescued by a couple of great singles and some excellent live shows. Album number two Every Open Eye (out now) is much more the ticket and finds them ramping up the songwriting and cutting down on the filler. This is one of the highlights.
[Chvrches]
Girls Names ‘Dysmorphia’
More dark rock n’ roll from the Belfast band’s third album Arms Around A Vision (out now, Tough Love).
[Girls Names]
Sports’ Get Bummed Out’
Following on from ‘Saturday’, ‘Washing Machine’ and ‘Reality TV’, this is the fourth track to be featured from the Ohio band’s still-not-quite-out yet second album, All of Something (Father/Daughter records, 30 October). Can’t wait to finally hear the whole thing.
[Sports]
Widowspeak ‘Borrowed World’
Brooklyn dreampop duo with a track from their latest album All Yours (out now, Captured Tracks). Unlike previously featured track ‘Girls’, this one features Robert Earl Thomas on lead vocal.
[Widowspeak]
Cristobal and the Sea ‘Counting Smiles’
Opening song from the Anglo-Spanish-Portugese-Corsican quartet’s debut album Sugar Now (out now, City Slang). Starts off as a simple percussion-free indie folk number before the flute and drums kick in, raise the tempo and it becomes an irresistible piece of dance floor psych pop.
[Cristobal and the Sea]
US Girls ‘Window Shades’
Third track featured here from the experimental popster Meghan Remy’s 4AD debut Half Free (out now). Funky, electronic pop with orchestral flourishes.
[U.S. Girls]
Robert Forster ‘A Poet Walks’
Former Go-Betweens legend with a track from his first solo album since 2008’s The Evangelist. Songs to Play is an excellent album, it finds Forster at the top of his game as both songwriter and performer. A warm and charming collection of songs that couldn’t have been made by anyone else.
[Robert Forster]
Fidlar ‘Why Generation’
Psych pop verses and garage pop chorus from the LA band’s second album Too (out now, Mom & Pop).
[Fidlar]
The Drink ‘Roller’
One of the more straightforward tracks from Capital the absolutely brilliant first-album-proper from the London-based post-punk-folk three piece (Melodic, November 13). You can get a download of the whole album now if you pre-order the physical edition direct from Melodic.
[The Drink]
Joanna Newsom ‘Leaving the City’
Over five years on from magnum opus triple album Have One On Me, Joanna Newsom returns with her fourth album Divers (Drag City, October 23). This is the second preview track from the album after August’s ‘Saponkanikan’.
[Joanna Newsom]
Baio ‘I Was Born In A Marathon’
Vampire Weekend bass player with a track from his excellent debut solo album of electronic dancefloor pop, The Names (out now, Glassnote).
[Baio]
The Decemberists ‘Fits & Starts’
Surprising garage punk number from the new Florasongs EP (October 9, Atlantic), 5 songs recorded at the same sessions that produced this year’s excellent What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World album.
[The Decemberists]
Empress Of ‘How Do You Do It’
Following on from ‘Water Water’ back in May (ITP #78), here’s Brooklyn-based electronic pop artist Lorely Rodriguez with another highlight from her debut album (out now, Terrible / XL).
[Empress Of]
Soda Shop ‘Wistful Past’
New York indiepop duo with a track from their charming self-titled debut album (out now, Velvet Blue Music)
[Soda Shop]
Black Honey ‘Corrine’
Brighton buzzband with new single about having a row with your best friend who then quits their job, sells their phone and moves to the other side of the world before you can make up.
[Black Honey]
PWR BTTM ‘I Wanna Boi’
Another great track (the fourth featured here) taken from the New Paltz queer punk duo’s brilliant debut album Ugly Cherries (out now, Father/Daughter Records / Miscreant).
[PWR BTTM]
Family of The Year ‘Hey Kid’
Lovely downbeat number from the LA sunshine indie pop band’s self-titled album (out now, Nettwerk).
[Family of the Year]
Lust For Youth ‘Better Looking Brother’
Swedish electronic trio led by Hannes Norrvide successfully channel 90s Depeche Mode on their new digital only single (available now, Sacred Bones).
