where we come from

EVIL MEN HAVE NO SONGS WHERE WE COME FROM EP independent 2013

Little is known about Hungary indiepop scene. As far as I know, Evil Men Have No Songs is the only one I know.
I got to know this one-man-dreamy-bedroom-project during the days when Holiday and Beko DSL released a single every Friday and Monday respectively... or vice versa.
Back then, a guitar driven song called 'No You No Me' got me instantly.

His 3rd EP - Always Somewhere Else - comes out with less frenetic (and distorted) guitars but richer in melody and texture. 

The hook in the title track is quite addictive. 

facebook     bandcamp     buy     interview (05.2010)

i thought you were my friend

GHOST LAKE I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY FRIEND EP INDEPENDENT 2013

Henric Wallmark's musical vehicle Ghost Lake is back with its 2nd EP featuring 3 new songs and 2 versions by guests Marcus Kimaro and J.O. Hansson.
The fun and playful manners are there in the title track 'I Thought You Were my Friend'. It channels the best moments of the warmest melodies from Suburban Kids With Biblical Names and works as a reminder that Ghost Lake is the project of the mind behind one of the catchiest indie pop makers Sweden's gave to the world - Heart-Sick Groans.
The songs 'Why I Don't' Like Clean-Up' and 'If I Did It, It Must Be Right' are endearing, heartfelt and soothing in their simplicity and atmosphere. Indie pop lullabies, if you will. These two songs appear twice: performed by Ghost Lake and versions by guests Marcus Kimaro and J.O. Hansson.

With Ghost Lake, Wallmark goes deep and wanders through a path where acoustic and electronics walk side by side - probably silently holding hands - surrounded by minimalistic trees, desert surroundings and contemplative, organic feelings. What matters, after all, is how we translate life and reality on the inside.

facebook     bandcamp

INTERVIEW 67. beach vacation

DIY escapism made in a small town located on Whidbey Island, Washington. That's Beach Vacation.
Their first EP, Maritime - released last Monday via Dufflecoat Records - is the debut EP that Captured Tracks will never release. It is such an exciting introductory piece! It's on the edge of surf and jangle pop with a very unique and fresh appeal.
With the opening track 'Waves', we dive into their melodies with the sound of the ocean, seagulls and a crystalline guitar strumming. Compared to the other tracks, it sounds quite conceptualized and contemplative, but it works perfectly preparing us for the what's next.
For the rest of the EP, we get a sound that's warm and with rich textures.
'Washington Weather' and 'Escape' are simply beautiful. Joyous in their melancholic yearning.
I like how you're are able to dive into their melodies and actually feel a breeze and really escape. Even though the EP has less than 10 minutes.
Fantastic release from an exciting new band.



facebook     bandcamp

Read my interview with Tabor, Tyler, John and Justyn below.

keep reading...

nectarine

COLOURED CLOCKS NECTARINE (independent, 2013)

Heartfelt progressive pop psychedelia. Or as the band defines it: augmented pop. From Melbourne, Australia.

facebook      bandcamp

mateo de la luna en compañía terrestrial

MATEO DE LA LUNA EN COMPANIA TERRESTRIAL S/T (independent, 2011)

It took a year to discover this precious, affecting and romantic indie pop gems coming from Argentina.
The name of the band can be translated as Mateo from the moon with terrestrial company and started as a one man project (Mateo). Later, two of his friends became his terrestrial company.

Their debut ep is available for free download on bandcamp. Five songs dripping naivety, melancholic melodies and messages of love.




facebook     bandcamp

chaotisch eyes. 2

ABADABAD CALIFORNIA BIRDS

After talking about Abadabad's latest release - The Wild EP - and some non stopping listening, I felt like making a video for one of their songs.
While, 'All The Bros Say' is the must listening song from the EP, 'California Birds' was the one that inspired me. Well, timing played a big part on it: the song was playing while I was going through some movies and when I saw the name Winged Migration, it wasn't very hard to connect the dots between movie and song.

According to Abadabad, it is a rad mix of trippy birds. Couldn't describe it better.

the wild

ABADABAD THE WILD EP (independent, 2012)

From Allston (Massachussets) comes Abadabad, a quartet (or quintet?) making spacey, dreamy and breezy pop with a touch of jangly and a touch of vintage groovy melancholy.

