New Music: Yuck- Athena

Despite losing singer Daniel Blumberg, UK indie rock band Yuck had a pretty good year last year. And now, following on the success of Glow and Behold, the band have just finished recording a bunch of songs for a new EP titled Southern Skies. The swooning "Athena" is the first track taken from those recordings. Check it out below:

Release information for the new EP will be forthcoming soon.

New Music: Simian Ghost- Echoes of Songs (Tribute to Trish Keenan)

It was three years ago this month that we lost the wonderful Trish Keenan, singer for experimental dream pop band Broadcast. Every time I here the music of Broadcast now it brings a tear to my eye, knowing that Keenan's beautiful voice has been silenced by an ugly disease.

Swedish indie pop band Simian Ghost are similarly fond of Keenan's work and have recorded a new song in tribute to the singer. And the band nails it with the beautiful "Echoes of Songs", a song that is not too far away from their own sound but also has an underlying echo of Broadcast's music. Listening to the first few notes, you'd swear it was Broadcast's "Before We Begin." Check it below:

New Music: School- SoLong +Clouds Aside

School is a brand new four piece indie band who hail from Gothenburg Sweden, and like so many of their Swedish contemporaries, they make almost flawless pop music. The band have just released their first two singles, "SoLong" plus "Clouds Aside", two songs that make you wish that summer would hurry up and get here. "SoLong" is a short, but sweet straight forward indie pop song, while "Clouds Aside" has a towering chorus and leans toward anthemic dream pop. Both are really good!!!! Listen to both tracks below:

New Music: The Soft Moon- Feel

I had the privilege of seeing the The Soft Moon, aka Luis Vasquez and band, play live last year as part of Toronto's NXNE festival. Unfortunately, they only played a 20 minute set because it took them so long to hook up their equipment. Kinda felt sorry for the group since they had probably come a great distance to play the showcase only to be cut short to make way for the next artist.

The Bay area dark wave artist is back with his band and a brand new single titled "Feel". The track is less hyper-kinetic than his previous material, but maintains that dark, goth sound. This new single is just a one off to remind us of Vasquez's brilliance, however there is word that he working on material for a new album. Hopefully soon!!! Listen below:

New Music: Coves- Cast A Shadow

Up and coming U.K. psych pop band Coves are back with a new (old) song and details of a new album. The new single is called "Cast A Shadow"and is a tune that swoons with psychedelic haze. Actually, this may be the first time I have posted a song twice because Coves already came out with a video for "Cast a Shadow" way back in 2012 (That video has been made private) and it was featured on this blog. The song is so good that it needs to be featured again. Check out the latest video for the track below:

The band will release their debut album Soft Friday on March 31st in Britain and hopefully later in the year in North America.

New Music: Kevin Drew- Good Sex

A couple of weeks ago Broken Social Scene singer Kevin Drew was hinting at his new song on Twitter by tweeting the name of the track in different languages. When I saw the first tweet in Kanji, I google translated it, and discovered it meant good sex. For a second I thought that maybe he was working with a member or members of the New York shoegaze band Asobi Seksu but then I realized their band name is translated to playful sex in english.

Anyways, it was soon realized that "Good Sex" is a new song and a good one at that. The warm, fuzzy, soulful song and its Freudian lyrics will leave a smile on your face like...er... you just finished having good sex. Listen below:

The track is taken from Drew's second solo album, Darlings, which is out March 18th via Arts & Crafts.

New Music: Elephant- Elusive Youth

One of our favourite bands on the blog, Elephant, keep churning out great new music on their way releasing their debut LP.  No details of a release date for their new record yet, but we are crossing our fingers for the spring. Their newest song "Elusive Youth" is more twee than the swooning dream pop of their previous singles and reminds of great bands like Camera Obscura or the Concretes. Listen below:

New Music: Beck- Blue Moon

After releasing a couple of solid singles last year, Beck has finally announced the follow up to his 2008 album Modern Guilt. The new album is titled Morning Phase and is said to be a sequel to my favourite record of his, Sea Change. The first single from the LP, “Blue Moon”, is very beautiful and does remind of Sea Change. I don’t think the new album will be as sad as Sea Change, Mr. Hansen is happily married now and not coming off a bad break up. But, Beck does sing on the new song that he is tired of being alone...maybe I am wrong and all is not good. Listen to the track below:

Morning Phase is out February 25th via Capitol.

New Music: Francis Lung- A Selfish Man

You may remember last year a quirky new band from England called Los Porcos that was formed from the ashes of WU LYF.  The bassist for both of those bands, Tom McClung, has decided to go out on his own and has started a new project called Francis Lung. "A Selfish Man: is the project's debut single, a happy bit of sunshine guitar pop with lyrics that speak to the break up of WU LYF. Listen below:

New Music: Keep Shelly In Athens- Old Time Glory

It was disheartening to hear today that Keep Shelly in Athens singer Sarah P. announced on the weekend that she has left the band. No reason was given, just a simple tweet stating " I'm letting you know that I'm no longer in Keep Shelly in Athens. Thank you for your support! Focus on new things, now! Much love! s." I really hope she stays in the music business because her talent is too good to waste.

