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Friday, December 20, 2013

Artist Making Waves: RY X // The Howling // The Acid [indie folk / electronic]

First things first: Yes, this is a triple post. Why? Well, you may have guessed that it has something to do with that bearded character up there, and you're right. His name is Ry Cuming.

Ry Cuming is an Australian-born surfer and musician who relocated to Los Angeles some years back, got noticed (for his music), recorded a major label pop record under his real name, toured with Maroon 5, and then decided to 'go indie', which has resulted in the lovely music I present to you today.

Cuming performs/records under the stage name RY X and shares his beautifully fragile pipes and solid guitar work in the electronic projects The Howling and The Acid. Each time I switch between EPs my favorite project of his changes so it would be rather difficult to write this post recommending only one.

The three projects feature Cuming's unmistakable sultry vocals and a haunting ambience. His solo work recalls Bon Iver thanks to his crooning falsetto, melancholic tone, stripped instrumentation, and overall alone-in-a-cabin-in-the-woods feel, while it boasts crisper production and trades in Justin Vernon's folky chords for more intricate melodies lined with arpeggios. The Howling is delivered in the same vein as RY X (both projects have a version of "Shortline", for example), but is spruced up with the subtle, yet expansive electronic production of German electronic musician Frank Wiedemann. Whereas RY X and The Howling share the same downcast tone and bare-bones structure, The Acid changes up the formula. This mysterious trio constructs a much more complex (and electronic) sonic environment that has brought on comparisons to James Blake, Animal Collective, m83, and Radiohead, but it still has that ominous fog creeping through it.

Go ahead and dive into Ry Cuming's three projects below to see for yourself which one you like best. I wouldn't be surprised if you found it hard to decide as well.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Just Rolled In: The War on Drugs - "Red Eyes" [indie rock / americana]

With autumn coming to an end, the cold creeping in, and my supposedly youthful joints tensing up more and more each day, there's nothing better than to hear a song that gets your blood pumping and makes spring seem within reach, a long  reach, that is. The War on Drugs, which is the Philadelphia band started by Kurt Vile and friend Adam Granduciel back in 2005, will be releasing their third album entitled Lost in the Dream March 18 via Secretly Canadian and they have graciously shared the first single with us, "Red Eyes".

Although Vile abandoned The War on Drugs in 2008 to go solo, The War on Drugs didn't necesarilly abandon him. Adam Granduciel continued fronting TWOD but joined him as a guitarist (until 2011) in The Violators, Kurt Vile's on-and-off backing band. When you listen to "Red Eyes", it's hard to ignore the similarity in their music styles. While the energetic, yet ambient single shares the hazy vocal effects, strummy acoustic guitars, and cosmic guitar solos characteristic of Vile's work, it stands on its own thanks to its bright synth lead, bellowing woodwinds, piano key punching, and its overall raw rock-n-roll spirit reminiscent of "The Boss".

Enjoy TWOD's "Red Eyes" below followed by a personal favorite from their excellent 2011 album, Slave Ambient.



Thursday, November 21, 2013

Swell Album: Mutual Benefit - Love's Crushing Diamond [experimental pop / baroque folk]

Before the initial limited release of Brooklyn-based Mutual Benefit's first proper full-length album Love's Crushing Diamond earlier this month via Soft Eyes Records, its twenty-five-year-old creative force, Ohio-raised Jordan Lee, spent a few years hopping around the U.S. with his musician friends popping out numerous EPs, splits, and singles while sharing their beautiful sounds with music lovers, one living room at a time. Since Lee managed to harness the warmth and coziness of those intimate DIY performances to turn out one of recent years' most heartfelt and wholesome indie records, people across the world have been lining up to be gently squeezed into that welcoming living room to enjoy their end of (the) Mutual Benefit. As so, the record is being re-released by Other Music Recording Co. on CD (December 3) and vinyl (January 7).

With Jordan Lee's fragile, but captivating voice as the centerpiece, the rest of the music, filled with natural field recordings, whispy vocal harmonies, melancholic string sections, and other beautifully layered instrumentation, effectively reflects the collectiveness of his live performances. Love's Crushing Diamond deserves all the praise in the world simply for how human and literally wonderful it sounds.

You can buy Mutual Benefit's Love's Crushing Diamond digitally or pre-order the physical album (CD or vinyl) via Other Music Recording Co.. Meanwhile, watch a live performance of the album's lead single "Advanced Falconry" and listen to two other standout tracks below.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Artist Making Waves: Astronauts, etc. [dream pop / electronic / pop]

What do you do when you are studying classical piano at UC Berkeley and you suddenly find out that your future career as a pianist is rendered practically impossible due to arthritis? Well, I suppose you do what Anthony Ferraro did and you drop out of music school to start producing beautiful electronic music under the moniker Astronauts, etc.

With music as celestial as his recording name, Ferraro has been making quite a name for himself despite having drifted away from his original musical aspirations. Astronauts, etc. boasts over 2,500 SoundCloud followers and has been floating around the 'blogosphere' for over a year now, which is a surprise considering his previous projects were scrapped shortly after their realization. However, with recent dreamy pop jams like "Sadie" and "Coldboy", it's hard to imagine Ferraro's current project going anywhere but skyward.

