Today is the first time I have managed to sit down and play more than one song for a week and a bit now. Way too long for me and although the rest of the bank holiday has been spent walking and socialising, I finally got the chance to put my cans on. These tracks were part of my extensive listening session (so far!!!).

Here is the Playlist:

or listen on YouTube

And here are the individual tracks/info:

Beach Vacation – Lay Low

Lay Low is another one of those jangling tracks that Beach Vacation do so well by linking up influences derived from both 1960s surf pop and 1980s inspired indiepop. An ideal opener for today’s playlist!

Foliage – What?

A short frantic burst of bedroom pop with the driving synths/keys leading from the front. What? is a fine taster for the forthcoming sixth album by Manuel Joseph Walker, aka Foliage.

Le Pain – Rachel Veut Danser

Le Pain have dropped the 1960’s influences and have gone all disco on us. It’s a good call though as Rachel Veut Danser is a sparkling track and if you, like me, are a fan of what Girl Ray have been doing recently then this should appeal to you too.

Letting Up Despite Great Faults – The Do-Over

The Do-Over is taken from the band’s new Crumble EP. The combination of fuzzy guitars and ethereal vocals should not work, but it manages to do so quite effectively. The Crumble EP can be purchased from here.

The Shallows – Soft Night

Dreamy, erm dreampop from Boston that features strong female vocals and shimmering guitars that glisten and sparkle. Delightful stuff, especially when the tempo increases as the vocals and instruments vie for supremacy.

Acid Wave – Make Me Drown

Make Me Drown is taken from this new to me Texan outfit’s debut album Heart2Heart that will see the light of day next month. It’s a beautiful and delicate indiepop track and possibly the flag bearer for that genre going into the rest of 2023.

Heart2Heart can be pre-ordered from Hogar Records.

The Mists – Postfuturism

Postfuturism is the title track from the Hong King based The Mists debut EP. The EP is a mix of vintage sounding shoegaze and post rock. Where it’s the former, they have manage to update that sound effortlessly. The orchestral sounding synths on this track is a testament to that.

The Crystal Teardrop – Nine Times Nine

No need to describe this new UK outfit’s sound when they do it so well themselves! “Inspired by a mutual passion for the sights, sounds and creative experimentation of the mid to late 1960s, The Crystal Teardrop, with its unique blend of garage rock, psychedelia and acid folk, is forming.” And formed they have, as evidenced by this trippy debut single. Excellent retro pop!

The Photocopies – This, That, and the Other

Taken from the recent Amateur Dramatics EP This, That, and the Other is a short fuzzy indiepop song that is inspired by the past and is primed ready for the listening ears of the present thanks to it’s satisfying and supportive message about diversity. The Amateur Dramatics EP can be purchased from here.

Helen Love – Shifty Disco Girl (BBC session)

Helen Love’s 1998 session for Steve Lamacq from September (or was it June?) 1998 will see a vinyl release on Precious Recordings of London later this year. The session also saw the band covering The Clash track Tommy Gun, alongside Does Your Heart Go Boom and MC5. Order it from here.