A statement on Keep Shelly in Athens' Soundcloud reads that the band is still together and that will use a new singer and guest vocalists in the future and even stated that a new album will be coming later in the year. Their new song "Old Time Glory is an homage to Sara. Download the upbeat song below for free: 

Music From The Inbox: Featuring Neneh Cherry, Solander, Girl Band, Owls & Velvet Morning

I'm at the point where my inbox is bursting at the seams with new music from submissions all over the world, so this post will probably more of a regular occurrence. This week's eclectic mix features four bands plus the legendary Neneh Cherry. See below for the five songs that made the cut:


Artist: Solander
Song: "The Woods Are Gone"
Country: Sweden
Genre: Folk/Pop
Album: Monochromatic Memories
Release Date: February 3rd
Label: A Tendervision



Artist: Girl Band
Song: "Lawman"
Country: Ireland
Genre: Punk/Indie Rock
Further Information: Get a free download and/or buy the 7" single of the track on Girl Band's Bandcamp.



Artist: Velvet Morning
Song: "Blue Jean Baby"
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Psych Pop
Album: Velvet Moon EP
Release Date: February 24th
Label:  Treehouse Music



Artist: Owls
Song: "I'm Surprised"
Country: United States
Genre: Indie Rock/Emo
Album: Two
Release Date: March 25th
Label:  Polyvinyl




Artist: Neneh Cherry
Song: "Everything"
Country: Sweden
Genre: Electro Pop
Album: Blank Project
Release Date: February 26th
Label:  Smalltown Supersound

New Music: Phantogram- Fall In Love + Nothing But Trouble

After releasing a self titled EP last fall, Phantogram are back and are ready to come out with something more significant. The new album is titled Voices and will feature the polished synth pop sounds of "Fall In Love", "Nothing But Trouble", which you can listen to below, and the awesome "Black Out Days" which was also on the earlier EP.

Voices is out February 18th via Republic.

New Music: Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra - Take Away These Early Grave Blues

Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra is an offshoot of Godspeed You Black Emperor! so there is a good chance they may be nominated for the Polaris music prize later this year. If that's the case don't count on them showing up for the ceremony, just like last year. If the songs on their forthcoming new album  Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light On Everything is anything like their new single "Take Away These Early Grave Blues" they are a lock for a nomination. Unlike, Godspeed these guys have actual lyrics and there is no post rock here, just pure loud as hell proto-punk. Listen below:

The new album is out January 24 via Constellation Records.

New Music: Rare Monk- Splice

I don’t have much information about Rare Monk other than the fact that they are from Portland and the fact that they make big grandiose indie rock. “Splice” is a song that dreamily builds and builds until it explodes into a cacophony of beautiful noise. Pretty song!!! Check it out:

New Music: Dum Dum Girls- Rimbaud Eyes

I picked Dum Dum Girls' ” Lost Boys and Girls Club” as one of my favourite songs of 2013 and now the band has just released another goodie in “Rimbaud Eyes.”

The song is taken from the Dum Dum Girls new album Too True, which is out January 28th on Sub Pop, and it was produced by The Raveonettes’ Sune Rose Wagner, who also happened to do the production on Crocodiles last album Crimes of Passion. Crocodiles singer Brandon Welchz just so happens to be married to Dum Dum Girls singer Dee Dee.

New Music: Eternal Summers- Gouge

Stereogum premiered Eternal Summers new single "Gouge" earlier today and described as "a surprisingly pretty piece of music with a crisp guitar line to cut through its gentle haze." That is kind a of a puzzling statement because anybody that is a fan of this band knows that they have been making beautiful music their whole career, so it is not surprising at all. The beauty has always lay in Nicole Yun's airy voice, that is intertwined with jangly shoegaze guitar and "Gouge" is no exception.  Listen below:

The band have made two extraordinary albums and are set to follow up with a third, The Drop Beneath, that will be out March 4th via Kanine Records.

Five Star Songs: School Of Seven Bells- Sempiternal/Amaranth

I meant to write something regarding dream pop band School Of Seven Bells and death of Benjamin Curtis from cancer last week, but I was too busy to get around to it. Cancer is a mean motherfucker, especially when it strikes down a young and talented person no matter what he does for a living.

Even though I am of fan of Secret Machines, I didn't really fall in love with Curtis' work until he started School of Seven Bells with Brazilian by way of Brooklyn singer Alejandra Deheza, along with her sister Claudia. ( I also didn't know he was a drummer for 90's alt rock band Tripping Daisy until after he died). Curtis passed away at the age of 35, but he was a seasoned veteran of the music industry admired by many artists including Paul Banks or Interpol, Robin Guthrie of The Cocteau Twins and even U2's The Edge.