[Lust For Youth]
Twenty-three new tracks from the US, UK and Canada. New music from Silversun Pickups, The Drink, Fidlar, Lana Del Rey, Julia Holter, Kurt Vile, Shannon and the Clams, Family of the Year, Darkstar, The Woolen, Battles, Stars, TRAAMS, U.S. Girls, Metric, Chromatics, Metric, U.S. Girls, The Whales, Dilly Dally, Pure Bathing Culture (pictured), Gun Outift, Desperate Journalist, Soccer Team, and Lou Barlow.
Fidlar ‘Drone’
LA garage punks with a track from their second album Too (out now, Mom & Pop).
[Fidlar]
Family of the Year ‘Make You Mine’
Sunshine indie pop from the LA band’s self-titled album, their third (out now, Nettwerk).
[Family of the Year]
Silversun Pickups ‘Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)’
Second track to appear from the band’s forthcoming fourth album Better Nature, (September 25, New Machine Records) and a rare one that features Nikki Moninger on lead vocals.
[Silversun Pickups]
The Drink ‘No Memory’
The closing track from the London-based trio’s debut album proper, Capital (last year’s stunning Company compiled their first three EPs). Although it’s not physically released until November 13 (Melodic), pre-orders come with an instant download of the whole, brilliant album.
[The Drink]
Darkstar ‘Stoke The Fire’
Warp signed artist with hints of afropop and the Beta Band in their groove based pop. Taken from their third album Foam Island (Warp, September 25).
[Darkstar]
Shannon and the Clams ‘Telling Myself’
Following on from It’s Too Late (ITP #85) and Corvette (ITP #81) more sci-fi surf pop from the SATC new album Gone By The Dawn (out now, Hardly Art).
[Shannon and the Clams]
The Woolen Men ‘University’
An eighties melodic hardcore vibe from these Pacific north western DIY punks with a track from their new album Temporary Monument (out now, Woodsist).
[The Woolen Men]
Battles ‘Dot Com’
More krauty instrumental math rock goodness from the band’s new album La Di Da Di (out now, Warp).
[Battles]
Stars ‘A Simple Song’
Following on from last year’s excellent and bizarrely underrated indie disco-tastic No One Is Lost, comes a new slice of melancholy electronic pop from their new digital only Lost and Found EP (out now).
[Stars]
TRAAMS ‘Silver Lining’
Following on from Succulent Thunder Anthem (ITP #84), the Chichestter post-punk trio return with another track from their forthcoming second album Grin (FatCat, November 13)
[TRAAMS]
U.S. Girls ‘Sed Knife’
Surprisngly seventies influenced dirty indie rock number from experimental popster Meghan Remy’s 4AD debut Half Free (25 September).
[U.S. Girls]
Metric ‘Lie Lie Lie’
Maybe you too will be thinking of Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘The Boxer’ too when you hear this catchy track from the band’s Pagans in Vegas album (out now, MMI/Crystal Math).
[Metric]
Chromatics ‘Shadow’
New Adult Swim single from Johnny Jewel’s electronic dreampop outfit. Available for download now.
[Chromatics]
The Whales ‘Marguerite’
Lo-fi jangling indie rock from Cambridge, originally released back in March.
[The Whales]
Dilly Dally ‘Purple Rage’
More raw vocals and grungey guitars from the Toronto band’s debut album, Sore (October 9, Partisan Records).
[Dilly Dally]
Pure Bathing Culture ‘Palest Pearl’
Electronic indiepop taken from the band’s John Congleton-produced second album, Pray For Rain (October 23, Partisan).
[Pure Bathing Culture]
Gun Outift ‘Only Ever Over’
Country dreampop from the LA band’s forthcoming album Dream All Over (Oct 16, Paradise of Bachelors).
[Gun Outfit]
Desperate Journalist ‘Perfect Health’
Following on from their brilliant debut album (a contender for album of the year) comes this track from their soon to be released Good Luck EP. Nicely understated, Smithsy jangling.
[Desperate Journalist]
Soccer Team ‘Friends Who Know’
DC indie rockers with nineties slack track from their Real Lessons in Cynicism album (out 27 October, Dischord Records).
[Soccer Team]
Lou Barlow ‘Wave’
Another highlight from the Dinosaur Jr / Sebadoh / Folk Implosion man’s new solo album Brace the Wave (out now, Joyful Noise).
