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”
Tag Archives: dreampop
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…”
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”
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”
above me – s/t
The Oakland based DIY label Dandy Boy Records has long been my go to for the deepest of Bay Area underground cuts, and so it continues with this release from former Blue Ocean man Rick Altieri’s new solo project above me. Expanding on his former band’s experimental shoegaze soundscapes, above me’s self-titled debut incorporates drumContinue reading “above me – s/t”
Little Oso – How Lucky To Be Somebody
Portland, Maine fourpiece Little Oso arrive sounding invitingly fresh and fully formed with their debut long player How Lucky To Be Somebody. Honing their skills across multiple self released EPs dating back to 2020, the band specialise in ethereal dreampop featuring vocal melodies which cut through with stunning purity, the darker hues of the guitarContinue reading “Little Oso – How Lucky To Be Somebody”
Cindy – Saw It All Demos
And so this year begins as the last one ended, with this writer totally swept away by the stark splendour of San Francisco based artist Karina Gill’s unparalleled songcraft. Initially released via Paisley Shirt Records to coincide with Cindy’s recent UK/EU tour, these predominantly solo home recordings find Gill completely at ease in her environment,Continue reading “Cindy – Saw It All Demos”
Cindy – Swan Lake
The songwriting of Cindy’s Karina Gill has always suggested rather than demanded our attention. As listeners, we lean gently into a world reshaped by a keen eye for the peripheries and a heart open to all possibilities. Never has the above rang truer than across new EP Swan Lake’s six subtly contrasting arrangements. Working withContinue reading “Cindy – Swan Lake”
The Moment of Nightfall and Tony Jay – Winter Dream
In recent months I have seen the band The Moment of Nightfall mentioned frequently by folk who really know their stuff, none more so than Bay Area fog pop auteur Michael Ramos (Tony Jay/Flowertown). Imagine my delight then to learn of this collaboration between the two, a true match made in some kind of glacialContinue reading “The Moment of Nightfall and Tony Jay – Winter Dream”
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