Lightheaded – Thinking, Dreaming, Scheming!

With an ever shifting line up built around the core songwriting partnership of Stephen Stec and Cynthia Rittenbach, Lightheaded’s pure pop juggernaut continues to build giddy momentum with new EP Thinking, Dreaming, Scheming! This latest release sees the New Jersey based beat group swathed in dusty reverb, their relentless riffs and melodic wonder cutting throughContinue reading “Lightheaded – Thinking, Dreaming, Scheming!”

Dragged Up – Blake’s Tape

Riding a relentless wave of restless creativity and blessed with a punishing knack for chaos and groove, Glasgow art-punks Dragged Up return with new single Blake’s Tape. Combining the fun and fluidity of nineties indie with the pulsating drive of post-punk, Blake’s Tape is an absolute blast. Front loaded with fuzz-heavy riffing and enthralling rhythmicContinue reading “Dragged Up – Blake’s Tape”

Tony Jay – faithless

Originally recorded to coincide with the band’s recently completed Japanese tour, faithless is the latest lofi revelation from Bay Area fogpop auteurs Tony Jay. Boasting a new line up and drawing influence from the band’s favourite Japanese artists Les Rallizes Dénudés and Shizuka, faithless unwinds in a hazy slowcore blur of fractured greyscale psychedelia. OceanContinue reading “Tony Jay – faithless”

Hectorine – Arrow of Love

There is a tenderness and directness at the centre of Sarah Gagnon’s songwriting that stands alone amongst the busy and beautiful Bay Area underground. Unabashed and unafraid, she wears her heart on her sleeve, wrapping her incomparable vocals around soulful dreampop melodies steeped in magic. New album Arrow of Love, Gagnon’s third under the HectorineContinue reading “Hectorine – Arrow of Love”

Whitney’s Playland – Long Rehearsal

It’s no secret that this blog fell hard for Bay Area duo Whitney’s Playland’s 2023 debut Sunset Sea Breeze. Loaded with charm, melody and garage indie riffing, the album captured hearts from the very first listen.  With Inna Showalter (Magic Fig, Blades of Joy, Modern Charms) and George Tarlson (Grandma’s Boyfriend) now joined by EvanContinue reading “Whitney’s Playland – Long Rehearsal”

Autocamper – Again

Manchester fourpiece Autocamper have had my heart ever since I watched them scurrying mischievously around Oslo Hackney following their triumphant set in support of Bay Area jangle heroes The Umbrellas early last year. There is a gritty realness to the band’s sound that truly sets them apart. New single Again presents a band gloriously inContinue reading “Autocamper – Again”

Rhymies – I Dream Watching

Fresh out on the relentlessly dependable Oakland based Dandy Boy Records comes this solo debut from Seablite’s Lauren Matsui. Trading in that group’s multi-layered dreamgaze in favour of melody drenched electronics, Rhymies’ inaugural EP I Dream Watching is a giddy synth-pop triumph. From the pulsating urgency of the title track’s soaring chorus through to TheContinue reading “Rhymies – I Dream Watching”

The Pennys – s/t

I have been excited to hear the first fruits of this collaboration between Bay Area underground heroes Michael Ramos (Tony Jay/Flowertown) and R.E. Seraphin ever since it was first mentioned in my interview with the latter, published last year. Say Something sways soothingly in perfect alignment with where I’d expect the pairs music to land.Continue reading “The Pennys – s/t”