Author Archives: francarlyon

Mo Dotti – The Shacklewell Arms, London

Gliding into London after a breathless week of shows across the UK (with special mention given by the band to Coventry’s Just Dropped In, a venue I NEED to visit), LA quintet Mo Dotti dissolved The Shacklewell Arms with their rapturously received shoegaze soundscapes. From the opening rip of debut album highlight Lucky Boy itContinue reading “Mo Dotti – The Shacklewell Arms, London”

April Magazine – Falling Window EP

All of the emotions I can never quite find the words to express seem to exist effortlessly within April Magazine’s hushed melodies and glacial textures. Each release further refines their unmatched lofi beauty, making Falling Window their most affecting release to date. As is customary, Falling Window’s enveloping wash of sound is best experienced inContinue reading “April Magazine – Falling Window EP”

Farewell, Seablite…

There wasn’t a dry eye in the indie pop house last week as Bay Area underground icons Seablite announced their farewell show. Active since 2017, Seablite specialised in nineties inspired shoegaze and baggy fusions, shot through with unmistakable California cool. When they fully hit their stride across 2023’s epic Lemon Lights, they hit upon shimmeringContinue reading “Farewell, Seablite…”

for anyone and you: an interview with Mo Dotti…

Los Angeles based shoegaze collective Mo Dotti totally captured my heart when I caught them live at the 4 Star Theater on my recent visit to San Francisco. The band’s sound is truly a wonder, with blissed out melodies fighting for air amongst ocean deep chord changes and seismic, swirling feedback. With a stunning debutContinue reading “for anyone and you: an interview with Mo Dotti…”

Magic Fig – Valerian Tea

Effortlessly blending the heady mystique of Broadcast with the baroque playfulness of Friends-era Beach Boys, San Francisco psych-pop experimentalists Magic Fig return with the first taste of their forthcoming full length debut Valerian Tea. The album’s title track builds on the theme’s of last year’s self-titled EP, with Inna Showalter’s sun dappled vocals once againContinue reading “Magic Fig – Valerian Tea”

The Goods – April Fools

Returning with a gently uplifting yet melancholic sigh as we wave goodbye to summer, Oakland based Rob Good (Ryli) announces his band The Goods’ full length debut Don’t Spoil The Fun with shimmering lead track April Fools. A bittersweet paean to the complexities of human connection, Good explains the song thus: “It’s about being tuggedContinue reading “The Goods – April Fools”

Teenage Tom Petties – Hotmail

Everything Tom Brown turns his hand to hits just that little bit different, a fact proven by the sample heavy Americana shuffle of this year’s Lone Striker debut. Switching back to his Teenage Tom Petties hat, new single Hotmail launches forthcoming album Rally The Tropes in explosive style. Bursting out of the traps on aContinue reading “Teenage Tom Petties – Hotmail”

Goodbye Wudaokou – Anything Of Us

On his second album under the Goodbye Wudaokou moniker, Manchester based DIY artist Mat Mills leans toward the Bay Area underground to further refine his heartfelt, upliftingly melancholic indiepop. Whilst remaining a lofi artist at heart, Mill’s compositions are frequently epic in scope, with sweeping arrangements wrapping themselves lovingly around his plaintive yet affecting vocals.Continue reading “Goodbye Wudaokou – Anything Of Us”

heavymetalkids.uk is Bay Area bound…

I was totally blown away this week by the announcement of a stunning Dandy Boy Records showcase to welcome me on what will be my first visit to the Bay Area. Yes, after following the scene for some five years and covering it here for the last two and a bit, my wife Julia andContinue reading “heavymetalkids.uk is Bay Area bound…”