Perhaps the most entrancing element of “The Dead,” the latest video by New York songwriter Lila Blue, is the way in which it maintains a mellifluous air despite its various dark parks. Pervasive drone dominates the background as images of the artist somberly half-submerged in water inform the track’s visual component, yet Lila Blue’s lilting vocal performance, and lyrical defiance of looming death, endow the production with a celebratory energy.“If we don’t wake up in the morn, we’ll know that we passed boldly, fearless… rather than life whittling us down until we’re worn,” she sings, embracing both the end’s inevitably yet stressing the importance of a life well-lived. In this sense, “The Dead” resonates as a triumphant indie folk release, one that proposes a counterargument to the somewhat depressing conclusion to James Joyce’s novella of the same name, while maintaining a cooled atmosphere few within the genre can replicate. Watch it below, and stream the rest of Lila Blue’s recently released LP Leave Me Be, out now.
Tune in and drop out with David V Britton’s new video “Silk Null”
The electronic compositions of New York artist David V. Britton have a two-pronged effect, inclining listeners towards focus and meditative relaxation at the same time. Such is the case for new video “Silk Null,”directed by Jeff Mertz, which consists of Britton’s calming-yet-intense sound work against processed 360 degree footage of Mertz’s neighborhood, creating what he dubs a “virtual reality landscape.” Deep hues and a glitch-like quality well fit the at-times overwhelming nature of the track, creating an audio-visual experience that washes over the viewer in waves of varying intensity, never too lush but always hyper-stimulating. These qualities make “Silk Mull” recommended viewing for fans of abstract expressionism or long-form ambient music — think Brian Eno meets Mark Rothko. Watch it below, preferably with a VR headset if you’ve got one on hand, and be sure to check out Britton’s recent LP Qualia as well.
Bees Deluxe jam something sweet in new single “Nitro”
Sending us to a much-needed weekend, Boston’s Bees Deluxe jams something sweet in the group’s new single “Nitro” featuring the chops of drummer, producer, composer Poogie Bell who keeps a delicious groove going. “Nitro” features bluesy guitar licks and smooth vocals that soothe and mesmerize, something like sparkly spilled honey. The track has a fun Southern feel to it: a relaxed summer single that whisks us away to a place of comfort, maybe somewhere where we can dance alone. Is the world a better place with music in it? When you listen to “Nitro,” it sure seems that way; stream the new single below for a better weekend. – Rene Cobar
PREMIERE: Career Boy ponder an uncertain future on “What’s Next?”
One could view Brooklyn-based outfit Career Boy as the natural successors to last decade’s garage rockers — their white knuckle guitar work, marked by a slightly discordant sound, combined with frothy, fast and loose vox evoke the sound of predecessors like Jay Reatard and Harlem. In a different sense, however, new track and video “What’s Next” finds the band lyrically situated in an uneasy rut, pondering personal flaws of excessive drinking and “waiting for what’s next to come,” bounding outwards without a sense of personal direction. Moreover, such songwriting encapsulates the sentiments of our current age, capturing the energy many of us feel to do something, literally anything new, while feeling woefully uncertain as to what the first step is. Regardless of when whatever’s next arrives, Career Boy will be ready to start — stream the premiere below.
Ohmme “The Limit”
Ohmme, Macie Stewart and Sima Cunningham, has released the fourth single, "The Limit", from their new album, Fantasize Your Ghost, which is out thie Friday, June 5th, via Joyful Noise.
The new single is accompanied by the Hannah Welever directed video below.
Ohmme are talking part in the virtual Do Division Fest on June 26th with Wyatt Waddell, We Were Promised Jetpacks (solo), and Fran. They will also be touring the country this fall with Waxahatchee and this winter with V.V. Lightbody.
Thomas Comerford “Our Valley” (Quarantine Version)
Thomas Comerford has released a new single called "Our Valley". Comerford, who is currently mixing his fourth studio album, began writing this song while on a walk with his Dad in an area called the Valley, a stretch of parks, rivers and managed forests forming a necklace-shape in the Cleveland area. His parents would take this walk many times during their 50 years of marriage, but just taking the walk just six months after his month’s passing hit him in a whole new way.
As you can see in the video below the single was recorded remotely over zoom with his full band that had toured with him in support of 2018’s Blood Moon last summer. This band includes Ariel Bolles (voice), Dan Ingenthron (bass), Tom McGettrick (pedal steel), Kip Rainey (electric guitar), and Erik Sowa (drums).
Fat Night “Special”
Indie Soul group Fat Night recently released their latest single, "Special". This is the groups first release since signing with Acrophase Records, and the lead single from their forthcoming album, Let’s Live for Each Other, which is due out in Mid-July.
CB Radio Gorgeous EP
Vintage Punk group CB Radio Gorgeous recently released a self-titled EP via Not Normal Tapes. This is the work of Anna Kinderman (Hellwoman), guitarist Matt Revers (Negative Scanner), drummer Joseph Seger (Big Zit, CCTV), and bassist Jill Lloyd Flanagan (Forced into Femininity, Coughs).
This is DIY at its finest and will be available on 7" vinyl via Thrilling Living in the coming weeks.
Golden Rose Boy exposes a glitch in the system in new EP “Floppy Disk”
To say 2020 feels like a glitch in the system would not be a stretch of the imagination: it has all the qualities of disruption indeed. Golden Rose Boy, a chiptune artist from Manchester, NH, gets the tone just right in his May release Floppy Disk which takes the synth-arcade sounds we recognize and morphs them into something sinister and entertaining at once. Tracks like “Lofi Music To Die To – Rest” have a cold ambiance to them, robotic, yes, but also very much grounded in a dark type of biological-sounding atmosphere. “A Summoning – The Inevitable” feels like the anthem to the marching parade of your nightmares, it swells and growls in a manner that excites the imagination. Overall the short entry is something bizarre and welcomed, all at once, it fits the mood of the year; Stream “Golden Rose Boy – Victory Lap” below for something outside your comfort zone. – Rene Cobar
Jackie Hayes “Headache”
Jackie Hayes has released the lead single, "Headache", from her forthcoming debut EP, "Take It, Leave It" which is due out June 16th via AWAL.
The EP revolves around the mundane and exhaustive nature of work and small amount of repetitive life it allows you to live.
Secret Bad Boy “It Was Always Too Late”
Synth Pop group Secret Bad Boy has released their latest single "It Was Always Too Late". This is just the latest in a series of synth heavy jams from the mind of Ben Joseph.
Joseph has formed a super group around him including Woody Goss (of Vulfpeck), Mat Roberts (of Mild High Club) and Packy Lundholm (of I Fight Dragons), and Nicholas Tremulis on guitar.
The new single is accompanied by Kerri Lyn Walsh directed video below.
Fall Classic “Equals”
The Art Rock trio Fall Classic recently released latest album, Equals. This is the work of Ryan Jeffrey Smith, Christopher Grandberry, and Jonathan Kolar.
The lead single from Equals is an outstanding track called "Over Under", and is accompanied by the video below.
Fall Classic is currently scheduled to perform at the rescheduled Summer Camp Festival August 21st to 23rd in Chillicothe, IL.