Pick Of The Week: Whails
Whails, an infectious 60′s style band that immediately reminds me of the Beatles. The voice vibrating over sunny hits, completely calls to front your happy sensory missions. Not clear if the new music is a 4 track ep, or there’s more somewhere else. Regardless, we have tracks to DL for free. Coming to us from Perth, Australia the group hits all the classic sounds trickled with a modern edge. You can tell they appreciate the fundamentals of writing a great song, but they’re not afraid to listen for the things surrounding the basics. Exploring at times, the mysterious Lo-fi Pop sensibility, Whails is the kind of group begging for an unconnected turntable, whose vernacular evolves via the purple wings sheltered from the storm. Its flying above us in the desert, like water beads bouncing down the colored glass. Yeah, I’m tripping out to this.
Cassida Pax Wild Fire Highlights
Cassida Pax is warbling through this retro ether, more like sniffing the good glue then walking the park after dark. Ricardo Stacey out of Canada lives in the Lo-fi TAPE culture. The bedroom pop aesthetic never seems to go away, daily finds of experimental goings on. An explorative measure so expansive the genre continue to rain down supreme pretty lights. Cassida Pax is another pleasant vibe in a long line of great wild wonders. Head over to his bandcamp page, and peep the massive collection of releases.
Cough Cool While You Can
Philadelphia’s Cough Cool, no doubt an explorer of his particular guitar blizzard wonder, released “Blue Eyes” a week ago via his soundcloud account. The track is a lazy player, with enough wash to drowned out the three-day hangover you’ve recently suffered through. I keep seeing a swimmer exploring the caves, something like that.
Cough Cool is Dan Svizeny, a seemingly classic indie personality resonating sounds with a heavy hand on the guitar, gritty vocal, simple drums. An outstanding music that sits high up in the lo-fi aesthetic, a personal favorite. There’s quite a few releases I found on iTunes, something to look into.
Future Valleys Jumbled Star
England’s Future Valleys, currently splitting time between the 60′s, the 80′s, and now he’s into a more experimental electronic music. Its to the point where you’re unclear whose making what, I had to email him to make sure the rock stuff was actually him, or an accidental upload with the new electronic material. Future Valleys really connects all of them together on some of these numbers. Take the song “I will never die,” a White Fence style vocal showered in an 80′s ether, leaving the edge for a garage oriented rock.
I appreciate explorers like this, people wanting to make everything they can. Not a product, not a plot to swoop up a market, but instead self discovery through the lens of some unknown desire to create. The first track on this list of great work, is a summer time player for sure. And probably will be on Acres mix #2. I’m pretty stoked I found this Artist. You can’t put the Lo-fi like this in front of my ears without pure excitement. I love the mix of sounds, but I would really love a Future Valleys record of the hazy garage sound. There might be one, but like so many great talents on soundcloud, there’s a lack of links to info on them. So I have no idea if there’s more info, an album, or maybe a side project making elevator jams? Regardless, the soundcloud pages are a good start.
Babe Terror’s New Tape Haunted Anarchy
Warbly grain fills the spectrum on Babe, Terrors new “Perdizes Campe Seniors”. A haunted tinged 12 minute looper thats video is an abstraction collage of old movies, basketball, and some other transposed weirdness. All pretty heady, and potently fitting for the neo-cassette-culture-movement. The new Tape came out on Glue Moon. Listening through it has a dark drone appeal. The constant looping sounds that smash against the tide, are possibly being transmitted by some beat box over top the valley. Almost a warning signal that some Walking Dead shits about to happen. There’s an anarchy to all this, the album starts to get into a discernible music tone on “Berlin Trendy Lifters & Halterofillists” but it’s still filled with this chase. This record is looming, something is going to happen, I just hope I grow wings before then so I can fly my family out of dodge. Seriously worth the listen, for me it’s about exploring what Babe, Terror is thinking with his decisions on College Clash. Two parts Art Installation, one part music. Pretty cool. Tapes are 6 bucks on Glue Moon, digi 8 dollars via Babe, Terror. A stand out track for me was B2 “Nairobi Party Loners & Trashhopers”.