If I had to compare it to something, I'd say Astronauts, etc.'s melodramatic dream pop is a beautiful blend of Neon Indian's lo-fi chillwave, Porcelain Raft's smooth, heartfelt vocals, and Jai Paul's beats and song structures (see "Jasmine"). This is electronic pop at its best.

The idea of getting lost in space doesn't sound so bad if you have Astronauts, etc. to float along with. Enjoy the songs below and check out more tracks on his SoundCloud.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Swell EP: ARMS - EP2 [indie rock / indie pop]

ARMS is the solo project of Todd Goldstein, a Brooklyn musician and songwriter known for his guitar work with the now-defunct indie poppers Harlem Shakes, but more recently, for his excellent 2011 ARMS album Summer Skills, which was recorded with a full band and happens to be one of my favorite albums released in recent years. Since hearing my first ARMS song a few years ago, I can't help but liken Goldstein's voice to a melodramatic, singy version of the matter-of-fact vocal delivery of WHY?'s Yoni Wolf, which is definitely a good thing.

On EP2, along with his alluring voice, artful guitar strumming and wistful keyboarding, Goldstein crafts powerfully captivating (lyrically and musically) indie rock songs with the help of his drummer friend Tiacael Esparza. By scattering catchy guitar hooks and flourishes over the EP's five-song-span of melancholic melodies and Esparza's solid drum framework, Goldstein sets the stirring backdrop over which to lay his lavish labyrinth of lyrics, creating a complex web of sounds worth getting tangled up in, time and time again.

Stream the entire EP (out now on Paper Garden Records) below and follow the player's links to purchase digital and physical copies.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Just Rolled In: Son Lux - "Lost It To Trying" [orchestral pop / electronic / experimental]

After getting his hands dirty arranging music for three feature films (including 2012's Looper), releasing two highly acclaimed albums and a collaborative EP with Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti (known jointly as s / s / s), producing numerous hip hop beats, and working with revered composers and ensembles, NYC-based Ryan Lott, aka Son Lux, is gearing to release his 3rd full-length record Lanterns out October 29 via Joyful Noise Recordings. The classically trained composer and electronic producer has left us with high expectations for the rest of the record after releasing the brilliantly epic debut single "Lost It To Trying".

Riddled with a frenetic array of live saxophones, flutes, and percussion and sister duo Lily and Madeleine's Sufjan-esque choral singing, Lott seamlessly throws in his production expertise in the form of hyperactive synths and thunderous drum programming to deliver the incredibly complicated, energetic, and triumphant masterpiece known as "Lost It To Trying".

Check out the single below and listen to and purchase Son Lux's previously released music on his Bandcamp.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Just Rolled In: Zachary Cale - "Wayward Son" and "Hold Fast" [folk / acoustic blues]

zachary cale holaola
Brooklyn-via-Louisiana bluesy folk musician Zachary Cale has just released two new singles from his upcoming fourth record Blue Rider entitled "Wayward Son" and "Hold Fast". Ditching the backing band present on his previous record Noise of Welcome, Cale sharpens the focus on his visual lyricism and intricate finger-style acoustic guitar playing, making it clear as to why his songwriting has been compared to that of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, and Elliott Smith. Cale's serene acoustic ballads coupled with his reverbed, mellow vocal delivery also bears a striking resemblance to Kurt Vile's more laid back songs.

Listen to Zachary Cale's two new songs below plus a great song from last year's Love Everlasting 7". Visit his Bandcamp page to download these two songs for free and to explore more of his extensive back catalogue until Blue Rider's release on September 24.

Friday, August 30, 2013

holaTUBE: Sailor & I - "Tough Love" [electronic / orchestral pop]

As I try to enjoy the last few days of my summer here in Murcia, Spain before returning to work, I'm suddenly forced indoors to seek shelter from the only thunderstorm I've ever seen pass through these parts. Luckily enough, being locked inside under a roof is the perfect excuse to trade in the sun and bathing suit for the internet and headphones, so I'm writing my first blog post of August.

Considering my bleak summer finale, I have discovered the ideal theme song to help me through it all. Stockholm, Sweden's singer/instrumentalist/producer Alexander Sjodin premieres his moody orchestral pop production with the solemn-yet-enlightening video for his first single "Tough Love" under the moniker Sailor & I. Through his smoothly layered vocals, Sjodin sheds light on the dark realities of his failing relationship with his wife. The helplessness and disparity of it all is summed up in the lyrics, "Sometimes I start a fight just to see if you care", and brought to life with the addition of cinematic strings and building percussion.

The video features former Olympic swimmer Peter Prijdekker, who battles, in slow-motion, across a desolate lake and cold forest to reach the inevitable finish line, which holds for him hope and a new beginning—the eventual outcome of any dying relationship.

Download the Tough Love EP here and check out the video below.



