C86, indiepop, Jangle Pop2 Comments

The Hannah Barberas – The Hannah Barberas Get Physical

Tom

The Hannah Barberas have compiled tracks from their first three EPs and have included three new ones for their first ever physical release. Hence, the title of course. I covered some previous EP’s before but will still give a heads up to the indie pop brilliance of Slow Cooked and the excellent Throwing Muses-ish Spellbound in case you have not heard these wonderful songs before. Of the three new tracks it’s the lovely I Like You In Blue that harks to bygone eras that tickles my fancy and the voice of Lucy is a delight. Very Amelia Fletcher like. The … Continue reading The Hannah Barberas – The Hannah Barberas Get Physical

Jangle Pop, Twee2 Comments

Nah… – Apple Blossoms

Tom

Nah… state this is Spring single is their best song yet and who am I to argue? It certainly has a feel good factor about it and you can imagine the wind blowing through your hair whilst admiring the trees on the cover. Joint vocals join jangling guitars and as the song reaches its climax it feels like it’s the ending to a film as our heroes ride off into the sunset. Flip side Primavera, which translates as Spring, has a Latin American feel. It’s a slow, romantic affair especially the bossa nova beats of the drums. It’s music (Latin … Continue reading Nah… – Apple Blossoms

Dream Pop, Dreampop, indiepop1 Comment

The Raft – Xanadu (Abloom version)

Tom

I am surprised I have never mentioned The Raft on these pages before especially given how good the Jellyfish EP’s were. The band who based in Neston, UK are centred on Phil Wilson (no, not the June Brides one!), Claire O’Neill and J Pedro. Xanadu (no, not the Olivia Newton-John/ELO one!) is taken from the forthcoming album Abloom which is out later this week on Brighton’s Shore Dive Records. The track is an epic, creative dream-pop song which showcases the band at it’s strongest and is a benchmark for the rest of the album. Abloom is available in CD and … Continue reading The Raft – Xanadu (Abloom version)

indiepop1 Comment

Various – Pálidos y Débiles EP (Grupos de Discos de Kirlian adaptan a los Smiths)

Tom

On this EP Five Spanish bands who have previously recorded for the Discos De Kirlian label provide covers of songs by The Smiths. Actually make that four covers as Silent James have contributed a song in the style of Moz & Co. Cover versions can be nonplussed affairs but there a couple of gems here. Mieu by Lavandera is their version of Panic sung in the Asturian language. Whilst musically it replicates the original down to a tee the bands native tongue really suit the lyrics, making the song stand out and none more so when they close with the … Continue reading Various – Pálidos y Débiles EP (Grupos de Discos de Kirlian adaptan a los Smiths)

Post Punk1 Comment

Sunflower – The Spiders We Caught

Tom

We stay in Belgium today but with a band from Bruges rather than Brussels! Their label is however based in the Belgian capital. Building on their 2017 track Heroin, which has been re-recorded for this EP, Sunflower deliver a modern twist on post-punk. The band’s music has that epic, stadia feel to it and the afore mentioned Heroin is very catchy indeed. However, when they deliver a poppier take on tunes that are soaked in psychedelia, Sunflower get very good indeed especially on the dreamy and trippy Monica Electronica. Interesting stuff. The Spiders We Caught EP is out now on … Continue reading Sunflower – The Spiders We Caught