“College Clash” is a tribute to american college basketball, telling a story of secret college meetings and sports battles in a forest camp.” ~ Glue Moon Tapes
Echo Champs Gold Waves
Lush synth loops from Canada, Vincent Bussi or Echo Champs is a self-appointed chillwaver with extra emphasis on the wave. A personal favorite I might add, but there’s an atmospheric tone that gets me to some almost sad places here, mainly my own worry of self doubt, and terrible tendency to drown in past steps. It’s not that kind of music though, I think the aesthetic “Shiny Eyes” envelops is the kind that gets me wondering, and on occasion my foot gets stuck in an old thought I’d rather not remember.It’s also the perfect hazed out beach bum track, it gets you dazed out looking at the semi-awkward family trying to get their shit in order, so they can have a family picnic. The odd part of the tune is the sample vocal, it adds an element that gives this shiny number some genuine freshness. A hop-wave filled with atmospheric hip shakes that will either get you wet, or find you coloring alleyway bricks. Honestly I could paint a million pictures in my head based on this song, or it could be the super strong coffee this morning, mixed with the birds outside. Whichever is the stronger influence, Echo Champs has a plethora of releases on Bandcamp, and SC, so I would get into it here.
~ Ryan Boos
Julsy Vivid Foliage Dream
The voices are calling from a distance, the sort of distinct feeling you get when the loss of direction over takes your being. The energy is hard to come by, but you forget that your legs are still moving, even if your brain weighs a ton. On “Stray” these vivid impressions stick to my shoulders, and crawl up my spine. The unfocused imagery of an (almost) empty whiskey bottle, keep you dazed enough not to go through the door that you know leads to the wrong place. This tune rides the line between some serious shit for me. But its fantastic ability to run through multiple types of music, is exactly what we expect from a tune featuring France’s Julie Cocq AKA Julsy.
The other player on this tune Olaf. out of the netherlands has some great music on his site as well. At the age of 19 Olaf is making some wondrous ambient works that stand the tested value of good sound scape orientations.
~ Ryan Boos
Kyriakos Ioannou Is The Calm Cool
Out of Canada, Kyriakos Ioannou does “Make It Easy” with a steady dose of repeater, and the chant-esque to swirl your emotions up to dissect the meaning. At the half way mark of this short number, he starts to go into this nice flow, over and over. It’s indiscernible but catchy, and you’ll find yourself making your own batch of garble beauty as it plays. On “Stage” there’s a droplet haven for tears and the surreal travel log is full throughout the vibrant fall.Ioannou has the quality of providing the great ambience to your self identification process. I really feel the places in his music, the work is so calm, and cool.
~ Ryan Boos
Forever Lazy Aims For Digging
That ripped lo-fi with the warped dispositions, and then the warbly stain of a “who gives a shit” punches you in the face. Forever Lazy expresses sound the way a bad acid trip makes you feel like somehow the couch just connected to your spine, and if you want to take a piss you’ll have to try harder to move. But there’s this nice chilly spacious momentum. Its so laid back you might feel like you’re digging a hole the Mr. K left you in, just reach out a hand and ask for help, you should be good from there.
~ Ryan Boos
Naked House Paranoid And Neurotic
Naked House is Damon Guyett, from Waterdown Canada. On his soundcloud page it says “Naked House was born from a desire to find a way to express myself about why I think I am the way I am. I still haven’t answered my own questions concerning that yet, but that’s what the beauty about this project is to me. It’s the chase, paranoid and neurotic.” Many of us music makers feel this same way, but might not ever relay the message so clearly. If you find yourself making sounds and exploring the colors in your head, I’m guessing you’re looking for yourself while also creating something unique and plentiful for the rest of us to experience. In the shapes we create, I find my traveling goes to the field. I’m walking into the sun with amber wheat at my knee, which is not the most creative comfort zone to think of, but its repeated use make it easy, especially in these sounds. Naked House has a very free action recording style. You can tell there’s plenty of joy going into it all. These aren’t forced tunes, but something played brightly, with a respect to the art.
~ Ryan Boos
Ellis Swan “Don’t Wanna Lie”
Here is Ellis Swan dwelling in Chicago with his hazy, fuzzy, old school, vocal punches. Everything about Swan is antique. His lyrics are stories told like they happened straight out of the 30′s or 40′s, when that simple folk started taking over the waves of America. He has this twisted and dark sound that transports you to a cloud of fuzz and black and white images. Many of his tracks remind me a little of David Lynch, the way he sings his melodies, a little less creepy, which for Swan is a good thing. This track “Don’t Wanna Lie” has a heartbeat that you won’t be able to get out of your head it will haunt you with its simplicity and dark lyrics.