Thursday, July 11, 2013

Just Rolled In: SALES - "renee" [indie pop / minimal folktronica]

It's always refreshing to hear a simple song that manages to pull you in by the heartstrings just as much as a complex, professionally produced song would. That's exactly what freshly formed Orlando, Florida duo SALES pulls off with their heartfelt debut track "renee", which was inspired by and named after a breathtakingly beautiful and interesting woman the two got the chance to spend a special evening with at a bar. Unfortunately, as the night went on, and after falling hopelessly in love with her, they lost track of her. So, in hopes of reconnecting with Renee, they wrote this song.

Set in motion by the repetitive, yet catchy guitar melody and angelically sincere vocals of SALES-woman Lauren Morgan, the song soon gains texture when it joins forces with the underlying bass line and bare-bones drumbeat of SALES-man Jordan Shih (aka JSHIH). Once "renee" gains momentum with that beat it never ceases to unfold itself and grow on you. The initial raw sound (yes, those are crickets chirping in the background) is slowly embellished upon by the minimal electronic production of JSHIH, who adds layers of reverberated vocals, a sleek electric guitar hook, a heavier pulsing bass line, and finally the chopped and layered vocals and bouncy drumbeat of the fully realized coda. This gradual buildup, the duo's less-is-more approach, and Lauren's alluring voice is what makes "renee" truly infectious.

If you're reading this, Renee, you can find Lauren and JSHIH performing as SALES at Total Bummer Fest alongside Javelin, Levek, Alligator Indian, and Saskatchewan at the end of August in Orlando, FL. And to everyone else: There are more tracks on the way and you're invited to Total Bummer Fest too.



p.s. Please forgive my salesman/saleswoman puns

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Just Rolled In: Big Scary - "Luck Now" [experimental pop / indie folk / soul]

Here's another Melbourne, Australia band sure to turn some heads in 2013: Big Scary. Seemingly boundless with their genre exploration, the experimental indie pop duo is set to release their sophomore album Not Art June 28 via Pieater (Aus) and September 17 through their new US home, Barsuk Records.

After listening to Big Scary's previous releases (their debut LP Vacation and previous EP collection The Big Scary Four Seasons), I find it difficult to stick a label on the music, which is a good thing in my mind. On one track they're floating through a delicate piano-based folk tune, then they explode into an energetic rock'n'roll jam that drops off into a more glossy indie pop song, just to do it all over again.

The Australian duo's second single from Not Art, "Luck Now", finds them in one of their more stripped down, subdued moments, but the track is given extra life with lead singer/guitarist/pianist Tom Iansek's soulfully stirring vocal performance akin to that of Bon Iver's Justin Vernon. "Luck Now", one of my favorite songs released this year, marks a shift in musical style for Big Scary as they have incorporated a hip hop-influenced, syncopated drum loop embellished by percussion samples they recorded in a garage while hitting various objects. It all comes together quite nicely, if you ask me.

Listen to "Luck Now" below followed by Big Scary's first single "Phil Collins" and grab a copy of Not Art on iTunes at the end of June!

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Artist Making Waves: Vance Joy [indie folk / folk pop]

In a year you probably won't see me posting about Vance Joy, the 25-year-old skyrocketing indie folk artist from Melbourne, Australia, mostly because he will be more popular than The Lumineers and Of Monsters And Men and this blog tries to focus more on the lesser known acts. Either way, here he is now, and for a good reason: he's damn good! When I mentioned those bands above I didn't mean to liken Vance Joy to them, but rather hint at the mainstream success and radio play that his golden voice and expertly crafted folk pop songs will surely gain.

Born James Keogh, he only has one EP under his belt, God Loves You When You're Dancing, which contains the hit single "Riptide", but he has already gotten snagged up by music industry giant Atlantic Records. They signed him on for a five-record deal after a bidding war that broke out following his performance at SXSW in Austin, Texas this March. As long as Atlantic doesn't completely change his sound or make him do duets at the Superbowl with Skrillex or Sean Paul then you can still color me interested in Vance Joy's future as an artist.

Take a listen to two tracks from his EP ("Riptide" and "From Afar") and watch a video of him performing the opening track "Emmylou" live with his band. You can purchase the the God Loves You When You're Dancing EP here.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Swell EP: Painted Palms - Nothing Lasts Long EP [psych-pop / synth-pop]

Painted Palms were "discovered" by Kevin Barnes (of Montreal ringleader) shortly after releasing their psychedelic surf pop debut Canopy EP back in 2011, which gave them much more exposure and the attention of Secretly Canadian Records, who re-released said EP later in the year. Much like that first EP, the San Francisco psych-pop duo's free EP Nothing Lasts Long is instantly likable and leaves you thirsty for more. Well, the two cousins Reese Donohue and Christopher Prudhomme have actually been working on their debut Polyvinyl full length to help us quench our thirst for over a year now, but threw us a curveball with this mixtape-style free download while we wait.