Their EP The Wild, was released on September, 12 and you should be listening to it right now. It's that good.
It is the most exciting free download of the year. Hands down.

facebook     bandcamp     soundcloud     twitter

'All The Bros Say' is one of those songs that you listen and 5 seconds into the melody you feel that music like that doesn't appear that often. An effective - and oh so affecting -  piece of summery pop.

american photo club

AMERICAN PHOTO CLUB AMERICAN PHOTO CLUB (Independent, 2012)


Kyle Breese and Ryan Huseman are the guys behind this project. They create a moody, melodic blend of indiepop and rock in the way we love the most around here, in CuC's lands: home recordings, DIY style.

Their self titled EP was release on August, 14th. And it's available for free download on Bandcamp.

site           facebook         bandcamp


Save Yourself is a beautiful song.

microscopic / recreation

GRAND RESORT MICROSCOPIC / RECREATION (independent, 2012)

The energy of jangle pop, the melancholy of british indie labels from the 80s and the dreamy, contemplative shoegaze walls of sound. That's Andrés Pichardo. A multi-instrumentalist  in his early 20s from Dominican Republican, now based in NYC (previously based in Boston).

'Microscopic/Recreation' was released earlier this year and it's a balance between poppy guitars and walls of - subtle - synths.
In fact, balance and effortlessness seem to be perfect words to describes Pichardo's music. The way he floats from one influence to another and/or mixed them together to create something of his own is admirable (and leaves us excited waiting for future releases).



                         facebook     bandcamp     twitter

He has two more songs available on Bandcamp and a debut album - Vanguard Dreams - is set to be released in September. 'Night Is Dark' is the first single.

jupiter

LA ESTRELLA DE DAVID JUPITER EP (independent, 2012)

La Estrella de David is, as I've already said (a few times, actually), one of my favorite spanish acts. David Rodríguez is an unique, discreet musical figure, making indiepop sound organic even when electronics are used and bringing a certain traditional music-esque feeling to his music. The kind of guy that seems to have a very personal and accurate idea of what is the universe his trying to create.

After two full lengths and inumerous collaborations (including his partner La Bien Querida and Joe Crepúsculo, two iconic figures of the contemporary indiepop in Spain as well), came out Júpiter.
It is a 5 track intrumental EP available on bandcamp. A collection of songs where krautrock meets David's signature melodies and with a sense of travelling and movement.
'Autovía' sounds like an homage to Kraftwerk's 'Autobahn'.

(nevermind the cover art)



bandcamp      facebook       myspace

INTERVIEW 57. karibean

As you from the North welcomes the closeness from the rays of sun - commonly known as summer - and your days tend to get dark around 10pm, probably some of your musical habits may change. You let the more introspective things aside and go to more sunny, warm, outdoor-sy and upbeat places of your music library. And talking about sunny and upbeat: do you know Karibean?
To welcome the summer - even though I'm wearing double layered socks and a beanie - I decided to publish an interview with my favorite indiepop trio from Italy: as I said it before - Karibean.

facebook        bandcamp      soundcloud   

Last year, their first ep called 'Love Tears and Spiritual Blessings' caught - not only - my attention with its beautiful melodies soaked in sun, beach, DIY, 60s pop and late 80s/early 90s indiepop.
The EP was first released independently (and for free download) and later was reissued - also as a free download - via EardrumsPop.
Among the songs, 'Gregorian Spring' stands out as the track of the EP and could (should!) be considered an indiepop hymn for its uplifting effect, combining melody, harmony and an outstanding and moving dialogue between vocals and backing vocals.



At the moment, they're preparing the release of their new ep - Andersen - (out in 4 days - June, 27) in collaboration with MATTAlab and We Were Never Being Boring Collective.
'Off the Lip' is the first single.


