Stream: New releases from Mo Dotti, Motel 7 and Magic Giant

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From left: Mo Dotti (Photo by Sophia Negrini); Motel 7 (Photo by Paris Brosnan); Magic Giant

Catching up with three of Friday’s releases, from Mo Dotti, Motel 7 and Magic Giant.

MO DOTTI, “Guided Imagery”

“Guided Imagery,” the second EP from the quartet of Gina Negrini, Guy Valdez, Brian Rodriguez and Shelly Schimak, just about covers all the noise-pop bases. Kicking off with the slash-and-burn, mini-MBV epic “Loser Smile,” the quartet matches texture to mood as “Come on Music” shimmers; “Light On in the Sun” … well, imagine that. The cover of “All Dressed Up in Dreams,” from the 1995 album by Stephen Merritt’s side project The 6ths is pure bliss.

MOTEL 7, “Headphones”

The second EP from alt-pop duo Anton Khabbaz and Dylan Jagger Lee desperately wants to be as cool as hip-hop, desperately wants to be as affecting as pop and desperately wants to be a production flex. Which makes “Headphones” pretty much like 90% of what’s out there, except the alt-pop that wants to be R&B. Depending on your appetite for processed vocals, it comes off as pleasant enough, with, typically for the genre, a sing-songy bounciness that head-bobs down the PCH to hit all the southern California tropes. We wonder, “Are We There Yet?”

MAGIC GIANT, “The Valley”

Stuck in L.A. during the pandemic and unable to spread their musical cheer live, Magic Giant pays homage to their home turf on their sophomore album, “The Valley.” Anchored by the monster single “Outta My Head,” the album acknowledges two years of gloom, but only in passing. This is Magic Giant, after all (shout along with “My My”), capable of curing all in a big chorus. “The 818 (Roller Skates)” is good for a summer’s day on the path encircling Balboa Park; slow-building “Hurricane” tries to whip up a storm, but it’s just pop dust.