Fotoform – Horizons
Gentle riffs phase over an ethereal mix, while a bass line provides structure and form, glossing over an icy tune before the drums arrive to elevate the energy. Seattle’s Fotoform is entirely in sync in their latest record Horizons. This record is cold, brooding and ethereal, conjuring and referencing an 80’s era of music where distress and unease […]
Pastel Coast – Sun
The second full-length from Pastel Coast gives off a warm and fuzzy feeling. Aptly titled Sun, this record evokes a fun energy inspired by warm summer days spent by the coastline of their native Boulogne-sur-Mer. Pastel Coast started out as the solo project of songwriter Quentin Isidore, who developed it further to form a five-piece with Benjamin Fiorini […]
Caution – Caution
Caution is a power pop-duo from DC, a fragment from the quartet known as Saturday Night. Nora Button and Cash ML had to move into different cities for their own reasons, but the spark to create something together still stands strong. Even with the challenges during the pandemic, the duo still managed to collaborate remotely and […]
The Boys With The Perpetual Nervousness – Songs From Another Life
Despite the group name, The Boys With The Perpetual Nervousness exude a lot of confidence in their sophomore effort Songs From Another Life. These guys are one of the more unique band arrangements I’ve heard of through my years of being a music fan, as both are operating long distance from Spain and Scotland – becoming a social […]
Koalra – Love Songs to Remind us That We Can’t Stand Each Other
Indie outfit Koalra has just released their latest album entitled “Love Songs to Remind us That We Can’t Stand Each Other.” This comes fresh after the band’s relocation to Portland (from their native Chicago) and a reshuffling of their lineup. Yet despite these huge changes, the band hopes to take things up a notch with […]
Dream Date – Dream Date
Dream Date released their self-titled full length album back in February 2020, and we’re absolutely smitten by their dreamy folk style. These songs are poetry and harmony, waltzing together in a slow dance. Despite working as a duo (and having too much gear between them as a result), Tasha Sloan and Sarah Arnold have crafted a […]
Nine:Forty:PM – Wave
Wave is the latest EP from Portland based post-rock/shoegaze outfit Nine:Forty:PM. We especially enjoyed this record due to its balance of ambient, atmospheric moments of bliss that are interlaced between loud and dense rock breakdowns. In one minute you may experience a lush and wide-sweeping glow of synths and groovy rhythms, before a wave crashes on along […]
Deafheaven – Infinite Granite
We find Deafheaven moving into a new direction in their latest album Infinite Granite. The San Francisco band labeled by fans as blackmetal finds themselves in a more subdued space in this record, dropping the screams and the blasting volume into something with more emotion, beauty and luster. It’s a bold choice for sure, and I don’t doubt […]
FRIGS – Basic Behaviour
FRIGS doesn’t hesitate. They come in strong. Their 2018 record Basic Behaviour starts with an anxious pull in opener “Doghead”, filled with abrasive energy and tugged by riffs that shriek in between the gaps of musical phrases. Vocalist Bria Salmena’ drives much of the emotion in each song, with Duncan Hay Jennings’ razor-edged guitars catching up closely from […]
Pastel – FRITZ
Bubblegum pop and gazed-out alt rock may be a weird combination, but it’s a perfect fit for the coming-of-age themed sophomore effort Pastel from FRITZ. Newcastle’s Tilly Murphy released her self-titled lofi debut at just the tender age of 17 in 2017. This new record catalogues the ups and downs of that three year period leading up to […]
Familiar Patterns – Swiss Portrait
Swiss Portrait is the project of Michael Kay Terrance, who recorded, mixed and mastered his latest record Familiar Patterns at the comfort of their spare bedroom apartment in Edinburgh. Through DIY magic (and skillful execution) Terrance has created a dream-pop world of bliss and escapism. The music has an expressionist style to it, more interested in the emotions […]
The Reds, Pinks and Purples – Uncommon Weather
The Reds, Pinks & Purples is the solo project of San Francisco musician Glenn Donaldson, whose DIY-pop sensibilities has led him to condense the moments of his life and neighborhood and capture it in their third album Uncommon Weather. These are songs that feel heavily close to home, one that transports us to the inner workings of […]