New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Sunshine Boys recently released their sophomore album, Work and Love. This is the work of three local indie veterans Freda Love Smith (Blake Babies, Antenna, Mysteries of Life) on drums, Jacqueline Schimmel (Big Hello, Justin Roberts) on bass, and Dag Juhlin (Poi Dog Pondering, The Slugs) on guitar.
The album’s latest single is called "Summertime Kids" and is incredibly catchy, jangly indie pop.
Nothing stirs emotion quite like a serene country twang paired with honeyed vocals, both telling a story of gratitude and love, that is exactly what Liz Bills’ “Mama’s Song” does, and it does it so well. In the new music video for the song, photographs of families, and of course of mothers flash across as Liz contemplates through music and lyric the importance of being grateful for the sacrifices mothers make; those very sacrifices make tributes all the more necessary. Released yesterday to commemorate Mother’s Day, the brand new song is a message that hits home. Haverhill’s Liz Bills keeps things simple with delicate guitar string plucks and a vocal melody that is quite smile-inducing, quite fitting for a story to relate to. Stream “Mama’s Song” below for a good start to the week. – Rene Cobar, photo by Carissa Johnson
Mother’s Day can be a surprisingly reflective holiday — wherein we not only celebrate moms, but perhaps consider the necessary sacrifices inherent to parenthood. Songwriter Iris Lune commemorates her own late mother in new track “Note to Self,” released yesterday, in manners electronic and folky. A tactile, innovative indie pop single with elements evocative of Passion Pit, its instrumentals dramatically build to an explosive, emotive tribute, lyrically detailing grief and loss amongst punching drums and glittering synth. Such an effort serves well hidden nature of this past Sunday, and makes for a sentimental (and at times, soul stirring) listen; stream it below (and call your mom), and keep an eye out for Lune’s forthcoming LP lovelosslove dropping June 5th. Photo by Nir Aireli
Darkwave trio Replicant has released the first two singles, "Annihilation" and "Regression", in what they are calling their Pandemic Series. All proceeds from this series will be given to support local venues and their staff who have supported the band and so many other bands over the years.
This is the work of Garrett Vernon (Vocals/Guitar/Synth), Justin DeLay (Synth/Producer), and Jordan DeLay (Bass).
Like a cup of black coffee, New Hampshire’s Zero Front keeps things quite simple but oh so good. In his new EP, Static Faces, the singer/songwriter/loop perfectionist mixes clean electric guitar strums with modernist sound loops that create an environment fit for both an existential contemplation or escapism rejecting the former idea. “Cold Coffee” is groovy, with sustained sounds like robots conversing. Where “Vanity Plates” is as serene as a walk among a familiar place, “Sea of Tranquility (The Moon Song)” is the wrong turn that ends up being not the wrong turn, almost psychedelic in its slow nature. Zero Front has created a piece of work that feels like it was meant to belong only to him but has accidentally become something for all to enjoy and understand. Stream “Cold Coffee” for a simplicity that just feels and sounds like what you need this weekend. – Rene Cobar, photo by Ryan Burnham
Daisychain has released their self-titled debut EP. This album is well over a year in the making and great representation of the gritty, barroom rock the quartet has perfect over that time. The album closes with fantastic single, "The Wrong Thing", the group released back in February 2019.
This is the work of Nickole Regala (Vocals/Bass), Sophia Williams (Vocals/Guitar), Frankie Sripada (Guitar), and Peter Burger (Drums)
“God keeps rushing through your fingers, as the hour of life slowly disappears.” Such cryptic statements are an old hat for New York psych performer LUKKA, who on new song “Feed Me” splits the difference between the metaphysical and tangible through an engrossing mix of electronic and psychedelic. Notably more synth-driven than the project’s 2018 debut ENCOUNTER, the track’s momentum is found in an abiding, lively arpeggio and strengthened by lush, echoing power chords evocative of outfits like Unknown Mortal Orchestra and POND. This blend keeps things grounded yet atmospheric, incorporating the right amount of psych headiness and keyboard-friendly indie; such instrumentation also provides the perfect space for LUKKA’s free-form lyricism, a spacey falsetto that modulates between themes empirical and spiritual (and which inevitably become entangled in the track’s later half). You can stream the track now, as well as watch its visuals (created by artists Simone Brillarelli and Nicola Giorgio) below.
Kali Masi recently released a collection of demos, covers, voice memos, and bedroom recordings called "Square Pegs". This is the first new release from the group since their acclaimed 2017 album Wind Instrument.
This is the Math Rock of John Garrison (Drums), Sam Porter (Guitar and Vocals), Wes Moore (Guitar and Vocals), and Anthony Elliot (Bass and Vocals).
Imagine the energy of a summer festival where Blink-182, Mac DeMarco, and MGMT are all playing at the same time. Magic Bronson have tapped that energy in the form of their new single "Tell All Your Friends", an example of their style where indie rock meets EDM. Although they’re stripped of the ability to share their explosive sound on stage this season, the duo of Michael Nicastro and Matt Lieberman still have plenty of music to share this year; "Tell All Your Friends" is the first single from an album due to drop this fall. With more releases planned, Magic Bronson are bringing the party to your home; without the crowds, jacked prices for water, and heat, having your own festival might not be so bad. Take a listen to "Tell All Your Friends" below. – Will Sisskind
Jordan Reyes of American Dreams & American Damage recently release a new collection of early Synth recordings called "Closer". Reyes says that these recordings are the first time he felt he was getting "Closer" to harnessing something truly special from wherever it is that great music flows from.
I described Boot’s self-titled EP from last year as an effort that focused predominantly on indoor drama — both the cozy and the stiflingly uncomfortable — so it’s fitting their new single would drop in the middle of an extended period spent inside. Predominantly acoustic (with some nice slide guitar accents noodling among the instrumentation), new track “Bomb Song” deals with a comfortable day at home upended by the news of an incoming missile, though its characters seem to take the news in stride, opting to cuddle, watch movies, and go to bed ahead of their immediate incineration. Such interactions seem par for the course for songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Benjamin Carbone; much in the same way the various premises of the tracks on 2019’s Boot are overshadowed by a focus on human behaviors, “Bomb Song” is able to set aside news of a forthcoming apocalypse and emphasize the much greater importance the people in our lives have in comparison. It’s a quiet soundtrack for human companionship, the type of sensitive songwriting that’s necessary during our very strange times — stream it below. —Connor Beckett McInerney
