I’m caught in a Pitchforkian nightmare of indie band inbox inertia this week. In the mean time, while I get my retro-psych-rock reviewing chops honed to the standard you expect, let’s wave our glowsticks like wands of dream-energy and get loved up to Belgian indie electro-popster Styrofoam, aka Arne van Petegem. “Kids on Acid” is […]
Must be something in the water in Australia – bands with classic rock references worming their way into our ears with flashes of the familiar. While Wolfmother come over like sixth-form swots playing in the garage, learning the Black Sabbath songbook from A to Ozzy, Tame Impala are their slacker younger siblings, hanging out in […]
Coincidence: There I was, working on a mini-retrospective of the Wedding Present’s debut George Best (complete with sweet backing vocals by Amelia Fletcher), and into my inbox pops news of a forthcoming new album by Tender Trap (lead voice –Amelia Fletcher), “Dansette Dansette.” The core twee-o … er, trio of Fletcher, partner Rob Pursey and […]
Multi-instrumentalist Anni Rossi works quickly in the studio – meat and drink to Steve Albini, you’d think, who assisted her in completing the 10 tracks on her major label debut “Rockwell” (last year’s release on 4AD) in just one day. Now comes the first material from her sophomore album (no details yet on its release), […]
[Friends of Buzz Bands know of my longtime affection – some might call it a fetish – for Kiwipop. Buzz Bands is also fortunate to have a correspondent who lives in the neighborhood. So, straight outta Auckland, a nice album for you to download:] Arch Hill Recordings was born in a studio on the Great […]
The tremulous nasal falsetto of Roger Hodgson haunts me even now, in dreams. Awakening from a nightmare world in which Supertramp top the charts once again (raking in the moolah from sold-out tours worldwide, basking in the adulation of a billion shiny happy people), I heard a song from the Devendra Banhart-endorsed Arizona quintet What […]
A subtle shift of emphasis from California-born, New Zealand-based Ryan McPhun is revealed on the new Ruby Suns album “Fight Softly,” which came out this month on Sub Pop.” Predecessor “Sea Lion’”was a breezy collage of world music whimsy that was one of the highlights of 2008, a really easy listen. This time around, the […]
Guitar and vocals plus drums. Oh, no: gimme a moment, let me listen to it … Can you hear that? It’s me, exhaling, in relief and gratitude, that Nashville’s Jeff The Brotherhood are not taking their inspiration from certain other bass-free blues-rock duos we know and have loved. Jake and Jamin Orrall channel surf, psych, […]
“Swim” (out April 20 on Merge) is the next step on Dan Snaith’s musical journey as Caribou, checking previously explored dream pop and minimal styles, but pushing on into dance-oriented territory. Ambient samples mix with techno and house beats, fleshed out with swirling electronics, dub drop-outs and underwater grooves. The album’s lead track “Odessa” is […]
Renowned for a coruscating live show, Auckland, New Zealand, three-piece Kerretta follow in the post-rock footsteps of fellow Kiwis Jakob. Blistering sonic attack is tempered by waves of layered guitar melody reminiscent of Flying Nun legends Bailter Space: harmony and dissonance combined. No meandering here – fiery instrumentals delivered with prowess. ||| Download: “Maven Fade” […]
