When we saw the name of Massachusetts four-piece Speedy Ortiz single, Taylor Swift b/w Swim Fan, we were sold. Is it that easy to get our attention at this website? Pretty much. In fact, we’re still laughing 15 minutes after first seeing it. Anyway, we dig Speedy Ortiz’ magnetic strain of slacker-grunge made up of chick vocals, gritty guitar tones and an easy-going strangeness.
The latest in a long list of better-than-expected in this age of rock-is-dead bands from Austin, Texas is Shapes Have Fangs. Like Harlem, Woven Bones and Strange Boys before them, this jangling five-piece deliver a gritty strain of 60s rock that makes us think of very cool, very old things. But what sets Shapes Have Fangs apart from some of their fellow retro rockers is a jagged swagger and dynamic instinct that pushes them closer to Austin’s A-list (along with the Black Angels, Shearwater and White Denim).
Earlier this month, Shapes Have Fangs delivered Dinner in the Dark, an album of eleven songs that passes in about 30 minutes. You’ll want to grab “Rattle and Confuse Me” right away, and come back soon to stream the rest…
Florida psych rockers Band in Heaven hit our radar recently with the excellent HoZac seven-inch (stream it below). It’s the first we’re hearing from these guys, and we’re impressed with how effortlessly they shift from raw, surging shoe gaze to drowsier, more atmospheric material. There’s a bit of Black Rebel and some Black Angels here, even a bit of Slowdive, so look out for persistent riffing, psychedelic ambience and affected vocals with a rounded low-end. Stream the four-song HoZac seven-inch below (two of the songs are available for free download) and look out for Band in Heaven at SXSW in March and Austin Psych Fest in April.
Richmond, VA’s Windhand are set to release their slow burning, hard dragging self-titled debut this month via Forcefield Records. The riffs here are stretched and stoned, the vocals are haunted with black melody and the guitar solos unwind with pagan psychedelia. We’re impressed with the opening shot from this stoner-doom five-piece, and we’re hoping they hit the road soon so we can witness this savagery first-hand…
Jay Watson (drums) and Nick Allbrook (bass and guitar), whom you may know from their day job with the might Tame Impala (dear God, please let there be another Tame Impala album this year), found time last year to put together a side project, Pond.
Yes, this band sounds a lot like Tame Impala. But no, we’re not disappointed. While both bands share an obsession with psychedelic retro rock, Pond is a deeper exploration of the extremes: raw garage rock, dripping ambience. At least, that’s what we gather from the pile of samples we’ve heard from their debut, Beard Wives Denim (due March 6th). Hear for yourself…
More Pond, please…
Download “Fantastic Explosion of Time” [Stereogum]
Download “Mystery” [Stereogum]
Chicago MC Add-2′s debut LP, Save. Our. Souls. doesn’t have a release date yet, but it’s already attracting a healthy buzz. Add-2 was signed to Team RMG by the mighty Common, and his recent single, “Going, Going, Gone” was produced by 9th Wonder. Very cool, yes. Dig it…
Looking for something a little heavier? Add-2′s got you covered. Check out this thump…
Asymetrical, mathematical and high-strung, Jesus Lizard and Melvins echo throughout, Melt Cry Sleep, the latest by Minneapolis prog/punk trio Buildings. Typically, music like this collapses under its own weight and bores us to shit after about 15 minutes, but Buildings’ strategic sense of humor, chemistry and Rube Goldberg approach to songwriting throughout Melt Cry Sleep kept us interested from start to finish. On a totally meaningless, and mostly unimportant note, we’d like to point out how cool it is that Buildings left commas out of the name of this album.
We pretty much knew this band was going to be awesome when we saw their name. Usually, that doesn’t work, judging a band by its name. But The Wax Witches actually sound as rad as their name suggests. What do they sound like? No-fi, punk rock nonsense (you’ll like them if you like bands like The Growlers, Black Lips and Harlem).
Aside from the name, we know almost nothing about this band. According to their Facebook page, “WAX WITCHES FROM HELLLLLLLLL” and they describe themselves as “EARTH CAN SUCK ITTTTTTT”. Not sure why they yell so much, but it probably has to do with drugs. Influences are “BLACK KITTENS”, of course and we’re sure they’re from Australia (they’re charging Aussie dollars, two thereof, for their debut LP, Melted Green). Speaking of Melted Green, stream it here:
French proto-rockers Stangala have us paying attention with their lo-fi, psychedelic exploration of Sabbath and Hawkwind-inspired proto-metal. Their debut, Boued Tousek Hag Traou Mat All wanders from decaying riffs shrouded in drug-phased vocals and raw guitar leads to creepy, atmospheric meditations haunted by celtic bagpipes and shadowy chants. Yes there are moments of illegible scribbling here, but if you wait for a sec, you’ll find the chaos leads to some pretty bitchin’ riffs.
We don’t know much about these guys, Hymnlayas, but we like the sample-heavy hip-hop we’re hearing from their forthcoming LP, Lift Your Hands Hy. In the video below you’ll hear an impossible number of samples collide in a pretty bad ass sound collage called “Circle of Thieves”. Next, check out clips from lead single “The Love” (including b-side “Gift of Gab”), which reminds us of hip-hop’s early 90s golden era.
Again, we don’t know much about the Hymnlayas. All we know is that the group consists of Tommy Lift, Mic Brass and DJ Hylanda. Also, given that their on Wilshire District records and DJ Hylanda contributes to the Miracle Mile Podcast, we’d bet their from LA.
Tennis – Origins – free mp3
Katy B – Witches Brew (Diplo remix) – free mp3
Shabazz Palaces – Swerve (Signal Path remix) – free mp3
Xiu Xiu – Hi – free mp3
White Rabbits – Temporary – free mp3