Swan doesn’t seem to have any albums out at this time, which is a huge bummer for me. Head over to his SoundCloud to listen to a collection of 9 tracks with a few available for download. Go get lost in that grainy hazy simple time of life and sound.
xx
Tea Leigh
Arc Light “Balance”
Arc Light is here to throw you back into the days of 80′s indie goodies. When I first heard this guy I put everything I was doing on pause, his voice reminded me so much of Ian Curtis from Joy Division with that legend living on through New Order! Arc Light is Ryan Gabel living in Brooklyn, NY who is recording constantly had has released several albums & EPs on his BandCamp . This track “Balance” makes you want to do so many things and it will be featured on Gabel’s newest release Ancient Soft. Personally, it makes me want to chill the fuck out and clean my room all at the same time. Not really sure how a track can put out such conflicting actions, but it’s happening. Give it a listen…
The image above is from his album Bronze Fortune released in February this year which has a very noise like, darkwave quality to it. The vocals are much higher pitched with a full sound of harmonies behind them, but keeping them steady with that drone electronic tone. This entire album is really incredible, as well as everything else he has released on his BandCamp. You can find $3 albums and free downloads, so check it out while you can! After that, head over to his SoundCloud or Facebook and give Gabel some love. I am certainly getting to be a big fan of Arc Light, this music is a perfect thing to listen to, as you get ready for your night.
xx
Tea Leigh
The Sporz Climb The Mountain Of Dust
“Life is so serious, because it is” belts Baltimore based The Sporz, which all rings into reality with a quick punch to the gut. On this richly bent number he’s telling us why be so particular about things, when we all know what happens, eventually. “We are remarkably organized mountains of dust, need I remind us where everyone is going to end up?” is such a powerful lyric on “Organized.” I typically relate to the realist kind of music, the songs that portray themselves as a quasi-pretty sound, but in all honesty they’re telling you to chill out, be happy, cause you’ll be dead soon. I have to disclose that this dude has been probably my longest running Soundcloud friend, but that’s not why I’m posting about him. I’ve been a fairly steady follower of his music. Lately, it sounds like he’s come into a new place with his sound, even though it still makes you feel drunk after a few listens, which in a very youthful way, I really enjoy. This comes from his particular brand of lo-fi. His voice always reminds me of the sound that would happen in the Lost Boys movie after MIchael drinks the blood. I sincerely feel like I’m swinging from bridges on this tune, waiting to see what’s beneath the fog. Lets just hope Nanook is there to save us all. Nab the FREE download.
Woah! No Way!
They’ll bury your hands to save their own skin. These revelations only break the mold with folksters and after glows like the one’s we find on Woah! No Way! She will haunt you with some of her tracks, but the beauty is in there, for me its personal and a tad bit melancholy. Sometimes we have to start over, because “It Starts Over.” I know I did some years ago, I miss the old days, but I’m excited about today. I’m from Michigan, she’s from Indiana, and I can hear my childhood in her music, that palpable midwest vibration, and dead of winter radio. I am a little sad, and shedding a weird smile. Those days were some of my best, lost in some thin wooded trees, or floating down one of the lakes. On “Little Things” I was immediately lost in some beamed out haven. Back in time, my car was in reverse down this hill, shedding a puke to drive home, even though it would still be a slanted drive after the catharsis. Back home has this darkness to it, no matter where you are. There’s these light patterns shifting through the old roads. So many nights coming home alone, so many nights wanting to be with someone, or new things that would lead to my finding more than what I had, right then. I did…
~ Ryan Boos
Introducing GOSH
I completely discovered these guys by accident, and what a happy accident this is today! This is a wonderful collaborative project from across the U.S of A (NYC to Wyoming!) I started with the track “Gramophone” which features Kim O’Connor’s mystic and airy vocals, followed by Keaton & Clancy’s magic music making skills (Harriman Exit). O’Connor’s voice reminds me much of Julie Doiron with that smooth and simple sound, that keeps you interested in every word, one after the other. I messaged them on the ol’ SoundCloud to get some dialogue going and as it turns out I have collaborated with Clancy in the past, you can find that track here. And here’s their story - Clancy got in touch with Kim via SoundCloud, and they started sending files back and forth. She flew ALL THE WAY to Wyoming to record seven tracks in the studio for their new album Mild Oath. In total, four people collaborated on this project, including O’Connor’s husband, Keaton & Clancy have yet to meet. The date is not set for the release but Clancy assures me it will be out soon! This is an album worth getting excited about, every track is a bit different, but still keeps the same colorful undertone. I feel as though I’m floating through some sort of weird southwestern KillBill desert. Head on over to GOSH’S SoundCloud for a little preview of what’s to come! They’re truly one of a kind.
xx
Tea Leigh