Check the interview below!

keep reading...

fun water

ANDREW AND THE SAFARI RANGERS FUN WATER (independent, 2012)

The other day I received an email from Andrew telling me about his music project. It happens that the Safari Rangers are the adventurous - and imaginary - band mates of his.
Andrew is a high school senior from Rhode Island and makes super fun keyboard/ukelele based indiepop on the family computer in the dining room.
The whole aesthetic is lo-fi and evokes those restaurants with live music where a guy plays throughout the night various classic songs armed only with a keyboard. I don't mean that in a bad way... actually, in Andrew's case, it fits perfectly to the super fun and playful lyrics. The result is extremely endearing and captivating. Take 'Together In Lisbon' for example... I doubt the doo-doo-doos  won't get stuck in your head.



The album has 9 songs and barely hits the 18 minutes and it's a pleasant indiepop experience. You can get it for free on Bandcamp.



facebook     bandcamp

alfonso el pintor

ALFONSO EL PINTOR LA CASA ROSADA DE ALFONSO EL PINTOR (independent, 2009)

Alfonso el Pintor is a band from Buenos Aires and is a celebration of colorful, bubblegum-ish, romantic and naive indiepop.
It all started in 2004 with Emiliano Sánchez and soon the solo project became a band. The guitar driven music with moments of electronic percussions is often adorable and in songs like 'Nuestra Canción' and 'Te Gusta el Rock' you wish they were somehow solid so you could eat them. I bet they'd taste sweet as a pink marshmallow.

You can get their debut CDR Buen Día Te Quiero Mucho (Good morning I want you so bad) -from 2005- and their latest (and only) LP La Casa Rosada de Alfonso el Pintor (The pink house of Alfonso el Pintor) - 2009 - at their website for free.
A new album is set to be released later this year.




site     facebook     bandcamp     soundcloud

INTERVIEW 55. tear talk

photo by Rosie Woods

Tear Talk is a band from Liverpool formed by 4 boys in their early 20's. They met in school and spend a lot of time together listening to Black Tambourine and all the C86/Sarah Records movement.
Beat Happening changed the perspective a bit and from music lovers they became music makers thinking that "if they [Beat Happening] can make it, why can't we?"

In January, Port Sunlight was released via Bleeding Gold Records. Six songs filled with reverbs, some distortion and indiepop gentleness (and sadness). Pop melodies soaked into a background of noise but also sparse elements. An atmosphere of fog and dust that suddenly let's the sun come out between melodic changes and pure, pure fragility.

Quoting them: "...awkward, introverted and melancholic". 'Broken English', the closing track, is a great example and an outstanding ode to melancholic times and the sad ones.


     facebook     bandcamp     soundcloud    

Below's our interview. Time to Tear Talk talk....

keep reading...

civil love

CIVIL LOVE CIVIL LOVE (Independent, 2012)


Civil Love is a band formed in London by 4 guys coming from different places of the world.
Their music is firmly based on 60's pop with references from the 90's indie bands that made sugary guitar driven pop without being too sweet.
If I had an 'Indiepop Promise' badge, I'd give mine to Civil Love.


Earlier this month, a debut EP was released with 4 songs. You can get it at their bandcamp page.




facebook     bandcamp     soundcloud

INTERVIEW 54. the sorry shop

photo by Thiago Piccoli

The Sorry Shop is a bedroom project created in 2011 by Régis Garcia in Rio Grande, south of Brazil. Combining shoegaze with lo-fi and a bunch of references from the american alternative movement from the 90's filled with reberbs and distorted guitars.
His music is both a look from outside, from the distance but also a heartfelt experimentation that sounds urban and somehow chaotic, just like our modern lives.

Last year, 'Thank You Come Again' - an EP with 5 songs - was released and last month, his debut album - 'Bloody, Cozy, Fuzzy' came out.
Both can be found at Bandcamp for free download.

'About Kings and Queens I' is one of the best songs released last year.




                 facebook     bandcamp     soundcloud     twitter

keep reading...

INTERVIEW 53. doble pletina

photo by Ramiro E

With a song made to close the discotheque, Doble Pletina took Spain by surprise and became one of the main promises of the colorful independent scene of the country.
'Música para cerrar las discotecas' is already a classic, an anthem for indiepop kids and - as spanish indie bible Rockdelux said - "a song to dance with tears in your eyes". With an apocalyptic atmosphere and a calm - yet strong - drumbeat the song goes 'Music to close the discotheque, something to dance if the end is getting close...' and suddenly you're under Doble Pletina's spell.
Mainly an acoustic act, this Barcelona based group delivers mesmerizing indiepop where love and everyday life are sung via a clever, melodical and charming perspective.
Emotional and extremely musical.

facebook     bandcamp     vimeo (tons of videos!)


