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Dream Affair – ‘From Now On’

Brooklyn’s Dream Affair released their ‘From Now On‘ EP on vinyl this week via Artificial Records/HDD (digital previously available). The coldwave/post punk trio craft stormy sounds with an 80s goth bent. If you like bleak pop tunes, you may have found a new friend – if not, carry on.

 
Dream Affair – ‘From Now On’

Visit Dream Affair online @ Artificial Records @ Hand Drawn Dracula @ Facebook.

Absolute Boys – ‘Endless Projections’

With a dubby bass line, Brian Wilson-pleasing vocal harmonies and a tonne of reverb - Absolute Boys sound a little different from the rest of the indie pop pack. The Melbourne-based trio (formerly Sydney) delivered their debut album ‘Heavy Flow’ this month via Bedroom Suck Records featuring ‘Endless Projections‘. For more thoughtful words head to M&N – thanks Diggers for the tip!

 
Absolute Boys – ‘Endless Projections’

Visit Absolute Boys @ Bandcamp @ Bedroom Suck Records @ Facebook.

Splashh – ‘Sun Kissed Bliss’

Splashh will unveil their debut album ‘Comfort’ via Kanine Records on July 4 featuring the feel good rocker ‘Sun Kissed Bliss‘. Dripping with Summer, the creative backdrop of Byron Bay is an obvious influence. The quartet is a trans-Tasman affair of sorts, featuring Kiwi singer/guitarist Sasha Carlson and Aussie muso Toto Vivian. The pair relocated to East London and now we have Splashh – nostalgic rock with one foot firmly in the 90s!

 
Splashh – ‘Sun Kissed Bliss’

Visit Splashh online @ Kanine Records @ Facebook.

The New French Underground

Uhh, highly doubt any of these bands are heathen droogies à la A Clockwork Orange as implied in a recent wave of fear mongering by French media on the degenerating state of civil society. But ohhh, what a glorious metaphor! If only it were true, though…

That’s not to say there is a strong correlation between rad art and social disorder.

Whatever’s causing so much gritty, far-out darkwave, post-punk, garage, and shoegaze to emerge from Paris and Rennes, a very eclectic scene is flourishing- maybe it’s the beginning of a new underground or something in French indie? Except, there’s nothing particularly “French” about FUTURE or other groups like Catholic Spray, Subtle Turnhips, Hermetic Delight, Dead, Venera 4, and A V G V S T. This is kind of important, I guess, because you don’t typically think of punk, garage or psych rock coming from France.

Floored by how awesome this recent wave of new music sounds, we’ve decided to create a compilation of current French shoegaze, garage, and synthwave artists.  Many of whom were initially discovered via local Parisian labels and blogs such as Cranes, Inch Allah and Desire Records, as well as Foggy Girls Club and Walking With the Beast.

Tracklist >>

1. HERMETIC DELIGHT (pictured) – HOLY SISTER
2. MARIA FALSE – CARLIGHTS
3. SELENIAN – SNEAKERS
4. VENERA 4 – SEABED TERROR
5. DEAD – NO PLACE FOR US
6. JOIE NOIRE – KUP KUP (VALIS Remix)
7. TRÉSORS – MISSIONAIRES
8. A V G V S T – CALM (Ft. Nicole Kohl)
9. FUTURE – SKYLIGHTS
10. DEAD MANTRA – WAVE
11. BIKINI GORGE – STRANDED
12. FEELING OF LOVE – WAITING FOR CHEERLEADERS TO GET DRUNK
13. CATHOLIC SPRAY – HATE MY SOUL
14. T.I.T.S – CYCLOP
15. SUBLTE TURNHIPS – COMMENT

By: Psychic Hearts

Kinoko Teikoku – ‘Eureka’

Japanese four piece Kinoko Teikoku released their eclectically noisy record ‘Eureka’ via Daizawa/UK Project earlier in the year. The title track shows off their noisier side, which for the most part is surprisingly accessible. The female-fronted Kinoko Teikoku released their debut EP in 2012, quickly becoming known for their rock anthems that borrowed from space rock, post rock, noise rock… you get the picture!

 
Kinoko Teikoku – ‘Eureka’

Visit Kinoko Teikoku online @ Daizawa/UK Project.

Here Come The Saviours – ‘Hit Escape’

San Francisco’s Here Come The Saviours bust out the shoegazer ‘Hit Escape’ from their #1 single (free download here). Word on the street is, if you put this tune on a mix tape for a “lady friend”… you’ll score big! Its yet to be proven but please give it a go. Can’t hurt.

 
Here Come The Saviours – ‘Hit Escape’

Visit Here Come The Saviours @ Bandcamp @ Facebook.

Dead Rabbits – ‘MMB’

Oslo’s Fuzz Club Records (purveyors of experimental psych, noise, garage and blues) present the debut record from UK’s Dead Rabbits! ‘The Ticket That Exploded’ features the blissed out rocker ‘MMB’. In other news, Austin Psych Fest kicks off later this month, Peter Kember (Spectrum/The Spacemen 3) has put together a mixtape of highlights - listen here.

 
Dead Rabbits – ‘MMB’

Dead Rabbits @ Fuzz Club Records @ Facebook.

Secret Colours – ‘Blackbird (Only One)’

Described as “being the bastard seed of ’60s psychedelia and 90s britpop bloodlines”, Chicago’s Secret Colours deliver ‘Peach’ on May 28 featuring their latest single ‘Blackbird (Only One)’. While the opening bars follow convention, the latter half is where the action is. A sprawling work that journeys from prog rock to psych – for lovers of stoner rock.

 
Secret Colours – ‘Blackbird (Only One)’

Visit Secret Colours online @ Bandcamp @ Facebook.

Tripwires – ‘Catherine, I Feel Sick’

The Quietus have posted the new single from Reading-based band Tripwires. ‘Catherine, I Feel Sick’ will be available on the quartet’s debut album ‘Spacehopper‘ via Frenchkiss Records on June 17. Brits can catch Tripwires live about town during the next few months, dates here.

 
Tripwires – ‘Catherine, I Feel Sick’

Visit Tripwires online @ Soundcloud @ Facebook.

Parks, Squares And Alleys – ‘Youth’

Singer and guitarist Sergey Khavro is the solo artist behind Parks, Squares And Alleys – the lo-fi, bedroom pop project based in Khabarovsk, Eastern Russia. These dreamy melodies came to light following the demise of Sergey’s former band (Walrus Meditation) and led to the debut LP ‘Memories‘ in 2011. Parks, Squares And Alleys recently posted a new single called ‘Youth‘ which is quickly gathering a bevy of new supporters.

 
Parks, Squares And Alleys – ‘Youth’

Parks, Squares And Alleys @ Bandcamp @ Soundcloud.