Griffen released his debut album, Sacred View, late last month. According to him this is almost a concept album meant to be consumed as whole preferably with headphones. The album focuses on hills and valleys of life, or as Griffen puts it a "life full of isolation and revelation”.

Musically, this is Electronic Pop with dark psychedelic elements with nods to Radiohead, Public Image Limited, and Dead Can Dance. We were completely caught off guard by this album and are sure you will be too.

Veteran PowerPop Quartet The Lilacs have released a video for the lead single, “Monica”, from their first EP in more than 25 years, The Lilacs Endure. The EP was released last week via Pravda Records.

You can help The Lilacs celebrate the release of their EP on October 19th at Phyllis’ Musical Inn.

Twin Peaks has released a second single, “Ferry Song”, from their forthcoming album, Lookout Low, which is set to be released on September 13th via Grand Jury.

The band will be touring in support of the album the Fall, and you can catch them at The Riv on November 29th with The Nude Party and Ohmme.

Vakash is the dark drone pop of Richard Winn, and earlier this month he released his third EP of 2019, “The Burning Will Come To You”.

This EP is just two track and 11 eleven minutes, but every minute is filled with a haunting tension that is both disturbing and enjoyable.

Video Game Designer and music composer Sean Han Tani has not only released his latest video game, “Anodyne 2: Return to Dust”, but more importantly for us, he has released the games wonderfully Synth-laden soundtrack.

Sean, who teaches game design and scoring at SAIC, released the original “Andodyne" back in 2013, but has released several games and albums in the meantime. Prior to this new game, his most recent title was “All Our Ashes”.

Fire-Toolz is preparing to release a new album called “Field Whispers (Into The Crystal Palace)” via Orange Milk Records on August 30th.

These are genre bending creations of Angel Marcloid who is credited with an array of instruments on this project including voice, drums, electric & acoustic guitar, fretless bass, virtual studio technology, field recordings, circuit-bent junk, composition, lyrics, recording, production, mixing, mastering.

You can catch Fire-Toolz at The Hideout on September 28th with Bbsitters Club, Giant Claw, and Seth Graham.

Improvised Jazz Trio Collector is preparing to release a new EP called “Post Rock Lately” on August 22nd via Matt Blair’s Scribbled Fang Records.

Collector is composed of Jakob Heinemann on bass (Chicago), Devin Drobka on drums (Milwaukee), and Matt Blair on Fender Rhodes and electronics (Minneapolis). The trio has been working together for seven years, but this is their first official recording.

You can help Collector celebrate the album release at Elastic Arts on August 22nd with the Kimmel/Piet Duo.

The Gunshy have released an ambitious 12 minute single called “Remember When You Used To Want To Die”.

This is the Anthemic Rock of Matt Arbogast, Ryan Ford, Andy Sivwright, and Colin Miller. The track is the first new music we have had from the band since 2018’s Undefeated Album.

Folk Pop duo Silvergirl recently released their sophomore album, Left On Central. This is the work of Steve O’Connell (Guitars, Vocals) and Joshua Wentz (Keys, Sounds)

This is the first new music we have received from the duo since 2016 and this is a beautiful, mellow, headphone album perfectly suited for an overcast end of summer morning listen.

Happy Face have released the lead single/title track from their forthcoming self-titled debut EP. The EP will be released by Midwest Action on August 23rd.

This is the Psych Rock of Bailey Davis (guitars, vox), Ryan Borens (drums), and Chris Keramidas (bass).

You can help Happy Face celebrate the release of their EP on August 25th at Beat Kitchen with Plastic Crimewave Syndicate and Frankie and The Witch Fingers.

Mermaid have released their debut single, “Find Me (Demo)”. This is the first single from their forthcoming debut LP that they are currently in studio recording.

This is the folk influenced R&B of Candace Quarrels and Brittany Campbell who met while working on the Chicago production of Hamilton.

Equip is the moniker of Vaporwave producer Kevin Hein. His latest project is called Cursebreaker X and it contains his recently released trilogy of singles, “Cemetery Moonglow”, “Nocturne Catacombs”, and “Shadow Dancer”.

This is glorious synth-driven electronic music that would be the perfect soundtrack to an adventurous video game.

Cursebreaker X will be released by 100% Electronica on August 30th.