Their first release 'Para que négarlo, si se puedes demonstrar' is available for free download on Bandcamp.

With a mixture of surprise, shock and a certain pride, I present you're next favorite spanish band in their first international interview...

keep reading...

el murmullo

TEMPLETON EL MURMULLO (Independent, 2012)

photo by Marcos Sanchez

A few days ago I ran into Templeton's bandcamp and had the pleasure to listen to their new album entitled El Murmullo (or The Whisper). Templeton is a six piece band from Torrelavega, North of Spain.
This is their second album. In 2009, Exposición Universal was released via Subterfuge Records.
El Murmullo is a 10-track album and couldn't have a better title since - song after song - slow paced gems are delivered with a beautiful and very particular imagery of broken hearts and deceit that is continuously built throughout thoughtful lyrics.
To make this album, the band asked for fans to send them things that they associated with whispers, so they could use them as inspiration. As for the band, whispers are connected with fear.
The highlights of the album are 'Mar Cantábrico' - comparing two individuals where one is the cantabric Sea (cold and acid) and the other being Cote d'Azur ( a natural disaster that still makes the other tremble) is absolutely fantastic.

'Los Días' tells the story of a love taken for granted and has a video featuring two girls (or their memories) involved into a dreamy and full of light atmosphere.
This album is full of pop references - pop from the 60's, spanish indiepop from the 90's, flirtations with electronics used to punctuate the most upbeat song of the album 'Sabe Mejor', somber moments where the fear is almost palpable...

Everything is filled with a delicate and sensitive aesthetic that makes it all kind of irresistible.


Here's a live performance of 'El Caminante' - another favorite of mine - for Esquire Spain.


El Murmullo was released only in vinyl. You can also get the album at their bandcamp page.

facebook     bandcamp       twitter

cream

FIELD TRIP CREAM EP (Independent, 2012)

Field Trip is a band from Melbourne formed by 4 boys. It first caught my attention earlier this year with their first single 'You Make Me Sleepy'.
Last week (sooner than I imagined - and for my delight), an EP called Cream EP was released.
Four songs with a shoegaze - alternative 80's influence soaked into a languid and fresh take on surfpop and C86.
BAND TO WATCH! (That's right. In capital letters.)

Cream EP is available for free download on bandcamp.



facebook     soundcloud     twitter     bandcamp

la historia de un artista (homenaje a daniel johnston)

V.A. COLOREANDO A DANIEL JOHNSTON (LA HISTORIA DE UN ARTISTA)


We have the awful habit of labeling as crazy people that see things differently (ok, now I'm practically plagiarizing Apple's ad). What I mean is, we are unable to deal, as a society, with the outspoken, original and sensitive ones. The path we chose that led to our current social state has no space for meaningful, and multi-perspective exchanges. And that's our fault.

And from time to time, a particular crazy, misunderstood and lonely voice stands out and produce waves throughout a generation. The 80's and early 90's seemed to be Daniel Johnston's moment. Or maybe Johnston was the voice that better translated the young modern angsts of the 80's-90's kids. And let's be honest: few people embody the unadjusted, troubled and sensitive modern man as good as Johnston.

Last month, a compilation featuring bands from Spain and Latin America was released.

The project (free and non-profitable) was started by two guys from Granada (Spain) with an obvious admiration for Mr. Johnston. Throughout the 18 songs, we get unexpected covers and versions in spanish from an important - and quite underrated - group of contemporary artists from the spanish indie scene (or the indie scene in spanish).

COLOREANDO A DANIEL JOHNSTON (or Coloring Daniel Johnston) features consolidated indie darlings like Los Punsetes, Odio París, Alondra Bentley, Barcelona's greatest La Estrella de David and last year's latin sensation Las Robertas.
(Highlights to underground acts like Varaverde, Capitán Sunrise and Nine Stories).


The compilation is a fuzzy combination of guitar distortion and some pretty interesting and creative takes on Johnston's body of work. The album is part of a zine and is available for free on bandcamp.




bandcamp      facebook