Our inbox blooms because (Jeff Goldblum voice) new music…uh…finds a way. Check out new tunes from Nisa, Phantom Wave, Real Kevin, Rory Ryan, Souls in Motion, elsa kennedy, Phaeic, Brig Aurora, Vision Video and OK Cool.
.
.
Nisa – “Turn Me Down”
Jangly guitars and a snappy back beat give this indie pop song a more than healthy dash of indie rock hustle. Or is it more accurate to say that the cooing and soaring vocals with a big chorus hook give an indie rock song a slick indie pop wrapper? Either way you look at it, this song is a keeper.
.
.
Phantom Wave – “Depth Charge”
Shoegaze seems to be having a bit of a resurgence of late in the indie rock scene, but few balance the sonic wash with melody and muscle as well as Phantom Wave does on “Depth Charge.” The wall of sound is there, but the dynamics and drive are not lost within it, giving it a groove and clarity often missing in the genre.
.
.
Real Kevin – “Tired”
Ain’t nothing wrong with a straight forward Replacements-esque rocker, and that’s exactly what Real Kevin gives us with “Tired.” It sounds as effortless as three friends playing music together should sound, and it’s strange what a rare gift that is these days.
.
.
Rory Ryan – “My Loving Side”
A synthpop anthem about keeping it real with lyrics like “Don’t want to spoil the party, but is anybody having fun? Let’s all just stop pretending that we’re not all waiting to go home” speaks to our socially obligated introverted selves in ways deeper than any goth song ever will. The Pet Shop Boys influenced vocals that are perfectly catchy with a hint of melancholy icing on the cake we’d rather be eating alone at home.
.
.
Souls in Motion – “Endlessly the Same”
Mining the quiet, introspective and ominous sonic vein of late period Nine Inch Nails that foreshadowed Reznor’s cinematic scores, “Endlessly the Same” gives us the same whispers, disembodied pianos, electronic gurgles and eventual noise blasts that are expected. Yes, the influences are worn openly on both sleeves (and at least one pant leg) on this one, but so often that is the case with artists in other genres (looking at you punk rock, among others) who get a pass. The devils in the details, and Souls in Motion get the details right on this one, from the restraint of the low boiling build up to the release of static distortion, they nail every nuance perfectly.
.
.
elsa kennedy – “dirty sinks are fun to play in”
Recorded live in a “one take, one chance scenario” elsa kennedy’s “dirty sinks are fun to play in” captures the raw energy of the situation in a fascinating song that swings back and forth from playful and cheeky to painful and confessional. It’s hard to move in that sophisticated, nuanced space, especially in a piano and vocal only song, without comparison to Regina Spektor or Tori Amos, but kennedy makes her own defined and individual mark here.
.
.
Phaeic – “Without”
Oooh, this is a tasty biscuit. Brooding alt rock with occasional flashes of math and/or noise rock and a similar approach to slow n’ heavy n’ melodic as the Deftones? Sign us up. Sign us up to 11.
.
.
Brig Aurora – “Sinking Through The Sky”
Just like our earlier comment further up the page about shoegaze making a comeback, so also it seems is epic Pink Floyd influenced rock. Once again, we ain’t mad about it. Brig Aurora works in that big open sound, although with a decidedly modern take that hints at artists such as Coldplay.
.
.
Vision Video – “Comfort in the Grave”
Been a minute since we’ve received a top notch darkwave jam, but just in time to satiate our lights out dance party for one needs we have “Comfort in the Grave” from Vision Video. Leaning alllllll the way in with a slasher flick meets Italian horror film music video, it’s the black icing on the black cake that sustains us.
Yes, this is the second time we’ve used the “icing on the cake” metaphor in this post, but we’ve been eating a lot of cake lately, so it’s top of mind (and top of thighs).
.
.
OK Cool – “Five Finger Exploding Heart Technique”
“Five Finger Exploding Heart Technique” blends classic 90’s midwest emo guitar noodling with modern indie rock for a driving, melodic killer tune that more than lives up to its name. Hints of Braid and a touch of Troubled Hubble meet a Diet Cig and Sleater Kinney for a party in your ears.
Leave a Reply