Unfortunately, I never got to see School of Seven Bells when they came to Toronto to play live, something that I will regret for the rest of my life. Thank goodness there is YouTube to keep alive a genius like Curtis' amazing work. Watch below a concert from 2012 that the band recorded in Berlin and make sure you stick around for the encore to watch the band play an epic shoegaze version of "Sempiternal/Amaranth".

New Music: Bleeding Rainbow- So You Know

I totally fell in love with Philadelphia indie rockers Bleeding Rainbow when they released their bright, sunny Yeah Right LP early last year. The band have been really busy since because they have already announced the follow up record, Interrupt, which will come out next month.  The first new song from the LP, "So You Know", is a little bit darker than their previous material, but the band retain that fuzziness that makes their sound so irresistible. Check it out below:

Interrupt will be available February 25th via Kanine.

New Music: A Sunny Day in Glasgow- In Love With Useless (The Timeless Geometry In The Tradition Of Passing)

For the longest time I thought dream pop group A Sunny Day in Glasgow were actually a Scottish band. It kind of shocked me when I found out they were from Philadelphia and I don't know why. Maybe, it's because when I think of that city, soul music or Americana comes to mind and not shoegaze.

Anyway, after a short hiatus, the Pennsylvania band are back with the new single "In Love With Useless (The Timeless Geometry In The Tradition Of Passing)". When I think of this band I think of wanderlust and this track is no exception. The angelic tune, with its indiscernible lyrics and overlaying production, will take you to a place where you can daydream and escape reality while dancing the night away. Check it below:

Not sure when they will put out their new LP, but it should be on the way very soon.

New Music: Trust- Rescue, Mister

Toronto dark wave project Trust is back with one less member and one really good song. Robert Alfons is by himself now, but that has not hurt the music of Trust one little bit. "Rescue, Mister" is the first single from his new LP Joyland which will be available March 4th through Arts & Crafts. Overall, the track is more dance oriented than the tunes from his first record TRST, but it still maintains that gothic, industrial darkness. There is a hint of Some Great Reward era Depeche Mode in this song. Hear for yourself below:

New Music: Alvvays- Adult Diversion

Alvvays is a new Toronto indie band that features some Canadian East Coast heavyweight musical pedigree. Among its members are Alec O'Hanley, the former bassist of P.E.I. indie rock band Two Hours Traffic and singer Molly Rankin from Cape Breton's The Rankin Family, one of Canada'a most famous Celtic musical families.

You can hear a hint of that Celtic influence on the band's new single "Adult Diversion", although it is more akin to modern day Scottish indie pop than the folk music of Rankin's family. But the song is definitely not gloomy and it almost sounds like something Best Coast might put out. Check out the video for the song below:

Alvvays self-titled debut LP will be coming out in the very near future.

New Music: Yellow Ostrich- Shades

Yellow Ostrich have cranked up the guitars on their latest single "Shades". They used to have a softer, more indie pop sound, but now Alex Schaff has recruited a new bass and guitar player to turn his former solo project into a full fledged band. The result is an excellent psych rock track with heavy guitar riffs, pummelling bass and an overall more mature sound. Check it out below:

"Shades" is taken from the album Cosmos, which will be available February 25th via Barsuk.

New Music: The Dead Weather- Open Up (That's Enough)

It's hard to believe that The Dead Weather have been an entity for almost five years now. I was one of the lucky ones to catch the band in their infancy play live at the Horseshoe Tavern back in 2009 , a gig that was one of the most electrifying, fun nights of my life. Plenty of beer, Alison Mosshart right in your face and raw rock and roll will do that.

Anyways, Jack White recently reformed the supergroup and plan to release a series of singles this year that will lead to a new album in 2015. The first single is titled "Open Up (That's Enough)' which is available now on 7" through Third Man's Vault subscription series and will come out digitally on January 14th.  Check it out below:

New Music: Secret Colours- It Can't Be Simple

Secret Colours is an American indie band who are so indebted to British sounding rock and roll that they even spelled the word colour in their group name with a "u". Their new single "It Can't Be Simple" sounds like some of those old English psych pop songs from the sixties, but with modern production. Check out the track below:

The band will be putting out two new self-released EP's this year, Positive Distraction Part I on 2/4/14, and Positive Distraction Part II  on 4/29/14.

New Music: Dot Dash- Hands Of Time

Happy New Year!!!

A great way to start off the new year would be with new music from Washington D.C. post punk band Dot Dash. And we are in luck as the band has offered up a brand new song titled "Hands Of Time" from their latest album Half Remembered Dream. As a bonus they are giving away this track plus two  songs from their other albums. Check out " Hands of Time", "La--La Land" and "Tragedy/Destiny"  below and/or go to their bandcamp to download the tracks.

Dot Dash's albums Half Remembered Dream, Winter Garden Light and park>flame>ember>ash are all available now on Canadian label The Beautiful Music.