Herlights – One Day

Well I am back from my holidays and away from all the punk I have been listening too on bandcamp during that period as well and there is more to come on that another time. Not sure what struck me initially about the One Day EP by Russian band Herlights. It may have been the name or the cover but I am glad I gave it a listen as it is a fine little EP mixing post-punk (those vocals alone) with shoegaze/dreampop and some fine drone/krautrock inspired programming too. Standout track for me is Morning Song which takes all those … Continue reading Herlights – One Day

Milkmustache – Imagine Us Together

Milkmustache are a Chinese Shoegaze band who hail from the city of Shenzhen. Given the tracks here they could easily have come from the city of dreaming spires instead. Actually thinking about it you would have to head further north to Leeds because there is more than a passing resemblance to The Pale Saints rather than Ride on these tracks even down to the song titles such as Dolphin and Shell Button. Those two songs are the highlights here being melodic, delicate and sometimes haunting. Dreamy spires indeed! Imagine Us Together is out via the BoringProductions label. Follow the labels … Continue reading Milkmustache – Imagine Us Together

Flyying Colours – It’s Tomorrow Now

It’s Tomorrow Now is the first single to be taken from Flyying Colour’s debut album Mindfullness that is due to be released in September on Club AC30. The album becomes an intriguing prospect after listening to this given that it’s a hybrid of psychedelic sounds, rock guitars and noise pop. Now there is a night out. Maybe tomorrow? Homepage Facebook Continue reading Flyying Colours – It’s Tomorrow Now

Your Friends Polymers – Snow

I heard Your Friends Polymers, or to give them their correct Russian name Твои друзья полимеры, for the first time via The Pop Underground Volume One compilation that is due for release next month. The compilation seeks to showcase the best of the current Russian underground scene. Your Friends Polymers contribution Snow is a poppier take on the shoegaze genre complete with fuzzy guitars and those hard to discern ethereal female vocals I am a sucker for. I must check out more! The Pop Underground Volume One is available in digital formats from here. The cassette version has sold out. … Continue reading Your Friends Polymers – Snow

Safe Places – Wild Ride

We are only a few weeks into 2016 and already we have a contender for a track of the year. Taking their cue from the likes of 4AD and Creation Records Austin’s Safe Places tear it up with Wild Ride. It certainly isn’t called that for nothing as it’s twisted guitar and distorted synths collide with pounding drums which are ably supported by vocals that are woven in and out throughout. If they carry on producing stuff like this they may well give Pinkshinyultrablast a run for their money. Tremendous. Available on a pay what you want basis from bandcamp. … Continue reading Safe Places – Wild Ride

My Dark House – HELL O

There is a lot of old tosh on bandcamp at the moment especially under “shoegaze” new releases category, which for the most part, is  pretty dull,  uninteresting and unoriginal. That said this effort from My Dark House with the excellently named HELL O is far and away the best thing I have heard on Bandcamp this week. Their mix of shoegaze and beats reminds me a lot of early Curve. Again not the most original noise out there but at least there are signs that they could make some interesting music in months to come. Continue reading My Dark House – HELL O

Records I Like Top 10 2015

2015 was the year I listened to the shoegaze and post punk revivalists in earnest. Club AC30 and Manic Depression Records both deserve a mention alongside the usual cohorts of Dufflecoat Records and Oddbox Records who delivered their signature brand of indiepop, diy and noise pop. I also started listening to full albums again with efforts from The Chills, Beirut and Robert Forster being high on the recommended list. I am still catching up with my backlog though and being heavily played these past few weeks are the likes of Appendixes and Tomiji. So without further ado here is my … Continue reading Records I Like Top 10 2015

The Luxembourg Signal – Dying Star (Cirrus)

Dying Star was one of my favourite tracks from last years self titled debut album by The Luxembourg Signal. Here it gets the remix treatment from Robert Hampson (Loop/Main) who adds drone and psychedelic shimmering guitars into the mix that further emphasise the ethereal vocals. Most excellent. It’s out now on a split 7″ vinyl (with Soft Science ex Holiday Flyer/California Oranges) and digital formats via Test Pattern Records. Buy it from here. And here is the original: Homepgage Facebook Continue reading The Luxembourg Signal – Dying Star (Cirrus)

Pinkshinyultrablast – The Cherry Pit

The Cherry Pit is the second single taken from the new album Grandfeathered which is due out in February 2016 on Club AC30. Once again the vocals of singer Lyubov Soloveva shine above the the winning experimental mix of frantic, shoegaze inspired guitar feedback and synthesised, digital beats. And I haven’t even mentioned the mosh pit finish! The Cherry Pit will be available on 7″ vinyl and digital formats. Pre-order it from here. You can also pre-order Grandfeathered here. Facebook Continue reading Pinkshinyultrablast – The Cherry Pit