A look at what has been grabbing my ears for the first five and a bit days of 2025!

Bloom Effect – Portents

Brighton’s Shore Dive Records have collated the output of the Vancouver based Shoegaze trio Bloom Effect who comprise of Argentinian, British and Canadian musicians. Year Zero seems to have been around for a while now but is still a welcome listen. The reverb led and fuzziness of the EP reminds me of, funnily enough, Brighton’s Dreamchaser and there is plenty here to blow those new year’s cobwebs away.

Portents is out in CD and digital formats from the label.

Exploding Flowers – Crowded Streets

The Los Angles based Exploding Flowers will release their new album Watermelon​/​Peacock via Meritorio Records on March 21 2025. The opening track Crowded Streets has been released as the first single and it’s powerpop charms are somewhat hard to resist thanks to the melodic overtures of the song.

Vein Blue – Far Away EP

There is some delightful stuff on the new EP from the Los Angeles based Vein Blue. Opener Feel It, with it’s spoken word introduction, is a sparkling instrumental whilst the fuzzy poppiness The Real You shines thanks to the female vocals. The title track is a fast paced dreampop instrumental that sounds New Order-ish in parts. Only Trouble let’s the side down. It doesn’t even sound like the same band. Three out of four ain’t bad so grab it from here.

The Laughing Chimes – High Beams

High Beams is the first single to be taken from the forthcoming second album Whispers in the Speech Machine which is due for release via Slumberland Records later this month. As expected the song will worm it’s way into the listener’s consciousness thanks to retro jangling guitar sound and the stellar vocals.

Jennifer – Echoes of Solitude

I have a love/hate relationship with the Indonesian indiepop act Jennifer. They remind me greatly of The Orchids a band I have never got or understood and tracks like Understood will not change my mind on that one. But then they go and make a jangling, fuzzy track like Dikejar resplendent with catchy riffs and vocals that makes me question myself! My “ear jury” is still out but fans of the aforementioned Orchids may want to check this EP out. Get it from Disanorak.

Relay Tapes – Butterfly Rhythm

I have been a fan of the Brisbane based shoegazers Relay Tapes for a while now. I like the way they are not afraid to mix it up and experiment with other “genres” to make their music more interesting and deviate from the tried and tested shoegazing template path.

Butterfly Rhythm is a vibrant EP consisting of powerful songs tracks like Violets and Looks Like Rain which will have, at a bare minimum, your feet tapping. Other songs are tinged with psychedelia, folk and alt-Americana and you can always guarantee there is always something to listen out for on one of Relay Tapes releases.

Get it from here.