The spare and soulful UMO/Tame Impala-inspired “Mind” is the second track online for New Zealand act Paper Giants. Locked tight to a cool mid-tempo groove and atmospherically enhanced by reverb-washed guitar leads, “Mind” is a neat pace change that we’re digging. Listen below.
Out today on our B3SCI Records is “Empire Underground”, the first new music from UK duo The Big Pink in over three years. Featuring single “Hightimes” which Pigeons and Planes noted would “immediately find its way into the memories of every listener” and Stereogum called second track “Beautiful Criminal” “a bit of a departure for the Big Pink, but the risk had plenty of reward”. Further details about the EP including purchase info can be found here at B3SCI Records. The band are currently in North America playing a series of dates (including SXSW) through the end of April.
03/04 – Marble Bar – Detroit, MI**
03/05 – Rumba Cafe – Columbus, OH**
03/06 – Duck Room – St. Louis, MO**
03/07 – Subterranean – Chicago, IL**
03/09 – Frequency – Madison, WI**
03/10 – Rave Bar – Milwaukee, WI
03/11 – Turf Club – Minneapolis, MN**
03/12 – Vega – Lincoln, NE**
03/13 – Bottleneck – Kansas City**
03/17 – Reeperbahn Festival Official Showcase @ Lucille @ SXSW – Austin, TX
03/17 – Austin Waterloo Road @ SXSW – Austin, TX
03/18 – Austin Tuned In @ Easy Tiger @ SXSW – Austin TX
04/18 – Mayan – Los Angeles, CA*
04/19 – Observatory – Santa Ana, CA*
04/20 – Soda Bar – San Diego, CA+
04/22 – Pop Scene @ Rickshaw Stop – San Francisco, CA+
04/23 – Dante’s – Portland, OR+
04/24 – Neumo’s – Seattle, WA+
04/25 – Biltmore Cabaret – Vancouver, Canada+
*Supporting The Kills
**w/ guests The Heirs
+ Headlining + supporting guests TBC
SoCal band Private Island follow-up first online hit “Enough” with 70’s rock-referencing new track “Drugs”. While sonically in line with the heavy guitar leads of rock’s pinnacle period of excess, “Drugs” is sneakily very modern in its arrangement, maneuvering structurally within an at the same time concise neatly hooky frame. “Drugs” is previewed from “Sunbreak”, Private Island’s new EP which is due later this year.
Tune into the amazing new song from new-to-B3 Swedish artist Tacocat (fab name). Wow. After merely hearing one of their songs its safe to say we dig the sound of Tacocat!! A veritable cornucopia of clever lyrics, playful vibe vocals, basic instrumentals (dig the guitar riff) and a perfect slice of pent-up aggro emotion, Tacocat’s “Talk” is the second single from the Hardly Art artist’s Lost Time LP (out April 1st on Hardly Art records). Reviewed by Erin Shay.
We’re smitten with blog favorite minimalist pop artist Day Wave (yet again) for his excellent new song “Stuck” the Oakland native’s recent dreamy-atmospheric melodic-toned synth-pop track. Day Wave effectively saturates the listener in a beautiful combination of subtle hazy instrumental elements, mellow atmospherics and enthusiastic classic chipper vibe pop vocals. The second single from Day Wave’s “Hard To Read” EP, “Stuck” is out on March 4th. Reviewed by Erin Shay
The dream-pop beauty “Icing Sugar” comes to us from 18 year old Newcastle UK songwriter Keiandra. Previewed here from her forthcoming “Empty Places” EP, “Icing Sugar” is a Cocteau Twins-esque styling of a hypnotic delay/reverb guitar/atmospheres symbiotically stretched to a deep groove with Keiandra’s sort of celestial singing floating atop the mix. Great track.
The A+ dark pop of “Run” is Eliza Shaddad’s new follow-up to her online breakthrough track “Wars”. The title track of a forthcoming EP, “Run” continues “Wars” immediate edge with Shaddad saying the song “has a life of its own, and I think half our total studio time was probably spent just trying to tame it.”, continuing, “It’s merciless in parts, musically, and lyrically, and a total beast to play live; getting to the end in one piece can actually be kind of cathartic.” Eliza Shaddad’s “Run” EP is out March 18 on Beatnik Creative.
The punchy “Rectifier” will be Manchester band Spring King’s first release for Island Records. Out digitally now and physically on March 25, “Rectifier” succeeds on its well-sculpted sense of melody and it’s cool juxtaposition between that more poppy sense of melody and a barrage of full on distorted guitars and crashing drums. March 25 is the date to know for “Rectifier” 7″ vinyl release.
The SXSW 2015 faves SHEER MAG drop off hooky new guitar jam “Can’t Stop Fighting”. Primarily driven by cool leads and an ever in motion rhythm track, “Can’t Stop Fighting” wins on it’s subtly strong melodic core (like try not to head-nod with that main riff). Get pumped, it’s new SHEER MAG.
