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10 Recent Discoveries
Here are 10 tracks that I’ve recently discovered and have been listening to a lot. Not all of them are new. But they’re all new to me. Hopefully, you’ll find something new to like, as well. Enjoy!
She, Sir – “It’s My Way of Staying Connected”
An excellent blast of bombastic shoegaze brilliance from the equally brilliant 2010 album Ev’ry Thing In Paris.
Blouse – “Into Black”
As far as I can find this Portland band formed in 2010 and only have a couple of singles to their name so far (available from Captured Tracks). The music could be described as coming from the place where chillwave and dreampop collide. I hear traces of influence from the likes of New Order and the poppier side of The Cure, as well.
Henry’s Dress – “Hey Allison”
I absolutely love well crafted, but scuzzy, noisepop. So, I have no idea how this one, from the album Bust ‘em Green, has eluded me for all of these years. You’d easily be forgiven if you mistook this for a British C86-era band from a decade prior to this one’s 1996 release.
Cut Off Your Hands – “You Should Do Better”
Is this NZ group the second coming of Kitchens of Distinction? That’s not far off at all. I also hear quite a bit of Echo & The Bunnymen, some Smiths jangle and a bit of Go-Betweens as well. Hollow the album that this one appears on is a stunner too.
M83 – “Midnight City”
The first single off of the highly anticipated forthcoming release from French indie/electronic sensations M83. They were a little bit ahead of the curve on the whole merger of indie music and dance music craze, and I think that still comes through in the quality of their songs.
Total Control – “Carpet Rash”
Total Control take a hodgepodge of different postpunk influences and turn them into a pretty great sound.
Widowspeak – “Harsh Realm”
Over the past two years Captured Tracks has proven that it is the most solidly reliable record label going right now. Almost everything they put out is solid and Widowspeak is just another example. If you’re half as obsessed with Hope Sandoval (of Mazzy Star and The Warm Inventions) as I am then this is quite likely to be up your alley.
Hoop Dreams – “XCPR”
Ummm, did I mention that I’m obsessed with Captured Tracks yet? Well, here’s another band that I found because of them. This VA crew only has this one single out so far and both of its songs are brilliant, melodic, anglophilic indierock that I think will have broad appeal, while still making the snobbier amongst us happy.
The Servants – “The Sun, A Small Star”
First rate, jangly, C86 indiepop from a band that featured members of the Housemartins and The Auteurs. I’m ashamed that I hadn’t heard this band until this week!
Deleted Scenes – “Bedbedbedbedbed”
A mellow, lo-fi(ish), bedbedbedbedbedroomy track from a band that I don’t know a thing about. Haven’t yet decided if this is going to be a short affair that I tire of soon, or something that I might keep around for a bit.
