Smile Too Much – You Can’t Help Me

There is a startling amount of great stuff happening on the Oakland based Dandy Boy Records at the moment, and this wonderful new tune from Smile Too Much might just be my pick of the bunch. You Can’t Help Me is the lead track from the Oakland bands upcoming self titled EP, and it’s aContinue reading “Smile Too Much – You Can’t Help Me”

Now – And Blue Space Is Burning Noon

I have been regularly singing the praises of Now ever since I was handed a tape of Will Smith and Oli Lipton’s marvellous Saturday’s Child album earlier this year. Recent live shows have seen the band showcasing fresh material with new bassist Hannah Forrester, and our collective Summers can now be lifted with the releaseContinue reading “Now – And Blue Space Is Burning Noon”

Helpful People – Bugs From Below

I knew something was afoot when the same few reliable voices all started whispering the words Helpful People to me in unison, and it only took a few seconds of hearing Bugs From Below to know that this would be the latest Bay Area sound to sweep me off my feet. Helpful People features theContinue reading “Helpful People – Bugs From Below”

Violent Change – s/t

I first became aware of Bay Area band Violent Change when I caught a friends Instagram video of a recent live performance. When a couple of weeks later one of the coolest people I know mentioned them to me I knew it was time to properly explore their gritty, vital back catalogue. With treasure inContinue reading “Violent Change – s/t”

Present Electric – s/t

Kevin Linn is at the heart of so much of the great music that comes out of the San Francisco underground. His label Paisley Shirt Records is awash with incredible outsider sounds, he lends his instrumental talent as and when it’s required, and puts out gloriously skewed DIY-pop with his own Sad Eyed Beatniks project.Continue reading “Present Electric – s/t”

Cindy – Why Not Now?

‘Have you been sleeping on the job? Searching for the words for far too long? Wondering how you missed the call, all the nights you thought were yours.’ True story: If it hadn’t been for the second verse of The Price Is Right you wouldn’t be reading this now. This site wouldn’t have progressed theContinue reading “Cindy – Why Not Now?”

April Magazine – Wesley’s Convertible Tape For The South

Watching from afar here in the UK, April Magazine have been mysteriously both at the heart and in the shadows of the San Francisco underground for some years now, seemingly everywhere and nowhere all at the same time. The 2021 Tough Love Records compilation If The Ceiling Were A Kite vol.1 brought their earlier workContinue reading “April Magazine – Wesley’s Convertible Tape For The South”

Whitney’s Playland – Sunset Sea Breeze

This album has been floating around the San Francisco underground for a little while now, but with vinyl copies at last reaching the UK and Summer at our doorsteps it felt just the right time to attempt to capture its magic here. The first thing that hits me every time I Iisten to Whitney’s PlaylandContinue reading “Whitney’s Playland – Sunset Sea Breeze”