Filled with danceable beats, psychedelic melodies, tropical synths, and energetic Panda Bear-stained vocals, Painted Palms' Nothing Lasts Long EP gives a us a taste of what's to come while giving them a break from the stress of releasing an official debut:
Making this EP was a bit of a release. It felt refreshing to make 6 songs with the intention of putting them out immediately. A whole album can seem monolithic and you can easily get lost in your head, so it was nice to write under different circumstances. —Impose Magazine interview
Download the EP for free at their Bandcamp page and enjoy the 6 new tracks below.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Just Rolled In: Washed Out - "It All Feels Right" [chillwave / psychedelic / dream pop]

Apparently recorded using over 50 instruments and some samples, Washed Out's sophomore album Paracosm (artwork above), which will hit shelves via Sub Pop on August 13, casts us even further away from multi-instrumentalist Ernest Greene's initial lo-fi chillwave arrangements and leads us drifting into a more mesmerizing and complex organic environment.

Paracosm's first single "It All Feels Right" comes to us today just in time for the summer, helping us lose ourselves in its intricate and hypnotic blend of tropical, psychedelic, and spacey melodies. Check out the official lyric video below followed by two hits from his 2011 debut album Within and Without and the fan favorite 2009 single "Feel It All Around".


Monday, June 10, 2013

Swell EP: His Clancyness - Charade EP [indie rock / dream pop / psychedelic]

Born in Ottawa, Canada but living in Bologna, Italy, Jonathan Clancy, who plays in A Classic Education and has made solo recordings as His Clancyness for a few years but now has a full band, has recently signed to Brighton/Brooklyn label Fat Cat Records, which will release his band's debut album Vicious in the fall. Lucky for us, Fat Cat put out the Charade EP cassette (also available digitally) a few weeks ago, which gives us a couple tastes of that upcoming full-length on one side, and on the other, four of Clancy's dreamy songs from his previous bedroom recordings.

All six songs on the EP are outstanding, exploring the sounds of indie rock, lo-fi, psychedelia, and dream pop. The new single "Machines" sounds a lot like psychedelic indie rockers The War on Drugs and lead-off track "Safe Around The Edges" leans toward the indie pop of Say Hi. Although certainly not on purpose, I can't help but liken his voice to a more subdued and mature Darwin Deez. Upon listening to the other 4 tracks, some other musical similarities that come to mind are Kurt Vile, Deerhunter, Ariel Pink, and Lower Dens.

Listen to the latter five tracks of the Charade EP below and get your beautiful hands on the cassette and a digital download here. Look out for His Clancyness's Fat Cat Records debut album Vicious on October 7!

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Just Rolled In: f y f e - "Conversations" [electronic / soulful pop / R&B]

As you may recall, London's f y f e, aka Paul Dixon, was the first artist featured on holaOLA back in March. Well, the rising R&B-tinged electronic musician is back with a new single called "Conversations", which has surfaced in the wake of his recent excellent Solace EP.

Nothing much has changed regarding f y f e's musical vision, which is certainly fine by me. On "Conversations" Dixon whips together another irresistible hard-hitting beat and glazes it over with his beautifully soulful voice and adds some more texture with his usual guitar licks and haunting backing vocals. While fitting in well with his previous singles, the only difference here would be a heavier hip-hop-influenced beat and more glitchy production.

Check out "Conversations" below followed by f y f e's beloved Solace EP. You can purchase the EP via the "Buy on iTunes" link on the SoundCloud player.


Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Artist Making Waves: Hibou [tropical pop / dream pop / shoegaze]

Hibou is the solo project of former Craft Spells drummer and 19-year-old Seattle native, Peter Michel. Seeing as 'hibou' is French for 'owl', it is pronounced quite Frenchly—"eee-booo". Because one of my pet peeves is hearing mispronunciations of another French-based indie band name, Bon Iver, I figured I'd set the record straight so I won't have to cringe hearing things like "high-bow" or "hih-boo". Anyway, my instincts tell me that Michel named his project thus because he considers himself a 'night owl', or maybe he prefers to write, record, and hunt mice after the sun goes down. Either way, his upbeat music is definitely meant to soundtrack a beautiful, sunny day, but it wouldn't hurt to throw it on at your next dance party.

While borrowing the dream pop elements of his old band and mixing in his brand of vibrant surf-poppy guitar hooks and danceable tropical drum beats (see "Hollow") or progressive shoegaze drumming (see "Glow"), Michel produces Hibou—a perfect concoction of hazy beach pop that I would file next to bands like Wild Nothing, Beach Fossils, Diiv, and Kisses. Hell, just sign him to Captured Tracks already!

Hibou's Dunes EP is due out June 13 via Fat Cat Records so grab yourself a copy when it drops. In the meantime, you can listen to a handful of songs below and download them for free or in pay-what-you-want-style by clicking the "Download" or "Name your price" buttons on the players.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Swell Album: Morningbell - Bôa Noite [indie rock / psychedelic / melodic rock]

Part of a music scene that is also home to great indie bands like Hundred Waters and Levek, Gainesville, Florida's indie rock veterans Morningbell have just released their sixth full length record entitled Bôa Noite. Like their other records, Bôa Noite was released independently thanks to their DIY spirit (not uncommon in Gainesville) and rejection of label support.

The first word that comes to mind while listening to this record is 'BIG'. Morningbell impressively mix in a multitude of instruments to make Bôa Noite an ever-expanding record that constantly changes course but all for the greater good of the listening experience. This dynamic album is definitely a traditional record in the sense that it doesn't have any single track that could represent it as a whole; it should be listened to front to back to really appreciate its sonic beauty.

