Mathy indie rock band Warships find themselves in a precarious situation in the video for their latest single "Heater". The vaguely surrealistic promo sees them rounding about as they look for each other in an apartment complex hallway while two dangerous vixens continually haunt their path. The song is part of their latest EP Shadows, which was just released on June 11th.

"FFU", the latest single by taut fuzzy rock trio Lakookala, is a raw, fiery expression of bluesy dissonance that’s rendered by the impassioned vocals of main songwriter Nicole Raailli. The blaring synths are the centerpiece of the track, adding weight to the grimy, defiant mood that fuels Ranalli’s sullen heart. She’s celebrating the release of the 7" single with a record release party at Origami Vinyl on June 27th at 6pm. 

When listening to Cory Thomas Hanson’s new electronic pop album, III, I found myself constantly forgetting exactly what it was that I was originally doing. His music is so precise on its beats and transitions, and the euphoric feeling it gives you places you in a whole new kind of world and state of mind. Some might say that this comes from his culturally influenced background; after attending the innovative and renowned visual and performing arts schools CalArts University in California, Hanson learned how to synthesize a song properly and with great detail. But don’t get comfortable just yet, because this album is full of surprises and if you were expecting a full on electronic pop experience from III, you have another thing coming. With tracks like "Friends", "Can’t Fight The Feeling" and "Pretty Creatures", Hanson adds his own spin on a genre of music I am not used to. His fluorescent, Bon Iver style voice indulges you in a classic wasteland of psychedelic anthems and dream sequences, like in the track "Deep Water", where there are sounds of a babbling brook throughout the song. At the end of the day, buy this album, turn the lights off, lay in bed and close your eyes as the CalArts graduate takes you to new places within your mind you never even dreamed of going. – Kayla Hay

 Indie folk quartet Holy Folk are celebrating the release of their debut full-length, Motioning, with a hometown release show at El Cid tomorrow, June 20th. You can stream the album in its entirety, which includes their rapturous single "Time Lapse". 

Producer Danny Choi, otherwise known as Ghost Loft, creates haunting soundscapes befitting of his mysterious moniker. There’s a deeply felt sense of isolation in "So High", a bleak, seductive track that locks your senses in an enrapturing, grayish hue. The video for the track is just as enigmatic, a vaguely surreal visual art piece that casts a sensual spell with its echoing, crepuscular ambiance.  

The debut LP, ‘Hazel’, from quintet, Young Hunting, is mature and thoughtful. An album deserving of multiple, attentive spins, undisturbed in a dimly lit room. Written and recorded over several years, Hari Rex & Ilya Mxx, are songwriters who absorb the subtext of life, allow it to marinate in their bones, and slowly whisper back it’s poetry. The first three singles, “Maze,” “Sweet Bird,” and “Rust,” were individually leaked as the album progressed, showcasing the band’s lush arrangements and 70s folk pop influence. But, it is the newest single, “Wrecking Ball,” that proves the bands staying power. It’s the kind of deeply personal anthem filled with the magic that can stir gut-wrenching emotion is even the most disconnected listener. The album was released this week on Oakland’s Gold Robot Records. Young Hunting play the Bootleg Bar this Friday, June 14, followed by an in-store at Origami Vinyl on June 25. – Jacqueline Caruso

Before the set started I was warned by a friend to get ready for the tiny fireball of energy that is Kitten’s front woman Chloe Chaidez, who’s 19 by the way. My inner monologue of “Oh yeah, ok whatever girl” was blown away by Chaidez’s sex charged hair whipping performance just a few songs in. Supported by a classic rock sound and a healthy dose of 80’s post punk and new wave, Chaidez was acrobatic to say the least, climbing on amps, monitors and at times doing handstands onto bandmates. – Richard Kim

Cherry Glazerr is an apropos title for these teenagers making spaced out sugary pop music and having more fun than you at sixteen. They played to a small crowd of fans and won over new admirers early in the day on the main Sunset stage. The brief set was filled mostly by super short tracks of sweet melodies and wry lyrics describing youthful innocence by singer Sophia Creevy. – Richard Kim

The self-proclaimed “post-gangster soul wave” duo, Dream Panther, are offering some dreamy, chilled out soulful tunes for you on their debut EP, ‘Beyonce’s Child.’ The first single, “Chutes and The Ladder,” has that laid back R&B feel that’s been blowing west this year, adding elements of world music and atmospheric electronica to make this new genre all their own. The latest act to emerge from the local DIY collective, FMLY, these guys have an obvious sense of humor and complete lack of pretension that makes them even more endearing. Stream the track below and pre-order the cassette from Chill Mega Chill Records. – Jacqueline Caruso

You can’t take yourself too seriously when you’re having a rad time. Los Angeles garage rockers Pangea look and sound like they could throw an awesome party. Pangea rocked the first day crowd at Jubilee fest in downtown’s arts district with a set of catchy fuzzed out tracks including “Night of the Living Dummy” and “Too Drunk to Cum”. Other highlights were the fast paced punk-inspired “River” from The Killer Dreams EP released last year and even when they slowed things down with a screechy cover of The Ronnette’s “Be My Baby”, the crowd kept moshing on. – Richard Kim

Mind The Gap, a melting pot of colorful gentlemen, released a single called "Falling For You". The upbeat dance-techno, rock vibes makes you fall for the song, the band, and each and every one of its members. Their captivating music and sexy harmonies is just as dynamic as the band members, each of them with a different ethnic background; giving a fresh new taste to the average American indie band, the four include a Sri Lankan, a Mexican, a Korean and a guy from Cleveland. The act of falling for someone is a passionate and endearing sense of enlightenment, and they do a great job of throwing you directly into the emotion they are provoking. Catchy lyrics will leave you singing it for days and will stay under your skin as the beat and layered undertones of the music make you feel a new emotion with every hit of the drum. Mind The Gap’s crushing, fancy, heart pounding music will have you falling for them and their new album, “Youth”. – Kayla Hay

Much-beloved locals PAPA are gearing up for the release of their forthcoming full-length with first single "If You’re My Girl, Then I’m Your Man", which is getting the 7" treament on June 25th. The soaring new-wave-tinged rocker dwells over the tribulations of love, and narrates that classic theme where the distractions of living in a big city jeopardize a relationship that was once pure and authentic. Vocalist Darren Weiss continues to impress with his slightly affectling drawling as the song’s atmospheric synths coat its charging, brittle guitars. Hopefully there’s an announcement about a full-length soon, but until then, you can catch them performing at Fig at 7th on July 26th.