Big Troubles have always been difficult for me to get into. They always seem like a little bit too Lo-Fi to be compelling. Everything, including the saving grace and biggest strength of the genre; melody, is just drowned in the fuzz and haze. Bite Yr Tongue shows that they certainly have it in them to get the balance right, they just need to put their minds to it. It’s been kicking around for a while but now it’s finally legitimately out.
Bite Yr Tongue - Big Troubles // (mirror)
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Speculator is getting some mad coverage of late. His songs are an interesting blend of retro samples with original guitar and vocal work overlays. He just recently released a cassette LP called Lifestyle which is hazy trip down memory lane with some really cool samples you’re bound to recognise as long as you aren’t forty. It’s free, and you should grab it now from his suitably stylised website. Here’s a track from Side A called I Wait All Day.
I Wait All Day - Speculator // (mirror)
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Teen Daze’s Beach Dreams dropped on Tuesday, and it’s definitely highlighted his versatility as an artist. He is just as good at Surf Pop as he is at Chillwave and Electronic. He says its already his most successful release so far, no doubt due to the high level of blog hype leading up to its release. Let’s Fall Asleep Together already featured on NEO//NOIR last week, but this is another one from the EP called Cliff Jump Love Song. Here’s hoping his foray into Lo-Fi was not just a one time thing.
Cliff Jump Love Song - Teen Daze // (mirror)
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Dream Band have a pop sound that is decidedly vague in its production values. It’s not Lo-Fi, but it’s definitely not slickly produced. There’s instant gratification to be had in Mr. Shaking And Pills To Judge though. It doesn’t waste any time with length intros, it just gets straight into it and doesn’t really relent at all. The verses and chorus are equally upbeat and engrossing, and while it’s not what I’d normally take notice of, there’s something here for everyone I think.
Mr. Shaking And Pills To Judge - Dream Band // (mirror)
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Blackfort’s tough to pin down. A few years ago he was making music that closely resembled the Witch House of 2010, but now he’s going for a more sample driven, Instrumental Hip-Hop vibe. There’s still a whole lot of darkness in this remix he’s done of Portishead’s Machine Gun though, and I think he’s actually improved on the beat of the original, which was at first compelling but began to grind in its repetition.
And here’s an original from him heavily featuring and driven by a Betty Boop sample called Keep Your Figure. Its very odd, yet undeniably catchy.
Machine Gun (Blackfort RMX) - Portishead // (mirror)
Keep Your Figure - Blackfort // (mirror)
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Birthdays has a new song called Howolding Girls. It features this odd sort of electro didgeridoo backdrop and the faint yet noticeable “pop” of an old vinyl record that’s been played one too many times. As eclectic as the instrumentation is, there’s a very catchy and accessible quality to the vocal work, and the whole thing layers really nicely into a feel good experimental jam that’s bound to put a smile on your face.
Howolding Girls - Birthdays // (mirror)
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Star Slinger’s debut LP, called Volume 1, was unleashed recently, and I have to say, everyone losing their shit over Girl Talk’s new album needs to listen to Volume 1 because it’s streets ahead. Here’s Copulate, one of many killer tracks on the release, which is free to download.
Copulate - Star Slinger // (mirror)
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Fluffy Lumbers has existed for over a year now but there’s a good chance you wouldn’t have heard these songs. It’s heartfelt Lo-Fi Pop with upbeat summer vibes and Beach Boys harmonies. So fucking get on it.
Cruisers - Fluffy Lumbers // (mirror)
Harry Dolland’s - Fluffy Lumbers // (mirror)
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Red Sea have an off-kilter Indie Pop sound that reminds me a little of Born Ruffians. Likely not the most apt comparison but my familiarity with this particular sphere of music is limited. There’s definitely enough thematic and sonic crossover for it to fit right in here. There’s glimpses of some Surf Pop and Lo-Fi guitarwork all throughout throughout Cruel Future, check it out.
Cruel Future - Red Sea // (mirror)
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Golden Days by Bermuda is scuzzy Lo-Fi guitar rock that’s reminiscent of The Strokes’ Is This It era. Really fun vibe on this one, and that fact that it’s so short just leaves you coming back for more.
Golden Days - Bermuda // (mirror)
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Com Truise recently featured on ISO50’s Dry Waves compilation. If you know Com Truise you’ll know to expect an awesome electronic track with 80’s computer renaissance influences and high school chemistry VHS allusions.
Fairlight - Com Truise // (mirror)
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Ra Cailum just released his new LP, Walkabout. From what he says it’s the last we’ll hear from him under this moniker, or maybe at all, but here’s hoping not. (He’s just changing up his sound from here on in, that’s all)
Walkabout is a chill, synth-driven affair with some really touching moments on it. There’s no “sequel” to EXISTENCE which is a shame but overall the whole production is very cool. Here’s two tracks from it, but be sure to download the whole thing for free from his Bandcamp.
September - Ra Cailum// (mirror)
Waterfalls - Ra Cailum// (mirror)
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You can download each file from mediafire or stream/download it from the Box.net mirror, had issues with the bandwidth running out on Box.net so now its main use is a “try before you buy” thing. (But obviously these are free downloads)
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