[Lou Barlow]
Lana Del Rey ‘The Blackest Day’
It’s a quick turn around for Honeymoon (out now), album number three from Lana Del Rey which she started working on as soon as she finished last year’s rather excellent Ultraviolence. It’s another lush pop noire classic and this is just one of many stand out tracks.
[Lana Del Rey]
Julia Holter ‘Vasquez’
Another great track from Have You In My Wilderness, the experimental popster’s fourth, most accessible and most pleasing album yet. This brings to mind the lush, jazz tinged post-pop of David Sylvian and late period Talk Talk.
[Julia Holter]
Kurt Vile ‘Lost My Head There’
Slacker indie rock with a lush seventies vibe. Taken from KV’s excellent forthcoming album, b’lieve I’m going down (September 25, Matador).
[Kurt Vile]
Eighteen new tracks from the US, UK, Australia and Canada. New music from Battles, Beach House, The Arcs, Deradoorian, Gun Outfit, All Dogs, Gardens & Villa, Fans, Sports, Destroyer, Low, Blank Realm, Unloved, Cold Beat, PWR BTTM, Shopping, Julia Holter (pictured), and Maybug.
Battles ‘FF Bada’
After the departure of Tyondai Braxton, Battles followed up their stunning debut Mirrored with the guest-vocalist-heavy Gloss Drop (2011). For their third album La Di Da Di (Warp, September 18) they’ve gone completely instrumental. It’s jittery, math-y post-rock at its finest.
[Battles]
Beach House ‘Levitation’
The opening track from the Baltimore dreampop band’s wonderful Depression Cherry album (out now, Sub Pop).
[Beach House]
The Arcs ‘Put a Flower in Your Pocket’
A hazy piece of garage soul psych pop from Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys’ new side project. Taken from their debut album, the appropriately titled Yours, Dreamily (out now).
[The Arcs]
Deradoorian ‘The Expanding Flower Planet’
Title track of former Dirty Projector member Angel Deradoorian’s debut solo album of experimental art pop, out now on Anticon.
[Deradoorian]
Gun Outift ’Dream All Over’
Dylan Sharp and Carrie Keith share desert-fatigued vocals and motorik beats over meadnering guitars. Like country Krautrock, this is the title track from the LA band’s forthcoming album (Oct 16, Paradise of Bachelors).
[Gun Outfit]
All Dogs ‘Leading Me Back to You’
Another great track from the Ohio band’s Kicking Every Day album (out now, Salinas)
[All Dogs]
Gardens & Villa ‘Fixations’
LA Synthpop band go 70s power pop and art rock and end up sounding not a million miles away from Brendan Benson (a good thing, obvs). Taken from their latest album, Music for Dogs (out now, Secretly Canadian).
[Gardens & Villa]
Fans ‘Take It’
Previously featured here a back in July (ITP #83), this taken from the UK band’s debut EP ‘Born Into’. Listeners may detect essence of The Strokes, Interpol and the early noughties NYC crowd.
[Fans]
Sports ‘Reality TV’
More fuzzy, melodic, garage punk power pop with country-tinged vocals from the Ohio band. Taken from forthcoming second album All of Something (Father/Daughter records, 30 October).
[SPORTS]
Destroyer ‘Forces From Above’
Another slice of lush pop from new album Poison Season (out now, Merge / Dead Oceans). This track features strings, saxophone, great percussion, some great rhythm guitar and a typically clearly ennunciated vocal from Dan Bejar. Motherfucker needs to get his ass to Australia.
[Destroyer]
Low ‘The Innocents’
Juxtaposing Mimi Parker’s beautiful vocals against a dirty electronic rhythm and distorted guitars, this is another stand out track from the band’s forthcoming Ones and Sixes album (Sub Pop, September 11).
[Low]
Blank Realm ‘Palace of Love’
Another track from the Brisband band’s new album Illegals in Heaven album (out now Bedroom Suck / Fire Records). Garage psych pop – you can trace a line from the Velvet Underground’s ‘Can’t Stand It’ through Tom Verlaine’s æBreakin’ In My Heart’ to this.
[Blank Realm]
Unloved ‘Guilty of Love’
New project from soundtrackists David Holmes, Keefus Ciancia and singer songwriter Jade Vincent. Trying to blend the Shangri Las, Lee & Nancy and Ennio Morricone. Taken from their debut EP of the same name (October 16, self-released).