Although generally an unclassifiable record due to its adventurousness, some bands that Bôa Noite's songs often recall are Broken Social Scene (for their cinematic indie rock), The Flaming Lips (for their psychedelia), and Sufjan Stevens (for his orchestral grandeur). However, Bôa Noite surely cannot be defined by its slight similarities to these artists. You'll have to listen for yourself to experience its soaring, contemplative songs featuring what seems to be every instrument available in a music store.

Stream the entire album below and purchase your own copy now at Morningbell's Bandcamp.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Artist Making Waves: Ancient Mariner [indie folk / indie rock]

Hailing from Aurora, Colorado, Gabriel Jorgensen, the young man behind the folky project Ancient Mariner, has released two tracks in the past couple months that are taken from his soon-to-be-released debut EP entitled In Solitude. As the title hints, the extended play was written one lonely night in which "every terrible thing inside of [Jorgensen] was revealed, and set before [him]" after he had taken a break from playing, writing, and even listening to music for a period of time. On top of that, he even recorded the EP in a small isolated cabin in the Rocky Mountains.

After listening to the first two tastes of In Solitude, "Acedia" and the title track, it's evident that the tranquility of the mountain cabin and Jorgensen's haunting writing experience have reflected well onto the recordings. "Acedia", which means apathy or indifference, is a rich, fast-moving song that starts off with a resonant acoustic guitar melody and busy, textured drumming and then some distorted, hypnotizing synths creep in to accompany Jorgensen's smooth vocals (that reminds me of Thom Yorke at times and wouldn't sound out of place in a Local Natives song) and slip away just in time for the beautiful electric guitar hook and Jorgensen's melodic "ooohs" that occupy the final verse and coda. On the other hand, the title track, "In Solitude", is a slower, more meditative song carried again by Jorgensen's delicate voice and another nice acoustic guitar riff, but it swaps the synths and electric guitar for chimy keyboards and a dark, ominous string section.

With these first songs so different from one another I'm excited to hear the rest of what Ancient Mariner has to offer on his forthcoming debut. Keep an eye out, like I'll be doing, for In Solitude, being released sometime soon.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Artist Making Waves: MØ [electronic / indie pop]

Attracting comparisons to Grimes, Purity Ring, Lykke Li, Little Dragon, and Nite Jewel, Copenhagen's has just released her 4th track, and new single to her upcoming debut effort, entitled "Waste Of Time", on which she continues the choppy R&B-influenced vocals and rich electronic soundscapes that have inhabited her previous tracks.

The only reason this Danish electro-pop musician is being compared to such artists is because she just so happens to be a female singer with a great voice who chooses electronic music as her backdrop. It's like saying that Fleet Foxes and Grizzly Bear sound the same, but basing it on the fact that they just both do folk-based music with vocal harmonies really well. While she may share some fundamental musical elements with the aforementioned female artists, MØ, aka Karen Marie Ørsted, sets herself apart from the herd with her hard hitting beats, soulful voice, modest use of vocal samples, and occasional electric guitar flourishes.

Listen below to her 4 current singles (which are all amazing!) that she has released in the past year and be on the lookout for her debut album release sometime this year via Sony Music Denmark.




Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Swell Album: Half Moon Run - Dark Eyes [indie rock / indie folk]

Although you may still have yet to catch wind of this Montreal-based, Craigslist-formed indie rock band, Half Moon Run have been paving quite the path to success for themselves. Having opened for Metric, Patrick Watson, Of Monsters And Men, Wintersleep, and Mumford & Sons in the wake of last year's Canada-only release (via Indica) of their outstanding debut album Dark Eyes, the four-piece (recently added 4th member not pictured above) have been subjected to thousands upon thousands of adoring fans of indie rock, folk, and indie pop, including one sold out show where they played to 18,000 eager Mumford & Sons fans.

While Half Moon Run may not sound very much like any of the aforementioned artists, their eclectic sound, which is influenced by the four members' common love for Radiohead, Grizzly Bear, and Fleet Foxes among others, and multi-instrumental stage performance have attracted the attention of not only those bands' loyal fans, but also Mumford & Sons label Glassnote Records. They were recently added to their roster to join the ranks of other indie greats Phoenix, Two Door Cinema Club, GIVERS, The Temper Trap, and CHVRCHES. This kind of exposure and the global release of Dark Eyes will be sure to give Half Moon Run the attention they deserve.

The twelve expansive songs on Dark Eyes combine the complex arrangements and electronic elements of Radiohead, the darker indie folk of Lost in the Trees, the vocal harmonies of Fleet Foxes, and guitars and percussion reminiscent of Local Natives to leave you with an album that varies track to track genre-wise but manages to hold itself together thanks to lead singer Devon Portielje's capturing, soulful voice.

