I mentioned The Star Sailors: A ShoeGaze & DreamPop Compilation Vol. 1 earlier this week. This weeks triple pack highlights three new to me bands who appeared on the compilation. Mind you I am only halfway through so there may be another post soon! After all isn’t that the purpose of these releases?
Powder Pink & Sweet – Little Stories
Powder Pink & Sweet are a dreampop band from Lost Angeles. They make a hazy, ethereal sound that looks to the past (The Sundays, Slowdive etc.) whilst applying a fresh coat of paint to bring it bang up to date. There is also a post-punk underlay going on and bands like Strawberry Switchblade and Altered Images spring to mind.
Little Stories is a compilation of sorts with remastered versions of previous singles coupled with new tracks. Their contribution to the compilation Slightly Hopeful caught my ear but tracks like Dreaming Of Leaving and Fragile Heart certainly see them pushing the dreampop boat out even further.
Lumari – Neon Mirror
Minneapolis based Lumari have only released two songs to date. Neon Mirror , which is their new single, also appearing on the compilation and last years single Doors and Corners. Neon Mirror is driven by a vibrating How Soon Is Now fuzzy guitar sound. It’s more Crystal Eyes Wishes than Soho’s Hippychick mind! The strong vocals exist perpetually throughout the dynamic sounding percussion and those aforementioned guitars. An instant dreampop classic?
SingingGum – Sounds from Obscurity
Bryan Murphy, ex Waterbox and aka SingingGum, writes that he is influenced by the legendary 4AD bands of the 80’s and 90’s. On his contribution to the compilation Silver I could only hear only the one, that being Grangemouth’s finest. It certainly sounded like it could have been lifted from Victorialand.
Silver is the opening track on SingingGum’s latest release which is April’s Sounds from Obscurity EP. The five instrumental tracks here not only echo to a shallow bay but also to the likes of Dead Can Dance, Ultra Vivid Scene, Lush and The Pale Saints to name but a few. A nice retro trip for me and something that should stand out for others in an overtly crowded genre.
Records I Like 