[Unloved]
Cold Beat ‘Spirals’
Another highlight from Hannah Lew and co.’s new album Into the Air (out now, Crime on the Moon). Cold Beat really is the perfect name for this San Francisco gothy electropop band.
[Cold Beat]
PWR BTTM ‘1994’
Third track featured here’s from the queer punk duo’s debut album Ugly Cherries (Father/Daughter Records / Miscreant, September 18).
[PWR BTTM]
Shopping ‘Straight Lines’
Title track of second album (September 11, FatCat) from the London post-punk trio.
[Shopping]
Julia Holter ‘Sea Calls Me Home’
The experimenter in otherworldly pop follows up 2013’s Loud City Song with a track from her forthcoming Have You In My Wilderness (September 25, Domino).
[Julia Holter]
Maybug ‘Winter Sun’
Bristol based singer-songwriter Joseph Dunn. This track is from his debut EP, Pollen Odyssey, out September 18th.
[Maybug]
Fifteen new tracks from the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. New music from Royal Headache, The Chills, Diet Cig, Destroyer (pictured), Shannon and the Clams, Beach House, Prison Whites, Saintseneca, PWR BTTM, Low, Palehound, All Dogs, Royal Headache, Duran Duran and Steve Hauschlidt.
Royal Headache ‘Love Her If I Tried’
The first of two tracks from the Sydney band’s second album High (out now, Distant and Vague / What’s Your Rupture /). Currently my favourite track on the album and the epitome of their garage-punk-meets-soul sound.
[Royal Headache]
The Chills ‘America Says Hello’
Classic, sparkling jangle pop from Kiwi legend Martin Phillipps and co. Since1990 they have released records called Submarine Bells, Soft Bomb, SunBurnt, Sketch Book, Secret Box, and Stand By. No surprise then that he Dunedin-based band’s first new album in 19 years is called Silver Bullets (Fire, October 30).
[The Chills]
Diet Cig ‘Dinner Date’
New Paltz indiepop duo with the other side of the ‘Sleep Talk’ single (as featured on ITP #82)“, this is there first vinyl release and follow up to the Over Easy cassette (ITP #70 and #71). Out on September 18, Father/Daughter / Art Is Hard).
[Diet Cig]
Destroyer ’Times Square’
On August 28 Dan Bejar returns with the follow up to 2011’s critically acclaimed Kaputt, Poison Season (Merge / Dead Oceans). This tracks is, literally, the centre of an album that vies with Father John Misty’s I Love You Honeybear as this year’s most idiosyncratic singer songwriter album.
[Destroyer]
Shannon and the Clams ‘It’s Too Late’
Following on from the downbeat ‘Corvette’ (ITP#81) here’s some sci fi surf pop from the Oakland band’s forthcoming album Gone By The Dawn (Hardly Art ,Sept 11).
[Shannon and the Clams]
Beach House ‘PPP’
Unhurried, hypnagogic number from the Baltimore dreampop duo’s forthcoming Depression Cherry album (Sub Pop, August 28).
[Beach House]
Prison Whites ‘Deceiver’
London via Cambridge three piece playing catchy garage punk.
[Prison Whites]
Saintseneca ‘Sleeper Hold’
Columbus, OH folksters led by Zac Little and featuring All Dogs’ Maryn Jones in their current line up. This is taken from their forthcoming third album, Such Things (Anti-, October 9).
[Saintseneca]
PWR BTTM ‘Dairy Queen’
Here’s another track from the Brooklyn-via-New Paltz queer punk duo’s debut album following on from last month’s title track ‘Ugly Cherries’ (ITP #82).
[PWR BTTM]
Low ‘Lies’
Following on from ‘No Comprende’ (ITP #81) and ‘What Part of Me’ (ITP #84) here’s the third and most track to appear from Low’s eleventh album Ones and Sixes (Sub Pop, September 11). Features a great vocal performance from Mimi Parker about two thirds in.
[Low]
Palehound ‘Cinammon’
Atypical track from debut album Dry Food eschews the 90s influences for some trippy afropop guitar.
[Palehound]
All Dogs ‘How Long’
Maryn Jones pops her head up again with another track from All Dogs debut album Kicking Every Day (Salinas, August 28).