Listen to a handful of songs from Dark Eyes below, stream the album in its entirety via RollingStone here, purchase the album online here, and look for it on record store shelves sometime in June.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Swell Album: Young Man - Beyond Was All Around Me [indie pop / indie rock / dream pop]

Apparently, Young Man, aka Colin Caulfield, has finally matured and isn't really seeing himself as a youngster anymore. Not only does his outstanding new album Beyond Was All Around Me explore themes of maturity, retrospect, and hope for the future, but Caulfield has decided that this third full length, which is being referred to as the final chapter of the Young Man trilogy (see Ideas of Distance and Vol. 1), will be his last and that he will be dropping the Young Man moniker altogether as he plans to bring us a new project in the near future ('Man'? or maybe 'Old Man'?...jokes). On a side note, as I see the change fitting, I still find myself wondering why these now-grown-up hip hop artists (Bow Wow excused) still hold true to the 'Young/Yung/Lil' prefixes, but on second thought, you don't usually see much change in the hip hop world.

While I look forward to what Colin Caulfield has up his sleeve post-Young Man, I am enjoying his 'final chapter' to the fullest. Although he has come a long way, sonically and lyrically, since his 2009 dorm room recordings that got him noticed, Young Man still knows how to produce rich pop melodies that capture the listener, leaving them with a desire to hear more. With Deerhunter/Atlas Sound mastermind Bradford Cox and Animal Collective's Panda Bear listed as his main influences, you can hear how much they've had to do with his maturing, in regard to his relaxed vocals, airy guitar work and melodic song structures. A new addition to this final album is an impressive string collection that produces more contemplative, dreamy soundscapes that at times recall Pink Floyd.

Treat yourself to a listen to two great tracks, "In A Sense" and "Unfair", from Young Man's Beyond Was All Around Me, which is out now on Frenchkiss Records. Better yet, see if the Rolling Stone album stream below works for you (I think it's only available in the US) and purchase the amazing album here.

Friday, April 26, 2013

Artist Making Waves: Gaston! [indie rock / indie folk]

photo by Ashley Renee
With just a little over six months playing together, a handful of shows under their belt, and a recent posting of their first two home recordings on their SoundCloud, San Francisco's Gaston! is definitely the youngest band blogged about so far on holaOLA, but don't let their age fool you. This quartet of close friends and current roommates in SF's "The Mission" delivers a sprawling, infectious sound (in which every instrument and voice perfectly complements the others) that is so refined that it could easily be mistaken for that of indie rock veterans.

Taking the name of their apartment's signature tuxedo cat, Gaston! consists of Jeremy Williams (vocals/guitar/percussion), James McDonald (lead guitar/bass/vocals), Brad Schumacher (drums/vocals), and Will Moran (keyboards). Check out Gaston!'s catchy indie folk jam "Road" and the slow-building, Doors-influenced "Shelter" below and follow/like their SoundCloud and Facebook pages for more tracks and concert info being released soon.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Just Rolled In: Hebronix (ex-Yuck) - "Unreal" [indie rock / slowcore]

One week after hearing the upsetting news that London-based Yuck frontman Daniel Blumberg (sitting on the bike above) has decided to leave his outstanding 90s indie rock revival band "to focus on other things", our chins are lifted (or possibly left in the 'shoegazing' position) by the Yuck-y sounds of his new "thing", Hebronix.

Blumberg's new music sounds an awful lot like Yuck but with the slower tendencies of his piano-based solo project Oupa. While the remaining 3 members of Yuck are still set to record their second LP without Blumberg, ATP Recordings will release Hebronix's debut effort Unreal July 8, which is produced by Neil Hagerty (pictured with Blumberg above) of Royal Trux/Howling Hex fame. Appropriately, Hebronix and fellow slowcore indie rockers Low have hooked up to play a handful of shows around the UK for the rest of April.

Listen to the eponymous single from Hebronix's debut Unreal  below followed by a song by Blumberg's former band Yuck and his other solo project Oupa. Pre-order Unreal here.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Artist Making Waves: Wampire [indie rock / synthpop / lo-fi]

Complete with organs, tape hiss, lo-fi vocals, and an overall spookiness, Portland, Oregon's Wampire live up to their horror film-inspired name while nodding proudly to their precursors, Ariel Pink and John Maus. The duo recently signed to Polyvinyl Records, home to Portland pals STRFKR and Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and is set to release their debut album Curiosity on May 14, which, excitingly enough, was produced by Unknown Mortal Orchestra's bassist, Jake Portrait, who rubbed off some of UMO's sound in the process. One half of Wampire, Eric Phipps, describes the record as "a platter with an assortment of sounds", so if you're curious, have a listen below for a few different tastes off that platter.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Just Rolled In: Poliça - "Tiff (feat. Justin Vernon)" [indie rock / electronic pop / R&B]

Following their collaboration with Bon Iver's Justin Vernon at Coachella this past weekend, Minneapolis, Minnesota's Poliça have released the single version of the moody, atmospheric song "Tiff" in which Vernon and lead singer Channy Leaneagh share vocal duties. This is the first new music we've heard since last year's beloved debut Give You the Ghost.

