Swedish band of four The Mary Onettes are known for making the stuff of the most pliant and docile dreamscapes and turning them into a reality you can swoon to. For fans of soughing winds and gurgling brooks the latest track Naive, from TMO’s fourthcoming release the mini-LP Portico, is the perfect magic mushroom to transport you to Never Never Land. The album Portico drops March 4th via Labrador Records. Continue reading “the mary onettes // naive dream”
the sherpas | six steps |official video
The Sherpas release a video for their latest rock rhythmic track Six Steps. From the very beginning the guitar licks start a frenetic free fall and soon the song is in a full blown groove vibe. The track is taken from the bands recent Six Steps single, the b-side contains an alternate version of the song Telescope. You should also check out the bands previous release Soirée EP. Peace. Continue reading “the sherpas | six steps |official video”
be forest // earthbeat lp: our sunday best
Be Forest was born as a trio: guitarist, Nicola, was joined by Erica Terenzi on drums and vocals and Costanza Delle Rose on bass and vocals. For their forthcoming sophomore album, Earthbeat, the band gained the services of Lorenzo Badioli, who takes care of the new electronic parts of Be Forest’s sound. If with their debut Cold LP, their sound was characterized as “dark”, with Earthbeat the sun seems to have risen, brightening the Riviera. Be Forest’s melodies have always had a dreamy lightness as their striking feature, but now it is possible to feel a new warmth. Take for example the song Captured Heart, which echos intimate percussions and flutes, or Colours, that manages to combine an hypnotic progression with ethereal form, or again take the idyll of Hideaway, austere and romantic at the same time.
Stay tuned, Be Forest’s soon to be released Earthbeat LP drops February 4th via We Were Never Being Boring. Peace.
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the head and the heart // let’s be still lp
The Head And The Heart‘s latest album Let’s Be Still is so many good things, and all of them good. Rarely will you find a more infectious band, with as much down home likeability and seemingly boundless talent. It is easy to think of each song as a kind and familiar face with a such lovely disposition. Check out a live performance shot back in August. And naturally, get your mitts on their latest album, Let’s Be Still out now via Sub Pop Records. Peace. Continue reading “the head and the heart // let’s be still lp”
crushed stars // farewell young lovers lp + album stream
Crushed Stars are releasing their new Farewell Young Lovers LP, it drops January the 21st courtesy of Simulacra Records. Anticipating the album release the excellent blog American Songwriter is streaming the LP in-full for a week. Cooler than cool.
The Farewell Young Lovers album moves easy, like a cool mist over wildflowers. This is dream pop interwoven with silvery veins of folksy southern rock-edges, diluted with stylistic fissures reminiscent of Peter Murphy, and the likes of Jesus And The Mary Chain and Sparklehorse. Yet, there exists enough of band leader Todd Gautreau and band mates Jeff Ryan, Howard Draper and Buffi Jacobs talent and beauty to make this Dallas-based band shimmer.
Tracks on Farewell Young Lovers range from the effervescent opener Flowerbomb to the moody instrumental centerpiece Poppies to the Jesus and Mary Chain meets Stax Haters alongside several tracks of the dreamy psychedelia the band is known for. Other surprises include a guest theremin player on Fly and the first crushed stars guitar solo on Supernova with a second one superimposed for good measure.
Drummer Jeff Ryan says, “It seems there’s a new sense of energy woven into these new tracks, there are more textures and electronics expanding the musical landscape. The straightforward harder songs like Flowerbomb and Haters show a musical side that hasn’t been seen before from us, even though there’s still a common thread between these songs and the others on the album.” Peace. Continue reading “crushed stars // farewell young lovers lp + album stream”
midlake // the young & the old + video premiere
Your favorite Denton, Texas-based band Midlake is premiering the visuals for the astounding song The Old and The Young directed by Ollie Murray. Making an already great song all the more astounding. If you haven’t already, check out Midlake’s recently released Ahtiphon LP out now courtesy of Bella Union and under exclusive license in North America via ATO Records. Peace. Continue reading “midlake // the young & the old + video premiere”
making marks // a thousand half-truths lp
Marking Marks are exposing their tender vulnerable side with the song Bruises. It is a soft-shelled shooting star filled with sweetness in the form of honey tempered vocals, barely there pelting rain-like drums and meandering twangy guitar, and it is all stitched together with cotton candy synths. The conjoined vocals of Nina Bø and Ola Innset are playful, nuanced and a perfect match here and throughout the album.
The band’s debut album A Thousand Half-Truths resonates with a fistful of heartfelt renditions. These are songs and sounds culled from the ever changing contents of the pantry of life, love and living. The songs range from melodies draped lovingly with a silver-lined tensile strewn avoir le cafard, to the bold and clever. All ten songs on the LP just make the ears happy to be ears.
A bit of back story, in a former life the band previously went by the moniker mylittlepony for several years. In 2011 mylittlepony released their album Making Marks and thus the rest his history.
Get the FREE DOWNLOAD of the splish-splashy song Bruises. It is the perfect confessional theme song. I like. I like it a lot.
The debut album A Thousand Half Truths will be released on vinyl, CD and digital on February 2nd 2014 courtesy of Fika Recordings, with a special Japanese CD version available on January 22nd. Check out a 5-song sampling after the jump. Peace. Continue reading “making marks // a thousand half-truths lp”
drift wood miracle | my condition
Drift Wood Miracle make the holiday very merry and especial indeed. The young men of music hailing from Durham, NC break out another sonic boom birthed from the echo chambers of their combined hearts. The Earology Dept is thrilled to premiere the band’s Christmas present to their dear fans (me included). My Condition, is the equivalent of a pound of osmium wrapped around a beloved’s velveteen and feather soft kisses.
As a band, comprised of Jack Chapman (lead guitar), Keir Schwarze (bass), Alex Phillips (drums, vocals) and Bryan Diver (rhythm guitar, vocals and keys), they find ways to mix their unique brand of subtle indie pop rock with a nuanced bitter-sweetness, it stirs up the conventional milieu of songcraft and replaces it with surprise aplenty and benevolent lyricism.
On first listen the high-energy on display will draw you in and lead vocalist Byran Diver’s emotive tone seals the deal. And with the palpable and totally tectonic drum-work and enough bootylicious bass play to warrant an NG-17 rating this single will do things to you you’ll want to hear (and feel) again.
So, if your ears were converted by the Cuidadé EP (2011) and The 21st LP (2013) then with My Condition they’ll remain faithful followers of DWM well into 2014 and beyond. And yes, it’s a gift, i.e., FREE DOWNLOAD. Peace.
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mumblr // bang bang ep
If you find yourself gravitating towards music with a decidedly gritty and fuzzed out post-punk vibe then more than likely Mumblr is gonna’ do it for ya’ and rock your eardrums inside out. Get a hold of their latest Bang Bang EP out now from Fleeting Youth Records. These Philadelphia boys know how to make some noise. Peace. Continue reading “mumblr // bang bang ep”
saol álainn // nostroke
Foster The People alum Isom Innis turns himself inside and presents Saol Álainn. With this first peek it is all kinds of, um interesting and sparkling in a bursting staccato explosion kind of way. I like it. Check out the Samuel Morris Hamad-directed video for Nostroke. Also, you cop the limited 7-incher available courtesy of No Recordings. Peace. Continue reading “saol álainn // nostroke”