Entertaining new EP from Danish indiepoppers The Glow Cats which is their first release since 2015’s Cat Bits compilation on the Jigsaw Records label. Like their previous work the I Don’t Feel Your Pain EP is full of catchy, fun, melodic pop tunes that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face none more so than the excellent We Changed… It’s available on a pay what you want basis from bandcamp. Continue reading The Glow Cats – I Don’t Feel Your Pain EP
I spotted this compilation over the weekend. It’s inspired by the 30th anniversary of the release of the NME C86 cassette and features a number of bands championed on this blog including the likes of Pale Spectres, Yumi Yumi Hip Hop, E’Spaniel and The BV’s. It’s available on limited edition CD via Peruvian label Impermeable Records. It’s also available as a free download. Facebook Continue reading Various Artists – CD16
This week’s pack of three centres on three releases from Swedish artists. Lamagaia – Aurora This is epic. 16 plus minutes of krautrock /space rock/drone or whatever you want to call it. It sounds like my favourite Loop records on repeat. Available on 12″ vinyl from Sunrise Ocean Bender. Or get it digitally. Homepage Agent Blå – (Don’t) Talk to Strangers Another slab of indiepop from Agent Blå. It didn’t grab me in the same way as the previous single Strand managed to. However, it’s still a fine track none the less. It just sounds a bit out of place. Maybe there … Continue reading Something For The Weekend? Three From Sweden
This week’s pack of three focuses on three forthcoming releases to keep an ear out for. Peaness – Seafoam Islands The flip side of the new single due for release at the end of this month on Oddbox Records. I did not hear much from Peaness in 2016 but they are off to a cracking start in 2017. Is it garage? Is it rock? Is it indie? Who cares because it is perfect pop to these ears. The limited 7″ single has now sold out of it’s pre-orders but keep an eye on their Bandcamp page in case any more … Continue reading Something For The Weekend? Forthcoming Releases
And staying on the post-punk kick that has dominated my listening in 2017 thus far here is an interesting demo track from Australian outfit Tortures. Unsurprisingly, with a name like theirs, there are plenty of goth overtones on this track and the vocal style/production gives the track a genuine retro feel. Facebook Continue reading Tortures – Condensed Trains (demo)
I have been listening to a lot of compilations featuring minimal synth/coldwave tracks from the late 1970’s and early 1980’s over the past couple of months and this new EP from Ukrainian outfit Par Avion sounds like it could have jumped from any one of them. These tracks have an extreme retro feel about them none more so than the excellent Simulakra that sounds likes The Normal’s Warm Leatherette crossed with Kraftwerk’s Pocket Calculator. Another high-quality release that is amazingly available on a pay what you want basis from Bandcamp. Continue reading Par Avion – Par Avion
Out Of Time is a taster taken from the forthcoming self titled release by Smokescreens. Their line up includes Corey Cunningham from Terry Malts/Business of Dreams as well as Chris Rosi of Plateaus. The track itself invokes comparisons to the jangle pop bands that appeared on the C86 cassette but I reckon they like a bit of noise as well which prevents me tagging them as twee. It also has a nice catchy chorus that reminds me of The Pastels. Cannot wait for more. The Smokescreens cassette will be out on Parked in Hell sometime soon. Facebook Continue reading Smokescreens – Out Of Time
Here are three bands from Russia that have caught my ear recently. Июльские Дни – Колокол Google translates the band and song name as Bell by the July Days and it’s an impressive EP that romps through guitar orientated post-punk territory with unabashed abandon. The highlight for me is the powerful sounding Крутится-вертится (Spinning, Spinning). Буерак – Влюбленный Альфонс Translated as Love Alphonse by Buerak I like this as it gives post-punk a fresh lick of paint. Very catchy and with a punchy vocal style. I am already checking out their previous work. промзона 96 – гордость The band actually … Continue reading Something For The Weekend? Three From Russia
I was preparing to post something dark & gloomy seeing as it’s January and most of us have all returned to work after the festive season. However, the weather is very sunny and glorious in London today and even goth coldwave act Forever Grey have let me down as Lost In A Moment is pretty upbeat – well for them anyway! As ever get it from Bandcamp. Facebook Continue reading Forever Grey – Lost in a Moment
It’s hard not to compare State Of The Nation to New Order and I am not going even to attempt to do so here. Suffice to say that this is a thoroughly enjoyable retro pop single that sounds like Blue Monday, Confusion and most of Brotherhood. Thankfully there are no pointless remixes this time around and you can get it digitally from Bandcamp. Another single entitled Amsterdam follows next month. I wonder what that will sound like? Facebook Continue reading State of the Nation – Rotterdam
Records I Like 