"Tiff" continues the soaring indie-rock-and-R&B-infused electronic pop sound that got heads bobbing on Give You the Ghost but could possibly be mistaken for an unreleased B-side of Justin Vernon and Poliça members Leanagh and Ryan Olson's soft rock supergroup Gayngs. The soulful voices of both Vernon and Leaneagh are passed through filters and blended into one another, as per usual with their aforementioned supergroup, to be braided in nicely with the brooding synths and the sensual bass line that carries this slow-burner. With a slow song this good, I can't wait to hear the faster material from Poliça's upcoming sophomore release.

Listen to "Tiff" below with a couple other different sounding standout tracks from Poliça's debut album, which you can buy here. Keep an eye out for their followup record being released later this year.


Thursday, April 11, 2013

Artist Making Waves: Ghost Loft [electronic / dream pop / R&B]

Los Angeles producer Danny Choi, aka Ghost Loft, has been causing serious waves in the "blogosphere" this past year for his smooth electronic blend of dream pop and R&B accompanied by his own euphoric voice and other airy vocal samples. He has released  4 original tracks and has remixed tracks by The Neighbourhood, jj, and Icky Blossoms to name a few. In fact, Jesse Rutherford of The Neighbourhood just recently remixed his first hit single "Seconds". Considering the beautiful, intimate tracks that Choi has released in the past year, his upcoming debut EP, and that his music is already getting the remix treatment from some of today's leading producers, Ghost Loft is an artist that will be hard to ignore in 2013.

Listen to Ghost Loft's most recent single "So High" along with "Seconds" and three other excellent original tracks below. Check out his SoundCloud for some great remixes and keep an eye out for his debut EP dropping later this year.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Swell Album: Kurt Vile - Wakin on a Pretty Daze [psychedelic / indie rock / indie folk]

The psychedelic indie folk rocker Kurt Vile returns after his (also highly recommended) 2011 album Smoke Ring for My Halo with his fifth solo record, a double LP, Wakin on a Pretty Daze. Clocking in at 69 minutes, the 33-year-old Philadelphia family man offers us his brightest and most enjoyable record to date comprised of 11 extensive and contemplative songs that expand and often fold in on themselves.

Vile's previously drowned-out but always drawled voice has drifted up to the surface, front and center, to lead his hazy, multi-layered guitar work that will sometimes recall Real Estate or Woods but more often the music as a whole will remind you of his classic rock influence Neil Young and the band The War on Drugs, for which he played lead guitar from 2005-2008. Wakin on a Pretty Daze has a very laid back and wondrous feel to it; ideal for any occasion in which you want to relax, lose yourself, or just breathe easy.

This timeless album dropped today via Matador Records and you can purchase your copy here. Below you can stream the entire album via NPR. Just in case that link doesn't work for you, I've also added a couple videos for you to hear Wakin's first two singles, "Wakin on a Pretty Day" and "Never Run Away".

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Artist Making Waves: S O H N [electronic soul / minimal electro pop]

S O H N is a producer/singer/multi-instrumentalist originally from London who currently resides in Vienna, Austria. His recent move to Vienna has played a key role in his songwriting as themes of loneliness, starting over, and realization-that-things-aren't-so-bad are delicately strewn over his intricately multi-layered minimal electronic backdrop with his soulful, captivating voice and countered with his stuttering vocal sample that blends perfectly with the complex beat.

S O H N's first single "The Wheel" from his debut EP with the same name demonstrates these themes when he opens with "I died a week ago / There's nothing left / It's caught on video / The very last breath", and calms himself down at the end with the same smooth voice that has been relaxing us: "All this fuss over nothing / Reinventing the wheel / All this searching for something / That's not real".

Believe me – his lovely, addictive sound keeps rolling beyond "The Wheel". Check it out along with the newly released slow-building single "Bloodflows" and a few others below from S O H N's Soundcloud to fully experience his seductive electronic pop. You can buy the 2012 The Wheel EP here.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

holaTUBE: The Last Bison - "Midnight City" (m83 cover) [indie folk / chamber music]

With roots in Chesapeake, VA, the 7-piece "mountain-top chamber music" family band The Last Bison has just released their "debut" album Inheritance, which is gaining the critical appeal and audience they probably hoped last year's self-released Quill LP would have acquired when they were simply known as "Bison". However, after the name change they decided to rerecord (and reorder) the six strongest tracks from Quill and add five new tracks. The result is a more polished and cohesive indie folk album that is reaching many more sets of ears with the help of Republic Records and Paste Magazine and thanks to critics' comparisons to The Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, and Mumford & Sons.
In this video, shared exclusively with Paste, you can experience The Last Bison's live take on "Midnight City" by m83, in which the Virginian folk ensemble uses instruments of all sorts to completely re-imagine the hit electronic song. With Ben Hardesty's raspy howl and rhythm guitar, his father Dan's lead banjo picking, his sister Annah's chiming bells, a brooding percussion, cello and pump organ combo, and a flawless violin impressively replacing m83's synth leads you have a complex and truly unique cover song that can just about live up to the original.