[All Dogs]
Royal Headache ‘Carolina’
Another taste of the new album, ‘Carolina’ highlights another side of the band – lo-fi, melodious, melancholy jangling.
[Royal Headache]
Duran Duran ‘Paper Gods’
Title track of the veteran band’s forthcoming fourteenth album (September 11, Warners), this one features fellow Brummie Mr Hudson, comes in at just over seven minutes long and shifts from minor key distorted gospel influenced intro to bass heavy stadium dance pop banger.
[Duran Duran]
Steve Hauschlidt ‘Where All Is Fled’
Former member of ambient electronica trio Emeralds, this is the title track of Hauschlidt’s first new album since 2012’s Sequitur. Where All Is Fled is out on Kranky, September 25.
[Steve Hauschlidt]
Sixteen killer new tracks from the US, UK and Canada. New music from All Dogs, Kurt Vile, Low, SPORTS, La Luz, Fuzz, Cristobal and the Sea, Ultimate Painting, Dilly Dally (pictured), Fictonian, TRAAMS, Lou Barlow, Wilco, White Reaper, Shopping and !!!. Music that is in turn scrappy, melodic, choppy, angular, slack and funky.
All Dogs ‘That Kind of Girl’
“And I know that I am always fucking up your world / you are better off not messing with that kind of girl”.
Treble heavy female-fronted melodic indie rock with 90s inclinations, first featured here with in September 2013 with ‘Lovesong’ (ITP #41) and back in January with ‘Georgia’ (ITP #70).
[All Dogs]
Kurt Vile ‘Dust Bunnies’
A drum machine and a repeating guitar pattern ground this song in rhythm while keyboard and bass are aloud to meander and explore the edges of the melody and KV’s distinctive stoner vocals take us on a tale of having a “headache like a shot vac coughing dust bunnies”. Elsewhere it’s all red with white noise, bars and “an invigorating fix and a black lung” from puffing on a cigarette. The song pivots with a nod to Sam Cooke’s ‘Wonderful World’ and Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Oh Well’ and by the end our hero is ready to get away from the fog “it’s hard to think with a squashed brain…I can’t talk over all that racket / what’s there to feel but totally wacked…I want to to put out the cigarette, leave it behind, hold you real close, take you by the hand. We’ll walk away.”
[Kurt Vile]
Low ‘What Part of Me’
After the low end gravitas of ‘No Comprende’, this initially feels lighter. A drum machine and Mimi Parker’s wordless vocals intro the song over some distorto-fuzzed bass and some trebly, metallic guitar. Then the vocals proper kick in it and it seems to be about the alternating wonder and claustrophobia you might experience in an intense 20+ year relationship. “What part of me don’t you know? What part of me don’t you own?” “Sometimes it scares me to death / sometimes it takes all my breath”. This duality has it’s own mirror in the music when the fuzz drops away to reveal the beautiful clarity of Alan and Mimi’s voices. Taken from the new album Ones and Sixes (Sub Pop, September 11).
[Low]
SPORTS ‘Washing Machine’
There’s a country inflection to Carmen Perry’s vocals that complements the rough edges of their fuzzy, melodic, garage punk power pop. Taken from forthcoming second album All of Something (Father/Daughter records, 30 October).
[Sports]
La Luz ‘I Wanna Be Alone (With You)’
Brooding, near-other worldly sci-fi surf pop from the band’s excellent new album, Weirdo Shrine (Hardly Art, out now).
[La Luz]
Fuzz ‘Rat Race’
Sabbath-indebted number from Ty Seagll’s heavy psych rock outfit’s forthcoming second album, the aptly titled II (In The Red Records, October 23).
[Fuzz]
Cristobal and the Sea ‘Fish Eye’
“Around the lake with a girl that I know…she licks my neck like I’m gellato”. More excellent stuff from the Anglo-Spanish-Portugese-Corsican quartet. Self-described tropicalia pop, though afro psych pop would also fit the bill.
[Cristobal and the Sea]
Ultimate Painting ‘Kodiak’
Lazy, VU indebted meandering guitar art pop from the band’s second album Green Lanes (out now on Trouble in Mind Records).
