Who? Jeanines
What? ‘Winter in the Dark’
Where? Brooklyn
What they say? Jeanines’ self-titled debut album is out today! Coming from the ever-fertile Brooklyn indie scene, Jeanines put a very fresh spin on classic DIY pop, their new 16-song album ably exhibits the band’s skilled writing, smart arrangements and unwavering way with a song.
https://jeanines.bandcamp.com/album/jeanines
Why we love it? No it’s not winter but it might feel like it at times! The Jeanines are a ace new DIY jangle pop band, a collision of 60s girl group melodies and 80s indie, layered with undercurrents of post punk basslines and quick fire riffs, but lightened by main songwriter Alicia Jeanine’s excellent vocals and insidious melodies, which are weighed down by a wistfulness and confusion. It’s catchy and splendid! Their self titled album out now on Slumberland is a rummage through the shades of indie pop, a delight. (BC)
FFO: Dolly Mixture, The Aislers Set, Veronica Falls, The Pastels.
Who? YACHT
What? ‘(Downtown) Dancing’
Where? LA
What they say? “This music is a product of a technological moment that is rapidly evolving. It’s wonky and sometimes dances at the edge of meaning. It taught us everything we wanted to know about ourselves: how we work, what moves us, and which ambiguities are worth leaning into. We didn’t set out to produce algorithmically-generated music that could ‘pass’ as human and we didn’t want to use AI to write push-button pop songs, either. We set out to make something meaningful. Something entirely our own.”
Why we love it? A rewired milange of disco, electronic textures, delightful samples and funky grooves. Its punctured by a palette of NSynths ‘a neural synthesizer that uses a machine learning process called latent space interpolation to imagine new sounds in between traditional instrumentation.’ It’s the sound of getting down in town in the night time. Playful and elastic. (BC)
FFO: Talking Heads, Hot Chip, La Priest
Who? Rosehip Teahouse
What? ‘Growth’
Where? Cardiff
What they say? Commenting on the single, vocalist Faye Rogers says: “This track is about taking time to focus on yourself and your own personal development. I find myself in patterns of not focusing on troubles I’m having in life and how I tend to try and distract myself with my interactions with other people. ‘Growth’ is about stepping away from that and giving yourself space to breathe.”
Why we love it? The follow-up to their sublime previous single ‘Same Sky’ is just as good, Rosehip Teahouse delve deeper into personal growth, focussing tiny moments of wonder with vivid emotional clarity. Rogers’ effortlessly wistful tone radiates with a warmth and humanity swelling with the song from brittle beginnings via glistening chords, into another all-consuming swoonesome jangle pop gem that wraps itself around your heart. Tremendous. (BC)
FFO: The Sundays, Camera Obscura
Who? Alexandra Savior
What? ‘Crying All The Time’
Where? Portland, Oregon
What they say? When talking about the track Savior (full name, Alexandra Savior McDermott), who hails from Portland, Oregon, says “I wrote “Crying All The Time” on New Year’s Day 2018, I had moved back home to Portland after a rough relationship. After being dropped from my previous record label I started attending community college and about two weeks in 30th Century reached out and offered for me to go to NYC and have a new record produced by Sam Cohen. We spent about 3 weeks recording in his studio in Dumbo, Brooklyn, it felt very natural to work with Sam because he is an incredibly kind man, and incredibly talented musician and producer.”
Why we love it? A louche torch song that’s refrains ripple with an insiduous heartbreak and regret. Rustling with simmering, tremulous guitars, and a shrugging percussive lurch, peerless production that casts the atmosphere of a film noir. While Savior’s vocals both illicit and tragic, its like a song from a David Lynch soundtrack. Exquisite. (BC)
FFO: Angel Olsen,Lana Del Rey
Who? Nilufer Yanya
What? ‘Paradise’
Where? London
What they say? ‘Paradise’ was filmed on location in Istanbul earlier this year while Yanya was performing in her father’s hometown. Produced and directed by Yanya’s older sister Molly Daniel with camerawork and editing by Patrick Chamberlain, the ‘Paradise’ video pays homage to Yanya’s heritage, while her lyrics question whether paradise is a place or a feeling, she explains: “Trying to work out if Paradise is a place or a feeling ; do I want to go there? Have I been there? And if not or if so do you know anyone else who has? Do we holiday there? Or Is It not something you can buy a ticket for? Is it not that simple? Or maybe it is really just that simple? If Paradise was a country would we all be allowed in? What would the flag look like? Would it even have a flag? Would it all be a secret? Would you need a passport or more of a membership card? Maybe you can vote people in and also vote others out. Maybe there is a fair system of doing this after all and they have it all worked out. Sounds like a good place. We should all go!”
Why we love it? Taken from the artist’s brilliant debut Miss Universe released earlier this year, ‘Paradise’ sways with genial melodies and a perfect pop fluidity that carves Yanya out as one of the strongest young talents around. Using saxophones and delicate guitar chords, she guides us through her mysterious version of utopia. (NK)
FFO: Julia Jacklin, Aldous Harding, Hand Habits
Who? DZ Deathrays
What? ‘In-To-It’
Where? Brisbane
What they say? Fresh from wrapping up their 10-year anniversary tour, DZ’s have wasted no time getting back into what they do best: serving up head-banging party anthems. As gritty as it is punchy, ‘IN-TO-IT’ sees DZ take a bite into sprechgesang (AKA “spoken singing”), and we’re pleased to report that It. Is. Delicious. Parsons’ rough vocals narrate the punter living for the weekend, shredding light on Aussie society’s relationship with alcohol and the impact liquor has as a coping mechanism.
Why we love it? Big, dirty, distorted guitars, feral, thumping drums and wild, amped-up chorus’ are what DZ Deathrays have built their sound on over the last decade (yes, we are getting old). With its ragged, lo-fi vocals and neck-breaking grunge-inspired riffs, ‘In-To-It’ is yet another free-spirited anthem from the hard-working Aussie rockers. (NK)
FFO: Death From Above 1979, Violent Soho, Royal Blood.
Who? Gauche
What? ‘Flash’
Where? Washington DC
What they say? DC punks Gauche have just shared a third single ‘Flash’, which is the opening track from their forthcoming album, A People’s History of Gauche, out July 12 on Merge. Drummer Daniele Yandel (also of Priests) takes lead vocals and examines those moments when representation fails, when those abstractions we rely on to communicate something vital. ‘Flash’ is another example of how the band tackles such weighty topics as anxiety and capitalism (As with previous singles ‘Running’ and ‘Pay Day’).
Why we love it? A bombastic rattle of sharp guitar melodies and simplistic vocals, ‘Flash’ throws itself at the canvas to form a brilliantly fun, wonky and vividly coloured punk-ish indie pop hit that offers infinite joy to all who wish to press play. So, you better press play. (NK)
FFO: Ex Hex, Drahla, Priests, Orange Juice.