Listen to the original recording of their single "Switzerland" from the self-released Quill below and buy their new debut Inheritance LP here.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Just Rolled In: iamforest - "Structures" and "Versions" [electronic / chillwave / ambient pop]

Although most artists who have been pigeonholed as "chillwave" by music critics or fans have been trying to avoid and rid themselves of that title due to the ever-growing negative stigma it gained shortly after its birth a few years back, Vancouver's twenty-something producer Luke Hartie, who records as iamforest, proudly dubs his beat-driven ambient electronic project as just that, "chillwave". If you're not aware of what chillwave is, some of the leading pioneers include Neon Indian, Toro Y Moi, and Washed Out.

I wondered why Hartie didn't care to throw his project into that cringe-worthy (to some) genre so easily until I thought, "Maybe it's because he knows that chillwave is only really a dismissed genre title because of the gigantic wave of wannabe laptop musicians that flooded the interwebs with cookie cutter beach-ready, fuzzed out, and sample-driven tracks when the aforementioned artists met success." Luke Hartie is different from these "artists" and he knows it. His idea of chillwave is obviously, and thankfully, and bit unconventional.

While still very "chill", Hartie's music as iamforest isn't typically sample-or-fuzz-heavy, has more hard-hitting beats, incorporates his own airy vocals and smooth guitar work, and he has over ten years' experience making music with a degree in sound engineering to top it off, so unlike most of his chillwave counterparts, he knows what he's doing. If this is what chillwave has become, I won't be too quick to drop the word from my lexicon.

Listen to his outstanding single "Structures" and a song from his recent Driven Out EP, "Versions", below and buy all his music on a pay-what-you-want basis over at his Bandcamp page.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Just Rolled In: Alex Bleeker and the Freaks - "Don't Look Down" [indie folk / folk rock]

Alex Bleeker may be best known for his role as bassist in the highly acclaimed guitar pop band Real Estate but he's got his own thing going on as bandleader of his own folky ensemble, Alex Bleeker and the Freaks. The New Jersey-born-and-raised musician is the main songwriter but brings in a large cast of "freaks", which include, but are not limited to, his friends from other Northeastern bands Big Troubles, Mountain Man, Woods, and naturally, Real Estate, to back him up in the studio as well as on the stage.

While Real Estate's sound was tightened and polished for their 2011 sophomore album Days, Bleeker and Co. seem to have done the same with their second record How Far Away, which will be released on Woodsist this May. The leading single from How Far Away is "Don't Look Down", which is a quick-rolling folk rock tune held together by a thumping bass line, jangly Real Estate-like guitars, a smooth organ, and Alex's J Mascis-like whine. Check out the single below and look out for the album this May.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

holaTUBE: Beach House - "Wishes" Music Video [dream pop / indie rock]

Beach House is one of those bands, which are very few and far between, that has managed to enhance their sound and get better as a whole from record to record. A lot of artists will turn heads on their debut just to leave them hanging or shaking a couple years later when their sophomore album sees light. In May 2012, Beach House released Bloom, one full hour of one dreamy song after another, each one gently but powerfully lifting us skyward higher than ever thanks to Victoria Legrand's mesmerizing vocals and chilling keyboards and her other half, Alex Scally's signature guitar arpeggios.

One year later, they bring us a very entertaining visual companion to one of that record's standout tracks, "Wishes", which, I may be biased in saying this, is the best music video of all time. It features my favorite troubled TV dad, Ray Wise from "Twin Peaks" on vocals, and is directed by one half of my favorite TV duo, Eric Wareheim of "Tim and Eric" fame.

Watch the action-filled, surreal video below to experience all that is great and keep going to hear Bloom's opening three tracks, "Myth", "Wild" and "Lazuli", while you're at it. Buy the record here.

p.s. Look for Eric's cameo appearance!


Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Swell Album: Youth Lagoon - Wondrous Bughouse [pysch-pop / experimental / dream pop]


Wondrous Bughouse by Youth Lagoon has been receiving tons of positive reviews and is sure to be on many an end-of-the-year top albums list but that doesn't mean I can't recommend it here as well, right? Okay, good. That's what I thought.
23-year-old Trevor Powers hails from Boise, Idaho and has been making music under the Youth Lagoon moniker since 2010. His 2011 debut album, Year of Hibernation, which dealt with psychological dysphoria, was a terrific lo-fi dream pop record filled with songs that started very slow and gradually expanded and intensified. Now, with a more polished sound and production by Ben H. Allen (Animal Collective, Deerhunter, Washed Out, Fanfarlo), Powers brings us an album with big, expansive songs that often start off where those of his debut ended.

According to Powers, Wondrous Bughouse "was influenced by a fear of mortality but embracing it at the same time" and by "becoming more fascinated with the human psyche and where the spiritual meets the physical world." With these metaphysical ideas in mind, along with his meticulously excellent use of the hypnotic and celestial sounds available in today's digital universe, Allen's ability to bring fullness and grandeur to previously smaller sounding artists (see Washed Out or Deerhunter), and Powers' keen ear for developing catchy pop melodies, Youth Lagoon shoots us off into space with this multi-layered dreamy psych-pop record that makes joining Major Tom out there beyond the stars not sound like such a bad idea.

Listen to the first two amazing singles off Wondrous Bughouse below and purchase it here. Get your hands (or just ears) on Youth Lagoon's Year of Hibernation here.