[Ultimate Painting]
Dilly Dally ‘Desire’
This gets better with every listen. Raw vocals from Katie Bell and guitars that are equal parts The Breeders and Blue album-era Weezer (they self-identify as #softgrunge). From the Toronto band’s debut album, Sore (October 9, Partisan Records).
[Dilly Dally]
Fictonian ‘Little Blue Book’
Waltz-time number with judicious use of piano, whistling and the New London Children’s Choir from the buzzy UK multi-instrumentalist.
[Fictonian]
TRAAMS ‘Succulent Thunder Anthem’
Chichester skewed pop band who blend influences such as Iggy Pop, Krautrock, McLusky, Women, Abe Vigoda and Pavement to come up with the likes of this undeniably catchy driving garage punk number that heralds their forthcoming Modern Dancing album (FatCat, November 13) the follow up to 2013’s Grin.
[TRAAMS]
Lou Barlow ‘Moving’
The Dinosaur Jr / Sebadoh / Folk Implosion man teases his first solo album in six years Brace the Wave. Lest we forget, Lou was championing the ukulele way before it was all the rage (though he avoids the worst excesses of that instrument by modifying with heavier strings). His voice has taken on a richer, almost Vedder-like resonance over the years. It suits both him and this song.
[Lou Barlow]
Wilco ‘Taste the Ceiling’
Lovely understated number from Wilco’s superb surprise released new album Star Wars (out now, dBpm).
[Wilco]
White Reaper ‘Friday the 13th’
Another highlight from the Louisville, KY garage punks debut album, White Reaper Does it Again (out now, Polyvinyl).
[White Reaper]
Shopping ‘Why Wait’
Following on from the international release of their debut album earlier this year, the London post-punk trio give us the first taste of the follow up Straight Lines (out September 11, FatCat)
[Shopping]
!!! ‘Freedom! ’15’
Sacramento dancepunks tease their forthcoming fifth album with a funky monster that nods back to their earliest records. If there’s one criticism of this tune it’s that it’s so good it could stand to be a good few minutes longer. Extended dance mix please!
[!!!]
Honolulu Mountain Daffodils“I’m going to all tomorrow’s parties / popping mescaline like smarties.”
Tequila Dementia is the second of three albums recorded by the Honolulu Mountain Daffodils, an overlooked cult 80s band probably best known for containing among their ranks Adrian Borland, of that other overlooked cult 80s band The Sound. Here, like the other members of the band, he appears under a pseudonym (Joachim Pimento).
I’ll admit, I picked this one up out of curiosity more than anything. I recognised the cover from back-in-the-day and liked the thanks on the cover to “the music of Neu, ENO, B.O.C., VU MK1”. I wasn’t expecting much more than a thin, dated sounding late 80s indie guitar album, but this turned out to be real gem.
Proto-punk and psych influenced grungey noise rock (‘Disturbo Charger’, ‘Death Bed Bimbo’, ‘Tequila Dementia’, ‘Mule Brain (Brain of Mule)’), Krautrock (‘Also Spracht Scott Thurston’) and gothy art rock (‘Collector of Souls’, ‘Menace in the Font’) delivered with plenty of fuzzed up guitars and keyboards. The songs themselves all have plenty of character, each with its own identity but working together as an album should. There’s also some tasty locked groove noise at the end of each side.
There’s not much information available online about the band, and what there is doesn’t make for happy reading. On the sleeve of Tequila Dementia it reads “Drink Until Death & Beyond”. Two of the band’s members, Lord Sulaco (Pete Williams) and Daiquiri J. Wright (Graham Pearson), died as a result of alcoholism. Borland, who also had a drinking problem, died by suicide in 1999, after years of struggling to live with a mental illness that made him severely depressed and agitated and gave him auditory hallucinations.
But the music remains, cherished by those who were there at the time (Pete ‘Sonic Boom‘ Kember is a fan and there’s a glowing review of their third album Aloha Sayonara over on Julian Cope‘s Head Heritage site). It’s also ripe for discovery by those of us who may have missed it first time around, though it appears absent from most legit streaming services, most of the album can be found on You Tube.
Here’s the near-instrumental Iggy Pop sampling ‘Also Spracht Scott Thurston’…
…and the completely different opening track ‘Disturbo Charger’
…and an excellent appraisal and tribute to the band from their contemporary Adrian Janes (drummer with Borland’s pre-The Sound band, The Outsiders).
