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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".