Today we have new music from Simone Istwa, Vypera, Disturbios, Karaboudjan, Ari B. Ingber, ameliarose, NATL PARK SRVC, Plaster of Paris, the HVNZ and seasonal.
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Simone Istwa – “So Sure”
Epic, dreamy, big and swirly; this is shoegaze on a cinematic scale. As is usually the case with songs that put a wall of sound before an easy hook, dynamics carry the day here. Quiet, loud, quiet, loud but always lovely and melodic and always leaving you wanting more.
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Vypera – “Slow Me Down”
Well this fucking rules. Swedish band Vypera have created a pitch and pitch bending perfect recreation of the early 80’s heavy metal sound with this one. Landing firmly in the camp of early Judas Priest or Helloween, with a dash of Too Fast For Love era Motley Crue, “Slow Me Down” is a throw the horns up throwback that sounds mighty fresh compared to the overly serious, overly aggro metal of today. Simply put, this rips.
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Disturbios – “Starr”
The studio minds behind Disturbios (Matt and Rocio Verta-Ray) build their songs from the sounds up, seeing what tune they can coax out of vintage electronics and analogue gear. It may not be the way most songwriting is done (write song and then see how you can make it sound better with cool gear), but damned if it don’t work. A retro 60’s psych pop bubbles through the undercurrent of “Starr,” hazed out hooks and all.
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Karaboudjan – “Let Go”
A lot of music today is trying to have it both ways, electronica chill wave with more straight forward pop / indie songwriting, and frankly most of it sucks. It sucks because it’s too much of the former and not enough of the latter. The “song” part of the song is often an afterthought and man oh man does it show. Not so here. “Let Go” might be the best example we’ve heard yet of blending modern electronica with classic pop smarts, and what a joy it is to listen to someone eating their cake and having it too.
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Ari B. Ingber – “Redhead Cowgirl”
When a song is just a simple finger picked acoustic guitar waltz (plus some whistling) you better have the goods, because there ain’t nothing to hide it if you don’t. Ari B. Ingber has the goods. Simple, plaintive and perfect, “Redhead Cowboy” feels like the spiritual offspring of Marty Robbins and Bill Callahan.
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ameliarose – “GOLIATH”
Squarely in the Fiona Apple ballpark, “GOLIATH” is good enough to go head to head with the best of Ms. Bolt Cutters. It’s moody and brooding and raw in all the ways you would expect, but also brings a different sense of melody and scope to the party, which keeps things fresh.
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NATL PARK SRVC – “The Right Thing”
Coming in a bit like a less melodramatic and more laid back version of The Arcade Fire, “The Right Thing” balances a pleasantly casual energy with the same expansive and ambitious jammed out pop sound as the great white north indie heroes. Even when they ramp things up to the song’s climax, there’s a lack of vocal theatrics that make this feel more relatable and less forced.
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Plaster of Paris – “Internalise”
Well this is fantastic. Gang of Four influenced angular post punk with a healthy dose of Siouxie Sioux thrown in, “Internalise” is minimalist art punk dance music of the finest kind. Put this band on your list of ones to watch, because we sure have.
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the HVNZ – “Young & Wasted Youth”
Keeping the Joy Division/Bauhaus appreciation revival of the last few years going is this number from the HVNZ. Like their contemporaries Interpol, they’ve injected some modern sensibilities into the mix, most notably a deliciously fat MGMT style synth line anchoring everything. A solid choice for any indie rock playlist.
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seasonal – “Rubber & Plastic”
Speaking of an appreciation revival, we couldn’t be happier to see more and more new bands reviving the mathy midwest emo sound, but few do it as well as seasonal does on this one. Weird time signature? Check. Trance inducing guitar parts that then blossom into a soaring chorus? Check. Tempo changes a plenty? Vulnerable but capable vocals? Check. Midwest landmark name checked in the lyrics? Check. This one is for the sad kid OG’s out there.
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