Seventeen new tracks from the US, UK and Australia. New music from Kurt Vile, Chvrches, Wilco, Sports, Royal Headache, Best Friends, Girls Names, La Luz, White Reaper, Fans, Protomartyr, Ultimate Painting, Ducktails, LVL UP, Major Leagues, Cowtown and Cold Beat.
Kurt Vile ‘Pretty Pimpin’’
The opening track from KV’s forthcoming album b’lieve i’m goin down…(September 25, Matador). After the success of his former band The War on Drugs’ breakthrough Lost In The Dream seems like Kurt has raised his game again. Produced by Rob Schnapf (Elliott Smith, Beck) and featuring Warpaint’s Stella Mozgawa on drums, don’t let Vile’s laidback delivery make you b’lieve he’s leaving anything to chance this time round.
[Kurt Vile]
Chvrches ‘Leave a Trace’
Electro Jockpop taken from second album Every Open Eye, September 25.
[Chvrches]
Wilco ‘Pickled Ginger’
Taken from their surprise free release new album Star Wars (out now, dBpm). This is a grittier album than the last couple of pop leaning albums. Download the whole album at the link.
[Wilco]
Sports ‘Saturday’
Gambier, Ohio US punk powerpop / indiepop band. Taken from their forthcoming second album All of Something (30 October, Father/Daughter).
[Sports]
Royal Headache ‘Another World’
Sydney’s finest with another slice of garage soulpunk from their forthcoming second album High (What’s Your Rupture?, August 21).
[Royal Headache]
Best Friends ‘Holy Mountain’
Taken from the Sheffield garage pop types rather tasty second album Hot.Reckless.Totally Insane (out now, FatCat).
[Best Friends]
Girls Names ‘A Hunger Artist’
Black-clad Belfast band subvert pop with chiming guitars, motorik beats and dark lyrics. This is the second track taken from their forthcoming third album Arms Around A Vision (October 2, Tough Love), following on from April’s excellent stand alone single ‘Zero Triptych’ (ITP #76).
[Girls Names]
La Luz ‘Sleep Til They Die’
Haunting slow number from the Seattle surf pop band’s second album Weirdo Shrine (Hardly Art, August 7).
[La Luz]
White Reaper ‘Candy’
Lo-fi garage rock from the Louisville, KY band’s new album White Reaper Does it Again (out now, Polyvinyl).
[White Reaper]
Fans ‘Born Into’
A touch of The Strokes and their early ’00s contemporaries on the latest single from this UK band. This is the title track of a forthcoming EP.
[Fans]
Protomartyr ‘Why Does it Shake’
Detroit post-punk band, previously featured here back in February 2014 with ‘Come & See’ (ITP #51) follow up their Under Color of Official Right album with the first taste of The Agent Intellect (Oct 9, Hardly Art)
[Protomartyr]
Ultimate Painting ‘(I’ve Got The) Sanctioned Blues’
Lo-fi, Velvet Underground indebted pop from second album “Green Lanes”, (August 7th, Trouble In Mind Records).
[Ultimate Painting]
Ducktails ‘Surreal Exposure’
New Jersey, US. Following on from ‘Into the Sky’ (ITP #81) and Church (ITP #82) here’s another track from Matt Mondanile’s (Real Estate) latest album as Ducktails, St Catherine.
[Ducktails]
LVL UP ‘Blur’
Lots of Slanted and Chanted-era Pavement to be heard in the work of this Purchase, New York band, but also a hint of the Elephant 6 collective. Previously featured here with ‘Soft Power’ (ITP #61) this time last year.
[LVL UP]
Major Leagues ‘Someone Sometime’
Brisbane jangle pop band with their first new music since their sublime 2013 EP, Weird Season.
[Major Leagues]
Cowtown ‘Castle Greyscale’
Leeds band with catchy “variant mutant pop”.
[Cowtown]
Cold Beat ‘Cracks’
Last featured here this time last year with ‘Other Side of The World’, Hannah Lew (formerly of San Francisco’s Grass Widow) returns with more gothy electro pop with post-punk guitars. Taken from forthcoming album Into the Air (Crime on the Moon, September 4).
[Cold Beat]
In The Pharmacy 